365 Sporting Days

The cricket season is nearly here!!  If I’m honest this blog grew from my love of the game, I was literally brought up at the side of a cricket pitch, some of my earliest memories involve my Dad in whites playing the game on what always seemed to be bright summer days.

That of course won’t have been the case and nor was it the case on the 1st day of live cricket I got along to.

At the moment I have no other forum to write about cricket, as the summer arrives I may just write more than normal here about the actual game, I’m most certainly likely to post more photos than usual.

I’m going to make each day I’m at cricket an event – even though consecutive days will likely be the same game – probably cheating a bit but hey, it’s my blog! 🙂

I can recall going to the County Groundlast season for the 1st league game and completely freezing, I like to try different views and stupidly sat in a really chilly spot for the afternoon.

Essex Cricket is the sport that’s closest to me, I can walk there if I’m feeling in need of exercise, the ground’s in the centre of Chelmsford, about 5km from where I live.

For this day I decided to drive, parking can be a problem in Chelmsford but I headed to a small car park just out of town.  £4 later my car was parked and I was on my way to the ground.

 A stroll through the park took about 10 minutes; I decided to sort out my T20 and Essex v Australia game, taking my time.

I’d left it late to go down thinking not a lot would have gone one – but little did I know.  I sat down in front of the Pavilion to see Chris Tremlett walk to the wicket.

Jamie Porter picked up 6 wickets for 22 runs helping to see Surrey bowled out for Nelsons – otherwise known as 111 – not a very good morning at the office for the visitors.  Their innings finished just after lunch.

 It never ceases to amaze me that no matter what has happened during the day at cricket, say a delayed start time – lunch and tea are always taken on time!  I’ve been at a day that’s started at mid-day to see the players depart at 1pm!  Really??

No doubt there’ll be plenty of rants during the season when that happens.

Lunch for me was M & S pasta, the joys of being close to the shops means you have plenty of choices if the ‘in-house’ food isn’t to your liking.

This game’s a friendly so not much of a crowd and pretty much just the pavilion food on offer – Soup and a Sandwich for £5 – not bad.  I’ll pick up beer etc prices later in the season but a Cup of Tea is £1.00 in said pavilion.

Tom Westley and Nick Browne opened the batting for Essex, Wesley’s was the 1st wicket to fall as he was bowled for 8 by Dunn.

Next in was Jaik Mickleburgh his wicket fell with Essex on 52 – bowled by Meaker – he made 20.

Nick Browne had his eye in, looking very comfortable at the wicket making 33 before he was caught with a great effort by March off the bowling of Dunn.

James Foster arrived at the crease to do an about turn fairly promptly as Dunn took another scalp – Roy taking the catch this time.

Essex went in at tea time on 93-4 – I always wonder what occurs at tea time – cucumber sandwiches and a cuppa?  I’ll ask when I get a chance.

Dan Lawrence had been at the crease for a while but was next to fall caught by Foakes – Dunn being the bowler again.  He’d made 26.

Kishen Velani who’d come to the fore last season looked in great form at the wicket, he was joined by Greg Smith who soon got to grips with things.  Smith was out LBW to Ansari for 28.

Velani ended the day on an unbeaten 62 with Graham Napier at the crease on 5.  Essex finished the day 189-6.

It was great as an Essex member to see so many young players in the team.  Strangely I’m a Surrey member this year too – so I’ll hopefully get to know the team/squad a bit better as time goes on.

The weather was very odd all day – really quite sunny, yet really very windy.  My coat was on and off, all afternoon, my body thermostat is really very easily confused!

The day totally confirmed for me just how much I love this game of cricket, I can and will be watching hours and hours of willow against leather from now on!

A couple of my usual ‘stats’

• Cost of the day         Free!
• Nicest moment of the day – listening to 2 little boys, 5 & 6 talking about the Cricket World Cup with real knowledge.  Then watching these future stars batting and bowling to each other at lunch.
• Best moment of the day – Not cricket based as such – the Surrey fielders were almost as a whole having so much fun!  It was a total joy to watch.
•  A new pointer – Tallest man on the field – Chris Tremlett – he looked huuuuuge!