Reflections from Riverside

 

Reflections from Riverside

by Nigel Chappell

Worcester Cathedral may be the most wonderful backdrop to any county cricket ground but the view of Lumley Castle floating serenely above the greenwoods bordering Durham’s Riverside is no small rival. Like Trent Bridge , this is a ground rather than a brutal arena typical of the metropolitan venues. It instantly radiates warmth and welcome. Stand at the top of the County Durham Stand and you can look down on the River Wear winding its way through the trees. Roger Miller sang that he spent his time in Durham Town sitting on the banks of the River Tyne. Wrong on so many levels, Rog ( altho I blame the songwriters). We all know Durham is a city and it stands not on the Tyne!

The sleek white pavilion with its grey tiled roof topped by two small gables curls itself around the outfield. This must be the paradigm for a modern cricket ground. Everything is in proportion; all is pleasing to the eye.

And the real beauty of the ground is that it is totally true to its county and cultural identity; not some apologist for Newcastle and all things north of Gateshead. There is the Lumley Lounge, Castle View and Cathedral Suite; and signage for Durham University; and the homely board for Bells’ Fish and Chips. No mention at all of those Geordie hordes Bigg Marketing it up in the Toon.

The day I went began in drizzle and play was slightly delayed but the sun and the teams soon came out to play. The upside of the rain was finding a cappuccino for only £2.25 in the pavilion!! That must be unparalleled in sports catering nowadays. And it came in a cup and saucer! And admission was only £14.00!! Calm down, calm down!!

The lovely steward I spoke to told me he was retired and lived nearby but originally came from Newcastle. He’d married a lass from Sunderland and they’d reached a compromise by agreeing to live in Chester le Street! But he still spoke lovingly of how much he missed Newcastle! The sacrifices made to marriage!! My train journey from Newcastle Central Stn to CLS took 8 minutes!!

And so to the match. I went on Saturday for the third day. Durham had declared on 531 /7 early on the second day and Notts had finished the day on 220/8. Maybe Hameed regretted winning the toss and electing to field; maybe not as Notts’ batting is notoriously fragile. The old warhorses Hutton and Fletcher were soon removed as Notts were skittled out for 229. To no one’s surprise Durham enforced the follow on. Just five minutes before I could start to give it the full Peter Gabriel Genesis( “It’s one o’clock and time for lunch”) Hameed fell and Notts went in for lunch at 52/1. Predictably, wickets tumbled steadily after lunch. Four wickets down by tea to leave Notts staring down both barrels of a proper battering. Haynes and Montgomery briefly steadied a listing ship to slow the inevitable sinking.

Durham look a lean, hungry and youthful team with lots of local talent. McKinney made a century; Hogg on his first class debut bowled with fire. Both are only 19!! In contrast Notts look brittle, tired and old. I fear it may be a while before Notts are back at Riverside for a county game. Moores’ the pity.

I’m not sure I like what’s in our Notts’ wardrobe.

You may have read these eloquent words already on Facebook. Reproduced with permission of the author. Thanks Nigel.