Now to cricket. Apart from one day it continues to be football weather First the two Test matches between England and New Zealand. I watched the first day of the game on Thursday on Sky TV when England struggled to score runs on a flat wicket taking spin and where despite good starts batsmen failed to progress with Compton going at 43 for 16, Cook for 23 at 67, Trot for 39 at 122 and bell for 31 at 165. There was hope when young but brilliant Root came to the wicket with fellow Yorkshire played Johnny Bairstow.
Root this season has started amazingly although is first match in the 40 over competition he scored 0 and bowled 2 overs for 18 runs. Against Durham in the Championship he made 49 in the first innings and a match winning 182 in the second taking his championship average to over 100.In a weak Derbyshire aside he then made 236 giving him an average of 156 runs although his team mate Hasid is even better with 200 being not out in three of his scoring innings. Bairstow also made 186 in the Derbyshire game.
Root went on to make 40 and Bairstow 41 in the Test on the second day but the wicket fell quickly after Roots departure at 192, Prior without scoring, Broad 3, Swann 9 Anderson also 9 but it was Finn who with Bairstow added 20 who helped with some respectability to take the England total to 232 at a rate of just over 2 runs an over for this public paid substantial ticket prices. Southee for New Zealand took 4 for 58 off 28.2overs.
New Zealand also found run getting difficult although Williamson for 60 and Taylor 66 appeared to provide the base for a good total. It was Anderson 5 for 47 and Finn 4 for 63 who changed the situation resulting in the side only making 207 giving England a modest lead of 25 runs.
England then had another disastrous start with Cook and Compton going when the total was only 36. It was Trott with Bairstow who raised hopes by an excellent partnership of 123 before Root went for 71 Bairstow 5, Prior for another duck and then Trott so Finn came in as the night watchman with England in trouble once again. It was Broad with the bat who hit a lively 26 Sunday morning as England were all out for 213 setting new Zealand a gettable target of 239 over a day and two thirds. At that point New Zealand would have felt satisfied with their performance and a good chance to win. Southee added to is 4 first innings wickets with another 6 and a match bowling of 10 wickets for 108 runs. A matching winning performance in most circumstances.
What happened next demonstrates that cricket can prove unpredictable in that it was Chris Broad, sometimes awful, sometimes brilliant, never know what he is going to do who put in an amazing man of the match winning performance taking the first wicket at 1, the second and third at 10 and the fourth at 21. Sometimes these great bowling starts become thwarted by dogged performances from the arriving bats, as was happened with Durham 40 odd for 4 in the one day against Hampshire they rallied with some virtuoso performances to reach an impressive 241 in 36 overs, match reduced because of the late start through rain.
In the instance of England the bowling continued to excel with the first New Zealand wicket taken at 5, then at 25 and 6th at 29. The question became how low would be the final score. A little rally before the seventh at 41, then 54, 67 and all out 68 meaning that England won by 170 runs, leaving New Zealand, routed, crushed, humiliated and deflated. Only two bowlers were needed with Broad 7 for 44 from his eleven overs and Anderson 2 for 23 from his 11.3 over. The last wicket ended in a farcical way with ball skied but the substitute could not hold and tried to palm the ball to someone else who was able to throw to the wicket keeper who ran a batsman out.
New Zealand with their former great players who could make a difference to any match retired have become a better competitive side through organisation, team work and good captaincy. They are vulnerable to collapsing and was demonstrated yesterday. England on the other hand have still more good work to do before they can be confident giving Australia good competition.
The weather forecast was not good and the first day of the second Test played at Headingley was a wash out. The second day, last Saturday and the fourth day of Durham’s game at the Emirates Chester le Street was one of brilliant sunshine and hot warm from dawn to dusk. At Headingley England was put into bat and Compton failed again scoring 1 run from 11 balls received. Cook 24, Bell 30 and Trott 28 all made good starts , albeit carefully but at 67 for 3 it looked as if it was the same as recent. It was Root, playing at home who rooted the innings first with Bell and then with his Yorkshire team made Bairstow. Root went onto make 104 becoming one of the few and potential greats scoring his first century in a test match at his home ground, along with Yorkshire legend Geoff Boycott who could not disguise his delight on the TV edition fo his radio broadcast which I saw on Channel Four when I got back from Durham. Bairstow went soon after for 64 but by then total had reached 279 and with Broad going for 0 at 286 it was left for Swann and Prior to see the innings continue to the Sunday. I did consider taking the offer a ticket from another member to drive Headingley if Root and or Bairstow had continued to bat, but I did not have a good previously and the thought of driving there and back in a day did not appeal. It proved a good decision.
