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My day at the World Test Championship
By Ian Smith
I believe that of all the international cricket I have watched, 95 per cent of it has been aboard, much on trips organised by International Cricket Tours.
My summers involve Saturdays spent scoring for Ampthill Town CC and Sundays watching Bedfordshire CCC. But a Friday trip to Lord’s was too good to pass up.
Paul Adams, a friend and former Minor County umpire, had a rover ticket for the third day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa.
I had been following the match and my general view was Australia had the game in the bag. South Africa’s only hope was to bat more positively on a pitch aiding the bowlers.
My day started with my non cricket-loving brother, Mark, giving me a lift to Flitwick Station to catch the first cheap train out to West Hampstead.
A 10-minute wait and a busy 139 bus got me close to the Grace Gate. Paul had sent me a WhatsApp message to give me directions to the top of the Warner Stand and the seat he had saved for me.
The Warner Stand was full. The background humming noise of Lord’s could be heard. Champagne corks could be heard popping.
Nathan Lyon had departed, but the last pair of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood batted without many issues, nearly getting to lunch.
Had South Africa bowled poorly or had the pitch settled down?
With that thought floating about our heads, off we went for a liquid lunch and to meet old friends.
All nostalgia-ed up, it was back to the seats for South Africa’s reply.
Kass Naidoo on Test Match Special on Thursday had said that if South Africa were to get close, Ryan Rickelton had to play a major part. Well, he was not going to as Starc had him caught behind.
Starc then got rid of Wiaan Mulder and South Africa were 70 for two. The game was in the balance.
Eight wickets for Australia, 202 runs needed by South Africa.
Skipper Temba Bavuma joined opener Aiden Markram, and I compared Bavuma’s height to that of Harry Pilling – the famed Lancashire batter of the 60s and 70s.
My liquid lunch started to catch up with me at this point, unfortunately, and despite the quality on the field, staying awake became an issue. But South Africa were putting up a brave show.
Tea was reached with no more wickets. A walk round the ground woke me up and got my steps in for the day. After tea, the odd one kept low but South Africa would not be budged.
The ground now seemed full of South Africans, and Australian voices could not be heard.
In the last over of the day, Markram reached his well-deserved ton with a mid-wicket punch.
A walk to a remarkably busy St John’s Wood tube and then West Hampstead to Flitwick.
I love watching England overseas, but you must remember that Lord’s is a special place.
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