Sorry State of Affairs
By Barmy Kev
July 27 2013
Barmy Kev reports on one of his worst experiences of watching Midlesex playing cricket. and then puts this into perspective on more than one level. Take a deep breath and then read on.
The Build Up
I arrive at St John’s Wood station at 5:30. It was packed to extent that the incoming less pleased commuters were being held back outside as masses headed to Lord’s. There were touts offering to “buy and sell” tickets, an amazing sight for a county game, will they be there for Durham match next week?
I made my way to the Upper Tavern, almost square on at the front an excellent view. Lower Pav’s first significant comment was “ I cannot contemplate a defeat” and requested I put this in the report regardless. It was announced Ponting was not in the Sorry side, presumably rested for their 2nds, replaced by youngster Vikram So Lanky. Much to our surprise Gurjit ( Serge) replaced Ollie from the scorecard. As game was about to start at 6:15 the Upper Compo and Edrich were full and there little gaps anywhere apart from seemingly the row where I was sat.
Sorry Innings
We start with 3 dot balls from Tyrone and there was early chant of “Are you Godleman in disguise ?” A leg bye and some more runs follows but the scoreboard remained at 1. Next over Serge bowling he was becoming expensive and he was unfairly criticised by some fans nearby. Out of sympathy (surely not incompetence) the scoreboard weren’t crediting all the runs against his bowling, in fact at one stage deducted Sorry runs and credited him for some excellent fielding at deep long leg off his own bowling.
Berg was looking expensive too and was spared when Denly made a superb diving catch to get rid of Davies. 2 balls later according to the scoreboard So Lanky was out LBW-I’m sure there was a single inbetween and he looked very pale walking off but trusting the scoreboard I shouted he did better than the one he replaced and was followed by a chant “ Are You Pointing in Disguise?” Of course it was Roy who was out and the scoreboard suggested the score was 17-2 in the 3rd over. The scoreboard I think started to keep up and yes it was So Lanky and O’Brien who were increasing the run rate. According to scoreboard it was 41-2 after 5 with Sandhu particularly expensive from his 2 over costing 24. It didn’t take long for score rate to accelerate to 10 an over and was maintained until the 11th over and a 200+ score was looking likely.
Mass relief when the dangerous O’Brien was bowled in 11th over with score 107 (according to the scoreboard). So Lanky was soon out an incredible one handed catch by Voges when every thought it was passed him. Wilson quickly next out bowled, scoreboard showed he was stumped (they may have got that right but by now I had lost confidence) and according to the scoreboard score 117 -5 after 13. It was Ravi who did this damage and with Stirlo in attack the run rate was being relatively restricted all around us state in various ways “why did we not play Ollie”?
There was a late cameo by youngsters Ansari and Mahmood. The running between wickets was noticeably slower and what were previously 2’s were now 1’s. These margins could be significant at the end and I would like to note Denly was excellent in the outfield. The Iceman’s last over got us 2 wickets so we had Lewis and Tremlett at end and someone commented their combined age is more than their final score which ended up as 178 for 7 ( according to the scoreboard). Given a 200+ looking score at one stage and our “formidable” batting line up I would settle for that.
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1st ball a wide (by never knowlingly under bowled) Jon Lewis. Ball by ball commentary has to stop from here because the scoreboard couldn’t keep up again. In fact after what followed does anyone care? As match reporter I’m duty bound to summarise this painful period. Mahmood bowls a short one but AC’s mistimed pull landed straight into fielder’s hands. Same over another short one, Stirlo played an unorthodox tennis shot for 4, followed by another 4 that cleared mid-off hands by centimetres. Denly slashed high and hard it could have gone anywhere but was straight into the deep fielder’s hands, we can’t really blame him. Our position like Sorry’s at similar stage was 16-2 and when Stirlo hit a 6 that nearly cleared the Upper Mound I was actually optimistic. This was as good as it got.
Voges having just been rewarded with £1000 as our official player of month ( still one game in July left MTWD don’t vote this way) is out for 0 giving catching practise to mid off- “Typical Aussie” shouts Beefy. It’s 25-4 (according to the scoreboard) when Stirlo is out seeming to givie more catching practice, to be honest nearly every shot by Stirlo seemed to play was a wicket about to happen. Down to Moggie and Rosso with Moggie struggling. He hits 2 successive fours is then out giving more catching practise, 36-5 if scoreboard is right or could I be bothered. I give up.
All we need is some consolidation and keep the scoreboard ticking (if they can keep up) so our NRR is not destroyed. Berg found this for us. Despite their best efforts in vain Dext and Rosso were not able to offer support.
7 down now we are out of the game Ravi gave a dolly catch dropped fielders name not known , a single. So an on fire Berg’s facing and this maybe a turning point to at least offer us some respectability, but not even that, Berg is stumped next ball or was it bowled? The only excitement for crowd was every time this fielder touched the ball there was hysterical applause, that’s 20/20 for you. The only consolation we were all out with 6 overs left and I’m sure were spared the inevitable tedious Mexican Wave as we are out for our record lowest 20/20 score.
Much Needed Perspective
When the match was over the MTWD faithful were understandably distraught. Comments were made that I cannot write on here. I needed to get out of this place quickly. Of course there was a 28,000 sell out crowd with people not being able to get in, lucky them, I think. There was a mass of people trying to get out of the ground very slowly. What I found annoying these people were chatting laughing they all seemed to have had a great time they did not seem to feel short changed and no one was bothered about Middlesex CCC ineptness. As I was stuck amongst these people it was announced St John’s Wood Station was closed. My mood worsened considerably.
Outside of the ground I was able to quickly catch bus to Finchley Road Station and was more relaxed as remainder of journey home was away from the masses. Feeling more chilled I started to put our whole season into perspective, hence the thread that followed on our season so far.
When I arrived home and my wife asked me “how was it”?. I replied “it was a disaster”. At that time she was watching the news. I hope you all understand how suddenly this cricket matter was totally put into perspective.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:30:20:30:37 by BarmierKev.
An accurate report on what was a nightmare evening.
However all forgotten and behind me now and we move on. Let us hope they have sorted the scoreboard out in time for The Durham game.
Quite depressing that such a big crowd saw such a horrible performance from middlesex.
Main negative was that sitting in the Pavilion, the view of the game was spoiled by other members/vistors continually standing in front of us and walking past when overs were being bowled.they seem to have no regard of the game being played or consideration of other members. They were more interested in getting their pints than watching the game. Spent the entire night having to tell people to move out the way or to sit down. Several members said they not coming again to 20/20 Games due to the arrogant behaviour of these people. Stewart's were good but we're fighting a lossing battle. I hope normality is resumed at the Durham game
The other thing that annoyed me the sound of cheers for wickets, boundaries seemed equal for both sides. While nice to see Lord's full this was a non partisan crowd. Had we performed I'm doubtful this would have been much different.
And yes, I'm really looking forward to Durham game.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
It was a terrible evening,and against those Mexicans,hurt even more.To see them with smug looks on their faces wasn't for a good nights sleep.
Back to the real game this week,and with luck,a working scoreboard!
SC
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
Ten years ago I watched the opening round of matchs at imber court were he scored a 43 run out for Surrey and four wickets against Essex
SC
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:27:23:50:35 by surbitoncrusader.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
I dont!!
SC
Quote:surbitoncrusader
I happen to be a county member of Surrey and a life member of Middlesex you see
SC
Perhaps that's one for the Oxymporon thread.
Meanwhile, I have checked the site stats and there were 141 views of this match report. Hopefully some of those appreciated my attempts at irony as well my considered summary of the experience for all your benefit.
Quote:chunkyinargyll
If SC is a member of both Middlesex and Surrey does that make him biseaxual? (bats for both sides)
Is that a deliberate typo or a Freudian slip, Chunky?
Adelaide
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:28:10:28:00 by adelaide.
