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| Twenty20 - A billion eyes worldwide watching cricket from Nottingham |
The world comes to town this June when Trent Bridge Cricket Ground hosts the 2009 ICC Twenty20 World Cup, bringing with it some of the world's best cricketers. Trent Bridge has been synonymous with international cricket for more than 170 years, making it the world's third oldest test ground, and it is widely regarded as one of the finest cricket venues on the world stage – ask anyone not from round here about Nottingham and they’ll invariably mention Robin Hood, Brian Clough and Trent Bridge.
Looking around the new 17,000 seater stadium today, with its iconic floodlights and state-of-the-art scoreboard, it’s a far cry from its humble beginnings when a cricket-mental chap called William Clarke married the landlady of the Trent Bridge Inn in 1838. Back then a charming little meadow backed onto the grounds of the TBI and Clarke saw this as an opportunity he couldn’t let go – within a year he was hosting matches in his all new purpose-built field, cunningly fenced off in order to charge admission.The first international match to be played at Trent Bridge was in 1899 and, true to recent form, it ended in a draw between England and Australia. A few months later, Trent Bridge had the honour of hosting the first match of the inaugural five-match series between England and Australia, later known as The Ashes. This was the last test that W.G. Grace played in, just before his 51st birthday. Strangely, the only player ever to play at a greater age, Wilfred Rhodes, made his debut during this match.
Over the best part of two centuries and almost 3,000 matches, the Bridge has treated fans to some right good action from some of the sport’s best players. The most storied local player was probably Harold Larwood, the hard-nut fast bowler from Kirkby-In-Ashfield who, along with Annesley Woodhouse miner Bill Voce, scandalised the world of cricket during the infamous ‘Bodyline’ tour of Australia when they were instructed to bowl at the batsman, not the wicket – a terrifying prospect for the batsmen who had never yet seen a cricket ball travel at over 90mph in the direction of their face. Good lad. Although they were dropped from the England team afterwards, they now have a nice pub named after them behind the ground.
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| Twenty20 - The biggest sporting event in Notts since Euro '96? |
Nottingham’s greatest player was – of course – West Indies master Sir Garfield St Aubryn Sobers (Gary to his mates), widely regarded as the best all rounder ever to take to the crease. His list of honours is longer than Cloughie's and includes the Wisden Cricketer of the Century, putting him on a par with Pelé and Ali. Everyone knows he was the first player to whack six sixes in one over in a competitive game - he also held the highest ever test match score for thirty six years, with a 365 not out performance against Pakistan in 1958. And he was also born with an extra finger on each hand, which were removed as a child with catgut and a knife.
Only two years ago, Trent Bridge was facing a stark future when it lost out on The Ashes to the new SWALEC arena in Swansea due to capacity issues. So, with help from Nottingham City and County Councils, Rushcliffe Borough Council and EMDA, more than £8 million was raised to increase capacity with a new stand, floodlights, admin suite, press box and state of the art scoreboard. Now the future's bright, with Trent Bridge being the only venue outside London to host matches for the World Cup, bringing with it more than £10m in revenue. Thirteen matches will be played at Trent Bridge throughout the tournament, including four Super Eights and a semi-final expected to have a mind-boggling 500,000,000 people staring into the former beer garden of the TBI through their tellies – a billion eyes on Nottingham.
There’s also four warm-up matches starting 1 June, including England vs Scotland on 2 June. Other top teams in action during the warm-up include Australia, Pakistan and South Africa. The group stages start on Saturday 6 June with India taking on Bangladesh at 5.30pm. There are two back-to-back matches on Monday 8 June and Wednesday 10 June and four Super Eight matches (11 June and 16 June). The men’s semi-final will take place on Thursday 18 June. The main tournament is now sold out, but there should still be tickets left for the warm-up matches if you’re quick...
Twenty20 website
twenteh20
Write Commentby it's alan May 28, 2009, 12:16:06 pmAre there going to be England matches at Trent Bridge, or does that depend on the outcome of the group stages of the competition??
I do like cricket, I've been to see a few test matches, and I appreciate Twenty20 for what it is. I'd definitely be interested in making an evening of a Twenty20 match... its a good excuse to sit out, with a few beers and maybe a pie and chips. But at the same time, I would only really bother if it was England playing, and I don't have my finger on the pulse as to whether that is happening or not.
by Al (G) May 28, 2009, 12:21:17 pmI'm going to India V Bangladesh on the 6th with my Dad and a few of his friends, should be a right laugh!
by Albert Herring May 28, 2009, 02:21:51 pmGot tickets for the TB semi-final, which I estimate has a fairly large chance of England playing in it, although I'm not too worried if it doesn't. That said, I've not paid the whole event much mind, since it's not like proper cricket or owt. Might be able to keep the attention of a small boy for a while, though.
by khongor May 28, 2009, 02:54:06 pmIt's Alan: No group-stages England matches at Trent Bridge, but barring major catastrophe they'll be here for a Round of 8 match on June 11. Then, as Albert notes, there's a good chance of them being in the semi.
