Screaming J
He'll put a spell on you
Well, if we win the County Championship this season I think we can thank the Arctic Monkeys!!
I live up north and was invited to go to Old Trafford today for the cricket. I missed out on a day at Sussex's victory at Aigburth (clashed with family holiday in Paris) but this looked like a good game as an alternative. As a Sussex supporter I know a low scoring draw or an abandoned game looks like the best result; but even so I was a bit aghast at today's proceedings.
I've always taken complaining about weather from my Lancs chums in the Turks Head (St Helens) as a bit of northern whinging; and after today they can never complain about this again. If you look at this website http://www.apraze.com/lancs/lccc.htm (nicked off theSussex v Surrey thread)you'll see what I mean . This was the scene that greeted us as we arrived at the ground at 09:30 this morning. Apparently the ground has been in this state ever since the Arctic Monkeys concert 2-3 weeks ago, but nobody has had the gumption to even try to switch the game to Aigburth or Blackpool, because as it looks at the moment it looks as though it may be not fit for any play for well over a day.
When we got in the ground there was an announcment that there would be an umpire's inspection at 13:00. My chums - having seen the pitch - regarded this with some cynicism; taking this as being an attempt to at least keep the members there until the bars opened so they'd spend some money there and in the restaurants before buggering off home, rather than clearing off before play was due to start. One of the blokes I was with who is a Lancs member bumped in to one of their players, Paul Horton, who when asked (this was well before 13:00) pulled a face and said he thought there was NO chance of any play today.
As is usual in these circs, everyone we spoke to in a blazer had a different explanation. To be fair to them I don't think they knew anything official; but choose from:-
Which ever way you look at it you have to question the competence of Lancashire CC. Their supporters were MIGHTILY pissed off - and I have to say those I met were exceptionally friendly - even when they knew I was from Sussex. But this only goes to show many of their problems are self inflicted. The ground has been like this for weeks - they could have had ample time to move this to Blackpool or Aigburth wher it would have been playable. They didn't - for what ever reason I could not say. I reckon Hampshire have a good case for getting some compensation or points taken off Lancs. The ground was unfit and as far as I could see Lancs had not taken enough steps to get it fit for play. They've had weeks to sort this out - and haven't. I know cricket clubs need concerts to supplement their income; but.... I reckon the one day international there next week mght be at risk and you do question on this performance abhout future test matches - would this happen at Lords??
Still; its an ill wind; aye?
I live up north and was invited to go to Old Trafford today for the cricket. I missed out on a day at Sussex's victory at Aigburth (clashed with family holiday in Paris) but this looked like a good game as an alternative. As a Sussex supporter I know a low scoring draw or an abandoned game looks like the best result; but even so I was a bit aghast at today's proceedings.
I've always taken complaining about weather from my Lancs chums in the Turks Head (St Helens) as a bit of northern whinging; and after today they can never complain about this again. If you look at this website http://www.apraze.com/lancs/lccc.htm (nicked off theSussex v Surrey thread)you'll see what I mean . This was the scene that greeted us as we arrived at the ground at 09:30 this morning. Apparently the ground has been in this state ever since the Arctic Monkeys concert 2-3 weeks ago, but nobody has had the gumption to even try to switch the game to Aigburth or Blackpool, because as it looks at the moment it looks as though it may be not fit for any play for well over a day.
When we got in the ground there was an announcment that there would be an umpire's inspection at 13:00. My chums - having seen the pitch - regarded this with some cynicism; taking this as being an attempt to at least keep the members there until the bars opened so they'd spend some money there and in the restaurants before buggering off home, rather than clearing off before play was due to start. One of the blokes I was with who is a Lancs member bumped in to one of their players, Paul Horton, who when asked (this was well before 13:00) pulled a face and said he thought there was NO chance of any play today.
As is usual in these circs, everyone we spoke to in a blazer had a different explanation. To be fair to them I don't think they knew anything official; but choose from:-
- the protection they'd put on the ground for the Arctic Monkey's concert had been laid on wet grass, causing the ground to get mashed up
- Arctic Monkeys concert goers had showed an acute degree of incontinence, causing much raw sewage to have flooded the outfield
- it was nothing to do with the concert itself, just the amount of rain itself
- it wasn't even the part of the ground where the concert had taken place, but a bit just off the square near the pavilion - which did look like a ploughed field to be honest.
Which ever way you look at it you have to question the competence of Lancashire CC. Their supporters were MIGHTILY pissed off - and I have to say those I met were exceptionally friendly - even when they knew I was from Sussex. But this only goes to show many of their problems are self inflicted. The ground has been like this for weeks - they could have had ample time to move this to Blackpool or Aigburth wher it would have been playable. They didn't - for what ever reason I could not say. I reckon Hampshire have a good case for getting some compensation or points taken off Lancs. The ground was unfit and as far as I could see Lancs had not taken enough steps to get it fit for play. They've had weeks to sort this out - and haven't. I know cricket clubs need concerts to supplement their income; but.... I reckon the one day international there next week mght be at risk and you do question on this performance abhout future test matches - would this happen at Lords??
Still; its an ill wind; aye?
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