As in mentioned at the end of the last piece of writing I arrived at the site of the Odeon Mansfield late on Friday evening 19th July 2013 a day earlier than planned .I had left South Shields early, around 8 am, having prepared well and only forgetting my Morrisons petrol card remembering that for the Odeon Cinema and for Tesco. I stopped at a McDonalds just outside the Boro for a bacon and egg wrap and coffee and where I believe I paid £3.88. I also stopped at Blyth for the toilet enjoying the Test match broadcast beforehand on the car radio. The Test match broadcast may have been the cause of my distraction in that I missed the turn off the AI towards Nottingham and had to make what turned out to be a dangerous turning right across a fast moving two lane roadway towards a village before rejoining the road going back north until reaching required junction but still arriving well before my usual lunchtime meal and able to view the last hour of the morning’s play at the Test Match on the TV.
After a good lunch of a salad with three small cakes of crab and salmon accompanied by iced tap water at one of my favourite Midland inns I made my way to the Mansfield Travel Lodge, registered and quickly unpacked before setting off to arrive close to ground opening at Trent Bridge, the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
My reasoning was that arriving around 4pm I might find streetside space where I usually park but if not there was time to find the Notts Forest ground parking area and then arrive at the Trent Bridge ground to find a good viewing position behind the bowler’s arm in the shade on what was one of the hottest days of the year.
On one previous occasion I made the mistake of taking the wrong road into Nottingham and end up on the A38 going north although marked South M1 and then compounded the error by going north further having to go off just after the service station before that in the Sheffield and coming back on the motorway down to the required Notts turn off. I rarely make the same mistake twice and I cannot blame the heat on anything else. What was worse is that there had been some problem earlier going north with traffic almost at standstill. Forgetting that the turn around was just after the service area I attempted to cross over at that point but my pleading was ignored by reception emphasising that the barrier would only be lifted for staff and emergency vehicles. As I journeyed back southward and having lost at least half an hour closer to 45 minutes I abandoned the intention to head for the cricket ground and took the first road towards Nottingham and headed for the Park and Ride end of tram stop at Pheonix Park. I purchased a £3.50 return ticket, ignoring the £4 transit offer as my bus pass covered the second part of the journey from Market Square to the ground.
The tram is organised similar to that in Croydon but in this instance mainly using the roadway and therefore governed by traffic lights and traffic flow although there are sections of free movement. The bus also was able to use provided special lanes but approaching the bridge over the river I alighted at the city side rather than travelling over and alighting at County Hall, a wise decision crossing the bridge on foot quicker than the slow moving vehicle.
I decided to walk to the entrance at the end of the stand where I wanted to sit and where my companion for the match had texted she had arrived and found two seats exactly as wanted. I was able to leave my summer blazer to guard the seat and made the way to the restaurant on the first floor of stand settling for a cool drink on discovering that instead of the excellent cream tea usually provided at that time of the day they were offering a full cooked meal not required having had my main meal at lunchtime. Given that no sandwiches were on offer I settled for a sausage role with onions price £4 or was it 4.50 and on reflection a better decision would have mean the proper meal at the restaurant for a couple of pounds more? Returning to seat just in time for the start of play so there was no opportunity to relax at what had been a hectic day and at times challenging day.
The cricket game was the most close of the season. Nottingham despite without Broad and Swann tied up with the English Squad as contracted players have looked like getting into the last eight automatically by taking one of the two places from the Northern division at the expense of Durham. They are heading their division in the 40 40 as are Durham but have struggled in the Championship with only two wins against the five of Durham and Yorkshire at the top. There was also Notts wish for revenge because Durham had that extraordinary win getting 186 runs in 20 overs in the last 90 minutes to win.
Durham won the toss and asked Notts to bat first and giving the opening overs and the majority of the 20 to the slow bowlers with Onions and Rushworth only three overs each and with Onions getting their only wicket. Smith who opened took two for 20 from four was the best bowler helping to restrict Notts to 159 with Taylor who has been asked by the English selectors to guest for Sussex against the Australians this weekend. He was 65 not out at close of play yesterday July 27th (2013).
Durham started slowly as Stoneman who has not done well was out for 5 when the total was only 7 and Borthwick went for 7 at 19 and with Smith and Mustard also going when the total was only 44 it looked as if hope of making progress to the Quarterfinals was ending but Stokes with 72 with the help of Breese 32 brought them close and with the local crowd of some 10000 complaining about the lack of slow bowlers the scores were tied with one ball to go and Durham gained the win with the last ball.
