Guilty Summer Pleasures

It was Twenty20 finals day today. For the last few years I've happened to be away on some event for this weekend so this is the first chance I've had to witness the finals since its status has transformed from a bit of fun to possibly the most prestigious tournament of the year. I can well imagine that the players and administrators at the counties feel that way, even if they wouldn't admit to it publicly! It was also the deciding stage in the Tour de France. Would Cadel Evans, as expected, overhaul the lead of Carlos Sastre in the time-trial? It was a day of guilty summer pleasures, then, and a nod back to my childhood: a glorious summer's day to be spent mostly inside watching sport on the television.

Forty years ago it was the Test Match in black and white, with just one camera, the sound turned down with the radio commentary on. Now it is with Sky and countless camera angles and technology to support the action. Some of the players are even fitted with mikes. I'm not nostalgic for the old days. I've completely embraced the new and I absolutely love it. Cricket is just about the only thing that will keep me inside or in my seat on a beautiful day - although I did go cycle a fairly quick 25 miles to Burnsall and back before it started so that I wouldn't be pining for the great outdoors too much. It seemed a bit of a shame to be turning back for home at Burnsall, with the whole of the Dales beckoning, but I wasn't feeling very zippy. It could be the best cycling weekend (in terms of weather) of the whole year and I've gone and stuffed my legs!

So, I embraced a relaxing day and thoroughly enjoyed the cricket, culminating in a classic final where Middlesex beat Kent on the very last ball of the tournament. It was cricket at its very best, lots for the purists to enjoy as well as loads of twists and turns in the plot to keep everybody entertained. I feel very grateful to have fallen in love with this sport at an early age and been captivated by it all my life. And I'm very happy that No.1 son feels the same - and, in his case, fortunately, with the talent to actually play the game at a reasonable level. He finally got a chance to bowl for the 2nd XI today and picked up three good wickets. He was so happy to be able to come through the door and tell me about it. He had said not to bother come watch because he didn't expect to get a bat or a bowl.

The time-trial was great viewing. I've been a fan of Evans for some years now but after the Alpe d'Huez stage I switched my allegiance to Sastre. He has a far stronger team behind him, but the tactics, the desire and the application he showed on that climb were amazing. With the time-trial coming he had no idea how much time he would need to gain, but he laid it on the line and took as much as he could get. He gave himself a shot, albeit quite a long one, and it paid off today. From the first time check, at which point he had only surrendered a handful of seconds, it was clear that this was to be his day. Quite simply, deep down where it hurts, he wanted it more than anybody else. Fantastic to have witnessed.