English Summer Dispatch II - Sunday, 14th July 2013

Dear Friends, I left you after Day Two of an amazing Test Match. Day 3 was very hot and humid, tough weather for a couple of Daylesfordites – we walked to the ground, which is a lovely form of exercise and gives us a chance to observe our fellow walkers. Our seats have all been in the New Stand, towards the back with a side-on view, but great elevation. Thanks to Glenda & Joe Rozen and the Stevensons for spotting us – I’m wearing my Collingwood polo top in preference to our uniform which resembles convict gear, and Wes is often to be seen in navy blue. Our dear friend, Jane, is appalled that we crass Victorians turn up in footy gear, and I try to explain that footy is even more important to us than international cricket – witness Shane Warne, who only played cricket for Australia because he wasn’t good enough to get a regular game with St Kilda.

The couple behind me are wearing their Collingwood jumpers

After Day 3, and drinks in the bar with friends, Wes and I came back to our room to watch the Collingwood match. I knew the result as I get quarter by quarter scores sent from the AFL, but I was keen to see the action. Sadly the video wasn’t available on AFL Live, so we caught up on emails and then watched Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch and had pizzas & red wine.

Day 4 was very hot again, we walked to the ground and watched the Poms get an excellent lead before the Aussies started very well and then lost a raft of wickets. We were thrilled that Agar came in up the order and the Fanatics were in their element. They are so well organised, very gracious to the opposition and are enjoying the ultimate compliment – the Barmy Army is copying some of their tactics, especially the “quack, quack” chant when a new batsman comes to the crease. I can’t adequately describe the atmosphere, nor tell you how welcoming all the staff are at this ground. We are in love with Trent Bridge with all its idiosyncrasies! (Not least of which is that it holds just over 17,000 in 10 different stands).

We had drinks at the bar again – Wes ordered a bottle of Pinot Gris and when he got back to the table with it, discovered it hadn’t been opened and had a cork, not a screw top. That is the calibre of the staff here – you want a bottle, here is your bottle! Jane, Annette & Laurie joined us for a drink, but then went their separate ways; while Terry, Wes and I were all happy to have a casual bar meal and I had an early night, while Wes & Terry stayed for a couple more hours. We had hoped to watch the Carlton game, as Wes had chosen not to know the score, but once again the internet has let us down. This is the system that Malcolm Turnbull wanted for Australia and it is pathetic.

The good news for us is that the basin now lets water out and the toilet can flush more than once every ten minutes. Our doona is a series of lumps, and we are all praying that our hotel in Park Lane will be somewhat superior. This is easily the most indifferent housekeeping service we have experienced in years. I learned today that those of us foolish enough to entrust their clothes to the hotel laundry aren’t getting them back, as they have been lost!

Today we rose early, I successfully spoke with Viva, Wes contacted Barbara, and we set off for our morning walk to the ground in high anticipation and excitement. Once again all the ground staff were most welcoming, our seats were good and there was some great banter before the game. At 10.58am the scoreboard shows exciting English Test play, while a wonderful male singer belts out Jerusalem….it never fails to give me goosebumps.

Sitting with Terry McDonald

Once we were 9 wickets down, I remembered Border & Thommo failing by 3 runs at the MCG all those years ago and prayed for a different result. Sadly it was not to be and it was such an anti-climax for the game to be decided by a referral. I am now firmly of the opinion that the captains should not be allowed any referrals, instead the two field umpires should work in conjunction with the third umpire whenever there is doubt. Otherwise our umpires will lose all confidence in their decision-making and there are only 4 of them to stand in the 5 Tests.

Wes and I walked home from the ground among victorious Poms and downcast Aussies, but we are very proud of the effort they put in, and we have witnessed one of the nail-biting, fascinating and exciting Ashes Tests in recent times.

We bought a new small suitcase on our way back to our hotel,  as we need to put all our books in a case that we store at Gatwick when we travel to Iceland after the Lord’s Test. Now we are resting in our room and I’ve decided to write to you and update you on our feelings after this Test. Tonight we hope to have dinner with Jane, David, Terry & Annette, and tomorrow we leave Nottingham en route to London via a stopover in Stratford upon Avon. Wes, Terry and I are going to see a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company of It’s a Mad, Mad World My Masters.