Having failed to attend the opening of Durham’s important championship game against Nottingham because it looked as if there would be no play, I set off on Thursday morning full of determination and enthusiasm, and prepared to sit watching the grass grow if it rained and there was some [prospect of play later in the day..
Little did I know what an important day of cricket this was to be, possibly settling the future of the championship although the prolonged season is now only half way.
As anticipated the journey to the ground took less than half the time previously and there here was less traffic hold up because of the morning rush hour as I travelled up the M1 to the A610 and into the city. Nor was there any difficulty in finding a car park space at the Forest, or taking a tram to the Old Market Square where I found a number 2 Green Line bus waiting opposite a pub restaurant. This stopped on the main road from Trent Bridge and I had to cross over the wide road to walk outside the William Clark stand and then continue with the new partially covered stand inside the ground on my left before reaching the small ticket office with the local Coop store and post office across the way. On the Friday the journey took even less time although the number 3 bus or was it four travelled around the housing estate between the train station and the ground. In both instances the journey was around half and hour compared to the hour previously.
I had bought a tub of spicy chicken wings for lunch and a carton of large red cherries from the M and S store at the M1 Trowell service area which I was to enjoy later but noted that I could have obtained an adequate lunch from the Coop at a fraction of the price. I was one of the first into the ground such was the quickness of the journey. My first thought was to get a seat in the restricted Member’s area in front of the Pavilion and which I was to explore the following afternoon. The actual Members lounge is small with no more than half a dozen large tables and for many matches you sit in artificial lights as the windows have to be covered with white or black blinds to form a sight screen and those members sitting immediately in from outside have to sit motionless. You can peak under the blind to see some of the play through non reflecting glass which contains what appears to be a black gauze filter. That some Members do this is extraordinary.
It is the only situation where Members can sit behind the wicket in front of the sight screen anywhere in any major cricket ground in the UK. There is a bar but lunch and the cream scone tea has to be brought from elsewhere and placed on a table in one corner. Upstairs there is a Member’s executive viewing lounge which is an amazing area with over the top luxury seating, and a bar from where Notts members could drown their sorrows as this extraordinary game progressed. I also noted a simple back room area which was being prepared for the player’s tea and another staircase led to the player’s dressing rooms and viewing balcony. The stewards have to wear white costs and the main door into the pavilion has to be closed on alternate overs as this too is being the bowler’s arm. There is one other door to the front which is for club officials and another leads to the outside courtyard.
Instead of subjecting myself to the restrictions of movement in this areas I went to the opposite end of the ground and got an ideal seat at the back of the first level of terracing, under cover and next to the sight screen giving a perfect view over the bowler’s arm. You cannot gain entry into the main areas of the stand from this seating but have to go back into the surrounding walkway and into the main reception area which reminds of a first class hotel. There are bedroom suites which used to be hired out but are now for visiting officials, players and their families. I enquired here about refreshments and was advised to take the lift to the first floor where there is a basic restaurant area overlooking the Radcliffe Road with a small bar about a dozen tables including two TV screens only one of which was showing the Test Match and with food served at one end with a doorway leading to the kitchens. The scones were warm at tea time having been freshly baked and one was given an enormous pot of light cream and a small individual closed pot of jam. The only disappointment was the tea served in throw away plastic, but it tasted good and cost was an inexpensive £2.60. I wager the price for a cream scone tea at Lords will be double. There are toilet facilities by the lift and the media viewing area is the other side of the facilities.
As mentioned on my visit last year Trent Bridge has been transformed into one of the world’s best cricket grounds from the viewpoint of the general spectator. The stand complex along the Radcliffe Road has three tiers of seating as well as hospitality boxes.
Along the Radcliffe Road there are a number of places to eat with the most popular the take away fish and chip restaurant which many go over to buy their lunch which they then bring back into the ground to eat at their seating. There is a pricey Greek style restaurant and an Mediterranean bar restaurant which I was use in the evening before returning to the Travel Lodge.
