Conception of Eternity

Cricket: a game which the English, not being a spiritual people, have invented in order to give themselves some Conception of Eternity.

     Bees in Some Bonnets, Lord Mancroft

As May turns into June, Season 2015 is well underway.

Over the last week or so I’ve seen games at both Beckenham and Hove.

A short journey from home in Bickley to Beckenham for Kent v Surrey in the Championship: Day 1.

The ground is undergoing plenty of development, including a new stand on the north side.

There was only a pitifully small crowd, even though it was local derby.

I do hope Kent persist in playing at Beckenham, with its huge local population in SE London.

It was good to chat with Graham Bishopp, an old friend from Upper Banner Farm Cricket Club days in the 60's (that's the 1960's; obviously!!). 
We are both looking forward to seeing Pete (from NZ) and watching some games with him in a few weeks’ time.

Kent made a decent start, with Key scoring 89 and Northeast 73.

But 282 all out looked 50+ too low. 

And so it proved by end of Day 4, with Surrey winning by just 3 wickets

Then it was on to Hove for Sussex v Warwickshire in the Championship: Days 2 & 3.

A very low scoring game: 180, 191, 200 & 190-9 to win.

And all over by Tea on Day 3.

But what an exciting last day. 

In their second innings Sussex slumped to 45-5, only for Ben Brown 53 & Chris Jordan 56 not out off just 34 balls (including 6 off the final ball !!) to see Sussex home.

A tremendous day, watching with James Serjeant on his first visit to the ground.

Come back soon, James; and bring your sons !!

And finally my first T20 this season: Sussex v Middlesex on Friday evening under the Floodlights.

Middlesex's opening partnership of 187 in 16.5 overs between Stirling (88 off 47 balls) and Malan  (unbeaten 115 off 64 balls) was the fourth highest in T20 history and the second highest in England.

 

One of Malan’s sixes dented the roof of the Ferrari in the car park up by the sightscreen at the Cromwell Road end.

Thank God I’d walked to the ground & left the Porsche in Chatsworth Square !

Middlesex’s 221-2 always looked far too many for Sussex who reached 179-9, with captain Luke Wright hitting 91 off 47 balls.

June is always a Big Month: more cricket at Hove + the trips to Arundel & to the Ageas Bowl, Southampton to see Sussex play Hampshire.

Arundel

And then onto July for the much looked forward to annual visit to the Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells, so very near to where I lived as a child.

The first ground where I ever saw County Cricket, close to 60 years ago in 1958; and my first limited overs game, the Gillette Cup in 1963.

Where I walked to & watched so many games with Dad.

And where on Saturday 23 June 1951 Fred & Isabel were at the Nevill for Kent v Sussex.

They'd only decided to Go Along the previous evening when having a drink in the Saloon Bar in The Queen's Head in Rye.
(Their Son too would make his very best Give It A Go decisions in Bars !!!)

What a day it turned out to be; Never to be forgotten.

Do come to the Nevill & hear me tell the tale - yet again -  of Young Jim's century & why Maurice Tate, the old England & Sussex bowler, poured a double G&T for my Mum  ... & why she downed it in one!!

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can be in one. ^©

See you soon !!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace