Well, That Was A Slow Cricket Week

And I wasn’t even in the country

Last weekend I was on holiday so was not going to be playing cricket. Usually this would not hold me back from doing a blog write up, as I have only a very passing interest in accurately recording what happened, so I was going to look at the result of the game and then make up a load of cobblers. This is what I usually do so no worries there. However, it was a very wet weekend so there was no cricket on offer at all. So, instead, you will get the story of my return from holiday.

We finished our holiday in Amsterdam, staying in a hotel on a lake just outside the city. By bike, you can get from this rural setting, with cows, people riding horses and ducks quacking to the centre of Amsterdam, with all the canals, narrow but surprisingly tall buildings and soft drugs you could wish for, in just half an hour. As a proper grown up person and bona fide ‘Dad’ I am no longer interested in such things when I go to Amsterdam of course. My interest in manmade water ways and architecture long being left behind due to my grown up responsibilities. However, all holidays must end and thoughts turn homeward bound.

13 Hours on the road. Amsterdam to Bournemouth in one day.

This does sound like a long time on the road but was surprisingly easy. First up, you have to miss rush hour times around cities, so we had good traffic for most of the journey in Europe; the Rotterdam ring road was a bit of a bugger but other than that fairly smooth. Going past Rotterdam also reminded me of one of the poetic roads in the world – the A13, from Rotterdam to The Hague.

‘If you ever have go to Den Haag, take the A road, the okay road that’s the best, go motorin’ on the A13’

For fans of Billy Bragg, or Essex, or songs about roads……

We did break our journey for a couple of hours in Gent, which allowed us to stretch our legs, have a spot of lunch and marvel at the medieval architecture (ok I know that looking at architecture is a filthy habit that I said I had given up when becoming a parent, but Gent is mainlining pure impressive buildings). It even has my favourite ever post office…….

OK, its not a post office anymore but the fact it once was cheers me up for some ineffable reason 

We also had a look around a church, as they tend to be peaceful and relaxing, with catholic churches also tending to be stuffed full of impressive art. This church managed to really impress though. Because as well as the above it also had a car in it.

And on Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem driving a Mk3 Ford Cortina 

 Why? No idea, probably a relic from the time of Christ brought back to Flanders during the crusades, or something. But it’s fairly bonkers, even for Catholics.  

Then, after worshipping at the shrine of the holy hotrod, back on the road to the short trip to Calais. This holiday was the first time in years that I have done serious driving in Europe and I’ve got to say a SatNav makes it so much easier. Not for general route planning but for dealing with motorway junctions that I always found difficult negotiating in the past. Modern technology is sometimes very useful.

Then another rest of an hour or two on the ferry, calm seas and a sunset of numinous beauty.

The sun setting in the channel

Although, I must say the ferry from Cherbourg to Poole is my preferred route from France to England. As, even though it takes longer, I get to sit in the café on the boat and listen to northerners swap stories about how long it will take them to drive home after getting off the ferry. ‘It will take me 9 hours to drive to Manchester’. ‘That’s nothing wor lad, it will take me 13 hours to drive to Newcassle…..’ All the while smuggling thinking ‘I will be in my kitchen drinking tea within half an hour of driving off the ferry’. What edifying soul raising beauty could compete with such glorious schadenfreude?

Then onto the final leg of the journey, driving in England. No Sat Nav needed. A20, M20, M26, M25, M3, M27, A31, A338. The poetry of these letters and numbers sings to the (possibly quite large) part of my soul that is on the spectrum. Although it seems most of the Southern English motorway network seems to be locked down to a 50mph speed limit. I did not let this dampen my mood though, as we were travelling quite late in the evening so there was not too much traffic and we kept rolling along. I also kept myself surprisingly cheerful at the amazing fuel economy that I was getting at driving at 50mph in sixth gear. Ah, Dad times indeed……………

At one point the road network tried to throw me a hairy scrote by closing the junction between the M25 and M3 but a quick bit of finagling the A and B roads to the north and west of Woking saw me back on the M3 in less than 15 minutes – begone mighty demon SatNav, I do not need your guidance here, I can forge my own path for myself and my family.

And so we drove on, being cheered up by the 'Welcome To Bournemouth' sign as we rolled into town. My family and I really like this sign, I think because we used to live in North London. Which meant any journey home involved the North Circular near its end with the inevitable 'Did you witness this murder?, if so please contact the police' sign as we were getting close to home, it just didn't give the same chilled vibes. We pulled up at Chez Worsdale just after midnight, a mere 13 hours after setting out. A couple of days rest is now due before the final game of the season on Saturday, where did the summer go?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bugger me, a Win!

