What a beautiful time of year... Winter is fast becoming Spring and the County Championship Season has begun. All winter I have watched with the excitement of a child as the new Pavilion End at Edgbaston rose from the rubble of it's predecessor. My only sadness was that the little Red Stripe Bar (later Marston's Pedigree) on the extreme edge of the Eric Hollies Stand had been reduced to dust - Many a memorable day had been spent in front of that fine little dispensary of cold refreshments. When I say memorable, I should confess that I have only hazy memories of the evening sessions come to think of it.
Prior to picking up an injury in the Birmingham Half Marathon last October I would run passed the ground every night trying to visualise the inside and where I might be watching my cricket from in the 2011. Since the running has been more sporadic, I've manipulated car journeys and walks through Cannon Hill Park with unnecessary detours down Edgbaston Road to catch a glimpse of developments.
I upgraded my season ticket to Full Pavilion Membership very early in the Winter break and Test Match tickets had been bagged more than a year in advance thanks to my very well organised friend Chris. If I were to compare my excitement prior to The Ashes to that of preparing for a once-in-a lifetime holiday then the start of this Championship season feels like starting a dream job.
As a follower of Newcastle United, Coventry Rugby Club and the England Football team I'm familiar with having my sporting hopes and dreams killed off before they have any chance to blossom. In stark contrast, Warwickshire have produced a batting performance superior to anything they managed last year, or in fact in the last 15 years. Chopra made 210, Woakes 129 at a run a ball and Maddy, Botha, Ambrose and Porterfield have all contributed to a total of 642. All that after losing the toss and being asked to bat. The only flat notes were Ian Westwood's and Jim Troughton's early dismissals. Both players come in off the back of poor 2010's and Westwood's place in the team will come under the most scrutiny when Bell and Trott are available and Mohammed Youssef arrives at Edgbaston.
This isn't the worst bowling attack we will face this season with Kirby, Willoughby and Mendis all being of decent pedigree. Clive Eakin and Phil Britt assure me on Coventry and Warwickshire's commentary service that the pitch might not be as dead as this first innings total suggests which they also reliably inform me is the sixth highest total in our long history. By this evening we'll know for sure but let's hope my next posting is describing the closing stages of an innings victory to kick off our Championship campaign.
This is just the beginning: I plan to post updates throughout the season with a bit more humour and a bit more in depth analysis. It's all part of my mission to build up a portfolio of work that will one day justify my place on the Test Match Special team. I hope you might pop back for a read.
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