SC
Maybe it should be biseaxreyual- as we are Seaxe, and the other lot like to call themselves the rey.
Which county do you actually support then?
You have to remember SC lives in (or at any rate follows) Sunbury CC- so it's no wonder he is confused about his own identity. See other threads arguing about Sunbury historically being Middlesex, but now in Surrey- playing in Surrey premier league- but 4 or 5 Sunbury players currently play for Middle 2's (or higher)
Although I wouldn't go as far as to buy a membership of Surrey, I will be swinging both ways on Wednesday, as I am hopeful both London teams can win their Twenty20 matches that evening in order for Middlesex to reach the quarter-finals.
In years to come when we celebrate an anniversary of this site there could be a quiz question.
What is the connection between a match report and the word bi-sexual or indeed bi-seaxual.
Seriously, I am glad this report has attracted a decent number of postings. I have mentioned this before but preparing and posting a report involves a reasonable amount of work for the person involved in doing the actual report and invisible hits though of course rewarding and very important for the site is not as rewarding I suspect as being translated into actual posts for the reporter involved.
Kev did mention in his report the size of the crowd and his wonder at it which I shared on the night, which together with the company is the one good thing I will take away from the evening
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:28:11:11:56 by lower pavilion.
I wonder if S_M will change his user name to Biseaxe_Man for the day.
Very definitely not chunky. The idea of being a HexMex is entirely unappealing.
The only time I visit the Hacienda is when the Mighty ( not last Thurs) Middle are the visitors.
The man from Surbiton must be a Surrey supporter. His confusion well spelt out by chunky. Surbiton was allegedly the scene for the 70's series The Good Life.
It was however actually made in Northwood in good old Middlesex.
The good thing is that at least both games are a live issue come Wednesday as I head down the M3.
On a pedantic point Kev. With the temporary stands still in place from the the Test (which raised the Lord's capacity to 30,000) and 1000 tickets were still avail at 5pm, (touts at SJW notwithstanding) subsequently snapped up.
I suspect the sellout was a lot higher than the 28thou as reported in the Torygraph and probably elsewhere.
It was the only result we got right on the night.
Oh and btw. An accurate report of proceedings, such as they were from our angle.
We were ever so slightly incommoded.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:28:11:38:12 by Seaxe_Man.
The bowler who bowled the opening ball wide, that went unnoticed by the scoreboard operator, was in fact Chris Tremlett not Jon Lewis. If I were the cruel, mickey-taking, type I would point out the irony that our reporter, whilst slating the scoreboard operator for his/her inattentiveness, gets the minor detail of the bowler's identity wrong.
I am happy to be stood corrected and feel another justified criticism of report I at no stage gave credit to Sorry. Sorry.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
The way things are going many of us will be put off doing these reports if minor errors or attempts at humour result in criticism.
I for one thought it was a very decent report and I feel the main object of a report in any case is to get across the atmosphere of the day or evening which I think Kev did well. I know because unfortunately I was there and sitting five yards from our reporter.
By the way the errors in the scoreboard were very annoying indeed and in my opinion unacceptable. Up to date and error free scoreboards are essential for the enjoyment of T20 cricket and as Kev pointed out I assume operators are paid to do it, whilst people who do these reports for the site are of course unpaid volunteers.
This is just my opinion of course and I am not having a criticism of anyone in particular just a general comment..
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:29:15:43:35 by lower pavilion.
Are you referring to doing the reports, operating the scoreboards or both.
I would back myself to do a good job operating the Lord's board as surely it involves choosing the correct buttons and pressing them, although I imagine operating a manual board would be harder.
I think one of the problems that often happens at Lord's is that when the board shows a mistake, it can take a couple of balls for the operator to realise the mistake. This means that by the time the mistake is realised, the operator finds themselves with two things to think about: correcting the mistake and keeping track of what is happening in the match while it takes the mistake to be fixed. Consequently, the operator gets into a muddle, and the board takes time to catch up.