I decided to walk to the entrance at the end of the stand where I wanted to sit and where my companion for the match had texted she had arrived and found two seats exactly as wanted. I was able to leave my summer blazer to guard the seat and made the way to the restaurant on the first floor of stand settling for a cool drink on discovering that instead of the excellent cream tea usually provided at that time of the day they were offering a full cooked meal not required having had my main meal at lunchtime. Given that no sandwiches were on offer I settled for a sausage role with onions price £4 or was it 4.50 and on reflection a better decision would have mean the proper meal at the restaurant for a couple of pounds more? Returning to seat just in time for the start of play so there was no opportunity to relax at what had been a hectic day and at times challenging day.
The cricket game was the most close of the season. Nottingham despite without Broad and Swann tied up with the English Squad as contracted players have looked like getting into the last eight automatically by taking one of the two places from the Northern division at the expense of Durham. They are heading their division in the 40 40 as are Durham but have struggled in the Championship with only two wins against the five of Durham and Yorkshire at the top. There was also Notts wish for revenge because Durham had that extraordinary win getting 186 runs in 20 overs in the last 90 minutes to win.
Durham won the toss and asked Notts to bat first and giving the opening overs and the majority of the 20 to the slow bowlers with Onions and Rushworth only three overs each and with Onions getting their only wicket. Smith who opened took two for 20 from four was the best bowler helping to restrict Notts to 159 with Taylor who has been asked by the English selectors to guest for Sussex against the Australians this weekend. He was 65 not out at close of play yesterday July 27th (2013).
Durham started slowly as Stoneman who has not done well was out for 5 when the total was only 7 and Borthwick went for 7 at 19 and with Smith and Mustard also going when the total was only 44 it looked as if hope of making progress to the Quarterfinals was ending but Stokes with 72 with the help of Breese 32 brought them close and with the local crowd of some 10000 complaining about the lack of slow bowlers the scores were tied with one ball to go and Durham gained the win with the last ball.
I was surprised how quickly a bus came at the end of the match and with as short queue I got a seat for the short journey to central station where the tram presently ends although there is progress with the extension line going south. The line is high above the road at this point so that a new bridge is being created. My journey was to the other end of the line and it was dark on arrival. It was possible to work out a cross country route but in the darkness I felt this was unwise so I made my way the short distance out to the motorway and then up to the first junction and then across to the A 38 attempting to retrace the same route I had taken in the afternoon. However at one point I must have taken the wrong turn and ended up heading to the centre of Mansfield, hence turning into the road leading to the Odeon Cinema/ Indoor Bowling and Sainsbury centre before retracing steps and taking a right turn towards Sutton in Aston and then taking the left turning and coming to the Travel Lodge past the large Hospital complex which recently the Government announced was being placed in special measures because of the statistical evidence of an abnormal and unacceptable death rate.
The second Ashes Test between England and Australia was being played at Lords to full houses during the weekend in the Midlands but I was able to keep in touch through a digital radio as well as TV. I had purchased the Digital pocket radio in time for the first Test when I was also watch Durham cricket in live games and in one instances travelling to a game. An odd situation occurred when I could not turn the radio off during the journey back from the visit to Old Trafford and unplugged the chargeable battery. However when I reinserted the battery to recharge I could not switch on although some charging was initially registered. I took the recent purchase back to Argos who ordered another which became available the following afternoon. This no nonsense immediate service is so impressive and commendable.
I will save writing about the Lords Cricket ground for my visit there to watch Durham play Middlesex in the County Championship at the commencement of August. I will mention that for the first time a TV camera was allowed into the Long Room of the Pavilion. This year I will be visiting all the grounds where the Ashes Tests are being played with the visited to the Oval already, one afternoon visit to Old Trafford, the evening visit to Trent Bridge and the rest of the season watching Durham at the Emirates ground. In addition I shall be visiting Derby for the first time and returning to Hove as well as a visit to Edgbaston for the 20 20 finals and back to Lords for the 40 40 and for hopefully the Durham semi final in this competition. There is the crucial championship game at Scarborough making my second visit to this ground in the year, a magnificent total of 25 days watching cricket at 9 county grounds this year if Durham is included, an all time likely never to be repeated record.
In the second England won the toss and decided to bat losing three wickets for 27 runs and the bubble of the first Test appeared to have been well and truly burst, Trott 58 was joined by Bell who again saved the day with an innings of 109. He was supported by Bairstow 67 and later by a fine stand between Broad and Swann. Nevertheless on a good wicket the total of 361 was considered under par for a match of this importance. We were worried? We should not have been.
Although the Australian openers were able to get 42 runs on the board before the first wicket what happened next is something of a disgrace, hee hee, for Australia, Oh dear me for the wickets fell at 50 53 69 86 91 96 104 and 104 for 9. Were we going to witness another heroic stand, well no, we were not and the Aussi’s were all out for 128 and England was entitled to enforce the follow on. The decision not to do so was taken for cricketing reasons but also I suspect because tickets for all five days has been sold.
I have seen what Joe Root can do when he scored half the runs needed for Yorkshire to beat Durham at the Emirates Durham. But his elevation to open for England after good performances in the middle order had not been inspiring. Now he not only scored his first century adding his name to all those who have done so before in the team locker room but went on to make 186, failing to get a double century the following morning when it was evident the Australians tactics to try and limit the time available for their defeat. He was assisted by Bell again with 74. England declared at 349 and the opposition had almost two days to get over 600 runs to win. They made 235 all out just before the end of fourth day. Graham Swann took four and then five wickets with match figures of 9 for 98. England were two up in the series and Australia had to win all three Tests remaining to reclaim the Ashes, and on this showing there was no chance. Given the wins in the Rugby Union Lions, Andy Murray at Wimbledon and Froom in the Tour De France one could also look forward to the World Athletics and swimming Championships, The Rugby League Challenge Cup and perhaps even the football where the season begins to get under way
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