My first visit to a test match during the summer holidays, turned out to be
an amazing experience with memories that will last a lifetime.
The day started with excitement and anticipation for my teacher, Mr Kevin Wright,
and all my friends from St Wilfrid’s Primary School.
On arrival at Trent Bridge we were shown to the
Pride Side Den reception area, where we had our
picture taken with former England captain, Graham
Gooch. We then met the Pride Side Den mascots,
Shen, Maxi, Little M and Widget and received an
Npower goody bag. I was lucky enough to be
selected as the Young Reporter for the day, which
included the chance to interview another former
England captain Mike Gatting.
England were in charge of the match, however they
couldn’t control the weather and the players headed
for the pavilion for the first rain break of the day.
During the lunch break we all had our photo taken
with Mike Gatting and had our Npower shirts signed.
I sat down with Mike and began quizzing him about
his career, his favourite players and that famous
ball from Shane Warne.
My day got even better with a visit to the media
centre where I got to see the journalists frantically typing what we would read the next morning. Pat Murphy and Alec Stewart (England captain No 3) welcomed me to the BBC Radio Five Live studio and I listened as they spoke to the nation. The Test Match Special team were broadcasting next door so we popped in for a quick lesson on radio production. The fun didn’t finish there though as I was shown the Channel 4 studio and bumped into my fourth and final England captain, Mike Atherton.
What a great day, if only they could all be as much fun as this.
Report by Joss Hillary (Now Year 7 pupil at Colonel Frank Seely School)
