On the back of Marcus queuing online for hours to go to the trouble of guaranteeing 8 tickets to watch the mighty Aussies in action next summer, I thought I’d notify other club members of the other ticket buying opportunities available to watch Pontings mob. All of the dates are when the tickets go on general sale.
In date order of availability, the website for Warwickshire CCC show that tickets for the 3rd test match at Edgbaston went on sale on 1st October. However, there are no working links whatsoever on the website to peruse for tickets. If you desperately want to travel to Birmingham, then get in touch with them.
The 1st test this year takes place outside of England, in Cardiff at Sophia Gardens, or as the Glamorgan CCC is failing to establish its proper name, the Slawlec Stadium. I think its named after an energy company or something. There’s one of our players who lives in a shed who might be able to tell us. Not only does the 1st test start outside of England, it starts on a Wednesday through to Sunday. Why only knows. I suspect its to try and appease the counties in order for London to keep 2 test matches. It must though be the cricketing equivalent of Question Time being made in Glasgow even though the seat of power is in London. If you want to break centuries of tradition and experience Welsh hospitality, tickets go on sale on Monday 3rd November.
Rosaneri connections normally don’t have much trouble in seeing a Rose bowl, but on Thursday 6th November, tickets go on sale for the 3rd ODI day/nighter down in Hampshire. Judging by the size of the place, tickets will be in short supply and I hear that it regularly takes 3 hours to get of the car park so perhaps only for the hardcore.
Monday 24th November is the day any Oval tickets not snapped up the by the Ticket Priority Online Club go on general sale. For those not aware, Surrey CCC offers the chance of jumping the queue if you are prepared to stump up £25 every season. The Oval hosts the 5th test and the 1st ODI.
That leaves the Lords Ballot for the 2nd test and 2 ODI’s. By all means, everyone complete an application form and take your luck. Chances are, you’ll be stuck behind some posh toffs who have never been to a game before and will talk about anything but cricket. Don’t bother about trying to get a drink or a bite to eat at lunch, and if you go on a Sunday, the Betfair tent isn’t even open. Still, I know a lovely pub nearby.
There are also other tests and ODI’s matches in places called Durham, Manchester and Leeds, but I’ve never heard of them. Coxy’s sat nav wouldn’t even have them listed.
The way forward for a large group of members and WAGS to attend an Aussies days cricket next year may just be at the matches against county opposition.
Once we have got rid of something called a World Cup 20/20, there is a 4-day game v Sussex down at Hove on Wed 24 – Sat 27 June. Train/car down to Brighton with a night out afterwards sounds ideal. You can pick up a cheap new Travelodge room for £19 in the centre of town if you book up in advance for those wanting to make a weekend of it.
The following week sees a 4-day game against England Lions (or the B team) in Worcester that could be combined with a fixture with The Cotswolds. Although, I’ve always taken issue with this as the game is played in Herefordshire and the Malvern Hills. Still, its my favourite part of the country but the chances are that the nearby River Severn will take up residence on the square if the last two years of flooding repeats itself.
Then the first 2 tests kick in before a 3-day game at Northamptonshire during Friday 24th July – Sunday 26th July.
3rd and 4th tests rumble past before a 2 day game v Kent at Canterbury on Sat/Sun 15th / 16th Aug. If Kent are involved in 20/20 finals day, this game will take place against the England B team again. Jim and Bloats might want to take their families down for the weekend here.
After that, it’s the 5th test, 2 20/20’s at Old Trafford (the locals can’t count above 20) and 7!!! ODI’s. In all, I’ll be very disappointed if as a club we have not seen some of the Aussies before they depart minus the Ashes on Monday 21st September.