A day of contrasts yesterday and the calm before the storm of the Euro Football Final came in the form of a visit to the sanctuary of Kent`s cricket headquarters at Canterbury.  There had been reports that the whole of the county`s first team had been isolated following a positive Covid test among one of its players.  So, with not much time before the County Championship game against Sussex was due to start, Kent had to field a team made up of second eleven players, augmented by others from leading clubs within the county.  No less than five new county caps were awarded before the start of play.

As a result of all that, the game didn`t get under weigh until 12.00noon and Kent having won the toss and elected to field, we sat there beyond the boundary at deep backward square leg, and expected the worst.   But Kent`s scratch team did really well and dismissed their neighbouring county side for 181 which included debut bowling figures for 18-year old Jas Singh of four Sussex wickets for 51.

Kent`s reply began well enough but understandably subsided a bit against a strong Sussex attack and ended the day on 69-5.   Another thoroughly enjoyable day at the cricket though - lovely weather, entertaining  play and a good crowd.  I was struck by the contrast between the four day game and the razzamatazz of the T20.   Yesterday there was no deafening music when a boundary was struck or a wicket taken - just polite, gentle applause which all added to the sense of calm and reassurance that it is possible to go to a sporting event and genuinely enjoy the occasion for what it is.

Yesterday was the start of Canterbury Cricket Week - the oldest `festival` of its kind in the country if not the world.  It has been going since 1842 and has been played at the St. Lawrence Ground since 1847.  Normally such weeks become alive with an array of marquees for the various clubs and societies that support Kent cricket and associated activities and entertainments take place around the ground, none more compelling than the famed `ladies hat competition` during the tea interval when the dowagers of the county compete for who might have the most fetching fascinator.  Sadly, this year the pandemic has meant that none of that has been possible.

I suspect that Canterbury divides opinion between those who might still be coming to terms with the death of King Edward V11 and others who might see it as a theme park for vaguely distracted gentlefolk.   Others still, perhaps myself  included, may be seduced by the surroundings and the understated grandeur of the setting, not least the decorous pavilion and the assortment of stands named after Kent heroes of days gone by - Woolley, Ames, Cowdrey, Underwood and Knott. 

As for me, I looked upon yesterday as an escape from all the hullabaloo, the non-stop noise and hype in anticipation of the Euro Final later that day and perhaps also an escape from the madness surrounding the pandemic and, more especially, the political insanity that surrounds it. 

When I began writing this piece I had intended to provide some contrast between my day at the cricket and the evening`s collective emotional extremes but in the end the almost mysticism of Canterbury took over, so at the risk of disappointing you or maybe even providing a sigh of relief I will leave it at that.  If I can face it I may return to the more frantic world of football once the dust has settled a bit. Oh, and by the way, today`s play at Canterbury is `delayed` by heavy and persistent overnight rain.   Dame Fortune may be smiling on Kent after all?