For which I claim full credit

Lymington won the toss and elected to bat – textbook. The Winton Oval (The home of cricket™), as an uncovered pitch can be changeable to bat on. If there has been rain it can be slow and sticky and a bit of a sod to bat on. However, if there has been a lot of sun in the preceding days it can get hard and true and be a good batting pitch. It had indeed been sunny, so that, combined with its small boundaries and the fact that the council had given the outfield a haircut in the recent past meant it should be a high scoring game. Lymington did indeed getting a decent score of 214. The question on peoples mind at the changeover was exactly how decent was it? Their captain, who opened, scored 105 and carried his bat – a true captains innings. Winton only managed to take 5 wickets though, one of them in the last over, with so many wickets in hand could Lymington have pushed harder? Although I suspect Chris Tollerfield (their captain) was torn between pushing on the scoring and worrying that his batting line up might all fall apart if he had gone. As a bowling unit Winton did well, in parts it looked like it was hard work with runs flowing but overall they stuck at it, cutting out the to regular bad balls that we have bowled in the past, to keep the score down.

So, could Winton chase the target down? As we have said, it looked like a high scoring pitch so it was do able, but we needed someone to actually do it. Or more than one, which our team has struggled with this season. Lymington started off well. One of their bowlers – Trevor Phillips – looking particularly dangerous. Although it is fair to describe him as more towards the ‘veteran’ end of the experience spectrum, his experience held him in good stead, with bowling that was accurate, fast enough and moved just enough to be a danger. Any regular reader to this blog will know that I know more or less sod all about cricket really. However, this is a situation in which I feel able to comment, with openers facing a moving ball just outside the off stump. I was watching this thinking ‘nah, just leave it’ plenty of opportunities to get runs elsewhere. Both the No. 2 and 3 bats went down in short order though. Nicking off chasing outside off stump. Callum Syndeham did better, mainly scoring off the bowler at the other end. He did get one rare bad ball of off Phillips though, too short that he cracked through midwicket. The next ball was spot on though, but he still tried to swing at it, with the ball smacking into the top of off. A lively 31 scored. He was batting well though and I can’t help feeling he could have gotten a far higher score with a bit of patience and better shot selection.

So, bats 4 and 5 were in, could they steady the ship and see it home? Well yes, without too many problems. Both scoring at faster than a run a ball, Sargon Worsdale getting 63 and Murali Vemuri scoring 45. By the time they both fell (in fairly quick succession) the game was more or less safe. The winning runs coming with the father and son team of the Tekelis at the crease together, which is always lovely. Trevor Phillips, although on the losing side, turned in impressive bowling figures of 8/1/26/5.

The more observant reader may know be pondering the question of just how I can claim credit for this win when I wasn’t even playing – fair question. Well, the story goes back to the fact that a couple of weeks ago my boy agreed to start playing for the 2s rather than the development side. The 2s game this week had been cancelled (opponents pulled), so on Friday evening I asked if he wanted to play for the Development Team (instead of me). He said no, I think because he didn’t want to bump me from the team. So the next morning I asked again to which he said that he would like to play but didn’t think it was fair for him to take my place. I agreed with him that yes, playing cricket on Saturdays is something that I enjoy, but him being happy is something I enjoy even more so him playing instead of me would make me happy, so he then agreed to play. He then said ‘I love you dad’ and gave me a big hug. OK, he is a teenage boy so that last bit didn’t happen. Indeed whenever I try and give him a hug now he says ‘get off, that’s weird, leave me alone’. However, he did say thank you and I think I saw a flicker of appreciation in his eyes, so that’s enough he me. So I can claim credit for the win based on this, as Worsdale junior is a definite upgrade on Worsdale senior, with his runs being central to the victory. 

 

A picture not of the Winton Team Captain, not raising a flag of victory over the pavilion at the Winton Oval

Game Scorecard

Elsewhere, Winton 3s continued their progress at the top of the table. Following them  Bournemouth 4s also won with their top order batters in tip top form, Victoria Pack knocking a century in fine style, 130 from 105 balls and carrying her bat. In the important clash between third and forth Parley 3s overcame Mudeford 2s to put them in pole position for third, the last promotion place being theirs to lose. Mudeford and Godshill still have an outside chance, needing to win their last two games and hoping for a slip up.