I was surprised how quickly a bus came at the end of the match and with as short queue I got a seat for the short journey to central station where the tram presently ends although there is progress with the extension line going south. The line is high above the road at this point so that a new bridge is being created. My journey was to the other end of the line and it was dark on arrival. It was possible to work out a cross country route but in the darkness I felt this was unwise so I made my way the short distance out to the motorway and then up to the first junction and then across to the A 38 attempting to retrace the same route I had taken in the afternoon. However at one point I must have taken the wrong turn and ended up heading to the centre of Mansfield, hence turning into the road leading to the Odeon Cinema/ Indoor Bowling and Sainsbury centre before retracing steps and taking a right turn towards Sutton in Aston and then taking the left turning and coming to the Travel Lodge past the large Hospital complex which recently the Government announced was being placed in special measures because of the statistical evidence of an abnormal and unacceptable death rate.
On the Saturday evening here the visit back to the cinema for the relay performance of Macbeth from Manchester with Kenneth Branagh, On Sunday there was a visit to a pizza palace located by the River at Newark where the sounds of a rock concert were coming from the grounds of the castle. I enjoyed sharing dough balls with a dip and green olives followed by a hot chicken covered pizza with a very light base and tap water with ice. On Monday lunch time there was a chicken and bacon salad with more iced tap water for lunch at the same hostelry I had lunch on arrival. I mention the salads and light meals because of a big push to lose weight and break below the 16 stone barrier once and for all. A week later I am close, in part because of a day of liquids after having two teeth filled. As happened last month I am finding it difficult to maintain the average of 8,3 hours slipping to 8.1 as the end the month approaches. This is only in part because of the high temperatures at night and more because of a muscle strain injury from too violent sports play on the Wii without warming up properly (I believe) hopefully nothing more serious. After several unpleasant nights I read available information and have started to use ice packs wrapped in a wet towel and which seems to be working.
The second Ashes Test between England and Australia was being played at Lords to full houses during the weekend in the Midlands but I was able to keep in touch through a digital radio as well as TV. I had purchased the Digital pocket radio in time for the first Test when I was also watch Durham cricket in live games and in one instances travelling to a game. An odd situation occurred when I could not turn the radio off during the journey back from the visit to Old Trafford and unplugged the chargeable battery. However when I reinserted the battery to recharge I could not switch on although some charging was initially registered. I took the recent purchase back to Argos who ordered another which became available the following afternoon. This no nonsense immediate service is so impressive and commendable.
I will save writing about the Lords Cricket ground for my visit there to watch Durham play Middlesex in the County Championship at the commencement of August. I will mention that for the first time a TV camera was allowed into the Long Room of the Pavilion. This year I will be visiting all the grounds where the Ashes Tests are being played with the visited to the Oval already, one afternoon visit to Old Trafford, the evening visit to Trent Bridge and the rest of the season watching Durham at the Emirates ground. In addition I shall be visiting Derby for the first time and returning to Hove as well as a visit to Edgbaston for the 20 20 finals and back to Lords for the 40 40 and for hopefully the Durham semi final in this competition. There is the crucial championship game at Scarborough making my second visit to this ground in the year, a magnificent total of 25 days watching cricket at 9 county grounds this year if Durham is included, an all time likely never to be repeated record.
In the second England won the toss and decided to bat losing three wickets for 27 runs and the bubble of the first Test appeared to have been well and truly burst, Trott 58 was joined by Bell who again saved the day with an innings of 109. He was supported by Bairstow 67 and later by a fine stand between Broad and Swann. Nevertheless on a good wicket the total of 361 was considered under par for a match of this importance. We were worried? We should not have been.
Although the Australian openers were able to get 42 runs on the board before the first wicket what happened next is something of a disgrace, hee hee, for Australia, Oh dear me for the wickets fell at 50 53 69 86 91 96 104 and 104 for 9. Were we going to witness another heroic stand, well no, we were not and the Aussi’s were all out for 128 and England was entitled to enforce the follow on. The decision not to do so was taken for cricketing reasons but also I suspect because tickets for all five days has been sold.
I have seen what Joe Root can do when he scored half the runs needed for Yorkshire to beat Durham at the Emirates Durham. But his elevation to open for England after good performances in the middle order had not been inspiring. Now he not only scored his first century adding his name to all those who have done so before in the team locker room but went on to make 186, failing to get a double century the following morning when it was evident the Australians tactics to try and limit the time available for their defeat. He was assisted by Bell again with 74. England declared at 349 and the opposition had almost two days to get over 600 runs to win. They made 235 all out just before the end of fourth day. Graham Swann took four and then five wickets with match figures of 9 for 98. England were two up in the series and Australia had to win all three Tests remaining to reclaim the Ashes, and on this showing there was no chance. Given the wins in the Rugby Union Lions, Andy Murray at Wimbledon and Froom in the Tour De France one could also look forward to the World Athletics and swimming Championships, The Rugby League Challenge Cup and perhaps even the football where the season begins to get under way
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