hi, thereyet,

hate to say it - never beeen to a twenty-twenty match, but I've listened to a few.

difficult to know what the form will be until the teams have played a bit more of the season. My feeling is that essex should be good - traditionally strong batting team, tho' in 20 overs that's not much time to shine.

but the atmosphere should be good - lots of people in after work, the bars flowing with good warm english beer [and cold lager if you must] - and lots of 6s - hopefully.

just remember your umbrella!

regards, ann

Umbrella! ugh. Since you brought up weather, funny thing, whenever my familly goes on vacation we always hit record heatwaves. Almost never rain but it could be different story this year. thereyet

No warm beer or cold for that matter for this chap, got an allergy. However, aside from sushi what other concessions can one expect to find at the match. thereyet

So when I go to Lord's cricket grounds I will be rooting for the home club Middlesex (do they have a team name besides that?).>>>>>>>>

They are called the Middlesex Crusaders in theory – but no one calls them that. Just Middlesex is fine.

How is the team doing now?>>>>>>

Hard to say – the season has only started. They are one of the historical “big guns” but they’ve been in the doldrums recently.

I know Audere est facere doesn't think much of the quality of British cricket right now but is this likely to be a good match or will it be a blowout?>>>>>>>

It’s the England team that gives me the pip – not English cricket. It should be a close game – and both sides have plenty of batting firepower.

Is there a rivalry between Middlesex and Essex?>>>>>>

A bit – they are neighbouring counties, but cricket doesn’t really work like football (apart from Yorkshire v Lancashire which is a serious rivalry)

Do these matches draw a lot of away fans to them? >>>>>>

Yes – most people who live in Essex work in London so it’s an easy journey for them.

Is attendance good for these matches? Just wondering. Thereyet>>>>>

Probably a sell-out – ie 20,000

No warm beer or cold for that matter for this chap, got an allergy. However, aside from sushi what other concessions can one expect to find at the match. Thereyet>>>>>>>>

They also sell wine if that helps. Plus all sorts of things to eat (most of the stands are at the Nursery end). St John’s wood also has quuite afew restaurants if you want to eat afterwards.

There's absolutely no such thing as "British" cricket.

Cricket in these islands was, till Ireland got above itself this year, an English game, with Wales' few players playing in the English championship and qualifying for England, and most Scots regarding the game as beneath (or beyond) them.

The game in England looks to be in pretty good shape at present. As in football, many - going on most - of the world's best players (virtually none of whom, of course, are English) play in our domestic teams. It's our national team, restricted to people more or less born here, and consistently abominably managed, that'd struggle to pull off an honourable, modest loss to a team of one-armed, blind, wheelchair users.

By "concessions" does thereyet mean adjustments to the modern world, discounts or food stands?

English cricket indeed! It is very rare to find an English team comprising Englishmen only. Random names: Denness, Lewis, Greig, Hick, D'Olivera, Woolmer (of recent tragic events), Lamb, Joyce (we need to get him back). The first three captained England.

Well it's not as if there's another team to play for apart from england if you're from one of the wet bits of the islands.

In any case - it's a bit rich coming from an Irishman - most of your team are from County Queensland!

Three is not most!

Since when were South Africa and Zimbabwe parts of the wet bits of these Islands?

It would seem they do count as part of the damp bits - see Andre "paddy" Botha.

Not to mention Trent O'Johnstone

Or David Langford-Begorah-Smith

Flanneruk, I have no idea why they call food stalls concession stands in the US but it is what it is. Pardon my mistake in calling it a British game rather then an English game. So like baseball it is hard to find a team consisting of strictly US players. As evidenced by last years loss in the World Baseball Classic. Much groussing by Major League Baseball teams complaining that the tournement led to increased injuries for those that participated (probably true). Baseball players are such pansies when it comes to injury. IE... every year someone goes on the disabled list or misses a turn because of a blister on their finger! AND THEY WEAR GLOVES! Anyway I ramble. thereyet

They're called concessions here too - you have to pay a "concession fee" to have one.

In more important news hampshire are 166 for two and the sith effrikans are being mullered by the convicts

Go convicts! thereyet

I can't believe I'm posting this. Who would claim cricket as part of their heitage?

But I feel the need to point out that Scotland had a team in the Caribbean last month too. We didn't win either.

This discussion makes me remember sitting in and enjoying lo.....ng (5 day) cricket test matches as a kid! I watched world cup (very!) briefly around couple dinners while in Europe last three weeks. Too bad I can't see them in States.

thereyet, I think if you learn the simple enough rules, you will love it. I know I would! Make sure to use the concession stands as much as possible, to add to the flavor of it all (I am the sort that doesn't want to sit through a baseball game unless there are hotdogs I can sample!).

Can't wait ComfyShoes. I am researching as we speak. I hear there are hotdogs at Lord's now. wonder if they compare to say the chicago dogs at wrigley field or the also famous Dodger Dogs in Chavez Ravene. Lets hope so. thereyet

You're in for a disappointment!

Have one of the rubies instead.

Will heed warning Audere est facere. thereyet

So.... are you there yet, thereyet? (pun intended) :)

Hi Comfyshoes, nope, my head is thereyet but my body is still in the SF bay area. We will be going to London and N. Spain in July. Having a blast making plans and learning all I can before arrival. I have a feeling this will be a looooong two months. Thanks for checking in, thereyet

Robespierre's fertile imagination has not deserted him yet, I see.

A 'sticky wicket' is one where that part of the pitch where a bowled ball will typically land (i.e. several feet in front of the batsman) is damp, or roughed up from previous play and thus liable to affect the bounce of the ball in an unpredictable way.

Harzer