 

 

 

I’ll Tell You What I Want, What I Really Really Want

 

I’ll Tell You What I Want, What I Really Really Want

A cream scone and a lovely cup of tea, ta

Just what is it that you want to do? We wanna be free, to eat the lovely little sandwiches cut into triangles, and we wanna get loaded with cake, and we wanna have a good time, and that’s what we are gunna do, we’re gunna have a good time, we’re gunna have a cricket tea.

Funky bottomed groovster

Turn down the medium pace, turn up the bass.

Early 90s Techno

If you are a youngster and have no idea what I'm going on about, ask your mum.

So, where was I? Ah yes cricket, why do you play it? What’s it for? I mean, what’s the point of it? Even at Hampshire League, South West Division 6 it takes up the thick end of a Saturday and for what, where do you get the pleasure? Well, not where people that do not play cricket imagine. When I mention to other people at the club that last weekend I would be playing an away game against Beaulieu three things were mentioned

1.      It's a beautiful ground, a lovely setting for a game

2.     They put on a really nice cricket tea

3.      At some point, a game of cricket may break out

And for me this is my order of priority. If I am going to be spending hours on a summer’s day doing this stuff I want it to be a good setting. Football is by far a more popular sport in England, and the equivalent at this level would be Sunday morning footy, in some non descript public park, probably in the rain. Don’t get me wrong, I love football, my first sporting love and loyalty is to the Arsenal, but the experience of playing football at an amateur level would not ever get me out of bed. Whereas the setting of Beaulieu Cricket Club on a summers day is of sublime beauty which exults the soul. Even with no sport, just a picnic, couple of drinks and friendly people it would be a lovely and relaxing way to spend a day. In this setting cricket is an optional extra.

View from the Pavilion

View towards the Pavilion

But on this day a picnic was not needed. As Beaulieu is one of the few clubs in the league that still put on a tea. And the thing is, it does not have to be mental overboard, some sandwiches, cake and scones, a few pots of tea and I am as happy as a pig in truffles. The ‘cricket tea’ is a strange but wonderful sporting icon, which was destroyed by Covid. It was common before 2020 but after the coming back to life of social activity after the lockdowns it was a casualty, not many clubs do it anymore, especially at low levels. The conflicts about this at Cricket Club AGMs were played out across the country, with the ‘no tea’ brigade winning conflict after vote. Ah well, the modern world eh? That’s progress. Or entropy, sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference.

The simple beauty of a cricket tea

Oh yes, a game of cricket did indeed break out. Sadly I have lost the pleasure of playing with my boy. He seems to have now decided to play with the 2s, which is sad for me, as spending the day playing sport with him has been a true pleasure. But he is far better suited to playing at a higher level, and his team won and he did well, so all good. On the plus side, as I was driving to the game on my own so got to choose the music and I was in a Ministry type mood – the mind is indeed a terrible thing to taste. But Jesus Built my Hotrod is probably the greatest piece of music to drive a car to fast down the A31 ever written, which I thoroughly enjoyed; Listen Get This…….

Ah ding ding dang ah dang along ling long

We lost the toss and got put into the field. And our openers started well, taking a couple of wickets and keeping the scoring rate down to about 3 an over. Then their number 3 and 4 had a bit of a stand. Jithin Abraham especially doing the business. Anything short or over pitched he sent. By 20 overs they were up to 91 and accelerating. We stuck in though, took the wickets that were needed and managed to bowl them all out for 160 of 35 overs and were feeling confident at the midway point. This was misplaced……..

It turns out the pitch was a lot harder to bat on than it looked. It wasn’t fast but was sticky and the ball just did not come through, it was very difficult to get away. This is not to blame the conditions though – they were the same for both sides. I also want to praise the bowling of Kevin Ammanamthatta. An orthodox left armer, he bowled accurately, fired it through with decent pace and a tweak on it to make it move just enough. He took 4 wickets of 8 overs for 15 runs, very well bowled. All of Beaulieu’s bowlers did well though. I would not call them particularly dangerous, but they all put the ball in the ball in the right place and let the slightly awkward wicket do the work. Well bowled. I think the deciding factor in the game was our bowlers put in too many short balls, that their No.4 bat Jithin put away, fair play. On the plus side, it was a good day and enjoyable game against pleasant opponents. Winning would have been good but did I mention the clotted cream and jam scones?    

Match Scorecard

 

 

 

It’s the Business End of the Season

And things are getting exciting up top

With yet another win, Winton 3s are more or less confirmed for promotion. Bournemouth 4 in second are only just ahead of the chasing pack but with their remaining fixtures should be nailed on, they are in ‘only themselves to blame’ territory if they do not close out promotion.

