Chester-le-Street Children Get Creative

Those visiting Emirates Durham ICG for the 4^th Investec Ashes Test will have seen some unique artwork at the side of the Cathedral and Castle Views Suites which is to celebrate the Durham holding its first test match in a decade.

10 years ago, in 2003 Chester-le-Street hosted England and Zimbabwe and now 10 years on are making history and hosting the most northerly Ashes Test match ever.

To commemorate this occasion young people in the Chester-Le-Street area who were born in 2003 drew 'squares of art' and then pupils from Park View School created them into the cricketers images that are now seen on the side of the Cathedral and Castle View suites at Emirates Durham ICG.

 Durham County Cricket Club’s ‘Learning Behind the Boundary’ Education Officer Dave Ross said that young people in the area have been very excited to be part of celebrating this historic event at the ground in hosting an Ashes Test.

“It has given them the chance to understand how the ground and club have developed to be a world class Test venue,” he said.

“There are over 400 images in the pieces and all those who have contributed are very excited to play a part in the historic match here at Durham”.

The grass is greener

Kate James successfully saved the day when artist in residence David Downes ran out of the right kind of . . . green paint!
David, from Sutton Coldfield, has been commissioned to capture the atmosphere of the Emirates Durham ICG in his own unique style.
He is a renowned artist with high-functioning autism, which is thought to contribute to his unique and intricate detailed style of work. He is Vice President of the National Autistic Society (NAS) and has raised thousands of pounds for the organisation.
A keen cricket fan, David was determined to capture the exact colour of the grass at the Emirates Durham. "I needed another particular shade of green - almost psychedelic - and I'm so grateful Kate was able to find it for me."
Kate, Festival and Events Manager for Visit County Durham, helping out at the Test match, tracked down the paint to a supplier on the Team Valley and faced a race against time - and traffic - to pick up the precious tube.
On her way from the ground as the crowds were leaving Kate took 90 minutes to get to the shop, a journey of usually about 20 minutes. She was then caught in A1 roadworks, slip way closures and was forced into a big detour to complete her four hour journey.
"For a mercy dash it was a really long one but it was well worth it in the end," she said.
www.daviddownes.co.uk

Gatting in bat again

Mike Gatting recalled his playing days in Newcastle when he marked the 125-year anniversary of the Jesmond cricket ground.
He was one of many England stars together with the world's greatest players who took part in the Callers Pegasus annual festival played at Jesmond throughout the 1980's.
Young players from the Newcastle Cricket Club's junior WASPS squad met up at Durham with Mike who is now Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships for the ECB.
Pictured with Mike are 12-year-old Alex Hardy and brother Will, aged 15; and 12-year-old Dom Gowling and sister Emma, aged 10.
Will, a talented spin bowler, was chosen as an Olympic torch bearer for the Newcastle Quayside.
Mike said: "I have fond memories of those days in Jesmond - it was great to play with international players and be able to talk and socialise with them in a less competitive environment.
"It is a very local ground with the church and graveyard on the boundary and the road outside protected from balls by a huge net. The ground and the club now has a great future. It's great to see cricket in the North East is really thriving."
www.newcastlecc.co.uk

150 players on the pitch

Another team of players took to the pitch to entertain the crowds before play.
One hundred and fifty members of the Lindisfarne Gospels Community Choir performed a selection of North East songs including, very appropriately, 'The Lambton Worm'.
The choir was formed to celebrate the exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels in Durham, currently on display this summer at the cathedral.
Dr Keith Bartlett, Gospels Programme Director, said: "The choir was formed especially to celebrate the exhibition of this amazing book in Durham and to encourage community involvement across the region.
"Many of the members were completely new to singing when they started and had never performed in public. To sing to an audience of this size at the Ashes is an incredible achievement and I am extremely proud of them."

Two hours from tree to crease

England captain Alastair Cook could be using his next Gray-Nicolls bat - incredibly within only two hours of the tree it was made from being chopped down.
Gray-Nicolls bats are still 100% handmade from English willow at their factory in East Sussex where they have been produced for 160 years.
Trees are specially grown for the company all over the country from Somerset to North Yorkshire and
bats sell for between £100 and £600 depending on the quality of the wood. A top class batsman will get an average of 1000 runs out of a bat.
Master boat maker Alex Hohenkerk, aged 28, is demonstrating his skill for the crowds at the Emirates Durham ICG.
He said: "From felling the tree to finishing the bat we can have it in Alastair Cook's hands in just two hours."
Current Australian team members, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird and many of the Durham County players all use Gray-Nicolls bats.
Alex added: "They are bigger than they have ever been and we have seen greater advances in bat making over the last five years than in the previous 50 years. Performance, light weight and size are the all important qualities."

Chester-le-Street's Keith Robson hails Test as 'biggest sporting event'

Chester-le-Street Cricket Club director of cricket Keith Robson is feeling excited about being a part of the Ashes experience during the 4th Investec Test at the Emirates International Cricket Ground.

The Chester-le-Street club is just a stones throw away from Durham's ground and has already hosted a t20 game for the Barmy Army and the Australian Fanatics in the build-up to the match.

He said: "There is a feeling of real excitement around the club. It's absolutely tremendous when you consider how many people are coming in every day, from all parts of the world. To have Test match at this time of year and given the opposition, it's phenomenal.

"Yes I think it's the biggest sporting event in the history of the north east. I can't think of anything greater, it's an international event it puts Chester-le-Street and the County of Durham right on the map.

"The whole set up at the County has been very well developed, the structure of the ground and the structure of the club."

Robson, who is also chairman of the North East Premier League, feels that the Test will inspire youngsters in the region, who attend the game, to get into the sport.

He added: "It is going to leave a feeling of self satisfaction and of confidence, being the newest County we're behind other clubs in this sort of area.

"We've got nothing to lack confidence about and will help reassure that we do really deserve to hold events such as the Ashes.

"It will also engender more participation and interest for kids who go to the game and want to be a part of things in the future."

England strike back on second morning at Emirates Durham ICG

England wrestled back the initiative on the second morning of the 4th Investec Ashes Test as Stuart Broad took three wickets at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.

The Three Lions failed to add to their overnight total of 238 as James Anderson was clean bowled for 16 by Jackson Bird, in the third over of the day.

Australia came out to bat with a spring in their step but they were immediately pegged back by Broad as he bowled former Durham batsman David Warner for just three.

Usman Khawaja soon followed Warner back to the pavilion as he was caught behind by Matt Prior, with Broad snagging another wicket leaving the Baggy Greens reeling at 12-2.

Chris Rogers survived a DRS scare, as England thought they had him out caught behind, only for the review system to prove he hadn't knicked the ball, although Hawkeye suggested that he could have been lbw, but umpire Tony Hill waved for a dead ball.

Rogers and Michael Clarke steadied the ship and guided Australia over the 40-run mark before Broad struck yet again to remove the Aussie skipper, as he edged the ball behind to Alastair Cook at first slip.

However, new batsman Steve Smith and Rogers composed themselves before the lunch break to guide Australia to 75-3.