David Hussey Keeps Notts Alive But Scarborough Stays on Death Row
The Australian was again the mainstay of a Nottinghamshire innings but the sorry state of the ground detracted from cricket's holiday atmosphere
Due to a mix-up of frequencies, an oration from a nearby funeral service briefly sounded down the loudspeakers at North Marine Road yesterday. A couple of years ago, mystified spectators were treated to a conversation from a bowls club. But the funeral service was a more appropriate metaphor, because this was one of those days when cricket at Scarborough seemed in terminal decline.
It was not the size of the crowd, which was healthy enough to provide a slow handclap at a decent volume whenever a sullen, drizzly day forced the players from the field. It is the sheer lack of pride: the rubbish strewn outside the back entrance, the blocked drain that gushed soapy water across the concourse behind the pavilion, the squalor of fag ends and assorted rubbish, the toilets that did not flush last year and predictably did not flush this.
Scarbororough has it easy. Everybody rocks up happily, quoting for the umpteenth time JM Kilburn's famous phrase about it being "county cricket on holiday". It is a wonderful, natural amphitheater where the sound of bat on ball competes with the squawk of gulls. But in a year where summer holidays in England are meant to make a comeback – a trend encapsulated in that awful phrase "staycation" – North Marine Road's shortcomings remind us why this might be short-lived.
Yorkshire have guaranteed cricket at Scarborough next season but after that would expect at least a lick of paint, if a show of enterprise is too much to hope for. They are also desperate for a first championship win of the season, ambitions sharpened by Tim Bresnan's first four-wicket haul of the season in encouraging conditions, all edges to slips and wicketkeeper. Notts, much in character, were over-reliant upon David Hussey, whose unbeaten 59 from 76 balls prevented total calamity.
It was one of only two games to survive the weather yesterday, and they managed less than 14 overs at Hampshire.
It was not the size of the crowd, which was healthy enough to provide a slow handclap at a decent volume whenever a sullen, drizzly day forced the players from the field. It is the sheer lack of pride: the rubbish strewn outside the back entrance, the blocked drain that gushed soapy water across the concourse behind the pavilion, the squalor of fag ends and assorted rubbish, the toilets that did not flush last year and predictably did not flush this.
Scarbororough has it easy. Everybody rocks up happily, quoting for the umpteenth time JM Kilburn's famous phrase about it being "county cricket on holiday". It is a wonderful, natural amphitheater where the sound of bat on ball competes with the squawk of gulls. But in a year where summer holidays in England are meant to make a comeback – a trend encapsulated in that awful phrase "staycation" – North Marine Road's shortcomings remind us why this might be short-lived.
Yorkshire have guaranteed cricket at Scarborough next season but after that would expect at least a lick of paint, if a show of enterprise is too much to hope for. They are also desperate for a first championship win of the season, ambitions sharpened by Tim Bresnan's first four-wicket haul of the season in encouraging conditions, all edges to slips and wicketkeeper. Notts, much in character, were over-reliant upon David Hussey, whose unbeaten 59 from 76 balls prevented total calamity.
It was one of only two games to survive the weather yesterday, and they managed less than 14 overs at Hampshire.
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