New Road Dream

Worcestershire Rapids v Yorkshire Vikings

An early start, but this time from the Ibis budget in Southampton.

It was a Cross Country starter heading up to Manchester.

It got wedged at Basingstoke so I jumped off.

Instead joining the all shacks up to Reading, formed of one of the prototype Sprinters.

At Reading, I met up with my dad, and we were onto a Hereford service, which turned out to be three hours on a Turbo.  With the Malverns in the background, the bus depot in the foreground, and the cathedral inbetween, we rounded the curve into Worcester.

Departing at Foregate Street.

A stroll over the river Severn took us to a New Road ground, looking very different since my last visit. 

Worcestershire Rapids 342 v Yorkshire Vikings 291, Royal London One Day Cup - Northern Section

Worcestershire had had a good start to the one day series, winning against Notts and Leicestershire, and a dramatic tie against Northants.  They have a steady side, but without any big name players, the overseas rep being Aussie one dayer John Hastings.

With England playing Ireland in a one day international at Bristol, Yorkshire were without Root, Bairtsow, Rashid, Willey and Plunkett.

New Road has been Worcestershire's main ground since 1896.  They have also played at Hereford, Evesham, Stourbridge, Dudley and, until very recently, Kidderminster. 

It used to be the smallest county ground in cricket, but has recently gone through a lot of redevelopment.  The biggest change is at the New Road end with a hotel and corporate facilities.

A new members pavilion with changing rooms located above, has been built adjacent to its tiny predecessor.  It is named after Graham Hick, the county's most famous Zimbabwean to flop at test level for England.

At the opposite end of the wicket, a bank of terracing has been built, and named after Basil D'Oliveira, of Indian-Portuguese descent who's inclusion in a travelling England squad led to South Africa cancelling a tour invite, and initiated their exclusion from world sport.  His grandson Brett was in the Worcestershire team today.

The only surviving stand from the old ground is the New Road stand.

Another school day and another decent crowd.  The ground gives a good view of the cathedral, but I couldn't be arsed to walk round so here is Glover's Needle instead.

Yorkshire won the toss and chose to field.  Missing their England players, they weren't particularly threatening. The home sides openers Mitchell and Kohler-Cadmore put on 135, with the latter going on to score 118 as they were eventually bowled out for 342, with and over to spare. Balance continues to be uninspiring as captain, by the end of the innings, Bresnan seemed to be doing most of the organising.

The ground is regularly flooded by the adjacent river, including devastating damage in the winter of 2007.  On the plus side, this does give an interesting display to read during the lunch interval.

Yorkshire started their response well, with Lees back in the side.  However, they lost regular wickets and with no Bairstow to put in a massive innings, they fell well short of the total. 

Only a late flourish for the last couple of wickets taking them to 291, being bowled out with three overs to spare.

So it was back to Foregate Street, this time for the relative confort of a 180 back to Reading.  I had considered going back via Hereford and Abergavenny for the latters Welsh league game against Llanelli, but couldn't be bothered.

Parting with my dad and me jumping on an HST back to Swindon.