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 … …

----

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

Take care of your memories

Hi everyone!

It was gloriously sunny & warm at The Nevill, Tunbridge Wells this year for Day 1 of Kent v Nottinghamshire.

Just like it was for the first game I ever saw:

Saturday 7 June 1958

Kent v Sussex at the Nevill

Dad & I sat - as I have done every year since - at the Railway End between the sight screen & the iconic marquees.

I was 5 years old that Saturday long, long ago.

I'd never heard of Bob Dylan, but I knew he was right!

In the over 60 years since that day I don’t even want to think about how many Risks & Opportunities schedules I have (w) Ritten, Reviewed & Read; let’s agree it has been far too many!

At 58 for 2 the Sussex No. 4 walked down the Pavilion steps.

As I looked out across the ground  I was about to watch my Favourite Player for the very first time.

For me, there was only Opportunity.

Now the thing about Legends is that they Perform when it really matters.

James Michael ‘Young Jim’ Parks took guard at the Pavilion end.

He looked round the field.

Perhaps he spotted the Kent fielder out on the midwicket boundary. John Pretlove, the Kent No. 4 was 5 times UK national singles Rugby Fives champion and a very fine fielder.

But when Jim hit his first ball from Fred Ridgway one-bounce for four into the marquees, John Pretlove didn’t even move before the ball reached the boundary.

Soon into his stride, Jim’s score rapidly reached 30 and then 50 not too long thereafter.

Would he make a Century?

Sitting next to the Dad & me were a mum and her daughter, Sussex fans who had driven up from near Chichester.

As the Tea interval and a Century both approached, the Deal was done: a Century by Tea would lead to the mum giving me a piece of her Carrot Cake - with extra frosted cream cheese!!

With 2 balls remaining to Tea, a wonderful cover drive brought up the Century.

The tradition of Cake at the Nevill was firmly established !!
....

So many games at the Nevill to remember, often involving Sussex.

The first Gillette cup game in May 1963.

Lord Ted, the Sussex captain, put the fielders back on the boundary. The Kent chairman wrote to Sussex saying that their “attitude to the game was diabolical.”

Sussex went on to win the Final at Lords that September.

And the last game I ever watched with Dad in June 1980, 40 years ago next Season.

As for this year’s match, there were indeed some Sussex connections.

For Kent: Ollie Rayner, once of Sussex, now Middlesex & on loan to Kent, made his debut.

For Nottinghamshire: their coach Peter Moores is a former Sussex wicketkeeper and coach, winning Sussex’s inaugural County Championship in 2003.

And Chris Nash – Nashie from Cuckfield - who made a hard fought 67.

Nashie & Ollie

For Kent there was a fine century for young Zak Crawley, who looks an England prospect.

And at the time of writing - end of Day 3 - Kent are well-placed, 319 ahead of Notts with 7 wickets remaining.
All looks set for an exciting last day.
....

But, of course, days at the Nevill are never just about the Cricket.

They're about meeting up with old friends and the telling of those well-loved tales from long ago.

Bish, Chris & Keith

Like me, Bish & Chris are Founders of the Upper Banner Farm Cricket Club.

The UBFCC’s home ground was the field at the top of Farmcombe Road.

Chris, Grev & Graham

From the Skinners’ School Class of ‘64

In truth, when I look back on this year’s game one memory will definitely be my journey to the game on Day 2.

Needing to travel 30 miles South, I left Bickley on the local train to Orpington to catch the connection to Tunbridge Wells at 09.56.

In fact – as I discovered - there was time to catch the 09.50.

It was only as the train had passed through Paddock Wood that I realised catching the 09.50 is a very poor choice if you want to go to Tunbridge Wells ... as it goes non-stop from Tonbridge to Ashford International!!

And so it was that – having planned to be in Tunbridge Wells at 10.28 - by 11.00  and having already travelled 50 miles I was still in Ashford, 30 miles to the East!!

When I did finally get to the ground the Lads were delighted to see me - albeit 90 minutes after they expected to!  

At close of Play Graham Clayton was deputed to chaperone me safely on the train back to Orpington.

And my other Memory?

Well, on Day 1 I sat with the Lambournes: Grandma, Dad, Mum & 8 months old Emily.

It was Emily’s first day at cricket.

I hope that it is the first of many, many more.

That like me Emily will enjoy a Day at Cricket in 60+ years’ time just as much as she did her very first.

 And as for you, dear Reader?

Well, there are plenty of games left this Season, not least as we head into the T20 Vitality Blast fixtures.

Do come and watch with 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

Ladies & Gentlemen, we all know that Ric loved Cricket all his Life.

And on today of all days – the day of his Funeral Service – we all know the story that Ric would like told, one that he loved so very much to tell, his favourite story of cricket at the Nevill.

Kent v Sussex at the Nevill, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 23 June 1951.

Before I ask Sally, Lady Lambourne to Tell the Tale, let me set the scene…

Late on the afternoon of Thursday 21 June 1951 a 19 year old National Serviceman in the RAF gained permission from his Station Commander to play for Sussex on the Saturday.

On the Friday afternoon he was driven to Tunbridge Wells by RAF officer Maurice Fenner, the Kent wicketkeeper. Maurice would go on to become a Group Captain and Kent Secretary between 1977 & 1982.

Meanwhile, on the South Coast Fred & Isabel were in the Saloon Bar of the Queen’s Head in Rye. Shortly before 10 o’clock on the Friday evening they decided to come to the game.

The ingredients were all in place for a day that is never to be forgotten; the Definitive Tale from the Nevill.

 Maurice Fenner & Young Jim

The Nevill, June 1951

Come to my Funeral Service and hear just what did happen!!

I don’t know if Bob Dylan really is a Cricket Fan, never mind that has he ever been to the Nevill!

But just as that little 5 year old knew six decades ago, Bob was right!

As for my Funeral Service, you will come won’t you?

You promised me you would …