BRENDON McCULLUM JOINS SPORTSMAIL’S ASHES TEAM
It’S got a lot going for it, has Cardiff, but i might be biased because i’m part Welsh. So ‘bore da, sut wyt ti’ to you all and if that’s rude blame my grandad Arthur because he was from here.
i used to be able to recite that long place name — Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch — but i can’t remember it now. the Welsh capital is one of the newest test match venues in Britain and is quite an intimate, quirky place. the Swalec Stadium is certainly a lot different from the old Sophia Gardens but it’s nice that one side of the ground has remained undeveloped so we still have a picturesque view of the trees that line the River taff. i had a lovely train journey through the Welsh countryside to get here yesterday so that made for a great start to the week.
GOLF CART TO THE GROUND
tHe people here worked damn hard to create a friendly atmosphere when the Ashes first came to Cardiff in 2009 and i’m sure it will be the same again. there is only one real entrance but they also make sure that you can get in and out quickly. it’s quite a nice walk from the city through the park and then we’re transported from the car park to the ground in a golf cart which is handy when you reach a certain age.
NOT A PITCH FOR SPIN
it’S always had potential to spin here and, of course, england included two spinners in Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar in 2009 — but they took one wicket between them. Not sure if they will play both Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid this time because the groundsman says it’s going to be low and slow. it seems england don’t want quick pitches this summer but i personally think they should. they would suit us just as much as Australia.
MY, MY THEY LOVE A SONG
tHeY love a sing-song in this part of the world and i think Delilah is still top of the Welsh hit parade. i expect a bit of Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger, too, as the day goes on. Who can forget the atmosphere here in 2009 when Jimmy Anderson and Panesar hung on for a draw in the first test? the crowd can get stirred up here with some good play and they will be very strongly behind england, don’t worry about that.
MAKE MINE A BLONDE!
tHe beer of choice is Brains down here and it’s very popular but i must admit their Reverend James is not to my taste. i’m not sure i’ll be sampling their Stars and Stripes but it’s a shame Shane Warne is not going to be in town because they do an Atomic Blonde! My man in Cardiff, Sir Lawrence Finch, has told me all about the Cambrian tap, which is a micro-brewery in the heart of town and sounds just like my sort of place. it would be rude not to pay it a visit or two. For our Australian friends, look no further than the Walkabout Bar which is lively. i got locked in there once when it all kicked off...
LE MONDE’S YOUR OYSTER
tHe restaurant of choice for cricket folk in Cardiff has long been Le Monde on the main drag which is one of those places where you choose what steak or piece of fish you are going to eat. Or if you fancy going slightly further afield head down to Cardiff Bay which is fantastic. it’s only a few minutes out of town but it’s like being in Majorca. Lovely bars and restaurants.
CARDIFF MEMORY
HAS to be Clive Lloyd hitting the ball into the river for Lancashire against Glamorgan many years ago off a lad called Peter Swart. He hit Clive on the head so the next ball was out of the ground...
DRESSING-ROOM SECRET
i ONCe saw Robert Croft singing Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis on the dressing room balcony here when Glamorgan won the Sunday League title. i’m not averse to a warble myself and he and i have performed a karaoke version of that great song. Crofty is not a bad singer, but he’s not in my class...
BEST FANCY DRESS
it’S not a venue known for it to be honest but it’s not unusual for the odd tom Jones to turn up.
VERDICT
ON A scale of one to five on the lively charts, Cardiff is right up there. Let’s give it a four and i will be right in the thick of it staying in town. Friday night might be interesting...