AUSTRALIA 050S UK TOUR 2017

GAME 19 AUSTRALIA 050S VS WILTSHIRE 050S

AT SWINDON COUNTY GROUND WILTSHIRE

FRIDAY 11 th AUG 2017

Well after over 4 weeks of intensive cricket; a lot of travelling; some sleeping and much cavorting we finally came down to the very last game on our UK tour vs. Wiltshire 050s at the County ground at Swindon Because we were staying at the Shrubbery hotel Ilminster near Somerset most to the team relocated to a hotel at Swindon so they could relax and celebrate the tour’s end that evening after the game and not retrace their steps. The day was the usual grey overcast skies with a cold wind threatening rain.

A quick pack of the bags and the mandatory team photo in front of the Shrubbery Hotel predicated a savage 2 hour busy drive to Bristol then due east to Swindon. Swindon is a large town on the M something or other towards London and was notable as a big Prisoner of War Camp during WWII.

Swindon CC was founded in 1844 and many of the greats such as W G Grace and David Gower have played on this very pleasant vast green oval overlooked by a beautiful old colonial style clubhouse. West Indian star fast bowler Andy Roberts once hit a ball onto the top tier of the adjacent football stand. Fred Truman playing in a benefit match in front of 3000 spectators bowled left handed; tackled the wicketkeeper from catching him and then smashed the next ball onto the top deck of the old colonial clubhouse.

An original painting of the ground by former English wicketkeeper Jack Russell hangs on a wall in the clubroom. On 11June 1982 Alan Border then with Essex opened the refurbishment of the grand old lady which is a grade II heritage listed building.