Hounslow

On 30 June we left Tunbridge Wells, which we had only glimpsed from the car while driving to and from matches, and drove to Hounslow where we stayed at the Shalimar Hotel.

 Most of the players went for a tour of The Oval and lunch in The Committee Room.

Robin at The Oval

The previous night we learned that a decision had been made to make this a player only event although originally it had been open to anyone on the tour. Therefore Robin and the others went by train to The Oval while I stayed to explore Hounslow.

Hounslow is a suburb of London with a large proportion of the population from India and Middle Eastern countries. It is also beneath the fight path of aeroplanes travelling to and from Heathrow so it can be a little noisy at times.

I found the local library and also a place selling New Zealand ice cream.

The famous red London buses are everywhere.

Most of the housing is terraced houses.

Game 16 against Sussex at Horsham

Off again, this time to Horsham Sports Club, another multi-sporting complex.

It also had impressive club rooms and an attractive cricket ground.

Australia batted first with John Stackpoole, Neil King and Pat Logue retiring at 50. At the end of the innings Australia had compiled 2 for 286.

Australian also bowlers performed well with Brian Scott taking 3 wickets for 27 off 9 overs, John Dedman had 3wickets for four runs and Neil King had 2 wickets for 7 runs. John Stackpoole as wicket keeper for the game had 3 stumpings. A great effort all round.

Sussex were all out for 151.

 During the game I went for a walk to the town and also explored the area around the ground.

I also met some of the local inhabitants.

Game 15 Second Test against England at Middleton on Sea

We left our hotel in Tunbridge Wells

and after an hour and a half drive from Kent to West Sussex we arrived at Middleton on Sea, near Bognor Regis.

The Middleton on Sea Sports Club covers tennis, lawn bowls, squash as well as cricket.

The club rooms are impressive and the staff had worked hard to publicise the event and ensure all went smoothly. Unfortunately as one person commented, 'The weather is not great so we don't expect many to turn up.'

The Australians had their normal warm up session

posed for photographs

and the national anthems were sung. The singing of Advance Australia Fair had improved greatly compared with the singing at the earlier tests.

Australia batted first. They were 3 for 40 when Phil Drescher came out to bat. The fourth ball he faced was hit out of the ground and not found. Phil's 67 runs included 4 sixes. Australia had made 217 runs - definitely not as many as we would have expected to make.
England also got off to a shaky start and were 3 for 31 after 13 overs. Although Robin and James Martin suffered leg injuries during the match the rest of the bowlers worked hard with success and England could only make 9 for 190 at stumps.

It was a great Australian victory and the first time that an Australian over 60s side had defeated England.

During the game I went for a walk to check out the beach.

It was low tide and there were few people at the beach except for those walking dogs.

Like many beaches in England there were pebbles, not sand.

Erosion has been a major problem and a number of solutions have been tried over the years.

Along the road back to the cricket ground here were a number of houses with colourful gardens.

A visit to Kent to watch an Australian practice game

On 27 June we left Bedford to travel to Tunbridge Wells. On the way we called into the Spitfire Ground in Canterbury where the Australian Cricket team was playing the third day of a practice match against Kent. The tickets that had been arranged for us were collected at the gate and we then went into the ground.

 

There was a large crowd enjoying the warm weather and the cricket. We arrived as the final overs of the Kent innings were being bowled. At the lunch break we met Duncan, a Richmond supporter, who was very pleased with their recent win.

During the lunch break families were allowed to go on the ground, look at the pitch or play cricket with soft balls around the edges of the ground.

A number of stalls, including one selling Australian related items, and even a jumping castle were around the ground.

Families also had picnic lunches around the ground. There was a festive attitude at this game.

After lunch the Australians batted.

At the end of the day had declared at 4 for 322 off 62 overs. Mitchell Marsh retired at 101. We left at 4.30 so missed much of the action but we saw some good batting.

Some of the players also had the opportunity to have a chat with Rod Marsh.

I enjoyed this opportunity to watch the younger Australians play. None of the other Wags wanted to go but the players did not seem to mind me tagging along, especially when I was offered a table with an umbrella providing some shade.

Game 14 against Bedfordshire at Flitwick

I did not go to this game so I have to rely on the match report and although Robin took some photos on his phone the phone is currently refusing to turn on. If the images are retrieved I will add them later.

It was a short drive to Flitwick Cricket Club. Australia bowled first and Bedfordshire was 6 for 162 after 45 overs. Phil Drescher once again scored 50 and after the 33rd over Australia had scored 3 for 163.

Game 13 against Cambridgeshire at March

The 25th of June saw us travelling to March Town in Cambridgeshire. March used to be a market town on the Isle of Ely. The area was once surrounded by fens (marshes).

The game was hosted by March Town Cricket Club, established in 1880.

The Australian players underwent their stretching and other exercises before the game.

Australia batted first and after 45 overs had made 6 for 278. Phil Drescher opened the batting and soon retired at 51. He was joined by John Dedman and Greg Quinn. It was a good batting performance. Ian Southall and Robin opened the bowling but it was when Brian Scott joined Robin as a bowler that wickets began to fall. Brian taking 2 wickets for 14 runs and Robin taking 2 wickets for 23 runs in their 9 over stint. Greg Quinn also took 2 wickets. Cambridgeshire was dismissed in the 42nd over for 119.

Before the game began I had discussed the image on club sign with one of the club members who told me how to locate the remains of the market cross a short distance from the grounds.

During the afternoon the Wags went to explore Ely, a cathedral city, not far away.

There are many old buildings in Ely.

There is also the Oliver Cromwell Museum to visit if you wish.

I also found this garden and associated buildings dating back to the 15th century.

But it is the cathedral that is the main building in the city.

A monastery has been on the Isle of Ely in the fens since the 600s. Church buildings on the site have been destroyed and rebuilt over many centuries. Work on the present cathedral began in the 11th century with the building gaining cathedral status in 1109. Henry VII dissolved the monastery in 1539 but the building, although there was some damage, was not destroyed. The building became a cathedral again in 1541. The town has since grown up around the cathedral.

The cathedral is impressive from any angle.

The surrounding buildings are also impressive.

Back at the ground after the game we all helped John Stackpoole celebrate his birthday.