The third test
I was invited yesterday by the PCA (The Professional Cricketers Association) to their box at Edgbaston. This proved so difficult to find not least as the relevant stand, The Wyatt, was not referred to on the ticket. In the end Alison Prosser who does indefatigable administrative work for the PCA greeted me at the entrance. It’s been some time since I visited Edgbaston and I was impressed by two things: firstly how impressive the large residences are in this affluent part of Birmingham and secondly the new stand. This illustrates where cricket is going as I’ve heard the debt of Warwickshire is £32m so making the venue pay is more important than the county club. I say county club but the T20 side is called the Birmingham Bears so will they pay in the existing T20 or the the new metro format?
On final arrival at the box I was introduced to Fred Rumsey. I did not realise that the former Somerset speedster founded the PCA. He also was one of the first into cricket tours and excellent company with a fund of stories and forthright views on cricket. He only played 5 tests as he was in an era of excellent fast bowlers: Fred Trueman, Brian Statham, John Price, Peter Larter, Bob Cottam and John Snow. Although the hospitality was first rate the box is not my preferred way of watching cricket as I find it too constricting and claustrophobic. In the afternoon I visited the cricketing museum featuring the great names that wore the bear and staff crest: Eric Hollies, Bob Wyatt, Bob Willis, Brian Lara, MJK Smith, AC Smith, Norman Gifford, Derek Amiss, right down to Chris Woakes.
Returning to the box, I found Fred Rumsey was in fine form recalling how he removed by injury Billy Ibadulla, Bryan Richardson and AC Smith in one session. This he followed with a story of how one of his holiday makers in Barbados collapsed and died in a pool and the body was stolen by the brother of the undertaker.
As for the cricket Pakistan’s decision to bowl on conditions that favoured seam was not wholly vincdicated. Gary Ballance stepped up to the plate with 70 as Hales, Bairstow and Root failed to score significantly. The game is evenly poised but clearly England miss Ben Stokes and if the weather continues to be unsettling a draw is a possibility.
