See, I am sending an Angel

Hi everyone!

The Cricket World Cup 2019 qualification stage is well into the final games leading up to the Semi-Finals and then the Final.

I had been following the tournament on Test Match Special on the wireless, but as a Free To Air man - and hence as a matter of principle -  I don’t have Sky Sports so I hadn’t seen any live games on the TV.

Nor had I got any tickets.

But my Guardian Angel Gigi - you know, the one who has watched over me all the days of my Life – had a Plan.

Gigi spoke with Angel Emma.

The Two Angels: Gigi & Emma

In the Good Ol’ Days Angels sent messages by a Messenger & a Tablet:

It turns out not much has changed !!

Messenger & a Tablet

At short notice Angel Emma had to go to the US on business & would I like a ticket for England v Australia at Lords, the Home of Cricket, to watch with Emma’s husband, her Dad & Dad-in-law?

You Betcha !!

As James, John, Mark & I strolled down the Finchley Road from St John’s Wood Tube Station to the ground I was full of optimism.

England have dominated Australia in one-day cricket since the previous World Cup four years ago , winning 10 of the 11 games against them and wrapping up a whitewash last summer.

We took our seats in the Grandstand.

 Plenty of Celebs at the ground too.

Prince Edward, former PM David Cameron, Ed Sheeran & Damien Lewis

So many, many memories of watching at Lords.

The Gillette and Benson & Hedges Cup final wins for Sussex in the ‘60s & ‘70s.

Being there on my 21^st birthday in 1973 with the two Peters (Hill & Williams) and then on my 65^th birthday in 2017 with Nigel.

I looked across the ground and saw Father Time.

Father Time is not always a hard parent and though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigour.

With such people the grey head is but the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life.

Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens

A well-spent life?
Obviously, I should have played and watched much more Cricket !!!

I thought back – as I always do on visits to the Home of Cricket – to the first time I ever watched a game there.

It was Marylebone Cricket Club - MCC (captained by Colin Cowdrey, with Young Jim keeping wicket) v The Australians (captained by Richie Benaud).

There were centuries for two Australians: 104 from Bill Lawry and 122 from Norman O’Neill.

Dad & I sat in the Warner stand, which was only a couple of year’s old back in 1961.

Close to 60 years on, the stand has recently been demolished and rebuilt. 

In the photo our seats were just below and the right of the camera.

Just as they were that Saturday long. long ago. Australia looked a very strong XI.

Since the drubbing by England last year, they had a new captain in Aaron Finch and 4 returning key players in batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner and fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

On a rather overcast morning England put Australia into bat.

Australia really stuck to the task & only lost their 1^st wicket in the 23^rd over with the score at 123.

By contrast, England took 5 more overs to reach the same score & by then they had lost 5 wickets.

Newcomer Jason Behrendorff took 5 for 46.

But for me the stand out Australia bowler was Mitchell Starc with 4 for 43, including the 3 key wickets of Joe Root, captain Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes.

Stokes bowled by Starc

Australia ran out easy winners: 287 for 7 with England all out for 221, 64 runs short.

It is looking an uphill struggle for England, the pre-tournament favourites, to qualify for the final stages

At the time of writing, they are likely to have to beat both India & New Zealand to get through.

#FingersCrossed !!   

There were a couple of Sussex connections playing.

For England Jofra Archer looked to be carrying an injury, whilst for Australia wicket keeper Alex Lyons looked a good signing for the T20 games starting in July

Jofra bowling to future team mate Alex Lyons

So, dear Reader, it just remains for me to tell you Where & Why Angel Emma and I became friends.

The Where is:

Lime Wood hotel, Hampshire

I was chairing an Audit Committee there which Emma was presenting at.

How many Audit Committees have I chaired in the last 20 years?

Well, the one I remember by far the best was that one at Lime Wood.

Around 15.30 we broke for Tea and sat out on the patio.

Emma asked whether she could take a look round the hotel and its facilities.

About half an hour later, Emma returned.

And as for the Why …

If I had been given a million goes, I would never-ever have guessed What Emma would say … …

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We’re heading into the T20 Vitality Blast fixtures.            

Angel Emma is already signed up to fly into several of the big Friday games at Hove.

You can hear the story direct from the Angel herself!!!

Do come and watch with Emma & me …

After all ….

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own. 

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Follow me on Twitter: LordRic52