On either side of the ground side on to the wicket there are new stands and what has become standard for English grounds some overhead cover although at Trent Bridge more attention has been given to style than practicality. The new replay scoreboard screen is an oddity perched at the top of a new building which appears to have its own media viewing area which I assume is for Sky. And where there appears to be offices as well an area to entertaining visiting school children and young people. The floodlights have great style encased in a circular framework
Now to the match. There had been almost a full day’s cricket on the Wednesday as I ventured into D H Lawrence Country. Nottinghamshire had won the toss and decided to put Durham into bat and with Di Venuto, Stoneman and Muchall departing before lunch with the total 63, it must have seen to be a good decision at the time. Then present Captain Will Smith, returning to his former club in that capacity for the first time in a championship game commenced a stand of close on 200 runs with former captain Blenkenstein. Both went within one run when the score was 256 and 257 with Benkenstein getting 105 and Smith 87. Durham were something like 270 runs for 5 overnight with Mitch Claydon the night watchman. In the morning which was damp with always a hint of rain in the offing Durham continued to score runs slowly at less than thee an over and the task became that of reaching 350 runs within 120 overs to gain a fourth batting point. Still assuming the game would be drawn after what happened last year and with the prospect of further rain Blackwell 38 and Mustard 40 and then Plunkett did the best to score more quickly, losing their wickets as a consequence and failing to get the additional point by 1 run. The innings was over at 356 just before lunch with Mitch Claydon bowling 2 overs without a run or wicket and Davies at the other end.
Over lunch there was a great surprise as Steve Harmison called to the Test as a standby by if Andrew Flintoff had been released and taken the train from London and under new rules was allowed to replace Claydon and immediately open the after lunch bowling. It was Steve who gained the wicket of opener Wood when the total was 14. It was his only wicket and he ended the day having bowled 16 overs and taken 1 for 45. Not Test match standards. The Durham success came from returned from injury Liam Plunkett with match figures of 4 for 56 and the spin bowler Ian Blackwell with the amazing 8 overs, 3 maidens, six runs adn three wickets. The wickets fell at 17 33 47 54 135 158 166 169 and 171. The Nottingham batsmen appeared to be over awed by the fierce attack from Harmison and started with a run rate of ,20 an over, that is one run every five overs which was sustained over the first ten overs. Durham enforced the follow on but play was halted because of bad light and an impending down pour. I retreated to Amici in the Radcliffe Road sitting in a comfy chair in the window as the food tables were being cleared to make way of a Salsa class at 7.30. I enjoyed a large plate of prawns in a cocktail sauce on a bed of lettuce. I less enjoyed the vegetable pasta, mainly because of the quantity.
While there is the residential area of West Bridgeford to the other side of the ground, the Football and cricket grounds are rather cut off surrounded by the river and overlooked by two large municipal offices, one the County Council is within the ground while the other covers district services. It is difficult to see how the restaurants survive in the evenings and at weekends unless those coming to the football on an evening eat a meal beforehand or stay after the cricket or weekend afternoon football game. You have to get round the ground from the student lodgings and multi occupational houses in West Bridgeford so the sa class is one solution. Sky Sports was another. The food and the prices alas were not.
There had been about 1000 people in the ground at best for the second day and I was surprised how many less there were when I arrived for the third day although there had been heavy rain overnight and more was promised. I joked with a member of staff about rain intervention but he explained that if the match was over in three days they would have a paid free day on Saturday. There were no more than 100 people in ground during the morning.
What happened that third morning has become an instant legend in the history of Durham. The wickets fell as follows 9 19 38 51 55 60 66 and 68 and then a few minutes before the normal luncheon interval the rain commenced. Had it not then the play would have continued as the match was over for all intents and purposes.
The rain had fallen with intense pressure in large drops and the ground staff had been slow adn then decided to cover the whole area of wickets before the bowling run ups. The covers then became saturated with water that the ground staff could not lift them. I charge the staff with incompetence and would have complained to the authorities had no play been possible in the match as a consequence. However after inspections at 1.30 and 2.30 the decision was taken at 3.30 to commence play at 3.55. Why the delay remained a puzzle as a fine rain was falling then and continued to fall until about five past four when further rain ended play for the day. In the ten minutes one further wicket was taken but it became necessary to play six balls the following morning before the final wicket was taken.
I had enjoyed the morning talking to a Nottingham supporter who lived in Northampton and attended a number of cricket grounds in the Midlands when he had the opportunity and he was young enough to be engaged in a full time work although I had the impression that he was in a position to take time off as and when he was inclined. He and the other Notts supporters who and brave the conditions and state of played appeared to suffer shock as the second collapse occurred within the space of 26 hours. One had joked about the game being over by lunch time and it nearly was.
Few supporters remained after the downpour There had been seven people visible when I arrived at the ground. I had again brought with some spicy chicken wings and fruit but called over to the Coop for use of their cash machine. Next to this was a copier and a young mother with an eight year was copying a summer holiday project which he was required to complete and return by August 1st. She was put out but the requirement and needed assistance with the use of the machine. Later I returned and purchased a half bottle of scotch to keep the weather out!
With the prolonged delay I had moved over to the pavilion and it was at this time that I explored the arrangements. There were only media people about and a handful of Durham supporters who appeared to be relative or friends of the players. Such was the enthusiasm for ending the game that day that the equipment was already down stairs for removal to the team coach. In fact it was a further two hours before the game was called off for the day. I was long gone by then
It was a devastating performance by Durham. Steve Harmison took 6 wickets for twenty runs with 4 maidens from 13 and his best figures for Durham Davies took two wickets for 13 and Ian Blackwell 1.16 with Thorp the other. Durham had won by an innings and 115. The regional TV programme described the defeat as humiliating,
The defeat has to be placed in perspective. Durham with 9 games played have a total of 138 points and 5 wins. Notts are now fourth but have played onl7 7 games and should they win the two in had with maximum bonus points they will have 125 points cutting Durham’s lead to three points. Somerset who have one game in hand have 102 points thus with a win and maximum bonus points they would have 122 points and they would need to continue their run with Durham losing or drawing games in succession to take top position. Lancashire present fourth have 97 from 9 and Sussex 82 from 8 Yorks are yet to win a game back in 7th and still in a relegation struggle with Warwickshire who have played two less and Worcestershire who are hopeless having lost three times as many games as anyone else.
The Durham players did not over do the celebrations which was to their credit and I imagine the Nottinghamshire Inquest was painful and the psychological damager will take time to recover. I am not overstating in saying the win could prove the most important in the twenty odd year history of the club.
Little did I know what an important day of cricket this was to be, possibly settling the future of the championship although the prolonged season is now only half way.
As anticipated the journey to the ground took less than half the time previously and there here was less traffic hold up because of the morning rush hour as I travelled up the M1 to the A610 and into the city. Nor was there any difficulty in finding a car park space at the Forest, or taking a tram to the Old Market Square where I found a number 2 Green Line bus waiting opposite a pub restaurant. This stopped on the main road from Trent Bridge and I had to cross over the wide road to walk outside the William Clark stand and then continue with the new partially covered stand inside the ground on my left before reaching the small ticket office with the local Coop store and post office across the way. On the Friday the journey took even less time although the number 3 bus or was it four travelled around the housing estate between the train station and the ground. In both instances the journey was around half and hour compared to the hour previously.
I had bought a tub of spicy chicken wings for lunch and a carton of large red cherries from the M and S store at the M1 Trowell service area which I was to enjoy later but noted that I could have obtained an adequate lunch from the Coop at a fraction of the price. I was one of the first into the ground such was the quickness of the journey. My first thought was to get a seat in the restricted Member’s area in front of the Pavilion and which I was to explore the following afternoon. The actual Members lounge is small with no more than half a dozen large tables and for many matches you sit in artificial lights as the windows have to be covered with white or black blinds to form a sight screen and those members sitting immediately in from outside have to sit motionless. You can peak under the blind to see some of the play through non reflecting glass which contains what appears to be a black gauze filter. That some Members do this is extraordinary.
It is the only situation where Members can sit behind the wicket in front of the sight screen anywhere in any major cricket ground in the UK. There is a bar but lunch and the cream scone tea has to be brought from elsewhere and placed on a table in one corner. Upstairs there is a Member’s executive viewing lounge which is an amazing area with over the top luxury seating, and a bar from where Notts members could drown their sorrows as this extraordinary game progressed. I also noted a simple back room area which was being prepared for the player’s tea and another staircase led to the player’s dressing rooms and viewing balcony. The stewards have to wear white costs and the main door into the pavilion has to be closed on alternate overs as this too is being the bowler’s arm. There is one other door to the front which is for club officials and another leads to the outside courtyard.
Instead of subjecting myself to the restrictions of movement in this areas I went to the opposite end of the ground and got an ideal seat at the back of the first level of terracing, under cover and next to the sight screen giving a perfect view over the bowler’s arm. You cannot gain entry into the main areas of the stand from this seating but have to go back into the surrounding walkway and into the main reception area which reminds of a first class hotel. There are bedroom suites which used to be hired out but are now for visiting officials, players and their families. I enquired here about refreshments and was advised to take the lift to the first floor where there is a basic restaurant area overlooking the Radcliffe Road with a small bar about a dozen tables including two TV screens only one of which was showing the Test Match and with food served at one end with a doorway leading to the kitchens. The scones were warm at tea time having been freshly baked and one was given an enormous pot of light cream and a small individual closed pot of jam. The only disappointment was the tea served in throw away plastic, but it tasted good and cost was an inexpensive £2.60. I wager the price for a cream scone tea at Lords will be double. There are toilet facilities by the lift and the media viewing area is the other side of the facilities.
As mentioned on my visit last year Trent Bridge has been transformed into one of the world’s best cricket grounds from the viewpoint of the general spectator. The stand complex along the Radcliffe Road has three tiers of seating as well as hospitality boxes.
Along the Radcliffe Road there are a number of places to eat with the most popular the take away fish and chip restaurant which many go over to buy their lunch which they then bring back into the ground to eat at their seating. There is a pricey Greek style restaurant and an Mediterranean bar restaurant which I was use in the evening before returning to the Travel Lodge.
On either side of the ground side on to the wicket there are new stands and what has become standard for English grounds some overhead cover although at Trent Bridge more attention has been given to style than practicality. The new replay scoreboard screen is an oddity perched at the top of a new building which appears to have its own media viewing area which I assume is for Sky. And where there appears to be offices as well an area to entertaining visiting school children and young people. The floodlights have great style encased in a circular framework
Now to the match. There had been almost a full day’s cricket on the Wednesday as I ventured into D H Lawrence Country. Nottinghamshire had won the toss and decided to put Durham into bat and with Di Venuto, Stoneman and Muchall departing before lunch with the total 63, it must have seen to be a good decision at the time. Then present Captain Will Smith, returning to his former club in that capacity for the first time in a championship game commenced a stand of close on 200 runs with former captain Blenkenstein. Both went within one run when the score was 256 and 257 with Benkenstein getting 105 and Smith 87. Durham were something like 270 runs for 5 overnight with Mitch Claydon the night watchman. In the morning which was damp with always a hint of rain in the offing Durham continued to score runs slowly at less than thee an over and the task became that of reaching 350 runs within 120 overs to gain a fourth batting point. Still assuming the game would be drawn after what happened last year and with the prospect of further rain Blackwell 38 and Mustard 40 and then Plunkett did the best to score more quickly, losing their wickets as a consequence and failing to get the additional point by 1 run. The innings was over at 356 just before lunch with Mitch Claydon bowling 2 overs without a run or wicket and Davies at the other end.
Over lunch there was a great surprise as Steve Harmison called to the Test as a standby by if Andrew Flintoff had been released and taken the train from London and under new rules was allowed to replace Claydon and immediately open the after lunch bowling. It was Steve who gained the wicket of opener Wood when the total was 14. It was his only wicket and he ended the day having bowled 16 overs and taken 1 for 45. Not Test match standards. The Durham success came from returned from injury Liam Plunkett with match figures of 4 for 56 and the spin bowler Ian Blackwell with the amazing 8 overs, 3 maidens, six runs adn three wickets. The wickets fell at 17 33 47 54 135 158 166 169 and 171. The Nottingham batsmen appeared to be over awed by the fierce attack from Harmison and started with a run rate of ,20 an over, that is one run every five overs which was sustained over the first ten overs. Durham enforced the follow on but play was halted because of bad light and an impending down pour. I retreated to Amici in the Radcliffe Road sitting in a comfy chair in the window as the food tables were being cleared to make way of a Salsa class at 7.30. I enjoyed a large plate of prawns in a cocktail sauce on a bed of lettuce. I less enjoyed the vegetable pasta, mainly because of the quantity.
