Bird Spotting at Lords

A Bird At Lords......

Another Bird at Lords.....

One of the great highlights of the year for me is attending Test Matches with my university friends, Matthew Howard and Steve Mulholland. As well as the joy of watching the Cricket, it is very much a social occasion. We usually go in nice clobber, drink plenty, usually far too much, and Matt, Winchmore Hill's answer to Jamie Oliver, provides an excellent lunch. On Saturday, he surpassed himself with a mouthwateringly tasty Indian Banquet. This was to celebrate the fact that England were hosting India.

In the morning session, we saw England bowl India out in scintillating form. James Anderson, finally giving a great performance for his country with a five wicket haul, and getting his name on the board at Lords. Ryan Sidebottom and him were magnificent to watch. The sun was even out.

Sadly during the aforementioned lunch, the heavens opened. The dreaded rains came down and deprived us of around half the play, we had payed to see. The monsoon like conditions, this summer have been similar to my disposition of late. However, we didn't let it dampen the party, Lords were selling Cobra lager as well as Pimms -hurrah!.

We also had the great fortune to bump into the legendary umpire, and national treasure, Dickie Bird, who kindly posed for the above picture, with your landlord. What a legend that man is. His last test was eleven years ago, also England Vs India at Lords. Who could forget those emotional scenes when both teams gave him a guard of honour, as he made his way onto the pitch. There was not a dry eye in the ground. If you say the word umpire to any cricket fan of any age today, the first thing they will say or think of, is Dickie Bird. Quite a feat, if you think about it.

We do it all again in three weekends time, at the Oval. Hopefully it might have stopped raining by then. Although I would not bet on it. Noah might have to get involved in the boat building business again if this continues.