It’s a busy time in the Trent Bridge offices at the moment as we roll-out our Friends Provident t20 fixtures whilst preparing for Thursday’s NatWest Series One Day International against Bangladesh and the visit of Pakistan for the First npower Test from Thursday 29th July.
With domestic and international cricket either side of our community and development department’s success in setting the benchmark with a new world record, England’s exit from the FIFA World Cup has done little to dampen spirits.
External media coverage is a key component in our on-going mission to establish and maintain the credentials of out team and venue and we pride ourselves on offering good access to both. Indeed, Sky Sports News presenter Rob Dorsett wasn’t satisfied when I told him that he couldn’t interview Alex Hales last week because he was going to Alton Towers so three phone calls later, Rob had arranged free access and queue-jump passes on the proviso that he could follow the Hales and co round all day.
Aside from Luke Fletcher being kicked off the Ripsaw (he wasn’t misbehaving, his shoulders were too big for the safety restraint) the day passed without incident until Rob, now halfway back to Sky HQ, took a call from Hales who had left his car keys in the camera bag.
My lack of cricket knowledge was exposed once again last week when I asked Mick why Monty wasn’t playing for Northants. “Because he play’s for Sussex you idiot,” came the unequivocal reply.
We all make mistakes though as Mick proved when he got invited to Steven Mullaney’s World Cup barbeque. Mick marched into the house, took his shoes off and was about to put his beers in the fridge when he asked the stranger in the kitchen where Mull was. A vacant stare and a reply of ‘who’ led Mick to realise that he’d actually barged into the neighbour’s house.
Michael Temple is Nottinghamshire's Media & Communications Manager