Cricket has continued to dominate my time with the important County Championship game between Durham and Surrey at the Emirates ICG commencing on Thursday August 22nd 2013 after Yorkshire was well underway against Nottingham and England had commenced the 5th and final test pf the present Ashes series at the Oval. I have also not reported on the important 4th Test at Durham. Newcastle and Sunderland got off to a disastrous start as the new Premiership season commenced. The weather turned dark and wintry as the weekend progressed although it was possible to watch the first day at Chester Le Street in warmth and sunshine.
I had wondered how the 20 20 defeat on the Final would affect Surrey in their game against Durham at the Emirates which commenced on Thursday August 22nd yesterday. The weather had looked poor over all this week brightened up as the morning progressed but Surrey remembering what happened in the fourth test and with the cloud cover asked Durham to bat and at first this looked a good move as Stoneman was out for 8 when the total was 9. Jennings then 1 was joined by Borthwick and they batted steadily around 3 runs an over and looked set to reach lunch when Jennings was out for 35 to Treadwell who had also dismissed Stoneman and was the only Surrey bowler who appeared the be a threat to Durham. However by then Borthwick had made a brilliant innings of 135 until falling to a LBW from Treadwell and Borthwick had been ably supported by Scratcher Smith out also LBW to Treadwell for 87 13 short if his century. I was pleased for Smith who played some great strokes and swipes but he appears unable to sustain a good innings into a great one.
Richardson who came in for Stokes called up for England only made 7 so at the close of the first day Collingwood 17 was joined by Harrison 1. Mustard is further down the order than usual after his recent loss of form in the vital 20 20 and the two 40 40 games which Durham lost. Durham are also playing a new man Usman Arshad who captains the second XI one day side and bowls and bats although from the figures I have seen so far he had achieved nothing spectacular but he is young and has shown promise and remembering the success of trying out the 2nd team spinner Butler in the first game at the Oval last April which I so much enjoyed. Durham were 309 for 6 at the close.
On Thursday I sat at the first level but Friday I moved up to the top which enabled a view almost over the wicket and above, perfection as it was a great period of play to watch the Durham bowlers at work. In the morning Durham progressed slowly and lost all rounded Harrison, who replaced Stokes for 10 with the total 331 and then Collingwood who has looked uncomfortable at the wicket recently with the total for 348 but who had managed to achieve 36 which the way the match and weather is progressing are valuable runs. This provided he opportunity for us to see what new man to the team Usman Arshad is made of at a time when with heavy cloud cover it looked as if the ball was starting to move so that every batsman was having to concentrate hard and played defensively especially when Treadwell was bowling.
The visit to the Emirates over the past three days has provided the opportunity to view the improvements made for the Test at close quarters in ways which I did not expect. The wicket for this game has been placed to one side towards the main pavilions with the green seats closed off. And therefore only a limited area of view behind rather than over the wicket, Dissatisfied with this I went on an explore at lunch and discovered that the presumed temporary hospitality boxes were open and have provided the best view at Durham since the ground was opened. I was told, later, that a seat here during the Test would have cost around £350 and with at least room for 100 on to the two levels that is £3500 a day and £140000 for the first with four days. The construction was high quality production with individual room areas and one large area on the first floor. There was a multitude of power points and TV Points and at the back quality toilets and rooms for cooking washing, bars and storage.
As if to emphasise the mistake England made with excluding Treadwell from the Oval 5th Test he had another brilliant day on Friday and finished the Durham innings with his best figures of 8 wickets for 96 runs off 33 overs. Arshad managed 15 off 70 balls showing great application and Wood and Rushworth tried to stay around as former captain Colonel Mustard took his tally to 45 not out as Durham toiled to an impressive 421, the highest first innings at the round all season and which highlights just how well Borthwick and Smith played on the first day.
Only bad light prevented play after tea and stopped Durham completing a rout of the Surrey innings on the second day and they finished 97 for 6 having been 5 for 2 20 for 3 and 36 for 4 at one point. It was also young Arshad who broke what appeared to be steadying stand when he took two wickets in his second over having gone for just 1 in his first and finished he day 3 overs and nine runs for his two wickets having been hit for two fours in his third over and the Surrey approach appeared to be one of trying to hit there way out of further trouble. The weather forecast suggest that the only time when rain showers is not forecast in the morning. Fortunately the forecast is good for Sunday although getting Surrey out twice might prove a challenged although Rushworth, Harrison and Wood all posed problems getting the 4 other wickets between them. Surrey are becoming desperate finding themselves at the bottom of the table with 74 points albeit with a game in hand on fellow struggles Somerset with 89 and Derbyshire who had their second win in succession beating Middlesex, previous championship rivals by 56 runs. This means that if Durham win they will leap frog over Middlesex and Sussex to with one win to overtake Yorkshire who they play next week and could prove to be the championship decider, assuming the weather enables a full game and with the forecast good for Wednesday the first day.
