Testing Time

After three days of Test Match Cricket England have a long way to go to save the match. It seems strange watching an Oval test match knowing that there is another test match to the played. The opening day was an unusual day for me, sitting quietly on the Pavilion Terrace. Its rare that I sit on my own, just letting the game sweep over me. Very relaxing. As I walked round the ground I reflected on a few points, firstly in the past a test series between England and Pakistan would have seen large contingents of Pakistan supporters supporting their team. Over these three days this has not been the case. This is in stark contrast to the World T20 Tournament last year.

Perhaps Asian cricket fans have abandoned test cricket with the rise of T20, I must admit to be disappointed about that. Test Cricket , for me, remains the highest form of the game. One issue did amuse me at lunchtime, deciding to walk round the ground I saw large number of England fans at the Curry stalls, while Pakistan supporters queued to buy chips. Perhaps that says something about culture in London.

The game over the first three days has been disappointing from an England viewpoint. The only highlights have been Graeme Swann's bowling performance in the visitors first innings. Swann has been England's standout performer over the last 18 months, a bowler who can hold down an end and also be an attacking threat. England 's second innings after Alastair Cook scored a century to restore his reputation, collapsed after lunch, with 6 wickets falling for just 26 runs.

Yet such is the appeal of test cricket and as England cricket fans are long suffering, that we'll be back tomorrow hoping that England can set a target of around 150 and hope for good bowling conditions.