Glad to hear some other LL'ers are up for it.
by Jared May 28, 2009, 03:43:08 pmThere's actually quite a big article on the Twenty20 in the next issue of LeftLion Magazine (out this weekend)! And the cover is dedicated to it as well...
by khongor Jun 01, 2009, 05:42:58 pmWell done the LL with that cricket coverage! Picked up my copy today - liked the story, and that cover shot is brilliant. Make it a poster and you'd definitely have at least one sale.
by Deceased Jun 01, 2009, 07:26:02 pmNot 20/20 but I'm looking forward to the one day against Australia later in the summer, the team seems to be coming together a bit more now and with Pietersen failing pretty regularly I'm excited about Bopara's consistency as of lateHopefully we'll go into the ashes having won this.
by Purple_Jim Jun 01, 2009, 08:13:08 pmI'm so excited I can't sleep until it's here.
by khongor Jun 02, 2009, 03:34:08 pmNot 20/20 but I'm looking forward to the one day against Australia later in the summer, the team seems to be coming together a bit more now and with Pietersen failing pretty regularly I'm excited about Bopara's consistency as of late
I think RavBop will be the story of the summer, particularly now that they've taken the plunge and stuck him in at three.
I'm not sure that it's too realistic to hope that we'll be going into the Ashes with a win in the twenty20 though. We're figuring out the game, but it still seems like we're about a year behind the top sides like India and SA. I'd be impressed with a spot in the semi-finals.
Do you have tickets for the Trent Bridge ODI? I'm out of the country for the one-dayers, but I've got tickets for day 3 of the Oval Test. On my birthday.
by Deceased Jun 02, 2009, 10:07:51 pmYeah ODI at TB, me and me ma' always book tickets directly after the last game of the Summer.
I know its massively optimistic - but I'm an english cricket fan, thats all I have
by Deceased Jun 05, 2009, 09:19:03 pmOh.
My.
by Deceased Jun 05, 2009, 10:11:54 pmI'd like to follow that up with...
YES, MAYBE IF CRICKET BALLS WERE THAT BIG YOU COULD THROW LIKE A FUCKING GIRL AND NOT MISS 3 PISS EASY RUN OUTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT, SO TRY PRACTICING WITH A REAL CRICKET BALL.
YOU TWAT.
by Stillman Jun 05, 2009, 10:47:01 pmI share your horror, sir
But did we expect anything less?
by Deceased Jun 06, 2009, 12:43:05 amAt 165 - 5, probably not.
We get better scores than that in the notts evening league...
by seamus flannery Jun 06, 2009, 04:34:33 pmIndia v Bangladesh? Sounds like bloody Milwall and Swansea have come to town outside my window.
by Al (G) Jun 07, 2009, 12:21:02 pmThe atmosphere was brilliant yesterday and pretty luvky to have got the whole match in seeing as it hasn't stopped raining since.
The India fans are brilliant, they must have had about 95% of the ground. Bangladesh did really well in the field but just ran out of steam when batting (having made a good start).
by theonelikethe Jun 07, 2009, 01:48:48 pmI'd like to follow that up with...
YES, MAYBE IF CRICKET BALLS WERE THAT BIG YOU COULD THROW LIKE A FUCKING GIRL AND NOT MISS 3 PISS EASY RUN OUTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT, SO TRY PRACTICING WITH A REAL CRICKET BALL.
YOU TWAT.
wow
if he didn't have a huge tennis ball as a hand he'd be a proper hottie
by Deceased Jun 07, 2009, 04:46:22 pmYou're not allowed to fancy him.
My feelings are that by the end of today we'll be out of the world cup being played on home soil
by Al (G) Jun 07, 2009, 08:46:45 pmDecent performance and result from england there.
by JazzBamigboye Jun 07, 2009, 09:45:06 pmCan someone explain why England are already through to the Super 8s, even though Pakistan and Holland still have to play each other?
by Albert Herring Jun 08, 2009, 08:30:52 amEngland have a better run rate differential (+lots) than the Netherlands (+0.05 - about as little as you can get since the game went to the last ball) and Pakistan (-lots+0.05)
- No result or a Netherlands win: NL go through top of the group, England second
- Pak beat Netherlands: their run rate differential will be (-lots+0.05)+(whatever); NL's will be (0.05-whatever). NL's cannot get better than Englands if they lose; if Pakistan's final RRD is higher than NL's, they will go through in first or second place as appropriate, while if it isn't (which would mean Pak failing to beat NL by more or less as much as England beat them by), NL will go through second.