I have not as yet mentioned the magnificent way in which Durham hosted the fourth Ashes Test and where I was congratulated by the couple, members of Warwickshire who had gone for a couple of days who helped me get to the ground from the car park,. The weather was kind for the Test and the cricket excellent but everyone commented favourably on the preparation of the wicket which offered both batsmen and bowlers opportunities. They also praised and the hospitality that was being shown. Durham avoided the kind of how to get to the ground problems experienced at Edgbaston by having volunteers in the station and at Chester le street car parks as well a good road sign postings.
I took the opportunity on Wednesday to sit at various points in the new stand which remains up for the 40 40 but where the back part will be removed to the brick pathway which has been relaid. There are good views from all parts of this stand where the surprise was the walkway using the brick path under the stand providing cover as well as mobility between the entrances. On Friday I also attempted to undertake the riverside walk which was signposted from behind the players nets. The public play needs in front have been removed although whether this is the is to be a permanent development is not clear. The walk way has an attractive temporary fence and a bridge over rough ground alongside the Chester le street outdoor leisure centre. However because the club was not in a position to provide a gate steward access to the riverside has been closed off again. It will be interesting to see if it will be opened up again for the 20 20 game a week today.
I was surprised that there was any play at the Riverside on Friday, given the lingering damp and dark start over Tyneside but left for the ground as soon as it was evident that play would be possible. Jamie Harrison skittled out the Surrey tail with 5 for 31 and the innings ending with a pathetic 108 but which demonstrated the bowling failure of the side as much as the skill of the Durham openers. Harrison also Dismissed opener Harinath for the big zero in the third over and Collinwood anxious to see what Arshad could do again early on was rewarded with two wickets in successive balls but Amla with 32 so far is showing great resistance and he was also support by De Bruyn so when bad light and then rain and the cold stopped play for the day just after lunch and a question mark over the weather in the North East on Sunday with although rain not forecast, the autumnal gloom continues this vital win in terms of championship hopes remains in doubt. My good view ended when the hospitality boxes were cordoned off overnight. During today, Sunday I noted a photographer on the baloney and when i walked round it was evident he had broken the tape, presumably with permission.
There was a continuing gloom when I left this morning although shortly after arrival the sun made the effort to come out and there was never any question of bad light preventing a full day’s play. And for a time it looked as if the game could go on beyond the six hours of car parking I had taken. The problem was Amla, a player I know nothing about as he is not included the Playfair annual. He eventual was removed for 89 at 139 after Dr Bruyn had gone for 12 at 101 so with the total 133 for 5 I was confident that Durham would win sometime during the afternoon. It was a brilliant over by Wood with two balls to go for lunch who had Davies caught Mustard and he had Batty also caught Mustard the very next ball. While he did not get a hat trick within a couple of runs he had Wilson also caught by Mustard. Later he had Linley caught by Smith with Surrey all out for 169 having lost wickets at 156 156, 159, 159, 169. Durham had won by and innings and 144 runs thus ending the pain of those terrible hammering at the Oval when Durham first played Surrey as a First Class County. They now have 155.5 points and a game in hand on Yorkshire 15.5 points behind so a win at Scarborough will bring back to the lead with a game in had.
Rushworth 3 for 72 was for one he least success of the bowlers with Harrison 7 for 74, Wood 6 for 79 and Arshad 4 for 34 the best in terms of figures. Collinwood and Jennings also took a turn but with the innings of Borthwick and Smith I doubt if the match would have proved so one sided.
I must mentioned football before covering the last two Ashes Test matches. The result of the first two weeks was a 3,2 win by Cardiff against Manchester City who scored a brilliant goal first and look a class act with their demolition of her Toon in the first match of their season. Cardiff were 3. 1 with only six minuets of extra time remaining and then they had a good headed goal and there was an anxious several minutes which seemed to o on for ever as the Welsh capital city’s team gained their first three valuable points. Not so Sunderland and Newcastle who after their first game defeats, Sunderland 1.0 at home survived scares at the second matches to gain draws. Newcastle with their 0.0 were very lucky at St James Park while Sunderland who were 1 up from a headed corner 3 minutes into the game never looked like holding out against the home side who looked as if they will do well, as do Aston Villa along with the Man U who play Chelsea this afternoon, along with Arsenal, Spurs and Everton. Nothing changes much even with Bale going to Spain for a reported ninety to one hundred million while Rooney who left Moyes at Everton for United once now looks determined to leave at some point.
