by Ian Oxborrow
THE grass has come off the wicket, so let’s watch some cricket.
Welcome cricket fans, sun worshippers, lovers of Castle Park and anyone else wise enough to be making the trip to Colchester’s annual cricket festival.
I will be giving you an insight into the goings on surrounding festival week, whether it be incidents on the pitch, around the pitch or even above the pitch.
However, knowing the English weather, which has been in full force this summer, we may have to do one almighty rain dance prior to the big start on Wednesday.
So, if you think dancing the tango or macarena may help, then get out on the streets and give it your best - we want to see some action out in the middle.
Castle Park has been fortunate compared to many areas of the country, where cricket has been impossible.
The New Road ground at Worcester resembled the Atlantic Ocean and is still drying out now - months after the great flood.
But the groundsmen at Castle Park are on guard - ready to fend off any freak tsunamis breaking out on the adjacent River Colne.
Essex still have everything to play for in the LV County Championship and the sight of Colchester’s own Graham Napier hitting balls into the High Street and on to Cowdray Avenue is a spectacle we crave.
Message to captain Mark Pettini: pick him in your side and give us something to smile about because we all need cheering up after the summer from hell.