Placings don't actually affect the second round draw, which is based on pre-tournament seedings. (This is known in the trade as "a fix")
by JazzBamigboye Jun 08, 2009, 12:19:40 pmThanks youth.
by Deceased Jun 08, 2009, 09:48:51 pm
Unsurprisingly and happily the aussies have failed at 20/20 again
Although that does make our group a bit of a shitter - West Indies (Who we beat recently), India and the favourites IMO South Africa...Gonna have to play reaaaally good to get to the Semis.
Anyone got tickets for thursday?
by LeftLion Jun 10, 2009, 10:39:54 amClick here to read this article: A Billion Eyes On Nottingham
The world comes to town as Trent Bridge hosts the 2009 ICC Twenty20 World Cup, bringing with it some of the world\'s best cricketers
Please use this thread to comment on the above LeftLion article.
by Stillman Jun 10, 2009, 10:55:46 amSome facts about malinga:
1. He was along with the rest of the sri lankan side staying
at the hilton on milton st at the weekend. I got an autograph
2. According to the lads at city chicken cafe he had the hot
wings this weekend
by Jared Jun 10, 2009, 02:10:01 pm2. According to the lads at city chicken cafe he had the hot wings this weekend
I love that place! Cheap as you like and wicked SF chicken!! Also they are always happy to stock the LL mag on the counter.
by daley thompson Jun 10, 2009, 02:43:21 pmgreat sign outside trent bridge today:
CAPS - �4.99
FIT ANY NORMAL HEAD
by Deceased Jun 10, 2009, 06:35:14 pmSo, first game in the super 8s against the clear favorites....predictions?
by khongor Jun 11, 2009, 10:34:59 amMy optimistic prediction: Bopara and KP light it up for a few overs, England get somewhere near 200, and Swanny slows things down near the end of the Saffers innings. Meanwhile, I'm watching all this from underneath the new �4.99 hat I just bought.
My realistic prediction: South Africa wins at a canter and my freakishly abnormal head can't squeeze into any of the hats being sold in front of the TBI.
by Tramorak Jun 11, 2009, 11:55:00 amAny decent cricket watching pubs at the Forest Fields/Sherwood end of tahn?
Normally for footeh etc, I just go to the Frog, but fancy catching a bit of the afternoon action and they only open evenings and weekends these days.
Cheers.
T.
by it's alan Jun 11, 2009, 12:23:58 pmAny decent cricket watching pubs at the Forest Fields/Sherwood end of tahn?
Normally for footeh etc, I just go to the Frog, but fancy catching a bit of the afternoon action and they only open evenings and weekends these days.
Cheers.
T.
They have Sky Sports and Setanta in The Grosvenor on Mansfield Road - and were showing the cricket when I walked past yesterday afternoon.
Not sure whether they will have the commentary on, but if a group of you ask for it, they will probably sort you out.
by Deceased Jun 12, 2009, 05:17:09 pmWell, that was lame.
On the up side, we won our game last night. Shoulda had 2 wickets but it wasnt a night for catches...
by it's alan Jun 12, 2009, 09:32:07 pmOn Thursday lunchtime, some tout offered me a ticket for �30. That's cheaper than the face value of the ticket, right? Plus he was a Scouser so I decided not to bother. Would have been good to go for the craic but I would have sulked at England losing...
by Stillman Jun 12, 2009, 10:56:42 pmalan, have you ever met a tout who wasn't a scouser? I haven't.
Seriously though I'm getting ready for the ashes now. We've got it all too prove, granted, but Ponting looks like a man who's shitting himself. Symonds sent home, that's a bad loss for them test wise.
by Deceased Jun 13, 2009, 11:18:40 amI rekon we're looking good for tomorrow with India under performing and our boys hoping to bounce back, and the laws of trend must mean that the west indies are due an embarrassing loss...semi finals here we come!
by Deceased Jun 14, 2009, 10:51:20 pmPart 1 taken care of, great game!
by khongor Jun 15, 2009, 09:36:14 amWell, that was unexpected.
They seemed to look like a smarter side; more strategy, more understanding of what score was needed. Excellent!
And I'm guessing that was the first known use of "You're not singing anymore" at Lord's.
by Deceased Jun 16, 2009, 12:22:23 pmNevermind eh
by khongor Jun 16, 2009, 12:44:23 pmFucking Duckworth Lewis. We never had a prayer.
by Deceased Jun 16, 2009, 12:56:14 pmWell we did untill broad went for 13
by Al (G) Jun 16, 2009, 01:53:26 pmIt was a strange choice to bat first when it was almost certain to rain, and then not pick any big hitters lower down the order when it likely going to be a reduced over match.
Ah well, they did pretty well really.
