Cruise To Lose

England 258 all out
lost to
West Indies 427 all out
England 490-8 Declared
West Indies 322-5
by 5 wickets

2nd Test

Played at Headingley

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Pint, Black Sheep, Best Bitter on Cask at 3.8%. Really, really wish Yorkshire could find some way of widening the beer range on offer.

Great Day 5 crowd in. Tenner. Fiver concessions. Kids free. They created a bit of a problem for themselves. Understandably, they were looking for a quick throughput of on the day punters. Cash turnstiles. Folding money. Bang. You're in. Ticket office. Folding money. Bang. Here's your ticket. Turnstiles over there. So, they were all UNRESERVED SEATS. Day tripper punter, once in a lifetime, told he can sit where he/she wants. Bit of weather around. Oh look. Those seats up there in the back of the Trueman look great. Plonk.

Of course, all the five day season ticket holders have actually got RESERVED SEATS up there. Moi Aussi.

“That's my seat”
“Told I could sit where I like”
“I'm not moving, why should I?”
“Who says it's your seat?”

Unnecessary all that. Yorkshire should have thought it through. There was a New Punter in my seat. I ascertained he thought it was Unreserved Seating. Told him that was fine. Hoped he enjoyed the day. I was happy to sit elsewhere.

Mate. If you're reading this. I've backed off there. Avoided an unnecessary argument not of your causing. Not of mine. You coming back then? County game? T20? Owt?

No. Fuck me. I wish I'd turfed you out now. Day tripping wannabee….

At different stages of that Test, seemed like both teams were on a Cruise To Lose at times. Dropped catches. Getting yourself out. Not pressing home any advantage. But, duty bound. On the day, West Indies, Shai Hope & Kraigg Brathwaite in particular, have WON that. Most stated stat of the day was, no one has ever scored a ton in each innings of any First Class game at Headingley. Brathwaite was out at 197 for three, on 95. Just five short of being the first.

But, it fell to Hope to Reverse The Curse. Ending with 147 in the first dig. And, 118 Red Ink as the Windies won it in the second. I won't do the full post mortem. Openers have to get in. Get to the first change. Batsmen who get to Fifty have to push on. Middle order have to not play reverse sweeps. And, certainly not fucking get out playing one. Bowlers have to be penetrative & ask questions. Fielders have to hold catches. That's the game. Do that lot well. Win.

No issue with the Declaration from me. If you do the bits well, you'll win most times. If the opposition take their shots & win it. Salute them on their way.

Put aside stupid “run out of Black Sheep” lie on Day 2.
Put aside stupid - it's Black Sheep or nowt beer policy.
Put aside - reserved seaters vs unreserved seaters Day 5 Stare Out.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Headingley Experience. Enough turnstiles. Sensible & polite bag searches. It looked fun in the AGS over on The Western Terrace. (Anything Goes Stand). Glad I was in the Trueman Voyeur's Enclosure though. But, that's the contract ain't it. Play up in that bit. Full of like minds. No body to rub up against. Chuck some beer around over here. Fuck no. The Bizzies will swarm on you. Collars will be felt. “Not here Son”.

Boisterous doesn't become aggressive. I feel they're getting it right. How did that happen?

526/1106