While there is the residential area of West Bridgeford to the other side of the ground, the Football and cricket grounds are rather cut off surrounded by the river and overlooked by two large municipal offices, one the County Council is within the ground while the other covers district services. It is difficult to see how the restaurants survive in the evenings and at weekends unless those coming to the football on an evening eat a meal beforehand or stay after the cricket or weekend afternoon football game. You have to get round the ground from the student lodgings and multi occupational houses in West Bridgeford so the sa class is one solution. Sky Sports was another. The food and the prices alas were not.
There had been about 1000 people in the ground at best for the second day and I was surprised how many less there were when I arrived for the third day although there had been heavy rain overnight and more was promised. I joked with a member of staff about rain intervention but he explained that if the match was over in three days they would have a paid free day on Saturday. There were no more than 100 people in ground during the morning.
What happened that third morning has become an instant legend in the history of Durham. The wickets fell as follows 9 19 38 51 55 60 66 and 68 and then a few minutes before the normal luncheon interval the rain commenced. Had it not then the play would have continued as the match was over for all intents and purposes.
The rain had fallen with intense pressure in large drops and the ground staff had been slow adn then decided to cover the whole area of wickets before the bowling run ups. The covers then became saturated with water that the ground staff could not lift them. I charge the staff with incompetence and would have complained to the authorities had no play been possible in the match as a consequence. However after inspections at 1.30 and 2.30 the decision was taken at 3.30 to commence play at 3.55. Why the delay remained a puzzle as a fine rain was falling then and continued to fall until about five past four when further rain ended play for the day. In the ten minutes one further wicket was taken but it became necessary to play six balls the following morning before the final wicket was taken.
I had enjoyed the morning talking to a Nottingham supporter who lived in Northampton and attended a number of cricket grounds in the Midlands when he had the opportunity and he was young enough to be engaged in a full time work although I had the impression that he was in a position to take time off as and when he was inclined. He and the other Notts supporters who and brave the conditions and state of played appeared to suffer shock as the second collapse occurred within the space of 26 hours. One had joked about the game being over by lunch time and it nearly was.
Few supporters remained after the downpour There had been seven people visible when I arrived at the ground. I had again brought with some spicy chicken wings and fruit but called over to the Coop for use of their cash machine. Next to this was a copier and a young mother with an eight year was copying a summer holiday project which he was required to complete and return by August 1st. She was put out but the requirement and needed assistance with the use of the machine. Later I returned and purchased a half bottle of scotch to keep the weather out!
With the prolonged delay I had moved over to the pavilion and it was at this time that I explored the arrangements. There were only media people about and a handful of Durham supporters who appeared to be relative or friends of the players. Such was the enthusiasm for ending the game that day that the equipment was already down stairs for removal to the team coach. In fact it was a further two hours before the game was called off for the day. I was long gone by then
It was a devastating performance by Durham. Steve Harmison took 6 wickets for twenty runs with 4 maidens from 13 and his best figures for Durham Davies took two wickets for 13 and Ian Blackwell 1.16 with Thorp the other. Durham had won by an innings and 115. The regional TV programme described the defeat as humiliating,
The defeat has to be placed in perspective. Durham with 9 games played have a total of 138 points and 5 wins. Notts are now fourth but have played onl7 7 games and should they win the two in had with maximum bonus points they will have 125 points cutting Durham’s lead to three points. Somerset who have one game in hand have 102 points thus with a win and maximum bonus points they would have 122 points and they would need to continue their run with Durham losing or drawing games in succession to take top position. Lancashire present fourth have 97 from 9 and Sussex 82 from 8 Yorks are yet to win a game back in 7th and still in a relegation struggle with Warwickshire who have played two less and Worcestershire who are hopeless having lost three times as many games as anyone else.
The Durham players did not over do the celebrations which was to their credit and I imagine the Nottinghamshire Inquest was painful and the psychological damager will take time to recover. I am not overstating in saying the win could prove the most important in the twenty odd year history of the club.
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