With just under two weeks to go before the biggest cricket event of the summer begins, Matt Prior is struggling to put into words how excited he is.
As the contest draws closer, the hype of it all starts to hit home with Prior extra excited to get back in an England shirt and beat their oldest enemy.
“Playing Ashes cricket is like nothing else for an English cricketer and it provides a fantastic opportunity and honour which is different to any other series,” Prior said.
With the Ashes fast approaching it will come as a confidence breaking move for poor Nick Compton who at the experienced age of 29 will be making way for 22-year-old youngster Joe Root in England’s pre-Ashes warm up match against Essex.
The England set-up will find this move to be fully justified as Compton has failed to show any vigour or incontestable skill in his recent performances scoring 18, 15, and a high of 56 in his last three county appearances, crippling his chances of gaining a respectable position in the international fold.
The Ashes are coming to Trent Bridge and with less than three weeks to go, the official tourist board Experience Nottinghamshire has been working with local tourism businesses to welcome cricket fans from across the globe. Here is the first of their blogs for us:
Visitors coming to Nottingham to see the greatest cricket rivalry in the world will be able to access a wide range of special offers and experience the best the region has to offer at a variety of bars, restaurants and attractions. These are all accessible via a dedicated page to Trent Bridge on the destination website.
Trent Bridge has a knack for hiring interesting staff, on a bustling match day the ground is a hive of activity as hundreds ensure that everything is in full working order. One man who completely reverses the adage of being seen and not heard is Dave Ince, announcer for Nottinghamshire’s LV=County Championship matches at Trent Bridge. This is what he had to say:
From Thursday June 27 to Saturday July 6, hit play The Ashes is back at the Nottingham Playhouse by popular demand.
The play depicts the life story of Nottinghamshire cricket legend Harold Larwood and his involvement in the infamous ‘Bodyline Series’ in 1932/3.
Five events for those who just can’t wait for the Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge:
1. Historical tour of Nottingham’s Caves and Galleries of Justice. Nottingham Playhouse, 10-14 July. Receive a 20% discount off entry to their Sheriff of Nottingham actor-led daytime tours. Just present your Ashes ticket at the door to qualify for the discount. Visit galleriesofjustice.org.uk and cityofcaves.com for more information. This offer is only valid for 10th-14th July 2013. Only one discount is available for person. Ashes ticket must be produced on arrival.
2. The Ashes. Nottingham Playhouse, 27 June – 6 July.
Michael Pinchbeck’s play tells the story of legendary Ashes bowler Harold Larwood, the spearhead of England’s legendary bodyline bowling attack. Tickets £7.50 – £27. Call 0115 9419419 or visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
The Broadway Cinema are also celebrating the return of Ashes cricket to Nottingham, by presenting a special screening of Trent Bridge on Film, an archival look back at our iconic ground on the night before the Test, July 9 at 6pm.
In the run up to the Ashes Test on July 10, the multi-talented Paul Harrison will be providing a series of blogs which touch on his life behind the scenes at Trent Bridge, and what makes his role so important. Here’s the first instalment…
Since last August when Trent Bridge won the rights to stage the opening Investec Test of the 2013 Ashes Series, the sense of anticipation around the ground has been growing daily. Now that the game is so close this anticipation has reached fever pitch, or in some cases blind panic.