Great Scott

By Kev (feat. Ged)
August 22 2008

A day where the national identity of most of the Leicestershire team could be open to question, our intrepid reporter Barmy Kev was at the game with no national identity whatsoever. Ged Ladd does his best to fill in the gaps, as Kev was only actually at the match for the first session.

Dodgy Passports all round at Lord’s today  

A day where the national identity of most of the Leicestershire team could be open to question, our intrepid reporter Barmy Kev was at the game with no national identity whatsoever.   

Dodgy Passport    

The story started for me Saturday. As preparation for my holiday next week, I drew out more than the normal amount of cash from my local bank, later to exchange into foreign currency without having to pay a booking fee. As an after-thought I took my passport.   I was asked to present this at the counter, which was very lucky for me, not just because that enabled the transaction to go through, but because I was advised it would expire 20/08/08. 

Putting aside the fact that this vigilant Bank Clerk saved me from being embarrassingly turned away at the airport next week, I arranged my emergency appointment at the passport office for this morning; the four hour delay between application and collection enabled me to attend the morning session at Lord’s. 

As I arrived at the ground, I realised that at this moment I have no passport, so Leicestershire would suddenly become interested in my signature.  

Can We Start Please? 

Despite early morning heavy rainfall, I arrived at Lord’s to glorious sunshine. The usual suspects, male I must add, had their tops off.  Given my short stay I actually made every effort to be at ground at 11:00; successfully I might add.  However, play didn’t start to 11:15 and for the life of me I couldn’t work out what the 15 minute delay achieved.   On saying that, a while back with a worse drainage, we may have lost a whole session  

The Barmy Kev Kiss of Death 

So we do start and encouragingly; Dial M first 3 balls gave us a 2,2,3.In fact he and Scotty, remaining more solid, eased us through to 300.  At 319 -6 with both looking comfortable, I mentioned the prospect of max batting points. Inevitably, you guessed it, Dial M was out, giving easy catching practise to gully.  Then, TSO was out soon after as plum an LB as you can get [Editor’s note for less experienced MTWD readers: LB in this instance is short for “leg before wicket”, not, as you might have imagined, Loverboy], even though he stood his ground for a while before walking.  Now 350 a distant prospect.  

Great Scott again 

This photo proves beyond all reasonable doubt that Scotty was batting well that day.....

Scott became more expansive and played a superb hook right out of text book all along the ground as Leicestershire’s leg side trap failed.  A later 6, saw him through to 40’s. With Richo providing valuable support, Scooby made it to 50 and Middx more crucially 350 and I kept quiet about anymore BP’s. Soon after that Scooby gave Nixon some easy catching practise.   

Hendo in Disguise 

With Finn in, Richo took control with two straight fours and a six in Hendoesque fashion. I tried to start a “ Richardson, Richardson”  as per Henderson chant, but my side-kicks were not there to back me up.  The next miss-hit slog produced a superb diving catch in the covers, at just after 12:45.  

New Opening Bowling Partnership 

I stayed for expected 1 over. TSO was given new ball to get us an extra over, and set an attacking field. Shaggy bowled next, but no wickets despite pressure.  

I’m now Legal 

British Passport was collected.   Leicester no longer interested in my services as they, according to my Crick info view, make light work of our poor bowling for rest of day.     

[Editor’s note: I cannot comment on the next 45 overs of cricket, other than to point out that Leicestershire were on 100/2 off 45 when I arrived at the ground – I heard the cheer for the second wicket as I approached the Upper Compo.  100/2 off 45 sounds more like heavy going than light work to me.   

Murali Kartik had taken those first two wickets and was bowling well from the Nursery End.  Richo was bowling extremely well from the Pavilion end and I thought he was very unlucky not to get a wicket or three that spell. 

Then Portrait tried Murtagh from the Pavilion End and Steve Finn from the Nursery End.  Finn looked more likely to take a wicket and was a bit unlucky not to pick up at least one, but he does still bowl the occasional wild delivery which gets the old lags tutting and muttering in the stand.  Finn looks close to the finished item to me, but we shouldn’t forget how very young he still is. 

Later than I would have suggested, Portrait reverted to spin which paid dividends very quickly for Shaggy who undid Paul Nixon enabling keeper to snuffle keeper.  That rounded off a good day for Ben Scott.

 Match poised  - Day 3 could be interesting.]  

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