Oval crowd makes case for two Tests
THE battle to stage Test cricket in England has seen Lord’s and The Oval adopt the same slogan that London is the Test capital of the world.
And that was demonstrated yesterday when around 50,000 spectators paid to watch rain-hit cricket in the capital. The Oval was full for the first day of its 100th Test and Lord’s sold out in advance for the T20 match between Essex and Middlesex.
The staging of domestic Test matches will become more competitive in 2020 when the number of games drops to six per summer — with Lord’s banking on keeping two Tests per year.
But The Oval have made a case for two Tests as well, with their £50million blueprint for a 40,000seat ground getting under way by rebuilding the Lock Laker stand in September 2019.
And unlike Lord’s, who need to consult an 18,000 membership at every turn, Surrey are able to plan and then build their new stands far quicker.
However, without the need for a joint campaign, both grounds have seen the benefit of emphasising London’s huge support for the five-day game rather than fighting against each other.
Three is going to be the maximum number of Tests in London — with Trent Bridge and Edgbaston deserving of an annual Test each. So that leaves Old Trafford and Headingley having to miss out in alternate years. lENGLAND
debutant Tom Westley lacked the cricketing advantages of his fellow first cap Toby Roland-Jones’s public school education at Hampton School. But Westley’s builder father Ade did build a loft extension and new kitchen for the former England Test player and cricket writer Derek Pringle. SKY SPORTS look as if they have already started cutting their nonessential cricket coverage following their £1billion spend to secure their rights until 2024.
The popular Verdict highlights show, with cult pundit Bob Willis talking to host Charles Colville, has been revamped, with Bob now going to the ground to deliver his views.
This saves on production and studio costs but the great chemistry between Willis and the marginalised Colville (above) has been lost. ENGLAND
women’s World Cup triumph in such thrilling fashion will greatly help the England Cricket Board bring together the male and female games. And it’s already happening within the ECB hierarchy . . . Clare Connor, head of England women’s cricket, is in a relationship with Andy Flower, technical director of elite coaching.