The Ashes 2015 – Edgbaston Test: call for writers

“Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain. 
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today. 
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. 
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.”

– Time, Pink Floyd

England v Australia, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
29 July – 2 August
This is a call for cricket stories of the Third Test, starting Wednesday.

To ensure all days are covered, we’ll again maintain a small register here. Please let us know which days you’re keen to cover. Any stories are always welcome.
Day 1, Wednesday 29 July: ER &
Day 2, Thursday 30 July:
Day 3, Friday 31 July: Jill Scanlon &
Day 4, Saturday 1 August:
Day 5, Sunday 2 August:
Floaters: T-bone, Dips

 

Already each country has felt the full roaring glow of a dominant win.
Will CJL Rogers be fit to open the batting for Australia?
Will IR Bell get his feet moving again at his Warwickshire home ground?
Will anyone other than CJL Rogers and SPD Smith make a first innings run for Australia?
Will the new ball swing for JM Anderson and SCJ Broad?
Will SPD Smith return to the well?
Will JM Bairstow bring his Yorkshire form with him?
Will the pitch offer anything to fast bowlers on Day 1?
What will become of MJ Clarke?
Will Citrus Bob get a photo with MA Atherton?

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason was born in Edgbaston. If Lord’s is the traditional, stuffy, anachronistic home of English cricket, then Edgbaston is the rowdy, populist, commoners home of English cricket. We can expect crowd involvement.

After Cardiff (0-1 after 1), I offered the 1909 series as a precedent of hope (1-1 after 2). The Third Test of that series was held in Leeds and lasted only three days.

1909, Third Test
Australia 188 (SE Gregory 46, W Rhodes 4/38)
England 182 (J Sharp 61, CG Macartney 7/58)
Australia 207 (SF Barnes 6/63) – lower order valuably contributing from 7/127
England (target 214): 87 (A Cotter 5/38, CG Macartney 4/27)
Australia won by 126 runs
England 1-2 Australia after Three Tests.

Check out all Almanac Cricket writing here.

 

About David Wilson

David Wilson is a hydrologist, climate reporter and writer of fiction & observational stories. He writes under the name “E.regnans” at The Footy Almanac and has stories in several books. One of his stories was judged as a finalist in the Tasmanian Writers’ Prize 2021. He shares the care of two daughters and likes to walk around feeling generally amazed. Favourite tree: Eucalyptus regnans.

Comments

  1. I’ll have a go if this Test gets the juices flowing

  2. E.regnans says

    G’day T-bone.
    Thanks for that.
    I’ve popped you down as a “floater,” pending those juices.

  3. Jill Scanlon says

    Hi David,

    I sent an email yesterday but thought I’d back it up here also.

    I’m happy to do something on this Test but it will need to be Day 3 (Fri) if that’s okay – commitments on the other days need to be supported with some sleep! :):)

    Jill

  4. E.regnans says

    Ahh, thanks Jill.
    Looking forward to your perspective, whenever you get a chance.
    Day 3 would be terrific.

    PeterB’s call that Perth is located in the best time zone for the sports watcher seems more accurate each (waking) second.

  5. ER – I’ve been “gunna” do a day of both Tests. Life gets in the way. I’ll really try this time, unless of course the festivities of the Almanac lunch this Friday cause me to be side tracked.

    I say to my kids – I don’t care what the result is, but I want you to really try.

  6. E.regnans says

    Good stuff Dips.
    You’re down as a floater.
    See you Friday.

    Let’s try to get every day covered.

  7. E.regnans says

    I’ll open the inning tonight.

  8. Gday ER,
    I will float also – but most likely for Sat’dy

  9. Luke Reynolds says

    Will try to do a day whenever I can. Possibly Day 2, or just possibly when some free time appears.

Leave a Comment

*