Introduction- 6 Days in Perth- 3 generations at the 3rd Test

Mercifully it has not been difficult to interest George in our great game and this trip with my father is a further step in his cricketing education, and a chance for us all to enjoy the occasion, each other’s company and hopefully an England victory.

For me it is a repeat visit, having witnessed the 2nd Test at the WACA in 1986, when England could not quite force a victory on the final day, despite a pitch that had cracks in it you could put your hand down. In truth though, the pitch misbehaved little on that final day. I have fond memories of a fantastic visit, the clearest is of Allan Lamb walking out to field on the evening of the second day with a small yellow duck round his neck. As if his own demise, without scoring, at the hands of the spindly Reid, was not punishment enough, after Bill Athey and Chris Broad had put on a magnificent opening stand of 223. Athey, of course, narrowly missed out on his hundred but was an important figure, along with Broad, Botham, inevitably, Gower, Gatting, Dilley and Gladstone Small in England’s series win under Mike Gatting.

Broad proceeded to anchor England’s massive first inning total of 592 for 8 declared, with hundreds also for the majestic David Gower and a combative Jack Richards. Despite early breakthroughs in both Australian innings England could not force the win- this time perhaps........

My one memento of the game was a “Poms do it Better” vest autographed by many of the England tour party, including Wilf Slack, who sadly is no longer with us. Regrettably the shirt after 5 days wear was somewhat dirty and while the signatures were clearly visible some 5 years later my mother-in-law took it upon herself to wash and iron the tired and grubby vest hanging in my bedroom…………….The vest survives to this day, now pristine and white, and like me will be making the return journey to the WACA. This time it will not be worn and should we manage a few autographs it will quickly be framed!!!!

So to the current day, our tour party consists of my father an accomplished all-rounder who scored over 10,000 runs for Pilning CC and took a hatful of wickets with his medium pacers, and played for Flax Bourton and the Forty Club. An aggressive batsman, excellent fielder and useful bowler, in a different era he might have played at a higher level. I am hoping his abilities, which certainly missed this generation, have skipped to the next. My own career has been more modest and, at my age, the best (two 70’s on consecutive Saturday’s for Mortimer West End 2nds in the Berkshire League) is probably behind me, but like my father I have taken so much pleasure from the game and from the camaraderie it imbues. For George to date (aged 7) the signs are positive and he certainly does not lack for enthusiasm for the game. Our move to Singapore in 2005 and my subscription to the Cricket Channel means he not only watched the Ashes last year with excitement, as we all did, but also that he consumes voraciously a diet of programmes such as India Cricket Legends and jumps at the chance for a session against the bowling machine at the nets at Singapore Cricket club, or to practice his bowling (leg spin after watching Shane Warne).

A five day Test will be a challenge for George so we’ve had some training- over the summer he sat transfixed at Lord’s for the 4th day of the Pakistan Test, as first England polished of the Pakistan innings, courtesy of Hoggard and Harmison, and then set up their somewhat conservative declaration, led by an excellent innings from Andrew Strauss.
A Twenty-Twenty defeat for Gloucestershire at the hands of Surrey followed before we enjoyed two days at the ever popular Cheltenham festival, where, as a boy, I recall the majesty of a Zaheer Abbas cover drive and a Proctor inspired home side.

Cheltenham, for those who have never visited, is a splendid venue for spectators.This year Jon Lewis and the redoubtable Martyn Ball led with the ball, and Chris Taylor and, Kiwi, Hamish Marshall with the bat in an eight wicket, Pro League 40, trouncing of the Yorkshire Phoenix. In the championship game George’s interest waned as a Gloucestershire attack deprived once more of the services of Jon Lewis, who surely has deserved more than one test this summer, were flayed by Maunders and Nixon. A trip to a netted area for a quick game, an ice cream, the compulsory perambulation around the ground and an excellent autograph haul,(including Chris Broad, who of course began his career at Gloucestershire, and whom my father had played against as Chris embarked on his career playing under the shadow of the bypass for Long Ashton CC, and Chris’s own son, England prospect, Stuart) put him back on an even keel, while first prize in the raffle, an autographed bat left a glow that will probably stay with him ‘til next we visit the College lawns.