The first test at Lords
When it’s cricket at Lords I am definitely in the attendance camp. As I travelled to Lords I wondered about the benefit of a debenture which guarantees your seat but which I do not use fully. This doubt was dispelled by the warmth of the greeting in our area where all the staff try so hard to generate club atmosphere. One of the reasons why I like to attend is to people-watch. The debenture section is social and affluent typically 2-4 seats occupied by a family, often a father and his sons. I tend not to hit the sauce early so it’s a strange feeling to watch the murmur of conversation rise in volume in proportion to the alcohol consumed.
It was an oscillating day’s play with South Africa winning the morning session, with England losing 4 wickets cheaply, but in the afternoon Joe Root and Ben Stokes steadied the ship. As Joe Root, after a nervous start in which he had the good fortune of 2 dropped catches and being “out” to a no ball, rose in confidence so the Protean skipper Dean Elgar, in his first game, failed to inspire a side tactically short of zest. One wonders why A B De Villiers had declined to play in the Test and with Faf Du Pleassis back home for a difficult birth, the South Africans seem to lack leadership. Its ironic as I was listening on TMS to one of the great and most durable of modern Test captains, Graeme Smith, and wondered what they do for such a skipper nowadays.
Lords looked like a picture and though uncomfortably humid by the afternoon the thunderstorms held off. I am no fan of the proposed development of flats which must break up this tree line at the Nursery End but its up to the MCC not the debenture holders.
I was reflecting with a friend how much Test cricket has changed with the popularity of the white ball. Joe Root played a grotesque slash after tea, right across the line which, for those reared on Ted Dexter and Tom Graveney, made us wince.
Conversely 300 runs plus is now the norm and it’s rare if a Test makes the fifth day or you get the second new ball.
I noticed that the mother and daughter in the row ahead were working on a crossword and sudoku puzzle virtually from the outset whilst almost everyone under 30 was texting away.
I like to follow on TMS. The controversial referrals were all shown on the screens, another addition to spectator appreciation. In the past it was often hard to see the conker. Had I been at home the afternoon session – necessary for England’s revival but often slow paced – would have sent me to sleep. I noticed two of my neighbours, well-fuelled,were zizzing away.
If today Joe Root demonstrated the captaincy ywill not affect his batting , today should indicate what sort of captain he is. Alistair Cook could be a conservative one and I think Root will have more bravura about him. The role commands tactical awareness, considerable PR but perhaps most of all leadership of a diverse group of men. Michael Vaughan one of the best of the modern captains once observed that some captains can lead the whole group, others just their set and one or two just themselves.