Watching cricket at Tunbridge Wells
Yesterday I went for the first time to the Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells to see the first day of a championship match between Sussex and Kent. I had been told it was one of the most beautiful grounds in the country but that hardly prepared me for it. It’s situated in a park and totally surrounded by high trees and violet rhodendrons. There is a small white Pavilion and covered stand where I sat built after the original stand was burnt down by suffragettes in 1913 but most of the seating is around the boundary rope. There were also about 6 hospitality marquees.
Everything these days – not least cricket with the new t20 franchises – are metro-centric. Preparing my smoked salmon sandwiches and putting them in a chill bag with half of bottle of Sussex rose from Bolney, a drive through Lewes, Uckfield of exquisite scenery and arrival at this sylvan setting to meet a Kent friend was the best possible case for county cricket. Both Kent and Sussex will suffer in the t20 as the south east franchise will be played in the Ageas bowl Southampton . There was a respectable audience of around 2000, mainly an aged retired one, to see Kent make 316 for 8 on a dry batting wicket which offered little for the bowler. Joe Denly scored a ton. I asked a Kent supporter who joined our party what he thought of prodigy Sam Billings to which he replied he could not offer a opinion as he hardly played any county cricket. He is not in the England team either so one wonders how he will develop his batting skills. County cricket has much to offer aspiring cricketers as well as spectators. Sussex have an armoury of fast bowling in Vernon Phillander, Jefra Archer emerging as a real talent and useful scorer of runs late in the order and Chris Jordan . With Steve Magoffin waiting in the wings whilst recovering full fitness Sussex will have a pacy attack but on a dry wicket Danny Briggs could not trouble Kent with spin. Sussex amassed a huge total of 688 to beat Durham in the week and will fill their boots again today, I feel sure, in game which has a draw written all over it.
To sit in such perfect surroundings in hot weather with a cool breeze with a Pimms and chilled rose is surely one of the most delightful ways to spend an early summer’s day. But for one grumpy man who was ungracious when we took up our seats refusing to move his legs the crowd was pleasant and knowledgeable.
A little group of male supporters became rather raucous fuelled by jugs of Pimms but never malevolent. I ordered a mini cab to take me back to the coast which kept me waiting for 15 minutes. I became irate but once in the car my anger softened possibly because of the sun setting over the gorgeous country side and had pleasant chat with the lady driver.
As we approached my home, she confessed her concern of having someone so cross in her car and was pleasantly surprised to have a civilised chat. Home by 7-15 for a Hendricks g & t on the balcony consummated a perfect day.
