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BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR?.....BOWLING AT THE ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA TEAM TO WARM THEM UP FOR THE SYDNEY TEST!!!!!
On the 1st of January i was fortunate enough to bowl to the England team in a two hour net session. I bowled to the entire 1st team and met most of them. Although i didnt bowl anyone out i had a couple of close LBW's against Jonathan Trott, a few edges from Cook, Tremlett and Monty, and many chipped shots that would have definitely been caught at mid wicket or cover.
I was bowling at the same time as Graeme Swann and was chatting to him a lot. Turns out he comes on holiday to Cornwall every year to visit family friends. He loved speaking with a cornish accent and talked highly of pasties and doombar.!
The next day (2nd) i went back to the S.C.G. with my S.D C.C captain Tim, as he was bowling to the Australian side, i put my spikes in the car just incase they needed an extra bowler and they were happy to have me bowl again. I bowled to Hilfenhous, Bollinger (who i have already met through my grade club), Beer, Johnson and Siddle. I had a particularly good battle against Peter Siddle as first ball he tried to track and slog me only to chip it straight up in the air. He then said some choice language out of frustration at which i laughed at. He saw this and gave me a stare, i gave one back and it was on from there! He did hit me a few times but i reckon i would have got him out at least 3 times in the few overs i bowled to him, after every delivery there was a little stare at eachother as if to say 'come on what have you got'. As he was walking out of the nets he looked at me and said 'well bowled mate', i replied 'well batted mate' whilst tapping my pocket to signal he was comfortably in there. We both laughed.
Tim and I hung around after the australia session to watch the England training session, luckily i got to bowl for a short time at the England team again, this session i bowled to Swann, Tremlett and Davis.
THE ASHES
I was lucky enough to go to days 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Sydney test. Seeing Straussy lift the urn was incredible!!!
On day two of the test i took a Wadebridge C.C cap to give to Graeme Swann as he comes to Cornwall often and we got on well when i first met him. I saw Andy Flower who recognised me from the net session and we had a chat and i asked him to pass it on to Swanny for me.
After the match and the English lap of honour i hung around outisde the England balcony in the members area while the players had lunch. Paul Collingwood came out to sign a few autographs and speak to some friends, i asked him to ask Swanny to come out for me to see if he received the cap. He said he would ask in a bit so i waited around. The stewards started clearing the members area but one overheard my conversation with Collingwood and said i could stay. So it was just me in the members area outside the changing room door with a few stewards and Swanny popped his head out to speak to me. He recognised me and we had a chat about the game and Cornwall. I said if he was down this year i'd introduce him to some better beers than Doombar and to give me a call. He said he would definitely get in touch which is cool. I said have a few beers on me and he said do the same to celebrate the Ashes win....by the looks of the team the next day on the news he took my advice!
So the first week of 2011 was probably the best week of my life... Seeing Strauss lift the ashes, bowling to both England and Australia, and becoming mates with the best spin bowler in the world!!
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