July 2008 Archives

Rain stopped play. Warwickshire 277 for 6 (100.5 overs). Botha 25, Salisbury 0.

In bad light and drizzle it was rather surprising that play began this morning so it was probably with a rye smile that Troughton returned to the pavilion, trapped lbw by Murtagh for 88, in the fourth over of the day only to be followed by the rest of the players two balls later as the umps called a halt.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Not a very pleasant morning in Uxbridge - grey and cloudy with a strong, chilly wind blowing. Play should start on time though.

Already today I have met a hero. At McDonalds in Uxbridge at 7.45am a queue of punters was waiting to be served by the grand total of one member of staff - a young lady. For the next half an hour the queue was never less than eight-strong and this lady, of eastern european origin, was alone at the counter and did not have one second to pause yet she served everyone with a smile, warm courtesy and complete efficiency. When she finally had 1.3 seconds to draw breath she went and cleared a load of tables, also finding time to inquire as to whether me porridge had been acceptable!

I don't expect this person is overpaid. It's people like her that power this planet. We could lose all the politicians tomorrow.

Close: Warwickshire 271 for 5 (96 overs). Troughton 83, Botha 24.

Troughton saw it through admirably and Botha ensured there was no late swing to Middlesex with the sort of valuable contribution of which he has lodged plenty this season.

Slight advantage to the Bears because theirs is the momentum, having been 78 for four.

Ah well. Stumps drawn. Spectators drift away. Committee members placed under dust covers. Let's go and find somewhere to kip in London. Must be a spare skip somewhere....

Warwickshire 235 for 5 (83 overs). Troughton 74, Botha 0.

Frost, on 84, misses a big drive at Richardson and is bowled - one Stoke City diehard falling to another.

The pair added 157 in 55 overs. falling not far shy of Warwickshire's fifth-wicket record against Middlesex - 176 by Wagh and Ambrose at Edgbaston in 2006.

"It's behind your seat under the floor," a reporter has just said. "Never mind, I'll get it out later."

Warwickshire 198 for 4 (71 overs). Troughton 63, Frost 58.

Troughton and Frost advance, both posting their half-centuries soon after tea, Troughton from 106 balls, Frost from 131. Frost's 50 was reached in charitable fashion with his eighth four - from a forward defensive shot! Richardson fielded the ball off his own bowling then his attempt to throw the small crimson sphere to the wicket-keeper by-passed said gauntlet-wielding humanoid and travelled to the boundary for a quartet of overthrows.

Malan and Kartik bowling. Middlesex appear to have run out of ideas.

Tea. Warwickshire 159 for 4 (64 overs). Troughton 42, Frost 40.

A solid 81 without loss in the session. The sort of worthy, unspectacular work of which successful promotion campaigns are built.

The new Twenty20, from 2010, will involve two leagues of ten comprising the 18 counties plus two overseas sides.

"They will **** Twenty20 up by the end of it, they'll ruin the product," a sage in the press tent has just commented.

...is how the last hour has just been summed up by a member of the press but it is good cricket as Troughton and Frost knuckle down against testing bowling.

Warwickshire 140 for 4 (60 overs). Troughton 33, Frost 32.

The view from the Bears' camp is that, on a very slow wicket, a total of 300 would be valuable as it would mean that, to get any sort of meaningful lead, Middlesex would have to bat a long, long time.

Just accidentally popped into the bar facility where a Mr T.Powell, of Rugby, recommends the film "Mamma Mia" in the most glowing terms. "Absolutely fantastic - I challenge anyone to come out of that film not feeling good."

Warwickshire 84 for 4 (34 overs). Troughton 11, Frost 8.

For those of you who have not frequented Uxbridge Cricket Club, it is a pretty ground with trees, mainly firs, standing tall around two boundaries, and a rather ramshackle but quaint pavilion situated square on to the pitch. The outfield is a bit rough and very undulating and there are two blocks of bright blue temporary seating, somewhat incongruous to the sylvan setting.
The ground is moderately jumbiflic, although never tranquil due to the constant grind of traffic emanating from the main road immediately behind afore-mentioned firs. The arm of a big red crane waits motionless, reaching into the ground from an adjacent building site, poised above the scorers' tent as if ready, at any moment, to lower an enormous celestial sugar-cube into David Wainwright's cup of tea.

Troughton and Frost retrenching. Could be in for an afternoon of gritty fare.

Lunch: Warwickshire 78 for 4 (29 overs). Troughton 4, Frost 0.

Poonia, on 28, edged Finn and Scott took a fine catch in front of slip. An uneasy morning's work for Warwickshire ended with a loose shot from Trott which also resulted in an edge to the keeper, right on the stroke of lunch.

Warwickshire 50 for 2 (22 overs). Poonia 24, Trott 2.

Powell, on 11, got a good one from Evans and edged to Joyce at third slip. Poonia is batting well. Very watchful. His first boundary came from his 46th ball faced, a sparkling on-drive off Finn.

Alex Gidman has this morning informed Warwickshire that he will be staying at Gloucestershire. Back on the Bears' radar, though, is Graham Onions, who is not playing for Durham in their current game against Surrey and spoke recently to Ashley Giles.