Floodlit club cricket

Unusually for me i haven't seen any live cricket so far this year yet (though gorged myself on televised cricket during the Ashes). Usually by now i would have seen at least some Warwickshire 2nd XI action but circumstances and bad luck meant i had missed out. That changed last night when i went and watched some club sides in a floodlit tournament at the local Walmley CC ground (nearest ground to me).

It was good fun though the floodlights did not seem to illuminate the gloom that much, maybe it was better out in the middle? The tournament is on all week is free to enter, so why not give it a try? You can see the photos i took last night. Real ale on tap too...

Cricket season 2012 is go!

Its a freezing cold day, so obviously must be the start of the cricket season! Actually the English season officially started yesterday though Warwickshire began their season today with a friendly against Cardiff MCCU (university team). I attended the morning session, or most of it anyway until the cold drove me out! I wonder if they should have "cold stops play" in the playing conditions too? Anyway its good to get back to the ground, a picture of which i took using Instagram and cunningly gave the (nearly) brand new building an ironic 70s twist. More photos i took can be seen here.

Warks vs MCC Universities SEC

With my car needing to go to the garage for its MOT i have had the day off today and this morning i went along to Edgbaston to catch the morning session of day 3 of the Second Eleven Championship game between the Warwickshire 2nd XI and MCC Universities. Of course there is another cricket match going on somewhere but this was more fun. I took my camera along and took a few photos which you can see in the slideshow or you can view the full set here.

Afterwards in town i had another lovely coffee at 6/8 Kafé which has become my favourite coffee shop in the whole world already.

The new pavilion

I went and watched some of the last day of the match between Warwickshire & Sussex in the county championship today (which the Bears won not long after lunch). It was my first trip to Edgbaston since the opening of the new pavilion (though that was only Wednesday i believe). Very impressive it is too!

The old pavilion had been a crumbling disgrace to be honest so the amazing new facility just looks like it has come out of a new dimension. I really like the walkway under the pavilion which you travel through to get to your seat, its very futuristic and sci-fi like. Hey well i have an overactive imagination.

Whats happening on the pitch is very impressive too as Warwickshire racked up another win, they are in with a shout of the county championship which will be a great way to top off one of the most important years in the club's history.

SET

After the madness and noise of T20 last night today i saw some more cricket but this time a Second Eleven Trophy match, sightly more sedate and definitely a lot quieter. The match between Warwickshire and Derbyshire took place at Walmley Cricket Club which is the closest ground to where i live, so close in fact i actually walked there. Only took 40 minutes though was uphill, returning did push my legs a bit even though that was mostly downhill of course!

It was a different competition, format, even team but the end result was the same, another win for the Bears.

T20

It seems ages since i was last at the cricket, in fact it appears it was May 24. I went to see the Bears take on Durham in a T20 game this evening (by a co-incidence the last game i went to was against Durham as well!)

Oddly enough its only the second ever T20 match i've been to. We won too, was a last ball thriller. Sky televised the game, its been a long time since i've been at a televised game too. In fact i'm not sure i've been at a televised domestic game before, i've been to a couple of tests that were televised obviously. It was interesting to see just how many cameras Sky bought to the ground, a number nearly doubled by the fact they also filmed the game in 3D.

Busy day off!

I have had today and tomorrow off work, well i get a lot of leave you see as i work for a university and i haven't taken a great deal yet and as the end of next month is the mid-point of the year i thought i had better take some time off! In the end it was quite a busy day, as will tomorrow as i am going to Stratford.

Anyway today i bought some new bedding and towels and also went and watched some cricket (Warwickshire vs Durham). I took my Kindle with me to both read while i waited for play to start and also to see if Edgbaston Cricket Ground has any free wi-fi. Interestingly they have 3 separate wi-fi networks but unfortunately all password protected...

In between all this i also potted some of my tomato plants which are starting to outgrow the nursery tray and had time to visit my Mum too. I shall return to work on Thursday and have a nice rest.

Let the cricket season begin!

I currently have a lobster face for the first time this year after watching some cricket at Edgbaston cricket ground, the home of Warwickshire. In case you don't know, and as i have yet to mention cricket on this blog yet its quite likely you don't, i am a life-long supporter of the club and a member (though thats only the last 5 years or so).

Although the season started a few weeks ago today's game - a CB40 game against Leicestershire was the first home game and also the first chance i have to see the new pavilion.

It looks fabulous, though its not quite finished yet. They aim to finish it by June i think, it looks nearly there anyway. The new permanent floodlights look amazing and rather off-worldly too.

As to the game itself well i only stayed for the Warwickshire innings, actually i never stay longer than an innings or session due to my incredibly short attention span, but it was great entertainment. The Bears scored heavily with plenty of DLF Maximums or 6s if you prefer. I am now following the conclusion of the game on Cricinfo. Sometimes that is the best way to watch cricket. You are less likely to get sunburn anyway. Photos from the Warwickshire innings are here.