Meanwhile an air of great disappointment continued to grow at the Oval in the Fifth Test with Australia winning the toss and batting well on a flat wicket, reaching 492 for 9 before declaring with Watson 176 and Smith not out 138 securing their places for the second round when the two sides meet again in Aussiland in November. Anderson 4 for 95 was the only bowler to have success after a surprising England move which saw Kerrigan come in instead of Tremlett after Bresnan and Onions were injured, he proved an embarrassment on the flat wicket with 0 for 53 for is eight overs. He was not asked to bowl in the second. England has also brought in Woakes for dropped who has promised to get a big score over the series but always managed to get out soon after getting himself in!. Woakes also had a torrid time with the ball with 1 for 96 as the second spinner brought in one suspect because Monty Panesar who recent appeared in caught over an incident involving a bouncer at a night club. I suspect his is only a temporary banishment and he like Watson will be given opportunity to redeem himself by going on he Ashes tour. Woakes is an a rounder of a sort as England try and find someone to take over the middle order all rounder spot which brought Botham and Flintoff international fame
England struggled during their innings boring everyone with two runs an over and Pietersen of all people getting one of the slowest 50’s of Ashes efforts all time taking 189 balls. In the second innings he made 50 again this time in 36 balls which was the second quickest. In he end although with a bad light evening and no play at all yesterday England were all out for 377 with Root 68, Trott 40 dependable Bell 45 and prior 47 all contributing. Cook with 28 still struggles. Australia to their credit all came out on the fifth day determined to entertain the huge crowd at the Oval where the last test was proving such a damp squib. They declared at 111 for 6 at just less than a run a ball setting England a target of 227 to win off 40 something overs. England played normally for the first 10 overs before Petersen unleaded his attack and England had the prospect of an unexpected an historic 4.0 Ashes win something which no English side had done before. As Australia found way to stall for time, as England had done, the prospect of the game ending on bad light became evident. The rules are quiet clear. Once players go off for bad light the meter reading involved becomes the bench mark for the rest of the game and a reading reaches the same level play has to end until the light improves. Last night in was the progress of the night which enveloped he Oval as play reached t,30 and beyond and even with the lights, the rules are the rules. It was disappointing for the crows who became very excited as the day turned into a one day event with close on 500 runs being score. Continuation would have delighted them and the nation but would have been unfair to Australia who must have been attempted to bat on forcing the welcome draw.
It did not matter anyway because England had won the fourth Test at Durham and taking the series 3.0 which added to the affection in which the Emirates Durham will now be held for all those attending the game or witnessing the win on TV. I have already mentioned the ground transformation for the event and the creation of extras such as the Riverside walkway and cricketing murals in the Member‘s lounge and around the ground. The airship above the ground provided god views of the Lumley castle and the countryside which surrounds Chester Le Street. England won the toss and elected to bat struggling during the day to make 238 with Cook 52 and Trott 49. Lyon the spinner taking 4 for 42. Australia then also struggled but gained a small lead of 32 with their runs coming from the opener Rogers 110 and Watson 66. They were 12 for 2 and 79 for 4 before the stand over 100. Broad 5 for 71 had a very good day. It was Bell who again came the rescue with 113, Bresnan the bowler 45 with Swann 30 after Pietersen had contributed with 44 all created a potential match innings second innings of 330. I say potent ional because the Australian openers then made 100 and with a whole day and a lengthened after tea session because of bad light the previous day, the odds had swung in favour of an Australian win.
I had contemplated investing in a ticket for the fourth day but the weather forecast was no good and so I banked on play being disrupted and an exciting 5th day where the tickets were £25 rather than the £80 . I w 11 for 121as therefore amazed when i switch the TV on after tea to find Australia collapsing with wickets falling at 147, 168 174 175 179 181 199 211 and 224, eight wickets falling for 54 runs. Broad 6 for 50 became unplayable and was man of he match with 11 for 121 and man of the match. England had won the Ashes with only keeping them after the result at Old Trafford.
With Durham not involved with one day events in 2014 and Cardiff getting the next Test going to a new Test ground in the next Ashes series in the UK, it raises the question of when will Durham next be able to hold such a prestigious game. Lords and he Oval always start and end the five match Test series in the Summer months with Old Trafford, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and Headingley traditionally competing for the holding the other tree. It is only in recent years that Emirates, the Rose Bowl now the Agius Bowl and Cardiff Sophia Gardens have become recognised Test grounds while others have been selected to hold one day international games.
hand over the Oval after the great time all England supporters had Durham over those four glorious days and which live on in the record books as England won the Ashes 3,0 with the win achieved on the fourth day. Having discovered that I have more films and TV to note I will end here and continue the culture later today as I prepare for Scarborough having decided I will give the last 40 40 at the Emirates a miss keeping one eye on the game involving Notts and Kent and Chelsea’s clash with Man U in 3D this evening.
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