Once a year spectators are invited (as per the PA announcer) to walk on the Lord’s outfield at lunch, and today was THAT day!
Fortunately no one wet themselves from sheer excitement but I reckon a few came close!
From the stands and TV you don’t get a sense of the sheer size of the ground and in particular the slope. It really is quite something! And when you add in the rise in the ground as you head in the direction of St John’s Wood tube station you really get a feel as to how the ball runs away to the Tavern or slows uphill towards the tube.
I know most other grounds let you do this regularly but it really is a special treat at Lord’s.
The match – by the way – is Day One of Middlesex v Sussex (regarded by some as the equivalent of the Roses match) but with first playing second in the Division, this match is important!
Probably uniquely the top three bats for Sussex are all named ‘Tom’ and all three were back in the Pavilion by lunch – Clark 32, Haines 40 and Alsop 11.
The pitch from afar – and today, close up – doesn’t have a shred of green and looks a fine batting strip. The fourth innings could be ‘interesting’ but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Lunch is taken at 92/3 – the initial dash for runs against some loose Middle bowling calmed down (over 5 rpo at one stage) as wickets fell.
Pujara and Coles look set for an afternoon of batting delight! Let’s see!
Well…not quite a delight but definitely workman-like. Only one wicket fell – Coles for 33 – and Pujara goes to 60no and Simpson 22no (against his former county) and have added 48 to have their sustenance at 212/4.
The Middle bowling was much of a muchness and only three overs of spin just before tea to ring the changes.
There’s very little if any deviation off the pitch and Sussex are letting the good balls go by but punishing anything wayward – and it has been more wayward than it should be!
du Plooy is captain for this match and it’s very much ‘painting by numbers’ but it is still early days.
I suspect Sussex will want to get to 450 at least and probably more so that they just bat once and seek to home in on the brittle reputation of Middle’s batting but…a long way to go yet!
The evening session saw little in terms of dynamic action – Simpson went to his 50, the new ball was taken and did a bit more than the old one (changed twice incidentally – what is it with balls nowadays?) and lack of inspiration from the Middle. All very formulaic; no ‘what do the opposition least expect us to do?’; plodding is probably the right word.
Sussex end on 295/4 – only 73 in that session so things were a bit tighter and also the sun of the morning (rivers of sun block being applied to exposed skin) gave way to cloudier and darker skies so that also needs to be taken into account.
Sussex have 20 overs to add more bonus points…350 should be assured, 400…would be good to watch!
But for spectators old and new today was THE day to really experience Lord’s!
Cricket51days 