August 2008 Archives

And it's abandoned for the day.

Twenty-four of the pigeons have departed to spend the evening cosy in their nests. The other two are off to the theatre.

Still off for "bad light".

The umpires have just sauntered out to have a look and a stentorian cry of "Get 'em out" (not a call you hear every day at cricket) rose from the cheap seats.

There are now 26 pigeons pecking away at that strip. Surely there should be some sort of scarecrow out there.

Warwickshire 209 for 3 (73.3 overs). Trott 62, Troughton 22.

Bad light has stopped play again. The umpires got a bit of stick as they went off again but, actually, it is pretty dark.

Ten pigeons are pecking one of the uncut strips but they are outnumbered by 16 pied wagtails roaming the outfield near to the Thwaite scoreboard.

No willow warblers in evidence.

Warwickshire 189 for 3 (65 overs). Trott 57, Troughton 12.

To the pleasure of the 907 people who have passed through the turnstiles today, play is about to resume after a brief stoppage for bad light.

"You're a disgrace Jones," hollered a spectator as umpire AA Jones strode back out to the middle.

Tea. Warwickshire 187 for 3 (64 overs).

Trott 55 (118 balls), Troughton 12 (52 balls).

The Golden Age of jigsaw puzzles came in the 1920s and 1930s with companies like Chad Valley and Victory in Great Britain and Einson-Freeman, Viking and others in the United States producing a wide range of puzzles reflecting both the desire for sentimental scenes, enthusiasm for the new technologies in rail and shipping and, last but not least, new marketing strategies.

Warwickshire 179 for 3 (59 overs). Trott 50, Troughton 9.

Trott's 50, the stats of which were rather intrusively announced over the PA in the middle of an over, came from 105 balls with eight fours. An innings of no great beauty but plenty of value. As Troughton ekes nine from 32 balls so far, the Bears are plumping for steady accumulation.

"Turgid stuff isn't it?" a scribe has just observed.

"Rank," commented another on a Clare long hop which Trott gloved for four.

Another is studiously playing chess against his computer.

And another has just entered the press box brandishing blueberry muffins from a very kind person.

Warwickshire 140 for 3 (48 overs). Trott 24, Troughton 0.

Maddy has just departed, I would imagine, in a state of considerable self-flagellation, after perishing following three hours of honest toil. He struck 73 from 135 balls, his first time past 50 in nine championship attempts, then received a short ball from Clare and lapped it to point where Wagg took a fine low catch.

Trott, on 23, has just survived a mighty lbw shout from Clare. This is an important stage of the innings. A wicket or two now and Derbyshire will fancy their chances against a Bears batting unit which has the less-than-formidable Rankin and Martin bringing up the rear.

Warwickshire 117 for 2 (39 overs). Maddy 58, Trott 20.

Maddy has reached a gritty, nuggety half-century from 99 balls with seven fours. He is reining himself in admirably with sporadic ventures into strokeplay not least a lovely straight drive off Langeveldt which former Bears spin legend Doshi has just retrieved from the City End rope.

Trott offering stout support.

The drills have fallen silent, there is intermittent sawing, plus diggers growling around and the distant sound of workmen scoffing their sandwiches.

Or possibly rolls.

Lunch. Warwickshire 88 for 2 (29 overs). Maddy 43, Trott 6.

Maddy and Frost added 73 in 14 overs but, ten minutes before lunch, Frost undid all his good work with a poor shot. Hinds dropped short and Frost lifted the ball straight to Borrington at mid-wicket.

Maddy has been the epitome a solid. A blend of Boycott, Edrich, Barrington and Quaife. He'll score a century today. 122, I feel.

I mean, why spend hour after hour after hour putting all those pieces together. Why not just look at the picture on the box?

Warwickshire 60 for 1 (19 overs). Maddy 30, Frost 19.

These two batsmen have knuckled down very well in poor light. Maddy has his thou-shalt-not-pass hat on and is just starting to expand a few strokes while Frost is batting as solidly as he has done for most of the season. The 50 stand was posted in 16 overs.

The saws beyond the Pavilion End have given way to drills.

Jigsaw puzzles.

Who on earth invented those desperately silly things?

And, more to the point, why?