VAR - Weren't Watching
Nottinghamshire 364 all out
v Middlesex 111 for 2
County Championship Division One
Thursday 20 April 2023
Friday 21 April 2023
Close on Day Two
Played at Lord's
North Greenford United 0 v Burnham 3
Combined Counties Premier Division North (Step 5)
Thursday 20 April 2023
Maybe I was asked more questions over those three games in two days. But, only two have stuck in my head.
"Did Duckett bat well?"
"That was offside, wasn't it?"
Having been put in by Middlesex, Hameed & Duckett made 117 before Hameed went for 55. Rain shortened Day One at the end and Day Two at the beginning. But Duckett stuck it out and was ninth back, at 364. He'd rattled up 177 off 258.
With those figures, the answer to question one should be - yes, Duckett batted well. But, when asked that question in real time, by an MCC Member, as we sheltered up the turret above the Notts Dressing Room, I stumbled over the unhelpful answer;
"Well, Duckett is a key part of the new England all out attack way of playing. We have to rethink what batting well means."
I mean, he's nigh on carried his bat. But, he's scored less than half Notts total. He's scored one six in all that lot. Even with this Lord's strip way over to The Grandstand, and a short boundary. He's clicks above four an over. I didn't go full on and explain that, at less than five an over, with Bairstow getting close to the wings, in which he shall wait, no - he's batted a bit old skool, not up to the new mark.
Love that. Cricket keeps you thinking. Love that. Great innings from Duckett. He's wristy. But not in the coaching manual classic way. He breaks his wrist so he can flick balls around, in between and over fielders.
My first visit to Lord's this season. Marston's Pedigree dominates across the bars in the pavilion. Brakspear Gravity popped up in the Bowlers' Bar. Take Courage Best Bitter in the Members' Bar. Bombardier in the Long Room Bar. And Young's Bitter in the Long Room Bar as well. Negatively, that's a reminder as to how wide the "subsidiary of Marston's brewery" has spread. But, we are where we are, and at least there's variety.
I was on the CricketCans.
Sureshot Brewing (Manchester), Collab with Baron Brewing (Hertfordshire), Where's That Cue Ball Going?, Hazy IPA from a Tin at 6.7%
Dry hopped with Vic Secret & Nelson Sauvin. Very boozy. A big abv burn. Fruity. Red grapes. Even sultanas. A bit more bitterness as you get down it. Maybe coming in bitter orange marmalade. Lots going on.
That second question was asked of me as I visited my 426th Ground Tick way out in Greenford. The visiting team, Burnham, were already one up from a 14th minute opener. On 39, Burnham rattled a great free kick against the bar, as it rebounded to (roughly) the penalty spot, two Sloughan attackers reacted fastest. And one blasted it into the net. The linesman immediately flagged for offside, and it was disallowed. I was trying to compute it all in my head. The linesman turned around, and said to me;
"That was offside, wasn't it?"
For the second time under questioning I hesitated. Was I searching for something profound and insightful like my Duckett analysis? Finally, I got the formulation right.
"Don't know mate, weren't watching."
Further goals on 43 & 70 brought it home for Burnham.
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