I have just returned from a most enjoyable week's tour of cricket grounds in what can be described as Middle England, although I did make one trip south of the Thames. It may take me another week to catch up with my blogs, as I journey from Northamptonshire to Bedfordshire, briefly just into Kent, then to Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and finally Staffordshire.
My first visit was on Friday 22nd May to Oundle School where Northants second eleven were playing Lancashire in two T20 games (in coloured clothing of course). However the surroundings more than made up for this irritation. There are at least five cricket grounds and a large athletic track adjoining the main ground. However, the highlight for me was the brand new futuristic pavilion opened only one week earlier by a famous old boy, Tom Harrison now CEO of the England and Wales cricket board.
The J.M. Mills pavilion, Oundle School
The pavilion is named after an even more famous old boy J.M. Mills, who became a teacher at the school, a housemaster and Master of cricket and was connected with the school for over 80 years before his death last year. He played for Cambridge University for three years just after the war, when they had a very strong side and was captain in 1948. I vaguely remembered his name as a leg spin bowler who famously took 7-69 against a very powerful Yorkshire side in 1946. He also appeared briefly for Warwickshire, having been born in Edgbaston.
J.M. Mills
The J.M. Mills pavilion is full of interesting memorabilia including several photos of W.G. Grace, who apparently scored his 200th century, in all cricket, on this ground.
There are also panels of old boys who played first class cricket, most recently Will Jefferson of Essex and Notts, and lists of their achievements.
Although I managed to get a list of the two teams from the scorers, no scorecards have yet appeared on any known website. However Lancashire, with perhaps a bit more experience than the very young Northants side, won both games comfortably each by seven wickets. Two 18 year olds opened the batting for Lancashire in Harry Dearden and Haseeb Hamed, who has played for England Under 19s. They both both batted well and look good prospects. The first game saw Northants total 130-4 with Ben Duckett top scoring with 44, but Lancashire overtook them with some ease.
Oundle School main ground
During this game one or two sixes cleared the wire fence surrounding the athletics track where the school sports meeting was being held, putting the athletes and the spectators in some jeopardy. Not sure whether this was the reason the second game was moved, just behind a hedge, to the second ground - which meant I could claim two new grounds. Although the late Mick Bourne would have insisted on only one!
All too much for one spectator
Northants never got going in the second game and the innings tailed off to finish 94-9 in twenty overs. Lancashire passed this score with almost five overs to spare and were well captained by the experienced Luke Procter. The Lancashire coach and former first team captain, Mark Chilton, sometimes seemed more interested in the Test Match score, but must have been very pleased with his team's performance.
Oundle School's second ground
For me the highlights were the new pavilion and the pleasant walk into the town centre during the interval between the games. A very attractive place indeed with the large number of school buildings dominating the town. Certainly worth a visit for any professional cricket watcher.
No comments:
Post a Comment