Yes! The faulty blind is fixed! A long nights sleep was had thanks to my abilities as a 'handyman.'
On second thought, it could also be the fact that outside of my window the scene is grey, gloomy and dismal. Bugger. And double bugger as there is no left over pizza for my breakfast this morning either, settle for a solitary slice of toast, hoping that the cloud cover and drizzle will move on.
20 minutes later, no such good luck. My normal ten minute walk to the station was turned into a mad dash, within twenty seconds of leaving the flat, the heavens opened and I got soaked.
Lincoln didn't however let me down in terms of entertainment on the train, yesterday was the 'technophobe Grannies' today the Scottish Christian Street Preacher.
A jolly nice chap too, blessed me for handing him a couple of sheets of paper to scribble his notes on, similar to how I was scribbling stats on mine. His Scottish heritage certainly came out however, upon him dropping his wallet he was bending down and picking up his change before it had barely touched the coffee stained train carpet.
Once again the hour journey flew by like the field upon field of wet, unhappy looking animals you flash past going through the several village stops on the trip. Conversations of Cromwell, Students and University all helped pass the time before a shake of the hands as we departed seperate ways. With the rain still lashing down I opted for a taxi ride down to the ground.
£3.80 later, and I was finding it hard to believe the sight in front of me. Yesterday Trent Bridge was picture perfect. Today an damp squib with no sign of play whatsoever.
At 12pm sharp, umpires Richard Kettleborough and the aptly named George Sharp hurridly walked over to the square, took one look and called for an early lunch. What a splendid idea indeed.
Another Pie was top of the menu today, this time it was Steak and it went down a treat. Whilst eating lunch we watched the groundstaff go about removing the covers as a short break in the rain brought hope to us all.
Not for long, the covers were back on again quicker than you could say 'Spotted Dick and Custard' (incidently the pudding choice) and it was back to the laptops to try and find a latest forecast.
Finally, after being at the ground for four and a half hours without a ball being bowled we had the chance of play at 3pm. The clouds had lifted, the rain departed, unfortunately so had my fellow RNIB commentators. Still, I battled on, on my own for a little over ninety minutes either side of tea before hands were shook, stumps removed and a draw called with Lancashire on 97-3.
In the small dose of cricket available to us on the final day, the action was as sparse as the Trent Bridge crowd.
Two wickets for the Notts' bowlers, one for Ryan Sidebottom and one, a peach from Darren Pattinson removed Karl Brown and Kyle Hogg respectively.
Performance of the day has to go to the groundstaff who tried everything they could, but the only winner today was the weather. Our friend from yesterday, VVS Laxman saw a little more action than his fielding in the slips, however the warm up game of tag rugby seemed to pass him by, perhaps its fair to say Rugby isn't followed in India.
As I drifted away from the ground my thoughts drifted to my next date with the microphone, a top of the table clash with Durham and the prospect of more good cricket, good weather and bizzare train characters. Brilliant.
Saturday 4 July 2009
Day One - July 2nd 2009.
As I was rudely awoken at 4.11am by the sunlight pouring into my new flat through the knock off broken blind on my window I had mixed emotions about the day ahead.
My first thought was 'Bloody Sunlight!!' waking me up so early, before 'Hang on, what amazing weather, if it stays like this we're on for a belter.'
And when my proper alarm (not the sun) woke me up at the better hour of 8:31am the weather was exactly the same. My train wasn't for another hour, giving me plenty of time for a shower, the tough decision of whether to wear shorts or jeans, and to finish off last nights pizza for breakfast, which I had strategically left aside.
I left the flat and began the ten minute walk to the station sporting a pair of shorts, bearing my extremely white legs, collected my copy of the Sun and off I went.
Even at the early-ish hour of twenty past nine the temperature was already rising steeply towards the high twenties and as I boarded the sparsely occupied train I found myself a table with a window and sat me and my bag down.
Without realising it, I had sat next to a table of four people, probably closer to 80 than 70 who were trying to solve a puzzle. Not some form of picture or word puzzle but one far more 'bamboozling' for members of the 'golden generation.' How to answer their new mobile phone. 'Do you just pick it up and say hello?' was one comment. 'I think you press the 'on' button' was another. They finally decided to give up on trying to work out this 'silly machine' and how it worked.
The train ride is about an hour in a morning and just a little less on an evening, but with characters such as these to amuse at, the journey flew by and before I knew it I was walking down to Trent Bridge.
When I arrived David and Dan, my two co-commentators were already in position at the 'mic' so I took a seat at the back of the box and waited for my turn.
