HOME SOIL,
Kent 2nd X1 were playing Essex today-two 20/20 games;11.30 start. But one or two big names playing ,including Brendan Nash and Ben Harmison.
BIG IN THE BALKANS
Had an Albanian taxi driver this morning. He said his country was full of corruption and he was pleased to move to Kent 10 years ago.
PARK AND RIDE
The cricket ground is called Mote Park and between 1859 and 2005 it staged 140 first -class matches. Itis owned by The Mote CC and is also used by Mote Squash Club and Maidstone RFC.Lashing CC ,with their all-star international cricket line-up,are also based in Maidstone.
The Mote Ground, Maidstone
BEN AND SAM
The ground has a nice pavilion, full of cricket and rugby union items;paintings,medals,framed caps,photos and trophies.Also TV on showing the England ODI. Had a chat with Ben Harmison,brother of you-know-who.He said Nash was the best player playing in the current match. Met a nice couple from the coast. They got me a scorecard and Sam Northeast was currently their star man.But has Northeast missed his chance with England ?
GIFT AID
The Maidstone tea lady said I could have some of the fruit salad the players had not eaten. It was very nice. Apricot yoghurts too. Two cups of tea at £1 each.
ARAVINDA AND MARK
Mote Park was opened in 1857 and can hold 8,500 people. Five key facts about Maidstone
1. The first Kent match at Mote Park was in 1859, two years after the founding of The Mote Cricket Club.
2. In 1910n, two permanent buildings were opened ; the pavilion and the tabernacle , originally the private pavilion of Viscount Bearsted.
3. After 140 consecutive years of play, Mote Park was taken off the list of county grounds used by Kent in 2005.
4. In 1995, Aravinda de Silva and Graham Cowdrey put on 368 together at Mote Park-the highest evr Kent batting partnership.
Maidstone scoreboard during record partnership 1995
5.In 1995, Mark Ealham made the fastest - ever 40 - over century at Mote Park. It took 44 balls and included 9 sixes and 9 fours.
The Maidstone club hopes to host Kent fixtures gain in the future.
SECOND COMING
I do not watch a lot of 2 nd X1 cricket but have several friends who do .They view 2nd X1 as important and interesting as I st X1 cricket.I like this attitude and would like to move to a situation where Iwatched as much 2nd X1 as they do.Just seen a few games, at Westhoughton, Elland,Todmorden, Headingley , Rugby School and Old Trafford. I like the atmosphere : low key and queit, with only cricketing connoisseurs an attendance.
BIG NAMES
You can also spot players of the future as well; my Yorkshire - supporting friends will have seen Johny Bairstow , Adam Lyth and others making their name in Yorkshie 2 nd X1 games - this must be very interesting and satisfying.
TOFFEE TOWN
Maidstone is famous for its prison and toffee. Its population is 113,000 and is 32 miles south -east of London.The town has 15 secondary schls, 23 primary schools and two special schools. It also featured in the 1955 James Bond novel, Moonraker. It is the county town of Kent.
HART ATTACK
Famous Maidstone residents have included Tony Hart, Andy Townsend, Carol Mc Giffin and Robert Fisk ( one of my heroes ).
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