The Ashes is, unquestionably, cricket’s most celebrated series. The pinnacle of the international game, one of the fiercest rivalries in sport will be contested over five matches this summer, starting this week at Trent Bridge.
One man not short on desire and drive will be young Australian bowler James Pattinson.
On June 3, the Officers of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment played the Warrant Officers and Sergeants from the same Battalion in their annual twenty 20 memorial match.
The entertaining contest ended in a crushing defeat for the Sergeants at the Old Swinford Hospital School.
The Officers looked like the more legitimate cricket team as they played in Notts PKF kit kindly donated by Paul Ellis.
The Ashes Test is less than a week away and if you’re coming to Nottingham to watch the biggest rivalry in cricket then we have plenty of extra things to see and do after the game. All of the events below can be accessed via the dedicated page for Trent Bridge on the Experience Nottinghamshire website.
Post Match Plans
Once the game has finished there’s plenty to see and do in Nottingham. Several local pubs are offering Real Ale Festivals.
John Lewis have joined the celebrations ahead of Australia’s arrival in Nottingham by employing a group of knitted cricketers as part of their display. They even made a trip to Trent Bridge to put their abilities to the test.
Photographs – Jemma Cox
With thousands set to descend on West Bridgford for the first Investec Ashes Test, the Trent Bridge Inn’s Duty Manager, Philippa Bacon, has her work cut out for her ahead of Australia’s arrival in Nottingham.
“I’ve been interviewing all day for extra staff for the Ashes test, we need anyone and everyone to help,” she said.
As a long time member Liz Wilkinson knows the Trent Bridge atmosphere better than most and she is as excited as anybody to welcome the Australians to Nottingham for the first time in eight years in the opening Test of this summers Ashes series. However, Liz told us she expects her local Notts favourites to enjoy themselves rather more than their Australian counterparts.
Whenever Nottinghamshire history is a talking point, Robin Hood is at the forefront of conversation.
The tradition is proudly continued today by Nottinghamshire’s Official Robin Hood, Tim Pollard, who has a long association with the cricket club.
“When the t20 season rolls around I have been down at the ground obviously because of the Outlaws link,” Pollard said.
“It’s great fun keeping the crowd entertained by being on the pitch with the mascot and signing autographs.
No business knows the impact of an Ashes test like one that is situated so closely to the ground.
The Larwood and Voce is one of the best examples, with their top bar backing on to the ground and providing a great view of proceedings.
With the Ashes just nine days away, the whole pub and especially General Manager Dan Cramp are awaiting their busiest part of the year.
“We have different bars that we run out during big matches and all of them will be in full force come the Ashes,” Dan said.