Total Pageviews

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

I was there - 2nd Ashes Test Edgbaston 8th August 2005

Mark Nicholas interviewing Michael Vaughan after he almost bolloxed it up and lost 'Freddie's Test'. It was 100 minutes of the most awful tension, broken only by Shame Warne's Gupta-like dismissal and the comic appeal of Ashley Giles' pie-chucking.
Worst moment - Simon Jones' drop or Geraint Jones letting 4 byes through, both in the last couple of overs. Nasty moment: Lee getting regularly thumped by Flintoff, then getting up to receive 4 bumpers in a row in the penultimate over.
Most pessimistic: Adam playing professional gooner next to me, 'how have we lost?' whining etc. Me saying 'Cometh the hour cometh the man', half-believing it but shaking so much with tension that I had to stand up between overs.
Brucie bonus: getting in with Neil to see the Aussies net, including Brett Lee joking so he couldn't be taking it seriously (but could he!) and John Buchanan with a face like thunder wagging a cricket stump in their faces to establish how serious it was. Punter looked sick, Warnie looked rough like he'd had a night out with Both, Both looks rotund.
Happiness: making throat sounds like nothing human, but then we all were, hugging and jumping up and down for a seriously long time. Punter being interviewed and the whole Hollies Stand chanting' You should have batted first'! The ridiculous fancy dress and the atmosphere all day - including after the match when we found Paul, who we'd given a lift to, watching WG Grace, the vicar, Queen Victoria et al playing cricket with kids behind the stands!
Roll on Old Trafford but an easier win please! England have 2 real bully fast bowlers and a pie-chucking spinner - tense, not much...

No comments: