Sir,

I woke up on Sunday morning, July 12, to a weather forecast on the television, backed by a report on the computer, that the weather for Cardiff was not very good, with rain expected and cloud cover likely to give poor visibility. That's all you need for a cricket match... especially the test match taking place at the newly vamped Swalec Stadium.

My son, Gary, and I dithered a little - shall we go? Our dithering lasted about 10 minutes and it was the best 'go' we both have made.

The rain was hammering down, with visibility practically nil on the motorway, until we got about 20 miles from Cardiff, where the weather ahead looked fairly goodish and our hopes took an upturn. On the approach to the city, the sun showed its face and no sign of rain.

We got into the park and ride terminal (pre-arranged by the club), arrived at the ground in good time and got settled into our seats.

From getting off the bus, there were guides. On showing your ticket, you were guided to your entrance gate, from then on you were taken to your block, and when inside again directed to your seat.

If you were told to write a script for what was about to be played out over the last two days, you would have been told to bin it.

England had scored 435 all out on the second day, while over the next two days Australia made a total of 674 for 6 declared (in the period of play there were four players with centuries).

England had to do something special to draw the game. As in the first innings, the top five scored 56 runs between them, gloom set in, but the spectators thought otherwise, and what followed was beyond belief.

The players, with Collingwood guiding them through the remaining 48 overs, slowly but surely ground their way, over by over. Collingwood eventually went after spending six hours at the crease, with 10 overs still to go. With my binoculars, I followed him back in and I am sure I saw a tear. The whole crowd stood up, cheered and clapped him all the way up the stairs, with all the England players joining in.

Swann, although hammered a bit by the fast bowlers, played out to the last nine overs. Even then, the crowd cheered every stop made by the two last men, Monty Panersar and Jim Anderson, who held out for a magnificent draw. The singing, Mexican wave, samba, with the trumpeter blasting out, strangers hugging and cheering their heads off... the Australians had to listen to the song, 'It's all gone quiet over there!' It really was a great final day.

The management and the staff of the stadium are to be congratulated on the whole scenario. The organisation and spectator friendly facilities for all requirements were first class.

We have been to other test stadiums and the Sophia Gardens test arena is equal to them.

Mac McNelly,

Tenby.