With my car needing to go to the garage for its MOT i have had the day off today and this morning i went along to Edgbaston to catch the morning session of day 3 of the Second Eleven Championship game between the Warwickshire 2nd XI and MCC Universities. Of course there is another cricket match going on somewhere but this was more fun. I took my camera along and took a few photos which you can see in the slideshow or you can view the full set here.
Afterwards in town i had another lovely coffee at 6/8 Kafé which has become my favourite coffee shop in the whole world already.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
The new pavilion
I went and watched some of the last day of the match between
Warwickshire & Sussex in the county championship today (which the
Bears won not long after lunch). It was my first trip to Edgbaston since
the opening of the new pavilion (though that was only Wednesday i
believe). Very impressive it is too!
The old pavilion had been a crumbling disgrace to be honest so the
amazing new facility just looks like it has come out of a new dimension.
I really like the walkway under the pavilion which you travel through
to get to your seat, its very futuristic and sci-fi like. Hey well i
have an overactive imagination.
Whats happening on the pitch is very impressive too as Warwickshire racked up another win, they are in with a shout of the county championship which will be a great way to top off one of the most important years in the club's history.
Whats happening on the pitch is very impressive too as Warwickshire racked up another win, they are in with a shout of the county championship which will be a great way to top off one of the most important years in the club's history.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Trott knows how to play his England role
England star Jonathan Trott is dreaming of putting on a great show in the forthcoming Test series with India, and given his recent form he has every reason to be positive.
The home side are testing themselves against the side ranked as the best Test side in the world according to the International Cricket Council rankings and England know a 2-0 or 3-1 win in the four-Test series will see them usurp the visitors and take that top spot.
Trott is likely to be one of the key batsman for Andrew Strauss's side in the Test series and he will be looking to continue his record of averaging over 60 in Test cricket. Those looking at the cricket betting promotions will wonder how long he can keep it up.
The Warwickshire man reckons the Test series will be a "great advert" for cricket as England look to continue on the impetus from their Ashes win and series victory over Sri Lanka. The cricket odds indicate it could be a close series.
The batsman adds he knows his role in the side and recognises the importance of "putting your foot down" if needed during five-day Test games.
"My job at number three in the England team is to bat as long as possible and get the most runs," added Trott.
"Sometimes it might go a bit slowly but also I know the right time to up the ante."
The first Test match of the series gets underway at Lords on July 21st, with matches at Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and the Oval continuing throughout July and August.
Following that is a series of One-day and Twenty20 matches, where England will look to develop under their respective captains of Alistair Cook and Stuart Broad.
The home side are testing themselves against the side ranked as the best Test side in the world according to the International Cricket Council rankings and England know a 2-0 or 3-1 win in the four-Test series will see them usurp the visitors and take that top spot.
Trott is likely to be one of the key batsman for Andrew Strauss's side in the Test series and he will be looking to continue his record of averaging over 60 in Test cricket. Those looking at the cricket betting promotions will wonder how long he can keep it up.
The Warwickshire man reckons the Test series will be a "great advert" for cricket as England look to continue on the impetus from their Ashes win and series victory over Sri Lanka. The cricket odds indicate it could be a close series.
The batsman adds he knows his role in the side and recognises the importance of "putting your foot down" if needed during five-day Test games.
"My job at number three in the England team is to bat as long as possible and get the most runs," added Trott.
"Sometimes it might go a bit slowly but also I know the right time to up the ante."
The first Test match of the series gets underway at Lords on July 21st, with matches at Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and the Oval continuing throughout July and August.
Following that is a series of One-day and Twenty20 matches, where England will look to develop under their respective captains of Alistair Cook and Stuart Broad.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
SET
After the madness and noise of T20 last night today i saw some more cricket but this time a Second Eleven Trophy match, sightly more sedate and definitely a lot quieter. The match between Warwickshire and Derbyshire took place at Walmley Cricket Club which is the closest ground to where i live, so close in fact i actually walked there. Only took 40 minutes though was uphill, returning did push my legs a bit even though that was mostly downhill of course!
It was a different competition, format, even team but the end result was the same, another win for the Bears.
It was a different competition, format, even team but the end result was the same, another win for the Bears.
T20
It seems ages since i was last at the cricket, in fact it appears it was May 24. I went to see the Bears take on Durham in a T20 game this evening (by a co-incidence the last game i went to was against Durham as well!)
Oddly enough its only the second ever T20 match i've been to. We won too, was a last ball thriller. Sky televised the game, its been a long time since i've been at a televised game too. In fact i'm not sure i've been at a televised domestic game before, i've been to a couple of tests that were televised obviously. It was interesting to see just how many cameras Sky bought to the ground, a number nearly doubled by the fact they also filmed the game in 3D.
