Voices at the door : Bank Holiday weekend cricket

Hi everyone!

I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never know

But all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before
I listen for returning feet 
And voices at the door

      JRR Tolkein

A very enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend of cricket started on Friday evening with Sussex v Hampshire in the T20 Blast at Hove.

I was delighted to be joined by Neil Ayton who had made his annual trip from Southampton along the tortuous A27; when are They going to get round to building the bypasses around Arundel & Worthing?  

Sussex had won their first two T20 matches, but that run came to an end as Hampshire claimed their first victory in this year's competition.

James Vince hit a 30-ball fifty  and with support from Sean Ervine 38 and Adam Wheater 34 Hampshire piled up 177-5.

Despite the absence of Chris Jordan, Matt Prior and Chris Nash, Sussex made a decent fist of chasing 178. At halfway they were slight favourites with Ed Joyce and Rory Hamilton-Brown both scoring well.

But Hamilton-Brown, having got the measure of a slow pitch with 34 off 22 balls, was bowled making room and then Ben Brown had a horrible mow across the line having just hit two boundaries through midwicket.

Why was it that Brown’s shot reminded me of so many of mine?? Please email the Young Man in New Zealand who’ll tell you why!!

Hampshire bowled very tightly in the last five overs and Sussex fell almost 20 runs short on 159 for 5.

After their blip against Glamorgan last week Hampshire were back to their formidable best at Hove. Finalists for the last four years and winners in 2010 and 2012 they again look the side to beat.

I’m already looking forward to seeing the return fixture at the (Ageas) Rose Bowl on Friday 18 July.

------------------

On Sunday it was off to the Nevill Ground for Kent v Worcestershire in the Championship.

This year, rather than that so-familiar journey down on the A21 from Bickley to Tunbridge Wells, I drove up from Hove; through Lewes and Uckfield and on to Crowborough and Eridge, before turning off the A26 into Bunny Lane, Forest Road and finally left into Farmcombe Road, slowing past 102 where I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s (not that the 1960’s ever actually reached Royal Tunbridge Wells!!).

I met up with Sally, David & John and a few minutes later I was sitting - as Tradition requires - at the Railway End between the sight screen and the iconic marquees.

What can I tell you about the Nevill?

Well, EW “Jim” Swanton, the eminence grise of cricket writers, described the ground as "no mean contender for the most delectable English Cricket Ground.”

The first County game was played in 1901; & NO - I wasn’t watching!

Nor was I there when the Suffragettes burnt down the pavilion in 1913!!

I don’t remember the first Kent game I ever watched at the Nevill.

I imagine it is very likely to have been in 1958 or 1959 that aged 6 or 7 I walked with Dad from Farmcombe Road, exactly the route I did today.

Looking at the scores on Cricinfo, I’d love to believe that my very first visit was on Saturday 7 June 1958 for Kent v Sussex.

Already my Favourite Player just as he is today, JM “Young Jim” Parks scored 127 in Sussex’s 302!!

In the next 20 years Dad & I would watch many games at the Nevill, both Kent & Tunbridge Wells CC.

Not easy years for Sussex supporters, as Kent led by Colin Cowdrey and then Mike Denness were in their Glory Years and Sussex, notwithstanding their Gillette Cup successes under Lord Ted, were middling performers.

There was a decent-sized crowd for Kent v Worcestershire on Day 1 of the LVCC Championship.

Most would have been concerned that the Council had decided not to maintain - and indeed had sold off -  the scoreboard at the Railway End nor to fund the stand by the old tennis courts.

The latter decision caused Kent not to have the T20 game at the Nevill  on the Friday evening.

Much - as a Bromley resident – I want Kent to play more games at Beckenham, it would be awful if they were to abandon playing at the Nevill.

It was a very enjoyable day’s county cricket with Kent recovering from 24 for 2 to be all out on the last ball for 258. 

Joe Leach took 5 for 36, as several Kent batsmen got in without any of them making a big score: Sam Northeast – once seen as a future England batsman - 53, Ben Harmison 47 and Brendon Nash 41.

Of course, visits to the Nevill are only partly about the Cricket.

There was Mrs Lambourne’s first Picnic of the Summer;I’ve never had a better meat pie!

And the chance to meet friends from Skinners & the Borderers.

The Grahams (with various spellings): Bishopp, Clayton, Hall, Pring & Wicker.

And Chris Vickery, Greville Billyard and Paul Hardwick.

So good to see them and to chat about the much-loved stories and remember Absent Friends.

And - as always – to think of Mum & Dad.

They got engaged at the ground, on that Saturday long, long ago when Young Jim hit the last ball of the day one-bounce through midwicket into the marquees for his century.

And then spent over 25 years living very near the ground.

As I drove back across East Sussex on a gloriously sunny evening, I couldn’t help but remember what Dad had always told me about Life:

Give it Go, Richard !

I hope that he thinks I have.

As the minute hand of the Clock of Life tick-tocks past quarter to the hour, I'm working on the assumption that there's Lots More to have a go at; #JustHopeSo !!

-------------

Next Sunday 1 June Sussex celebrate their 175^th Birthday.

Entry for Sussex v Nottinghamshire in the Championship is only £1.75.

Hope you can come along.

See you soon!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace