What the 'Cobblers' want
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club have announced their intentions of becoming "one of the best non-Test grounds in the country", and in the Guardian , Mike Selvey writes that it shows a refreshing scaling down of ambition entwined with realism
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club have announced their intentions of becoming "one of the best non-Test grounds in the country", and in the Guardian, Mike Selvey writes that it shows a refreshing scaling down of ambition entwined with realism at one and the same time, rather as the club has been for ever.
It was a soulless place with an industrial feel but not so now. This is an airy but intimate ground, a proper county ground for county cricket without, as we now see, pretensions beyond its station or means. It does what it is supposed to do. The cricket centre that replaced the football stands is first class and Gallone's famous ice cream from the van at deep midwicket continues to be so. There are gatemen in white coats. And for us hacks a press box that has no frills or frippery and is rather tired, but offers a fine view and has a kettle. We are humble folk and ask little more.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo