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London 2009
By Jonathan Liew 8 months ago, Comments
The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup is coming to England in 2009, which means a bumper summer of cricket for the whole country. As long, that is, if you live in London. Two of the three grounds chosen to host matches will be Lord’s (group games, super eights and the final) and The Oval (warm-ups, group games, super eights and a semi-final). Which leaves one semi and change for another lucky, lucky ground. The Rose Bowl, perhaps?
Now I live in London, and personally, this suits me down to the ground. In addition, there’s no doubting that the two grounds in question are superb venues. But London is not England. Cricket fans in the Midlands and the North have every right to feel aggrieved at this.
Apparently, if you believe Steve Elworthy, it’s all to do with travelling distances, which was a major factor in last year’s tournament. But a short trundle up the M6 isn’t really the same as 1600 kilometres from Durban to Cape Town. London to Nottingham to Manchester to London in the space of two weeks isn’t going to jet-lag anybody.
It’s not just this, either. Why, for example, is London is guaranteed Tests a summer out of seven (when it has about 15% of the population)? You have to wonder whether the predominance of Lord’s and The Oval is due primarily to the quality of their facilities, or the quality of their lobbyists.
CommentsA ton for a ticket
By Will 9 months ago, Comments
We ran a story today about ticket prices for this summer exceeding £100 at The Oval. The piece was originally in this month’s issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine - our ex-sister publication - and it’s quite a shock. But it should be noted that most tickets on sale this summer are sold “at around £50 to £62 for the ODIs and a bit cheaper for the Tests”.
Nevertheless, a hundred quid for one day’s cricket - which could be rained off or excruciatingly dull viewing - is an extraordinary amount of dosh. Considering the opposition England face this year - New Zealand, specifically, at The Oval - it begs the ominous question of just how inflated prices might become for the Big One: the 2009 Ashes.
How much are you willing to pay?
CommentsRip-off cricket
By Scott 2 years ago, at the end of November, Comments
Reader ‘Glamorous Organ’ has a moan.
Watching Test cricket, or just about any other sport is no longer a pursuit for the working man. Even at the “liberal” enclave of Lords fussy stewarding depresses the spirits. A friend who went to the Oval last summer was so hacked off with the rip-off prices for crap beer and greasy burgers, he’s sworn never to go again.
He’s not the only unhappy camper. During today’s play, BBC legend Jonathan Agnew told how he has to drink decaffeinated coffee (I’d lose the will to live without real coffee, but I digress) and since it wasn’t supplied at the media centre at The Oval, he brought his own. But the Oval stewards confiscated it off him.
Now if Aggers can’t escape the rip off mentality that has enveloped the world’s cricket grounds, what hope is there for the rest of us?
He also said that £5 bottles of wine were going for around £35 at The Oval. That’s nice if you can get it.
At Brisbane, a half-pint is going for $5.50, so about £2. So work out how much a day at the cricket is going to cost you given your own drinking habits. Even if you are a more sober sort of individual, don’t expect water or soft-drinks to be much cheaper.
Anyway, consider this to be an open forum for readers to list their favourite gripes about rip-offs at the cricket.
CommentsI bet Alec’s here
By Will 2 years ago, mid-September, Comments
After leaving Tuesday’s press conference at The Oval, my magazine colleague quipped “I bet Alec Stewart’s here…he’s always here” and, right on cue, there was the great man standing a few metres away. We found it very funny, but it’s been a long season; just about anything makes us laugh these days; tomatoes, Tony Blair, getting drenched to the bone (quite literally) while walking home from work. The men in white are finalising the forms and we’ll be admitted shortly.
Oh and judging by Alec’s orange hue, retirement is clearly suiting him.
CommentsEngland v Pakistan,4th Test, The Oval, 4th day
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, Comments
The fourth day from The Oval. Chat away, if any of you wish. England have their backs against’t'wall
CommentsLive chat: Eng v Pak, 4th Test, The Oval, 3rd day
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, Comments
The third day from The Oval. Posted in advance as I’m not around until next week. Chat away.
CommentsLive chat: Eng v Pak, 4th Test, The Oval, 2nd day
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, Comments
The second day from The Oval. A fairly disasterous day for England yesterday, and darn spiffing one for Pakistan - in particular, and thanks most to Mohammad Asif who bowled quite excellently.