The most exciting fixture for the coming weekend though is third v fourth, Parley 3s V Mudeford 2s. They are very close points wise so this game will be important, the team winning will be feeling confident in their chances of promotion. It will not be decisive though. Parley still have to play Lyndhurst who still nurse their own hopes of promotion, so they will have to beat Parley. Mudeford still have to play Winton 3s, the standout team in the league this season, so not an easy game. Godshill in 5th also have an easier run in, if they can win the remaining three on the spin they can have high hope of securing that promotion, exciting times all round……..

League Table

 

I Ask From Cricket What Others Ask From Their Gods – Joy and Forgetfulness

And I even get to have a pint after……..

The forgetfulness is provided because playing cricket is absorbing enough that I forget other stresses and worries in life, while I do not care enough about the result to get stressed if I lose. Don’t get me wrong, these are first world worries, I am not consumed by fear of my house being bomb or my children being killed. But hey, my stresses can get to me (as I am sure yours can you), so it is nice to spend a few hours (not really) worrying about a game of cricket, I find it relaxes me. The freude I will get to later.  But first the big question. If you have a god, is she / he / it / they the type of god to get a round in after a game of cricket? And if not, why would you be worshipping them in the first place?

Winton club house 18.30 on a Saturday evening 

Have not managed to play for a couple of weeks; not injured, my finely honed athletic body is in tip top condition, I have been busy doing things, with, for and to my family at the weekends, now it is the proper summer. But this weekend I managed to get a game in, at home against Lyndhurst and Ashurst 2s. I am told that they are celebrating their 250 year anniversary as a club this year,  which makes them older than the USA which is kind of cool, although I believe they control less nuclear weapons.

They won the toss and put us in to bat. Initially their opening bowling was a little wayward before tightening up. After the first couple of overs it was the best opening bowling I had faced in this league. It was fast enough but most of all it was accurate, top of off or just outside, nothing that I could throw my hands through. But we were doing ok and had got to 40 for no loss of off 11 overs. OK, good game write up there, best just leave it there and walk away…….

Sod it, 45 / 4 from twelve. A bit of a collapse. Dave Baugley led a recovery scoring 55, with some support from others. Again though, we were back to one person batting well to get us to a decent score. Would be good if we had two or more do that. We managed to get to 146/8. On the plus side another game where we were not bowled out, on the down side, less  than 150 is not really anywhere near enough at the Winton Oval (the home of cricket™).

Or so I thought…… First over, 1 wicket down, second over 2 down after 8 balls. Hope starts to rise, is the fight back on? Er no. Mahamed Alli came in and hit a few, 82 of 63 balls and batted very well. Got to say though, we made it easy for him. The bowling while good in parts, included far to many easy balls, too short to be pulled away, over pitched to drive through, to wide for the bat to throw their arms through. The total was chased down far to quickly. Ah well. Even then though, we did experience some joy.

Bugger me, I caught a catch!

Yeah I know, I’m just as surprised as you, and my team mates. Was not an easy one either, it was hit over me and to my left as I was fielding at mid off. I had to turn and run as it dropped down beyond me and I had to take it on the run. I was happy and celebrated, as did the rest of my team mates. Alfred the bowler though came running over and leapt several feet in the air. After a good start to his bowling he had taken a bit of a battering, which can be hard but he stuck with it and deserved his reward.

So, a bot of a lose again. The team needs to tighten up and not let heads drop if things start to go against us. This I feel is a learning curve for the youngster as they play in adult cricket, sometimes a battering will happen, need to stick through it.  

Match Scorecard 

How’s the rest of the league going?

Top of the league is hutting up, with four games left. I think Winton 3s is now clear, they can safely lose two of their four games and still be safe. Bournemouth 4s  I think are safe, they do not have very much breathing room but their remaining four games are against weaker teams, so they should be safe. For the remaining place, Parley and Mudeford are a win ahead of Godshill and Lyndhurst. It is going to be nip and tuck though. Parley have to play Mudeford and Lyndhurst so could very well drop points. Mudeford have to play Winton 3s as well so not an easy run in. Lyndhust have to play Parley and Winton 3s, so their fate is in their own hands but it will be a challenge. Out of the 4, Godshill have by far the easiest run in nd could spin out four wins on the trot, if they do they have a good chance of the final promotion spot. It will be interesting to see.

League Table