Handy view from down under ( and up above)

We have an Internet commentary of Day 1 from the SWALEC from our Aussie correspondent Pantherlike. He offers his perspective of a good morning for the Middle and good early hours of morning from his armchair until its time for bed. Barmy Kev takes over for evening session and mentions a little bit about cricket amongst other stuff.

Man at Work Down Under

Barmy Kev asked me to provide some input on the goings on in the BBC London commentary box where our Kevin (Hand) holds court during Middx days…

Kevin was, as he is generally, providing an excellent call of the game. The chap even appears to be gathering somewhat of a cult following?! One e-mailer referred to him as ‘the lovely Mr Hand’…

There were the standard co-commentators, Ed Bevan and Dave Townsend in tow. We shan’t refer to them as pundits, Kevin isn’t an anchor; he’s the star of the show! IOB wasn’t in Wales, but still found time to provide insightful contributions to the call courtesy of his new ‘fancy phone’! One can only surmise that Ian has recently procured a BB or the like…then again, he’s a Kiwi, so it could have been any old brick that didn’t have a cable dangling out of it towards a wall socket!

Glammy were off to a very sluggish start and were (as you all no doubt know) at one stage 8/3. Kev maintained that the pitch looked good and that both sides would have batted first. But Dial M and Pedro were on the money and bowled superb opening spells. The first boundary came in the 12th over of the game…and it was noted at drinks that only three deliveries had been hittable. Awesome stuff!

The first two early wickets though had the commentariat musing whether might have been a better toss to lose…

There was much questioning of why Dalrymple was in at three. Kevin was convinced that Jamie would be still batting at stumps and despite the wickets tumbling didn’t cave (no good self respecting cricket knower ever should) until the great man was eventually out for 37 (incidentally the highest scorer of the innings).

Kevin being Kev, discussed MCCC at length. This included worthy discussions such as why Evans was struggling to get back into the squad and the burgeoning phenomenon that is TRJ.

Listeners, and Kev for that matter, seem to continue to muse on how MCCC might still make promotion. This is just a bit of harmless blue sky chatter that no doubt fills in the gaps, but is hardly a serious cerebral cricket discussion….and is just statistical trickery on the table’s behalf that suggest it’s a possibility no matter how improbable.

The only downer was that the internet connection Kev had at his disposal was underperforming. This meant that emails were taking up to half an hour to get through and read out on air, including two of the undersigned’s…but all this was trivial in what was otherwise a fantastic day in the field for the Middle!

I had enquired as to the thinking behind the two spinners. The explanation was along the lines that this was all the rage in Glamorgan where the pitches tend to suit Croft and his buddies. But, I thought to myself, we’re not at Swalec. This was compounded by the fact we bowled first so the spinners may only get a decent go at things in the second dig.

Anyway, this little soldier needed to call stumps half way through the middle session, and ended up missing the spirited last wicket between Cosker and Harrison, but will no doubt be tuning in again this evening for more of the Glamorgan demolition. 68/2 at stumps is well placed to get a decent first innings lead. Let’s hope so!

This is something like 3am for our Aussie correspondent so Barmy Kev kinds of take over commenting on Kev's commentary.

 Barmy Kev's blonde highlights of last hour

Firstly, my view of day was worse than Ceefax as was busy at work.  From a PM from Pantherlike I got to read the 3 early wickets, I saw they were 76-4 at lunch- 150 something for 9 later and expected as leaving for work at 5pm us to be closing in on Glam total.  Typically last wicket stand prevented that and actually left office with us 1-0.  Now have 15 minute walk back to home. I have done this walk before switched on commentary and we've lost 4 on journey.  As sound came on heard Simpson name scoring what sounded like a sneaky boundary to backward square leg.    Well at least he's here and oh Good Newman's name mentioned no wickets down with 20 something on board.

The first discussion in box was about aging people  with blonde highlights. This could have been about me , but evidently Michael Vaughan had something done at top and other examples were muted.   Also, there were e mails from 4 different states in America.  He was encouraging more e mails from different states and I sent one saying Edgware was a state, a big state.  I mentioned my blonde highlights and Gareth Berg position in batting in order and why as bowler he bats at 7, but when can't bowl he bats at 6- he still as good as batter regardless.

Meanwhile 2 wickets fell. Simspon was struggling for his 13, by all accounts.   Ace out soon after by a wreckless shot.  He also, mentioned Scott Newman was dropped off a dolly by Croft on boundary, which went for 6. There was an over I heard late on where he had 3 leading edges that all fell safely.   There was a spell where Kev described every wicket that fell for someone who requested this having just got back home.  That was really useful for me too and kept mentioning Croft's dropped catch. Anyway, with a few scares, I hate it when Kev gets excited as we are about to lose wicket and phew not out,  Scott and AC see us home.  There was a backlog of e mails due to technical problems and he read and answered each one from their favourite fruit to the structure of county cricket. 

They close by saying all commentators are off some Welsh lamb ( like the team for the slaughter I think).   Lets hope the Middle keep up good progress and I can find way of following this.

Barmy Kev takes