Yorkshire 197 for 6
v Hampshire
County Championship Division 1
Close on Day One
Monday 30 August 2021
Played at Southampton
A grey, overcast, chilly at times day. Pitch looked greeeeen. Hants won the Toss & banged us in. I want to say - so different from Test Cricket, which is played in the English Summer months of June, July & August. But of course, in the current ECB schedule, we've still got two Tests to come.
Cricket has many dimensions. That's one of the reasons they've created The Hundred. To REDUCE the dimensions. To put Clear Blue Water between old cricket & the new broom. What we really ought to be doing is embracing the dimensions. Today that was very, very different to an evening at The Hundred.
But, still an absorbing day. I'm not saying it was hooping around. I'm not saying it was pacy & bouncy. But, I'm sure it was a very challenging time for the batsmen. Forget the runs. Forget the balls faced. Let's have a look at the times. George Hill (123 mins), Tom K-C (144 mins), Gary Ballance (154 mins) all batted for over two hours. Dom Bess came back through the Fire Doors of the Hotel not out for 101 mins.
OK. OK. None of them have put mammoth scores up. But, none of them have thought - fuck it, one's coming soon, I'll have a dart.
Sixty for One at Din Dins looked a superb platform. George Hill was 31 not out, having been watchful, but putting away the bad balls (6 x 4s). But, he got out to the first ball after lunch. Ballance came in then and held it together for a long time. Eventually gone for 42 at 138 for 5. I'll admit, when Duke shuffled off at 159 for 6, I felt a lot of the earlier work had been undone. Five more gone for less than a hundred.
Bess & Thompson steadied & then pushed. The New Ball was taken. But after six overs of squinting to see that under the floodlights, Middlebrook & Llong brought 'em off.
Ian Holland, supposedly batting at Two for Hampshire had the ridiculous figures of 11 overs, 9 maidens, 0 for 8 runs. Great back story the fella. Born Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA (UK passport via English Dad). In 2012, he entered Cricket Superstar. An Australian X Factor style reality TV show. The role of Simon Cowell was played by former AUS Captain Allan Border. Ian H won it. The Prize? A contract with Cricket Victoria at the MCG. He ended up making just one appearance in the Sheffield Shield. Eventually pinging up at Fleetwood CC up on the Lancashire Coast. From where, he was recommended to Hampshire by former England allrounder Dimitri Mascarenhas.
Cool story Bro. But 9 maidens off 11 overs is cooler.
A lot is said about the logistical problems of the Southampton ground. Stuck out by the M27. The Carrier Bag Firm preference is always to stay near the ground. And to try & make the Beer work from there. Challenging.
We had a ridic early start via London Waterloo, Hedge End station and the 8 CITY RED bus. You'll recall the 8 is supposed to call at the Cricket Ground only when there is a game on. The Bus Driver a. didn't know there was a game on and b. didn't know the turn off for the ground nor how to get back to the main road. The CBF "inbuilt cricket SatNav", always happy to help.
Anyway, after all that, we decided to stay home for a Beer at the, frankly fraying, Hilton Hotel at the ground. The Maitre d' admitted they were having a lot of difficulty getting staff. The more relaxed and informal café bar was shut because of that.
In the main bar, there were three CraftALike Taps.
Craft Academy (Greene King), Over Easy, Session IPA 3.8%
Greene King, Ice Breaker Pale Ale 4.5%
But they were both OFF. And….
Greene King, Yardbird Pale Ale at 4%
The first pull was flat & got flatter. Why don't barstaff just look at what they're serving. I nursed it & moaned. Next fella up got a foaming one in the branded glass. I put mine on the bar next to his "sorry, something has gone wrong, I want one like that".
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