I watched the game on TV on Sunday with England continuing to 354 with Swann not out for 26. New Zealand seemed to have a good start with the first wicket going at 55 but then another of their famed collapses with the second at 62, and then 72, 79,81, 82 119, 122 ad 122 for 9. With the follow on target reduced from 200 to 150 because of the loss of a full day, it looked as if the last wicket pair would manage this but Wagnar was bowled by Anderson for 22 at 174 with Swann 4 for 42 and Finn 3 for 36 dong the main damage.
The great talking point was the decision not to enforce the follow on. My theory is that because the crowds had been poor with the ground less than half full despite comparatively low prices it was decided to continue the game for as long as possible. New Zealand could not win and therefore the series was not in doubt and win or draw would not affect the World rating.
This perhaps explains that England to bat cautiously in their second innings. Extraordinarily Compton had only scored 7 from 86 deliveries when he failed again and his place is in question unless the bats well for his home county in the meantime before the Ashes Tests. He did not start in the game against Yorkshire which commenced on Tuesday though. Cook made a good 130 and Trott 76 taking the total to over 200 before the second and third wickets fell. Root and Bairstow made some quick runs 28 from 36 and 26 from 20. They went on until the total was 287 setting the visitors a world record fourth innings win of just under 450.
When they lost their first wicket at 21, second at 40 and third 65 only the weather could prevent defeat. This looked a strong possibility as rain and cloud prevented an immediate start on the final day and England just about managed to bowl the New Zealanders out before the weather would have prevented a win. They were all out for 220, a victory by 247 runs.
Swann took 6 for 90 and ten wickets in the game. A feature of the first game was that Anderson became only the fourth English bowler to get more than 300 wickets in Test Matches. Ian Botham has 383, Bob Willis 325 and Fred Truman 307. His second wicket in this match brought him equal to Fred Truman’s 307 and if injury free the Ashes series could see him exceed the total of Bob Willis.
Durham with three wins from their five First Class games came into the home game with Middlesex confident and with banishing thoughts of relegation and the prospects of a third championship season win. The weather forecast was not good however I made by way full of expectation to the ground for the start of play. The wind was from the North East so I found myself a position at the back of the Park end stand next to the white sheeting covering the of the green coloured seats.
Work had already commenced with the foundations for the permanent addition seating, a development which should have taken place last year. I do not know the extent of the proposed development although a note on the site of the Test and County cricket Board and on the Durham News Board talks of a mixture of permanent and temporary seating. According to one colleague we have purchased over 5000 seats used at the Olympic Hockey stadium. If so this will significant increase the ground capacity. My understanding is that he hotel project has been cancelled and if as also understood some of the sears will replace the horrible green for ever temporary seating behind the bowler’s arm then it is also goodbye to the proposed new entrance and conference centre development .
While the work in hand is being fenced off and involves lifting by hand the brick pathway brick by brick onto pallets presumable to replace or for the bricks to be reused. This suggests the new seating will occupy a space greater than previously planned. In addition to the fenced off area there are foundation markings continuing and then at the end of the Park end seating. It is all interesting and puzzling.
|Middlesex won the toss and decided to field. Durham were pains taking in their innings which end at 259 with two bonus points Borthwick 52 and Mustard 62 were the two batting performances of note. Borthwick as a Middlesex man commented ( staying at the Castle) does not look a number 3 player but he is settling to the position with several competent and key knocks of over 50. Stoneman 5 and Collingwood 1 were the failures.
I decided not to go for the second day given the weather forecast and the prospect of Middlesex batting. In the event Middlesex were all out for 196 with Graham Onions taking 5 wickets for 39 runs. Middlesex were 35 for 5 at one point so did well to reach nearly 200.