Oddly enough its only the second ever T20 match i've been to. We won too, was a last ball thriller. Sky televised the game, its been a long time since i've been at a televised game too. In fact i'm not sure i've been at a televised domestic game before, i've been to a couple of tests that were televised obviously. It was interesting to see just how many cameras Sky bought to the ground, a number nearly doubled by the fact they also filmed the game in 3D.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Cook shines as England level series
England romped to a 10-wicket victory against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge, levelling the series 2-2 in the process. Both teams will now head to Old Trafford this weekend for a winner-takes-all clash, although this convincing victory will certainly give England a massive confidence boost heading into the final match in the series.
England gained control of the match from the start with James Anderson tearing through the tourists' top-order, after skipper Alastair Cook decided to bowl first on what was a very green Trent Bridge pitch. Before Sri Lanka knew what was going on, they were 5-57, Anderson taking three wickets with assistance from Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad taking a wicket apiece to put the visitors on the back foot. At that point the cricket odds made England big favourites.
Kumar Sangakkara was the only batsman to put up any real resistance with his brave 75, but in the end nobody else really stuck around to give the Sri Lanka captain enough support. Jade Dernbach showed his exciting potential by clearing up the tourists' tail with three wickets, Sri Lanka all out for a very modest 174.
A short rain delay saw England's target revised down to 171 but that never looked like being enough as openers Cook and Craig Kieswetter started off playing with T20-like aggression. The hosts had reached their target with only 23.5 overs gone, Cook just short of a century on 95 not out and Kieswetter 72 not out as England won the match and levelled the series.
England gained control of the match from the start with James Anderson tearing through the tourists' top-order, after skipper Alastair Cook decided to bowl first on what was a very green Trent Bridge pitch. Before Sri Lanka knew what was going on, they were 5-57, Anderson taking three wickets with assistance from Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad taking a wicket apiece to put the visitors on the back foot. At that point the cricket odds made England big favourites.
Kumar Sangakkara was the only batsman to put up any real resistance with his brave 75, but in the end nobody else really stuck around to give the Sri Lanka captain enough support. Jade Dernbach showed his exciting potential by clearing up the tourists' tail with three wickets, Sri Lanka all out for a very modest 174.
A short rain delay saw England's target revised down to 171 but that never looked like being enough as openers Cook and Craig Kieswetter started off playing with T20-like aggression. The hosts had reached their target with only 23.5 overs gone, Cook just short of a century on 95 not out and Kieswetter 72 not out as England won the match and levelled the series.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Law handed Tigers post
Former Australia all-rounder Stuart Law has been appointed as the new coach of Bangladesh, replacing fellow countryman Jamie Siddons.
The 42-year-old is currently acting as Sri Lanka's interim coach and will continue in that role for the one-day series with England.
Law stepped up from assistant coach with Sri Lanka following their World Cup final defeat and recently admitted that he didn't know what the future had in store for him.
Sri Lanka officials could not offer any guarantees to Law offer his position beyond November and Law felt "job security" was the "most important thing". Those following the cricket betting odds will wonder what sort of impact the move will have on Sri Lanka.
Now the Bangladesh Cricket Board have now given him a permanent post, with the former Lancashire star penning a two-year contract to take charge of the Tigers.
Bangladesh media committee head Jalal Yunus stated that the selection panel were looking for a coach who has "leadership quality" and they felt Law fitted the bill.
Law has captained both Queensland and Lancashire during his playing career and only hung up his bat in 2009.
The Queenslander only played one Test for Australia but did make 54 one-day international appearances, with over 1000 ODI runs at an average of 26.89.
Law has major task on his hands to get Bangladesh moving in the right direction, with the Tigers currently ninth in both Test and ODI rankings.
Law's first assignment will be a Test and one-day series in Zimbabwe, which gets underway in August.
Meanwhile, current coaches Marvan Atapattu, Ruwan Kalpage and Champaka Ramanayake are said to be in the running to replace Law as Sri Lanka boss.
The 42-year-old is currently acting as Sri Lanka's interim coach and will continue in that role for the one-day series with England.
Law stepped up from assistant coach with Sri Lanka following their World Cup final defeat and recently admitted that he didn't know what the future had in store for him.
Sri Lanka officials could not offer any guarantees to Law offer his position beyond November and Law felt "job security" was the "most important thing". Those following the cricket betting odds will wonder what sort of impact the move will have on Sri Lanka.
Now the Bangladesh Cricket Board have now given him a permanent post, with the former Lancashire star penning a two-year contract to take charge of the Tigers.
Bangladesh media committee head Jalal Yunus stated that the selection panel were looking for a coach who has "leadership quality" and they felt Law fitted the bill.
Law has captained both Queensland and Lancashire during his playing career and only hung up his bat in 2009.
The Queenslander only played one Test for Australia but did make 54 one-day international appearances, with over 1000 ODI runs at an average of 26.89.
Law has major task on his hands to get Bangladesh moving in the right direction, with the Tigers currently ninth in both Test and ODI rankings.
Law's first assignment will be a Test and one-day series in Zimbabwe, which gets underway in August.
Meanwhile, current coaches Marvan Atapattu, Ruwan Kalpage and Champaka Ramanayake are said to be in the running to replace Law as Sri Lanka boss.
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