The weather was perfect, the cricket well balanced and the microphone ready. Perhaps a little nervous but very excited, I couldn't believe the speed in which forty minutes past. In no time I'd gone from saying 'Hello Everyone.' to 'And Now folks the players leave the field for the lunch interval.'
I was worried the cricket in my first session would be dire, and not worth watching, let alone talking about. However this was far from the case. Ryan Sidebottom bowled a fantastic opening spell of genuine swing bowling for Notts' as they dominated the early session. They polished off the Lancashire tail and reached 17-1 at lunch, a lead of 120.
One of the fantastic things about working at Trent Bridge is the food served for the members and press at dinnertime. Even though temperatures outside were scaling 30 degrees, I chose to ignore the plain ham sandwiches in my bag and opted for the free Chicken Pie and chips instead. The sandwiches remained obsolete at the bottom of my bag, under a dog eared copy of 'All Out Cricket' and the copy of the Sun bought that morning.
Into the afternoon session, freshly filled with pie, and the slight wish I'd have the luxury of a 'Test Match Special' listener cake awaiting me in the studio, myself and Dan began work on what was a well poised, and exciting afternoon's play.
Nottinghamshire had a scent of victory and were looking to add runs quickly to their lead before handing their opponents a tricky period of batting before the close tonight.
I don't think the home skipper, Chris Read could have asked for me, even if he had Chris Gayle and Tilekeratne Dilshan, two stars of the recent Twenty20 World Cup in his top five. Mark Wagh and David Hussey set about constructing a big total to defend and after reaching a solid fifty partnership began to open their arms a little.
Wagh was first in the act, bringing up his half century with a hoisted shot over mid-wicket for six, the ball being caught by the Practice nets to the side of the ground. Seeing this overseas player Hussey joined in on the act, two steps down the wicket and 'Bang' as the ball thudded into the advertising hoarding about 15ft below our 3rd floor commentary position. Both batsmen began taking a liking to Gary Keedy's slow left arm deliveries, Hussey on several occasions sending the spinner to all parts of the ground.
Hussey was finally out for 74, off just 77 balls to go with his 126 from 142 balls in the first innings, together him and Wagh compiled 141 for the fourth wicket Notts's now in a commanding position.
But if Hussey's knock was full of 'Down Under Swagger' (that we hope to see less of this summer!) Wagh's had the look of the 'MCC coaching manual' as all 131 of his runs came from shots, straight from the book. Not just an important knock in context to the game, but also so aesthetically pleasing it matched the beauty of Trent Bridge on this fine summer's day.
Just as wonderful was the way in which Wagh was finally out, a lofted drive over mid on was heading for another four runs, but an airbourne Mark Chilton grasped the ball in his left hand to give the visitors something to cheer about on the third day.
The home side finally declared on 289-7, leaving Lancashire chasing 392 for victory, or more realistically a full day to bat to save a draw.
Nottinghamshire and Wagh still had time to get one of the ten wickets they needed for a win
before the close, Paul Horton's abysmal running between the wickets gave Wagh and Chris Read the easiest of run outs.
Performance of today must go to Mark Wagh for his fantastic innings, although comical display
of the day goes to VVS Laxman. The man from Hyderbad fielded at slip all day, and despite the 30 degree heat, the Indian batsman decided it was still cool enough to employ a sweater in the field.
A brilliant first days play, made better when Alex piped up 'Don't suppose you fancy a beer?' How could I refuse, two ales later and I was back northbound reflecting on the day, and hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
My first thought was 'Bloody Sunlight!!' waking me up so early, before 'Hang on, what amazing weather, if it stays like this we're on for a belter.'
And when my proper alarm (not the sun) woke me up at the better hour of 8:31am the weather was exactly the same. My train wasn't for another hour, giving me plenty of time for a shower, the tough decision of whether to wear shorts or jeans, and to finish off last nights pizza for breakfast, which I had strategically left aside.
I left the flat and began the ten minute walk to the station sporting a pair of shorts, bearing my extremely white legs, collected my copy of the Sun and off I went.
Even at the early-ish hour of twenty past nine the temperature was already rising steeply towards the high twenties and as I boarded the sparsely occupied train I found myself a table with a window and sat me and my bag down.
Without realising it, I had sat next to a table of four people, probably closer to 80 than 70 who were trying to solve a puzzle. Not some form of picture or word puzzle but one far more 'bamboozling' for members of the 'golden generation.' How to answer their new mobile phone. 'Do you just pick it up and say hello?' was one comment. 'I think you press the 'on' button' was another. They finally decided to give up on trying to work out this 'silly machine' and how it worked.