There was more heavy rain on Friday morning preventing any play before lunch. Because Durham had hired out Members facilities for a Prom Dance for a local school some 200 young people, a live band, stretch limos and a transformed location we were moved after lunch to the new wing and provided free coffee or tea. I decided irrespective of the weather and prospects of play to view the facilities and the experience of using the balcony which is superior to that provided by the two row Members balcony. There was play at 4.15 but then a further interruption fo nasty spotting rain in the wind and then one more spell with less than half the overs. 36 overs had been intended but in the event there was less than half. The view is better than the Members balcony but it was cold so for the second session I was able to get a seat at a window after a mother, her son and two other boys primary school level departed having watched the first quarter of an hour of what proved a three quarter hour session ending at six for the day.
Incidentally the son of this well spoken family spent at least fifteen minutes with his feet on the back of the chair balancing himself on the table in front. He was in danger of toppling the chair and himself quite part from putting his feet on the back rest. His mother said nothing and appeared to ignore the behaviour..
The final day, Saturday was glorious and I forgot to put in suntan but fortunately did not get burnt with the help of a large sun hat. I felt, and was not alone in this that Durham did not score quick enough and went on too long before the declaration. The declared at 240 for 6 just after lunch setting Middlesex an impossible 300 runs to win, which despite 50 overs was not possible on the wicket. Borthwick made 82 after Stoneman 50 and Jennings had put on 68 for the first wicket.
Although Middlesex opener Robson was out with the total 12, Denly never looked challenged and completed the day 73 not out with the other opener Wood making 50. There was some home when the third and fourth wickets went quickly 147 and 154 and again at 194 and 200 but there was insufficient time and Middlesex looked safe for a draw leaving Durham only gained a 2 point catch up on their rivals from this game. Middlesex and Durham do not play this week and Sussex only commenced their game at Notts to day, unfortunately missing the bad weather which has affected other games. They are at home to Notts who are having a hard tine scoring 120 for 6 by tea time and this does not augur well where a draw would be the best result. However I did not appreciate that Patel was not just holding one end but scoring runs and at the close he was 143 not out and were 279 for 7 so it is game on. As predicted Somerset also managed to hold out against Yorks at Taunton but with maximum bonus points and the draw they now head the table played 6 games and 87 points. Sussex are second with their 5 games and 86 points. Middlesex third with 6 games and 85 points and Durham 78.5 both also having played 6 games. Notts if they win against Sussex will come to the 70’s with a game in hand so a draw will help the Durham cause.
I have now booked up to attend the Durham game at Lords in early August and then in September I am going to the Derby Ground for the first time having secured accommodation at the Day’s Inn which is at the ground in a great deal at £30 a night around half price. However I have an amusing tale regarding the last match of the season at Sussex where I discovered that I had booked for period when Sussex is at Durham, 5 nights for £20 in a great deal. I will still go and managed to get a seal with travel Lodge at Worthing and a double room. I shall travel my train and there is a good service from Worthing to Hove for just under £5 a say return although for a few pence more the return can go on to Brighton. So I now have five trips planned before October with a trip to Mansfield in July.
While Durham are doing well in 4 day game their position is bad in the 40 over game with 2 losses and no result to go with two wins, the second of which took place on Monday bank holiday although I gave it a miss. Durham made a good score of 273 for score with Collingwood 79, Stokes 40 and Muchall 57 but then bad weather intervened but fortunately Derbyshire were able to bat for 16 overs making 73 for 3 giving Durham the game under Duckworth Lewis calculations. Chanderpaul played and was out for 11. We may have a harder job in September. I may go to the next home game on Sunday even thought we have no hope of qualifying as the fourth team highest runner up in the three groups even if we win every game left.
I have booked to attend the European team championships being held towards the end of June over two days at the Gateshead stadium costing only £19.50 and under cover albeit on the opposite side to finishing straight. I forgot to check when tickets went on sale for the anniversary games at the Olympic Stadium and of course they are all sold out. Have watched one Warrington Wolves Rugby league where they are third in the table at present. Newcastle Falcons have got back to the Rugby Union Premiership at their first attempt, winning the league and then the playoff final. Not had time or inclination to watch more Indian premier Cricket 20 20 competition, the recent Motor Racing Grand Prix’s the French Tennis Open but did catch a little of the Italian Road race to see how our boys were doing with Sky.
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