- This topic has 82 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
Chezza’s only ever been there once, it was a sunny summer day, a County match – probably Surrey v Lancashire (Chezza Snr being a Lancashire fan) and at the time the Chezzas were able to ponce free accommodation in Edgeware.
Chezza remembers being sat up in the stand one side of the pavilion watching Geoff Arnold bowl, and being at ground level side on near close of play and spinner Pat Pocock bowling.
But Chezza’s main memory of the place is watching Tests on TV on what Richie Benaud described as “pearler” batting wickets – huge scores all rounds and DRAWS.
Though the world class fast bowler Michael Holding still got life out of the pitch in 1976.
Chezza needs guidance on more modern Oval wickets, but the 4.4 the Draw looks fair at first glance.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I went there in 2005 for finals day of the now called blast
Lancashire were strong favs they beat Someone in the 1st semi (think it was Surrey) they had Flintoff, Anderson, Law, Symonds and a host of other stars of the era
Somerset scraped home by beating Leicester.
half time entertainment was pre mascot race so we had half an hour of some girl band, might have been girls aloud. Hair pulling stuff, not my hair, I would pull theirs. But the sound was ear popping…
Somerset were the underdogs on the day and I had put £20 on at 3/1 with the bookie at the ground which was a single pitch like one you’d see at the races.
Somerset won the final. Smith and Trescothick started the run chase strong and Hildreth saw them home.
We were sat with Amanda Barrie off coronation street who was also in bad girls, think I’ve posted a photo on here of her. (one for the meme thread)
The queue for the bookie was big, everyone must have bet Somerset that day…
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
I have only been to The Oval once, back in the year 2000. I was living in south London at the time.
It was a 40 over Sunday league match – remember those? Surrey were playing Durham. The north east county won thanks to a century by a young fellow named Paul Collingwood.
I never got around to visiting again. I always preferred to go to Lord’s or have a trip to Hove to watch Sussex instead.
“It was a 40 over Sunday league match – remember those?”
The John Player League – 40 overs each, afternoon and evening sessions, one televised on BBC every week and bowl runner up limited to 15 yards.
It was great tbf and fitted in well with Saturday, Monday and Tuesday County matches which neatly were often the same fixture.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Not a fan of one-day cricket generally but did enjoy the Sunday League. A lunchtime sluice at the local and/or a proper sunday lunch then a post-prandial drowse on the sofa accompanied by the dulcet tones of John Arlott
It did indeed snugly complement the County Championship and Test Matches, for which Sundays back then were a rest day. I recall Tom Graveney getting a rollicking and quite possibly a fine for turning out for Worcestershire on the Sunday when playing in a Test
I’ve walked past Kennington Oval but never been in. Draws did seem to be commonplace – though stats might actually prove otherwise – and one such meaningless if nevertheless enjoyable final day springs to mind: sometime in the early ’70s when the Windies spinner Lance Gibbs seemed to bowl all Tuesday delivering over-after-over of very slow parabolic on-a-sixpence off-spin generally just tapped away to mid-wicket
I only saw Gibbs towards the end of his career: a lanky chap with an attractive bowling action who held the record with 309 Test wickets for a while, overtaking Fred Trueman’s 307. He’s still alive aged 88.
I’ve taken 4.9 The Draw to give me an interest.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"And I’ve had a press-up at 5.4 out of sheer annoyance!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"How can anyone lose three wickets for the addition of just 11 runs before lunch on the first day at The Oval?
6.8 The Draw now – FML!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"3 down and not even a Bazball shot in sight
dear oh dear, I’m going back to bedCharles Darwin to conquer the World
Bazball is the enemy of Draw punters everywhere!
Nothing to play for – just see it out, lads, that wicket will only get slower!
Where’s Boycott when you actually need him?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"The Aussies will take a draw for the series win but England will want the ‘Desmond’. The early signs are that there will be a result if five days are played. More Biblical rain needed for draw punters I think.
I’d say Richard’s analysis is looking depressingly accurate thus far – England collapsing (213 for 7), Draw 8.8!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"11 wickets on the first day – what a complete and utter unmitigated DISASTER my Draw bet is shaping up to be.
Abnegating all personal responsibility as usual, I’d just like to add it would have been NICE if someone with a more contemporary cricket knowledge than a bloke who bases his views on The Oval on Richie Benaud once using the word “pearler” in the 1970s could have pointed out to me that nowadays The Oval can actually deliver results!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"A rain dance still required I think Ian. If England can bat the day out tomorrow that should be a lead of 300 plus and you have to think that’ll either be chased down or successfully defended in two days.
Put it this way, Richard – the Draw is now 6.6 and I think that’s too short.
You’re right – I’ve got this completely wrong and only the weather can save me now.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It’s a game of opinions, you told us yours, you put your money where your mouth was, can’t win ’em all. There’s far more respect in that than pulling your metaphorical winning betting slip out of your pocket on Monday evening having not told a soul.
The way the aussies framed yesterday you may get you out of jail chezza with rain expected monday but I still think there will be a result.
Never been to The Oval but consider it a strange wicket and could never weigh it up in my younger days. Example of this is the two Tests against WI in 76 & 84. Both were played after hot, dry summers yet the scorecards were entirely different.
1976 –
WI 687-8 & 182-0 England 435 & 203. As Chezza says only Holding with raw pace got anything out of the pitch. I also think this may have been the Test where the commentator came out with the classic ‘The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey’ but I may be wrong.1984 –
WI 190 & 346. England 162 & 202. This is the Test match the Windies claimed the “Blackwash”. The batting was showing signs of vulnerability at times throughout the series but the bowlers always seemed to dig them out of a hole. This was also the test where the aforementioned Pat Pocock registered his 3rd & 4th duck on the trot. I’ve never heard the crowd urge someone to score a run as much in such circumstances. Unfortunately he had to wait until the next test against Sri Lanka to do that.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.