There’s no doubt that the Trent Bridge Test match against India last summer generated some of the most amazing atmosphere and how fitting that Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad should play a starring role by taking the ground’s first-ever Test hat-trick.
Tickets are now available for the 2012 international matches, with Trent Bridge staging a full compliment – a Test and a Twenty20 International against the West Indies and an ODI against South Africa.
The West Indies visit in the first part of the English summer and are scheduled to face England in the Second Investec Test Match at Trent Bridge in May.
There should be plenty of local interest. Apart from Broad, county team-mate Graeme Swann is likely to be involved for England, with Darren Bravo, who played for Notts towards the end of the last county season, destined to be amongst the opposition ranks.
Trent Bridge has been a happy hunting ground for the West Indies cricket side over the years, with the tourists still able to claim an unbeaten record in first class matches in Nottingham.
In our look back at their previous visits we’ve seen how they drew their first three county matches against Nottinghamshire, with games here in 1906, 1923 and 1928.
By the time of the next West Indian cricket tour to the British Isles they had been able to celebrate a couple of Test match victories, one at home to an under-strength England (who also had a side out in New Zealand at the same time) and one in Australia – although that series was won 4-1 by the hosts.
There was plenty of controversy at the start of that tour, with the hosts putting the seven white members of the West Indian party in one Sydney hotel – with the other eleven black members of the squad put in another.
Understandably, complaints were made and the Australian Board successfully persuaded their Government to remove this blatant discrimination
The 1933 English summer began in the aftermath of more controversy, arriving straight after the Bodyline series, ‘Down Under’, with Nottinghamshire duo Harold Larwood and Bill Voce at the very epi-centre of the discord.
Here for the entire summer, the 1933 West Indians had a thirty match programme of fixtures to play, including three Test matches.
Although Trent Bridge had been used as a Test match venue since 1899 it still wasn’t given one of the West Indies matches, with those fixtures allotted to Lord’s, Old Trafford and the Kennington Oval instead.
Nottingham again had to make do with just a county match, scheduled for early July. Despite it being the height of the summer rain sadly intervened to prevent a positive outcome and leave the match drawn – the fourth straight occasion when the fixture had ended with honours even.
The contest did provide one outstanding individual performance to reflect upon though. Fast bowler Manny Martindale, from Barbados, had been creating quite an impression as he made his way around the circuit.
When he’d played against Essex, at the County Ground, Leyton, he had been too hot to handle and had collected figures of 8-32 from just 15.3 overs as the county side were blown away for just 86.
Martindale’s early season form had impressed sufficiently for the selectors to award him his international debut in the opening Test of the summer and he picked up four England wickets, beginning with that of Herbert Sutcliffe.
High on confidence, he maintained his form at Nottingham in devastating fashion. George Headley’s 66 had helped the visitors to 314 on the first day of the match. Rain showers then frequently disrupted the reply, although they became more preferable than facing the pacy Martindale, who ended with figures of 29.2-9-66-8.
During the Second Test match, at Old Trafford, the West Indian duo of Martindale and Learie Constantine tried to give England a taste of their own ‘Bodyline’ medicine – bowling quick, short-pitched deliveries around the wicket and aimed at the rib-cage area but the hosts were able to withstand the onslaught as the match finished in a draw.
Astonishingly, Manny Martindale went on to take 103 first class wickets on the tour, at an average of 20.98. He played in 25 of the 30 matches and his haul included eight five-wicket or better performances.
Tour batting honours went to another Barbadian, George Headley. In 23 matches he scored 2,320 first class runs, at 66.28, with 7 centuries and a top score of 224 not out.
8,10,11 July 1933
West Indians 314 (Headley 66) and 6-0
Notts 273 (Walker 70, Martindale 8-66)
Match Drawn
The full details of the match can be found here.
Manny Martindale was the first in a long line of West Indian quicks to make their mark in matches at Trent Bridge and as we build up towards the 2012 season we’ll look at many more of the leading lights from their conveyor belt of pace bowlers.
International Hospitality At Trent Bridge
In 2012, England will play three matches at Trent Bridge and our hospitality guests will have the best seats in the house. Limited capacity remains for all days of play with shared facilities and private boxes ready to host you and your guests. Click here for details and pricing.
Match Tickets On Sale Now
England v West Indies - Investec Test at Trent Bridge
England face West Indies in an Investec Test Match at Trent Bridge from Friday 25 May - Tuesday 29 May. Adult tickets cost £35-£50, all under 21s tickets cost £20, under 16s tickets cost £10 (£8 for day four) and family tickets cost £80 (2 adults, 2 under 16s).
Click here to buy tickets using our secure online payment system or call 0844 8118711.
England v West Indies - Natwest International Twenty20 at Trent Bridge
England face West Indies in a Natwest International Twenty20 at Trent Bridge at 2.30pm on Sunday 24 June. Adult tickets cost £25-£45, all under 21s tickets cost £20, under 16s tickets cost £10 and family tickets cost £60 (2 adults, 2 under 16s).
Click here to buy tickets using our secure online payment system or call 0844 8118711.
To book hospitality for either fixture, call 0844 8118712.
Dave Bracegirdle is a broadcaster, sports writer and author who provides ball-by-ball commentary of all of Nottinghamshire's LV= County Championship matches.