Author: Michael James

  • Week 283 – August 4th – My feedback after the day at the test match

    I filled in the survey but also sent this email in about the day’s events. 

    “Subject: Day 4 

    Good morning. 

    £140 seats, how would you like to arrive and see this? 

    Thankfully this was not my seat, but the row behind, then looking around the area, I would say the cleaners just didn’t bother the evening before and from discussing with the stewards (who were brilliant throughout the whole day) said this was the second day in a row the ground was like this. 

    Yes, it can’t be nice cleaning up after people and late too, as day 3 was a late finish, but you’re paying this company to do a job, I think you need to seriously need to investigate your contract with them. 

    It was reasonable handled on the day, as well as reporting it online (which I had a call back, but after the issue had been sorted, the lady did apologise), I went around to the pavilion to report it as well. Which I’m glad I did as I have no idea when this would have been resolved, as it took an hour for the cleaning team to arrive is quite staggering, even with everyone chasing the situation. 

    At close of play, I went to the toilets, I felt I was in a third world with the condition of the facilities, not sure what had gone on during the day, as they weren’t as bad as this when I went in the afternoon. 

    I reported this in 2023 after a day at the WTC final. 

    The ground cannot cope with a sell-out. It’s all well and good building upwards with more seating, but the ground level is still the same, add in all the food trucks and stuff, you’re reducing the area even more. 

    I refuse to go down at lunch and tea time after the experience in 2023, and even going down at 2:40pm an hour into the afternoon session on the 3rd Aug, there were long queues for certain foods and drink and a couple of areas where you had to force your way through and I’m over 6 foot tall. 

    I enjoy coming to the Oval, but on a sell-out it’s not fun anymore. 

    I have filled out the survey, but I just wanted to highlight these issues. 

    Regards 

    Michael” 

    Well see how they respond.

  • Week 282 – August 3rd – England v India – Part 5

    Login required to see this posting of the action at the Oval.

  • Week 282 – August 3rd – England v India – Part 4

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    India players practising slip catching before start of play.

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    Considering all the times we have been to the Oval, I didn’t know Claire attend the school.

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    Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett, waiting to come out and bat.
  • Week 282 – August 3rd – England v India – Part 3

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    Morne Morkel the Indian bowling coach.

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    Indian team out practising before the start of play.

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    Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, Indian Cricket Team’s Super Fan at The Oval. So many people came and had there picture taken with him
  • Week 282 – August 3rd – England v India – Part 2

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    Alistair Cook on BBC duties.

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    Flags flying above the Mickey Stewart pavilion

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    Isha Ghu on BBC duties
  • Week 282 – August 3rd – England v India – Part 1

    Going up to the Oval for England v India, 5th and final test, day 4.

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    Claire took picture of an unusual cloud formation on the way to the cricket today

    So, the 4th day of the test match and England were chasing to win the series, 3-1. 

    On arrival at our seats, I wasn’t expecting to see this, thankfully it wasn’t our seat, but the row behind us. 

    Then looking around, it looked like the cleaners hadn’t done anything. I spoke with the steward, and they recommended that I reported the issue, which I did online. After a while, I thought this might take a long time, so I asked if I could report this in person, they recommended that I went to the pavilion. 

    The first question on arrival outside the pavilion was I a member, I said no, why did you want to see someone, I showed the picture and the person panicked, he did not know what to do. 

    In the end, he let me into the pavilion and to the reception, when I got to the desk, I was asked how they could help, and I just showed them the picture. The man on reception was taken aback and asked where this was. 

    I explained that and he said that he would get it sorted out. 

    I walked back to my seat, and no one had come, a steward supervisor came up and I told them. Then I looked down to the front of the stand and saw the receptionist approaching. I thought that was decent that he had come round to see the situation. 

    In the end, it was an hour after initially reporting the issue, that the cleaning team turned up. 

    Just after it was sorted, I got a phone call from the team regarding my online request. They apologised for taking so long to get back to me, I’m just glad that I had dealt with it in person. 

    Now on to the cricket. 

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    England score at the start of the 4th day play.

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