MICHAEL PEARLMAN SAYS: It’s Sophia, so good (From Campaign Series)

MICHAEL PEARLMAN SAYS: It’s Sophia, so good

9:50am Thursday 9th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

SO WHAT was all the fuss about? For what seems like an eternity, we’ve all been subjected to hearing how wrong it is that, Cardiff, yes Cardiff, a city in a country called Wales (I’ve not heard of it either), has got an Ashes Test.

What a bloody affront to cricket, they told us. How can it be right that Sophia Gardens gets an Ashes Test match, and Trent Bridge and Old Trafford do not?

And what about Durham? Or Hampshire? They’ve redeveloped their grounds as well. They’ve poured in millions. And yet all these fans have to go all the way to Wales for a Test match.

And it’s the first Test. The first! How disgraceful. How on earth can it not be at Lord’s? How dare they change things, how dare the people of Wales get to watch a Test match, to be part of the stunning and unparalleled sporting theatre that is the Ashes.

Except, of course, as most of us knew would be the case, the decision makers, fans, pundits and players alike are absolutely loving the experience of starting the Ashes at the revamped Swalec Stadium.

The notion that those who have worked so hard to make the Test such a success, that put their money where their mouths were to bring such a sporting spectacle to Wales, wouldn’t be up to the task, was nothing more than English snobbery towards the Welsh.

Remember the same toys out of the pram procrastinating when Wembley was revamped for years at a cost of about £875684 gazillion?

It’s not right, the FA Cup Final being in Wales, we were told. Other than the chaos that inevitably ensued when people left the Principality and jammed the M4, that was a rip-roaring success as well.

Basically, and I come to this assessment after working this side of the bridge for five years and living here for eight, the Welsh absolutely know how to put on a great sporting event.

They did it with the World Cup of egg chasing, they did it with the FA Cup and play-offs, will do it with the Ryder Cup and are doing it with the first Test of the 2009 Ashes.

Rather than taking away from the spectacle of the Ashes, detracting from what a special sporting event it is, the inclusion of Cardiff has enhanced the excitement and anticipation levels.

Geraint Jones commented the night before the Test that the only thing concerning the players was that they are unfamiliar with Glamorgan and knew they’d get a good feed if it were at Lords. But the fear of the unknown has washed away and the players are all praising the set-up.

It wasn’t exactly likely that they’d spend all that money on the ground and then leave the players with cold showers and McDonalds for their lunch was it?

The fact is, more than 50% of the tickets sold have gone to Welsh punters and that is excellent, it’s long, long, long overdue that top class cricket was played out in the Principality.

There seems to be none of the ‘anyone but England’ attitude when it comes to cricket, as Robert Croft puts it, “Playing for Glamorgan is like playing for Wales, playing for England is like playing for the British Lions.”

It would probably take another column to go over the issue of the name England when it could and perhaps should be England and Wales, but every indication yesterday was that the locals are supporting Andrew Strauss’ men.

The organisation, splendour and atmosphere at a relatively new ground, has all been up to the mark.

However, there are certain things the Welsh simply do better.

For one, singing (I am not above stereotyping, call me an English snob if you like). The opening ceremony, the anthems, the delightful Katherine Jenkins – England has Lesley Garrett, you guys have Katherine, you win – set the tone beautifully, the sense of occasion enhanced as the anticipation reached fever pitch.

And away from the pomp and the pageantry, focusing solely on the sport, there is of course another, almost overlooked factor in the Ashes beginning in Cardiff.

Namely, that on paper, Glamorgan is a ground that suits England far better than the Aussies.

I appreciate that it is distinctly un-British to prepare a pitch to suit us rather than giving the opposition a leg-up, but visiting a ground renowned for taking spin against a Warne-shorn Australia, won’t have disappointed Andrew Strauss.

Should England capitalise on winning an important toss and as I believe they will, go on to win the First Test, then the excitement for the rest of the series is greatly enhanced in comparison to starting at Lord’s, not a happy hunting ground for England in recent times.

Cardiff and Sophia Gardens were firmly under scrutiny this week and have passed with flying colours.

Wales deserves regular Test cricket, so do the people in the west of England (remember this is their best local ground as well) and from now on Sophia Gardens should legitimately battle with the likes of Trent Bridge and The Oval to stage Tests regularly.

Because so far Wales’ Ashes experience has been a resounding success.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)