Southern Tour - Hampshire

Rose Bowl, Southampton and the Bat and Ball Inn, Hambledon

Posted by Tony Hutton

Monday 24th May - Thursday 27th May Hampshire v Yorkshire (Rose Bowl, Southampton)

Have not been to this ground since it was first built when I saw the first ever game which was a second XI match, before the pavilion was completed. I have seen the finished article some years later when I saw another second XI game on the Nursery ground next door.

However I was new to the problems of trying to get into the ground. First problem is still only one way in and cars queue to get into car park. When you reach the head of the queue you are required to pay £7 to park on the grass. After that you have to walk quite a way uphill to the ticket office to buy your admission ticket, then back down the hill to turnstiles where you push you ticket in the slot and are allowed to enter.

Today however as soon as we do enter we seem to be in the middle of a building site and security men push you back into the turnstile to avoid you being run over by contractors vehicles of all shapes and sizes moving round the pedestrian walkway.
Eventually we are allowed in and make our way to the shop to try and buy a scorecard. Sorry sold out - it is twenty to eleven on the first day with not that many people in the ground.

Make our way to the atrium for coffee, by the time we are served the game is about to start and a large queue has developed at the reception desk on the rumour that scorecards may be available soon. All very hectic and frustrating. Worse was to follow when eventually we find a seat in the splendid upper terrace of the pavilion the builders start up in earnest.

It appears that two stands to each side of the main pavilion are nearing completion for the one day international with Australia on the 22nd June. Drilling continues throughout the four days as seats are fitted in these stands. Other work seems to be going on all round the ground with vehicles coming and going all the time. It is all far worse than the building work we have complained about at Headingley.

However having taken all this in the match was now well in progress and Yorkshire were again batting in excellent conditions, Lyth again scoring quickly soon leaves Sayers well behind, but Yorkshire do not lose their first wicket until the total reaches 195 when Lyth is out for another splendid 133. Sayers finally goes for 49 in over four hours batting. Sadly Yorkshire are repeating the mistakes of Taunton by not scoring quickly enough in the first innings. Only just 300 in the day.

McGrath and Gale both get fifties but take their time. Yorkshire eventually make 400 but only at three an over. Rashid plays the most positive innings on the second day with a quick 51.Hampshire's batting is equally turgid, particularly South African McKenzie with 91 in over four hours and it is a surprise when they declare some 24 runs behind Yorkshire. By the afternoon of day three I felt I needed a break from the building works and the cricket and set off north to Mottisfont Abbey gardens near Romsey, another National Trust delight, and called in briefly at Hursley Park cricket club where Hampshire over 50s were making mincement of their Channel Island counterparts. They ran up a score of 323-1 in 45 overs.

In the second innings Lyth again the star man with 98, again falling just short of two centuries in the match. However the game meanders slowly to a lingering death. No chance of a risky declaration after events at Taunton. The Hampshire members are getting restless, part time bowlers appear and Yorkshire eventually make a token declaration merely to improve their poor over rate for the match. While all this was going on the drilling continues and it feels just like being at the dentists.

By the time all this happened we had long departed as I knew that a club match was taking place at the historic Bat and Ball ground at Hambledon. We went to the famous pub for an excellent lunch and a good look at all the memorabilia and at 2 p.m. saw the Bat and Ball XI take on Worfield CC from Berkshire. All is peace and quiet, very few spectators, the sun shines, the players get on with the game and all is well with the world.

The contrast between the two games is so marked that the choice of which one I prefer is all too easy. The professional game continues to shoot itself in the foot at every opportunity while the village game provides a safe haven, certainly for people of my generation.

Nevertheless a fascinating two weeks of travel and cricket, wonderful countryside and village pubs in the evenings and best of all perfect weather.