A trip to the midlands (part 1)

posted by John Winn

The fixture list having thrown up two of my listed matches* in the same week in the midlands  an overnight stay was always my preferred option so yesterday morning saw me make an early start for Leicester. Just over two hours later I was the first customer through the Grace Road gates following the Hampshire coach (in both senses of the word I suspect). An hour later little else had changed although a few autograph hunters had assembled to catch the players as they began their warm ups and practice.

Very few would speak of Grace Road as their favourite ground and while I wouldn't go that far there are lots of things about it I like , probably the kind of things people who don't like it would list if asked what they objected to. I like the fact that there are no towering stands, you could walk within fifty yards of it and not know it was there,you can park in a side street round the corner from the gate without charge or restriction. Inside the pavilion there is an interesting little museum and even in the loo it  has pictures of great  players from the past, but perhaps most of all I like the fact that you can sit on a bench in  front of the pavilion without any white coated official asking to see your membership card. And oh yes you can have a cup of tea and a piece of excellent cake for £1:50.

When play commenced, with visitors Hampshire fresh from their victory over Northants on Saturday, winning the toss and putting Leicester into bat, the crowd was below that which had assembled a week before at Todmorden for second eleven cricket and this of course is Leicester's problem: they are poorly supported. I wonder how many people other than this blogger paid a tenner at the gate yesterday and their membership is small. A consequence of this is that they can't hang on to players like Stuart Broad and James Taylor, both of whom have preferred to play what little county cricket they do play up the road at Trent Bridge.

The loss of two early wickets seemed to justify Adams' decision to field but by the end of the day promotion aspirants Hampshire probably felt they had the worst of the day and those from the land of Pukka Pies (don't compromise) and cobs rather than sandwiches ( and how appropriate that Cobb should bat so well) were in the ascendancy, a position they have rammed home today to the point where they will feel confident of their first championship victory since they beat Glamorgan in April. A lot of water has flown under (and in some places over) the bridge since then and it will be an achievement if The Foxes do not repeat last season's bottom position.

Having sampled the aforementioned tea and cake provided by The Friends of Grace Road I drove the fifteen or so miles to Lutterworth where Leicestershire II were taking on Northants II in a three day friendly. How pleased I was to have made the journey for this is a lovely ground. Easily accesible from the Coventry road, surrounded by handsome trees and with an attractive pavilion. When I arrived Northants were 92 for 2 in reply to Leicestershire's 151 all out and just over an hour later they were all out for 108 having lost their last 8 wickets for 9 runs. In the meantime tea had been served to players and spectators (no charge, so more cake) and what a pleasure it was to sit in warm evening sunshine and watch the procession of batsmen.

With Leicestershire II about to begin their second innings I left and via the M6 made my way to Coleshill and my overnight stay at The Swan. Day two of my midlands' adventures will appear tomorrow, providing that my nerves have recovered from what a trip to The Riverside might hold in store.

*see 'A busy couple of days' May 2011 for explanation of 'listed matches'.