Downtown Unabbey

Thanks for this report from the warm up game at the Parks plus information about the facilities (or lack) of them at the ground and a bit of cricket politics at the end. London Leprechaun also adds a bit about a bizarre incident after tea - one of those you had to be there moments. It could only happen in a practicre match. 

Better late than never eye witness report of Day 2. Due to no catering facilities at the ground, though, I regret to inform that 3 out of 4 Middle dismissals were missed and 5 out of 8 of Oxford's. This is no criticism of The Parks, which is a lovely venue, more a reflection of the quality of pubs and ale in the town. We did witness the last wicket stand which consisted of sensible batting and despatch of the odd bad ball. We debated whether Compo would have declared with Finny on 49 at lunch but young Tom prevented the first moral dilemma of the season. Oxford, too, batted sensibly and sedately after lunch. Our bowlers were getting lift and movement but with no great return. We did debate the potency of the attack against stiffer opposition but like someone else on this thread has said we concluded that it was a practice match with possibly a bit of holding back with the main event starting Sunday.

The Oxford groundsman said that his pitch was fine (he would I guess) and that the 16 wickets on day 1 were down to good bowling and some poor batting. It was a lovely day and The Parks really is a park surrounded by greenery and attractive college buildings spoiled only by 2 cranes which Bloers would no doubt have thought were splendid. Apparently they were there last season as well.

Almost the whole squad was there and no sign of crutches or bandages so let's hope they are all fully fit for Sunday. Top brass was also in attendance with several past and present committee plus Gus. A smattering of Middle faithful were also in attendance. We got the Downton news whilst at the station. Whatever happens - let's hope that the "radical changes" required still allow fixtures such as this which made a couple of hundred people very happy - never mind the quality feel the width!

London Leprecahun adds:

the pull of the pubs in Oxford may mean that our main reporter missed the oddest incident of the day not long after tea. The match was progressing quietly, Oxford batting sedately, the sun shining, the Parks looking lovely. Murts was in the middle of an over, when all of a sudden a young couple strolled onto the playing area totally oblivious to anything around them. Middlesex squad members on the boundary edge called out to them - no reaciton. Spectators in the pavilion called out to them - no reaction. The actual players and umpires turned to look at them and suggest they might want to get off the playing area - no reaction. They continued on their way straight to the middle. No stewards or police to tackle them they just kept wandering.  In the end the only thing that got their attention was when Murts walked up to them and offerd them the ball. That got their attention. So we had the bizarre sight of the male half of the couple bowling a ball in the middle of an over in a 1st class match, with his girl friend taking a picture and everyone at the ground nto quite sure of what they were watching. To their credit the umpires entered into the spirit of it, and solemnly called a wide when the slow long hop vaguely went towards first slip.  And then the couple jsut wandered off to the other side of the playing area.  And it was not even 1st April. 

Maybe the Oxford batsmen was less anused as he was out next ball. Middlesex players near us found it all very funny though, esepcially wondering what a certain ex Middlesex batsman might have done if he had been out in similar incident!