Abu Dhabi Doo
Not quite Lord's
By Beefy Roberts
March 27 2017
It is the first game of the season for a match that is not local. Beefy describes the some frustration with the facilities mixed with update of the cricket .
So,after many months of waiting, it's here,the County Champions (that's us,if you didn't know by now) Vs a MCC
select eleven being played in Abu Dhabi.
Posh Margeret and myself took at taxi to the ground and after having more problems than Indiana Jones ever experienced,we got into the ground...up stairs down stairs a lift up and down again,we walked passed both dressing rooms, the umpires room and then a friendly local showed us to the outside...we found our goal!
The Zayad Cricket Stadium is in the middle of nowhere,apart from few building sites, a tent and some sand.
No charge,its free admittance to this game,the curtain raiser.
There are no scorecards, no PA,but if your lucky,you can get a team sheet,but this was only given to the tour party,sod the rest of you.
Anyway,MCC won the toss and decided to bat. The lads are looking very smart in the new Nike kit and has the wording "Middlesex vs MCC" with date and venue
.
Podmore from the Pavilion end,Helm from City end as no PA we gave the ends names.There is a county championship runners up feel,as Lyth and Lees open for MCC.
It's strange,you travel for 7 hours plus,to follow your club,to be told by an official tour chief we are NOT ALLOWED into their area,not even seen this guy at a single Middlesex game really but he knows it all,we sit swealtering all day,the only aircon place and we cannot get in!
Anyway,to the game again,and first wicket falls at 15-1 with lyth LBW Helm,Alshop is in,but goes wthout troubling the scores and 16-2.
Duckett now in. At this point,we discover a 'food shop' and its cheap,very cheap..Oh.Ravi Patel is bowling.
Duckett and Lees are now seeing the ball really well,although I did miss a dropped catch as Duckett is dropped by Eskinasi. Advancing,Duckett is 52 off 62 balls and Lees is 38 from 52 balls....109-2 it's now 125-3 as a Ravi wicket and Lees has gone,to be replaced by Clarke,2 overs to go for afternoon tea, if that's what its called.
2nd session. we have the spin twins of Malan and Ravi bowling,we find a food shop,at last...its tucked away in the corner surrounded by debris and puddles,but inside there are two fridges with cold drinks,no alcohol,with samosas,paratha,crisps etc. A wicket goes,140-4 Duckett is lbw Ravi for 69...back to the food,he cooks the food to order and it is rather nice and cheap,better than the tour!!
We chat away whilst watching the game...Is there an Abu Dhabi CC shop?,selling polo shirts,ties etc?..Doubt it comes the answer.
Robson now bowling,from the city end,looks like we are sharing the bowling about,he has a couple of overs before replaced by Mala.
At Dinner/Lunch/Supper its 230-5 and I go on the hunt for a club shop with complete success and return with two polo shirts,costing about £10 each,I'm telling the very helpful guy he will get a few more customers once word spreads!
Franko and Helm bowling into the 3rd session with run rate of 3.6 and we start about seeing the pink ball under lights,some seeing clearly,others finding it a problem.
Now,this ground is in the middle of nowhere and transport is difficult to arrange,we all decide to try and leave bit early as a 9pm finish might prove a problem,and it did,a taxi was ordered and not turning up.
Wickets start to fall,Gregory goes for 36,caught by Simmo b Ravi 36 and its 290-6
Plunkett is in next,as the new ball is taken by Harris,same time as the Mosques are calling for prayer,it's a haunting sound the goes on for some time.
Confident appeal for LBW on Clarke by Harris,it's given and he is gone for 89,the 5th LBW today.
At this point,we find a rare thing called a taxi and have to head back to Yas Marina as a good meal was wanted.
Hope this gives a view from the stands of how things are,with the cricket added as we go along!
Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: Middlesex till we die (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 07:16
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017:04:04:21:13:26 by BarmierKev.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017:04:04:21:13:26 by BarmierKev.
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: chunkyinargyll (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 07:58
Tanks for report, Beefy.
If it's any consolation, next weekend it is going to be an unbearable 37 degrees, whereas for the match it is merely 27 degrees, maybe getting as high as 32 on the final day.
If it's any consolation, next weekend it is going to be an unbearable 37 degrees, whereas for the match it is merely 27 degrees, maybe getting as high as 32 on the final day.
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: BeefyRoberts (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 09:42
Exchange rate of approx 4derham to pound.
The food shop we found,was 8 Derham for two cold drinks,samosa and biscuits.
He will make a fair bit out of us,at the moment he arrives on a push bike,probably a flash car by end of game!
The ground also has a nursery ground behind which looks being used,so locals arrived mid afternoon watching game from the grass bank.
The food shop we found,was 8 Derham for two cold drinks,samosa and biscuits.
He will make a fair bit out of us,at the moment he arrives on a push bike,probably a flash car by end of game!
The ground also has a nursery ground behind which looks being used,so locals arrived mid afternoon watching game from the grass bank.
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: adelaide (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 10:20
Be confusing if Durham were playing there...
Adelaide
Adelaide
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: Primrose Hillbilly (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 11:21
Beefy,
you have conveyed the apparent ramshackle nature of things there gloriously.
Well done, mate.
Enjoy the sunshine.
I got a bit of colour yesterday in Nooorf London, watching Saracens demolish Bath, but I bet nothing to compare to the shade you'll be upon return.
See you soon.
you have conveyed the apparent ramshackle nature of things there gloriously.
Well done, mate.
Enjoy the sunshine.
I got a bit of colour yesterday in Nooorf London, watching Saracens demolish Bath, but I bet nothing to compare to the shade you'll be upon return.
See you soon.
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: chunkyinargyll (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 11:50
4 Durham's = 1 Middlesex pound.
Sounds about right after the ECB rescue package.
Sounds about right after the ECB rescue package.
Re: Abu Dhabi Doo
Posted by: BarmierKev (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2017 22:37
While this was a good read it has not whet my appetite in any way in thinking I wish I was there.
Interesting Robbo had a bowl day 1
Interesting Robbo had a bowl day 1
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