What will the second day hold? Chat away
CommentsLive chat: Eng v Pak, 4th Test, The Oval, 1st day
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, Comments
It’s the first day of the final Test, and not the dead-rubber it might appear. In short, this Test is as much an audition for England’s Ashes hopefuls as the summer’s finale. The players are all dead-batting their insistence that their focus remains on beating Pakistan but, come on…some of them must have half an eye (or maybe even a whole one) on their chances of making the trip to Australia.
It’s all very exciting. Pakistan are in a bit of a mess, but don’t you dare write them off; they could burst back into life very quickly and very easily. Ergo - chat away! I’ll be on ball-by-ball tomorrow (I’m posting this in advance) and will be “on the air” from about 9.50am BST. Keep an eye on it for the score and more; sod the boss, he won’t even know what Cricinfo is anyway.
And get chatting. By stumps, I expect to see a whole tirade of excitable, angry or downright bizarre comments to summarise the day’s proceedings!
CommentsSachin Tendulkar’s 50 at The Oval
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July, Comments
Tendulkar hit 50 against Pakistan tonight but Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq powered Pakistan to victory. It was a (wet) charity game at (a very gloomy) The Oval. They raised £250,000. Stuck a brief report up at Cricinfo including photos.
CommentsEngland v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, The Oval
By Will 2 years ago, mid-June, Comments
Another one-dayer, let’s hope England can give Sri Lanka a run for their money. Doubt anyone will even bother coming here, but if you do, chat away! I’ll be at the ground, but will post thoughts on the game on Wednesday (alt. just read Cricinfo…)
CommentsSri Lanka building nicely
By Will 2 years ago, mid-June, Comments
I really don’t know what else to add about England’s performance on Saturday which hasn’t already been said. Check the verdict and today’s preview for more on that.
For Sri Lanka, they are much better placed and are building very nicely towards the World Cup. They have a nucleus of settled players, a world-class spinner, and several batsmen capable of hundreds (and who are able to adapt to the game’s situation). They’ve really turned things around after being belted 6-1 by India; they’re looking good.
I’ll be at The Oval for more fun and games tomorrow. If only to make this series competitive, let’s hope England can level it - but, moreover, let’s see England do the basics right and leave the slapdash strokeplay in the locker.
CommentsRampaging Mark Ramprakash
By Scott 2 years ago, at the start of May, Comments
Mark Ramprakash is 276 not out, and with two full days to go, I don’t see why Surrey shouldn’t allow him to go on and get himself a triple century. So if you live in the London area, and you haven’t anything else to do tomorrow, go down to the Oval and cheer him on.
Also while you are there you can bag Ian Harvey, who plays for Gloucestershire, for having possibly the worst haircut ever.
CommentsIf you only buy one thing this month…
By Will 3 years ago, mid-October, Comments
…make it The Wisden Cricketer! It’s a fabulous magazine, written by stupendously insightful and knowledgeable people, aided (ok - contributed!) by my goodself this month. I’m hidden away in the back pages, lurking uncerimoniously among the reviews and adverts and other stuff. A very satisfying thing, though, to have my name in print for the first time, and a great honour. I reviewed Oval Reflections - a pictorial celebration of The Oval, which was a brilliant book. Loads of amazing photos - really good stuff. I’m still pinching myself that I am in this environment, and to be doing the things I’m doing. I interviewed Mark Ramprakash a couple of days ago. Mark flippin’ Ramprakash? What’s going on?! Nice chap, and good of him to put up with what was a first interview for me. I’ve been the interviewee plenty of times ta very much, for jobs and all.
Anyway I did alright, if I do say so myself, although experience will definately help matters considerably in the months and years to come. It’s not an easy thing to do (this was over the phone, too, which has its own problems…not least mobile bloody phones, and reception. Or the lack thereof.)
Anyway, bit of a Waffling Will post so I’ll shut up.
Oh, here’s the book at Amazon which’ll have more details if you’re too lazy to buy the magazine: Oval Reflections: Memories from the World Famous Sporting Ground
CommentsFrom the TV cameras to the fan’s notepad
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, Comments
Someone working out required run-rates for Monday’s play! Classic
CommentsNo time to react
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, Comments
Just too busy to write anything tonight; tomorrow, I’ll add my thoughts. I’m going to have a drink or six!
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