The train ride is about an hour in a morning and just a little less on an evening, but with characters such as these to amuse at, the journey flew by and before I knew it I was walking down to Trent Bridge.
When I arrived David and Dan, my two co-commentators were already in position at the 'mic' so I took a seat at the back of the box and waited for my turn.
The weather was perfect, the cricket well balanced and the microphone ready. Perhaps a little nervous but very excited, I couldn't believe the speed in which forty minutes past. In no time I'd gone from saying 'Hello Everyone.' to 'And Now folks the players leave the field for the lunch interval.'
I was worried the cricket in my first session would be dire, and not worth watching, let alone talking about. However this was far from the case. Ryan Sidebottom bowled a fantastic opening spell of genuine swing bowling for Notts' as they dominated the early session. They polished off the Lancashire tail and reached 17-1 at lunch, a lead of 120.
One of the fantastic things about working at Trent Bridge is the food served for the members and press at dinnertime. Even though temperatures outside were scaling 30 degrees, I chose to ignore the plain ham sandwiches in my bag and opted for the free Chicken Pie and chips instead. The sandwiches remained obsolete at the bottom of my bag, under a dog eared copy of 'All Out Cricket' and the copy of the Sun bought that morning.
Into the afternoon session, freshly filled with pie, and the slight wish I'd have the luxury of a 'Test Match Special' listener cake awaiting me in the studio, myself and Dan began work on what was a well poised, and exciting afternoon's play.
Nottinghamshire had a scent of victory and were looking to add runs quickly to their lead before handing their opponents a tricky period of batting before the close tonight.
I don't think the home skipper, Chris Read could have asked for me, even if he had Chris Gayle and Tilekeratne Dilshan, two stars of the recent Twenty20 World Cup in his top five. Mark Wagh and David Hussey set about constructing a big total to defend and after reaching a solid fifty partnership began to open their arms a little.
Wagh was first in the act, bringing up his half century with a hoisted shot over mid-wicket for six, the ball being caught by the Practice nets to the side of the ground. Seeing this overseas player Hussey joined in on the act, two steps down the wicket and 'Bang' as the ball thudded into the advertising hoarding about 15ft below our 3rd floor commentary position. Both batsmen began taking a liking to Gary Keedy's slow left arm deliveries, Hussey on several occasions sending the spinner to all parts of the ground.
Hussey was finally out for 74, off just 77 balls to go with his 126 from 142 balls in the first innings, together him and Wagh compiled 141 for the fourth wicket Notts's now in a commanding position.
But if Hussey's knock was full of 'Down Under Swagger' (that we hope to see less of this summer!) Wagh's had the look of the 'MCC coaching manual' as all 131 of his runs came from shots, straight from the book. Not just an important knock in context to the game, but also so aesthetically pleasing it matched the beauty of Trent Bridge on this fine summer's day.
Just as wonderful was the way in which Wagh was finally out, a lofted drive over mid on was heading for another four runs, but an airbourne Mark Chilton grasped the ball in his left hand to give the visitors something to cheer about on the third day.
The home side finally declared on 289-7, leaving Lancashire chasing 392 for victory, or more realistically a full day to bat to save a draw.
Nottinghamshire and Wagh still had time to get one of the ten wickets they needed for a win
before the close, Paul Horton's abysmal running between the wickets gave Wagh and Chris Read the easiest of run outs.
Performance of today must go to Mark Wagh for his fantastic innings, although comical display
of the day goes to VVS Laxman. The man from Hyderbad fielded at slip all day, and despite the 30 degree heat, the Indian batsman decided it was still cool enough to employ a sweater in the field.
A brilliant first days play, made better when Alex piped up 'Don't suppose you fancy a beer?' How could I refuse, two ales later and I was back northbound reflecting on the day, and hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
Introduction.
My Name is Pete Hirst, I am a journalism student from the University of Lincoln about to begin my third and final year of my course.
Over this summer I am working for the RNIB at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, where I will be providing ball by ball commentary of the game, which visually impaired people can then listen to through an ear piece.
At the end of each days play, on my hour long train journey home I will be writing a blog diary on here to convey my views on the day, and also give myself the practice of blogging.
I hope you enjoy...
Over this summer I am working for the RNIB at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, where I will be providing ball by ball commentary of the game, which visually impaired people can then listen to through an ear piece.
At the end of each days play, on my hour long train journey home I will be writing a blog diary on here to convey my views on the day, and also give myself the practice of blogging.
I hope you enjoy...
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