GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 104
August 2011
Caption Competition
Yorkshire’s dismal County Championship season continued last week with defeat in the Roses match…it did not go down well with the locals. The home team used two handy ploys to try to defeat the dreaded enemy: one was to re-sign a world class batsman and the other was to field twelve men. Neither worked, although the latter very nearly did.
I toddled off bright and early to the North Stand to sit in glorious Yorkshire sunshine and watch a most unlikely game of cricket in which Yorkshire recovered from 45-8 in their first innings to actually make a game of it and end up only 23 runs short in the second. Yorkshire haven’t batted well or bowled well this year and so I was not especially optimistic. They gave a debut to a young man called Wardlaw (although at 26 he is not so young by modern standards) and brought back Rudolph who had left at the end of last season to return to South Africa so that: “his wife could continue her career”. How Mrs Rudolph has been doing in her chosen profession has not been revealed to the Headingley faithful, but in her husband’s absence Yorkshire’s batting has been dire. Sadly Rudolph’s Return didn’t work either and he made two modest scores.
The other ploy was to play 12 men. This is increasingly common these days – but it still strikes me as slightly odd. Bresnan was released from Lord’s and so came back into the team about half way through the match. Wardlaw thus bowled but didn’t bat while Bresnan batted at 11 and helped add 40 for the last wicket. He followed that up with 4-50 and could have had six or seven wickets. This is all, of course, agreed beforehand these days but it does seem strange. I fancy Lancashire might have felt just a little miffed had Tim from Pontefract won the game. He didn’t, but even with nine wickets down there was some hope since with the delightful perversity of reasoning that surrounds Yorkshire cricket, the No. 11 batsman was Pyrah…who had made a hundred in the first innings. But it was not to be – the Lancashire captain Chapple took five wickets and that was too good for my newly-adopted team. Chapple is, of course, a Yorkshireman, born in Skipton where, recently, was unveiled a statue of one of that elegant town’s most famous residents – Fredrick Seward Truman. I’m not sure the good burghers of Skipton will be funding a life-size bronze of Chapple too soon…unless it is to throw things at.
Yorkshire need Rudolph to start scoring runs quickly or we will have the likes of Gloucestershire and Glamorgan to look at…a truly dismal prospect. Meanwhile, high-flying Lancashire are on track for a notable double this year: the County Championship and the prize for the most ugly addition to a county ground. This newly-instated latter competition is much the harder to win, of course, and Googlies readers might like to venture their own favoured entry; there is a great deal of choice.
Another competition might be to designate the best Test innings of the season. It must be very upsetting for Lord Ray to find that Pietersen is the current favourite. I was at Lord’s on the first day and you James on the second and it would be difficult to think that KP could have made a more important and impressive contribution. Lord Ray, I recall, claims that the modest Pietermaritzburger doesn’t score runs when it is difficult or when England really need them. Well, it was very, very difficult on the first day and his runs were very, very important to England’s victory. So…I sense that some new justifications are being sought by our sagacious peer.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan updates us on the month’s matches
The Uxbridge wicket for the Championship game against Gloucestershire looked to be a little greener than many of the Uxbridge featherbeds of the past, but 20 year old Kiwi Test player Kane Williamson (deputising for Alex Gidman) sensibly chose to bat. Gloucestershire looked to be wobbling a little at 52 for 2 and though Chris Dent (61) and Chris Taylor (52 off 61 balls) batted well, they still looked a trifle wobbly at 183 for 5. However, Ian Cockbain at no 5, was batting like the solid opener that he is and he was joined by Will Gidman, younger brother of the missing captain, who played attractively for 52 off 70 balls in a stand of 112 for the sixth wicket, and then by Jon Lewis who hit a career best 71 off 79 balls in a stand of 97 for the eighth wicket before Cockbain fell for a career best 127. Gloucestershire went on to 459 for 9 before declaring early on day 3 after most of Tuesday’s play had been lost to the weather. Corey Collymore (4 for 80) was the best of the Middlesex bowlers, who were missing Finn, Berg and Roland-Jones, while Steve Crook picked up 3 for 101.
After the loss of Andrew Strauss in the first over, Chris Rogers soon emerged as the hero of the Middlesex batting and emphasised his status as the club's leading scorer. There were respectable stands with Sam Robson, Scott Newman, Neil Dexter and John Simpson, but it was unsatisfactory that i) no other batsman was able to go on beyond skipper Dexter’s 41; and ii) the team collapsed from 253 for 4 to 285 for 8 leaving them in dire danger of following on and losing the match. Fortunately, Tony Ireland, again looking a far better batsman than his record would suggest, stood firm until the follow on had been saved and Rogers had gone through to an excellent 148 with 17 fours and 2 sixes, but still Middlesex were out for 325, a deficit of 134. An astonishing incident occurred when Rogers was on 96: off-spinner Jack Taylor bowled him one just outside leg stump which Chris tried to glance and the ball ran down to (very) fine leg for four, whereupon umpire Neil Bainton signalled four runs and we all started to applaud Rogers's century, but then we noticed that Chris was in conversation with Bainton and was obviously telling him that he had not hit the ball, so Bainton changed his signal and Rogers had to wait for his hundred: this is totally unique in my experience of cricket at any level.
Gloucestershire were in some trouble at 65 for 4, with Tim Murtagh (3 for 28) enjoying better fortune than he had done in the first innings. Steve Crook collected two more wickets to become the highest wicket taker in the match with 5 (all batsmen in the top 6): he is expensive but explosive as he proved by detonating two stumps clean out of the ground, leaving a solitary pole standing, for both of the wickets he took on the last day. There were also two rare, but deserved, Championship wickets for left arm spinner Tom Smith. Williamson entertained us with a good looking 73 off 98 balls, but it was disappointing that with a substantial first innings lead and 80 overs left in the day, he felt that there was no chance of pushing on to victory, so the match drifted away just as the spectators were doing. Strauss Report: balls received: 7 (including one no ball); runs scored: 2; balls bowled: 6; runs conceded: 2; catches dropped at slip (out of 3): 3; verdict: useful defensive bowler, lower order batsman, third man and mid on. Middlesex 8 points, Gloucestershire 11.
When Rory Hamilton-Brown won the toss and asked Middlesex to bat in the Championship match at Guildford, it was clear that the visitors would be in for a struggle on a track that (like so many this season) would be helping the seamers. Middlesex quickly slipped to 51 for 4, but Chris Rogers (59) is a tough little scrapper and, on this occasion, he found a worthy partner in Jamie Dalrymple as they put on 101 for the fifth wicket. It has not always been possible to give Jamie a glowing write up in recent years, but on this occasion he thoroughly deserves all the panegyrics that come his way. With little support from the other end, he took Middlesex up to a competitive score of 308 all out (spread over two full days because of inclement weather) and his last wicket stand of 71 with Corey Collymore (Corey does not feature in many stands of 71) was totally dominated by Dalrymple as he decided to cut loose when he saw Collymore striding to the crease. Jamie finished with 122* with 16 fours and two sixes. Tim Linley was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 60.
It is hard to explain why Surrey should have capitulated for 117 all out in their first innings on day 3, so let's put it down to the brilliance of Tim Murtagh (5 for 30) and Collymore (4 for 28): an exceptional performance from a fine pair of fast-medium bowlers. Inevitably, Surrey did better in the follow on and their policy of attack was led by skipper RJHB with 62 off 67 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Yet still the hosts fell to 114 for 4, but then Zander de Bruyn was joined by Tom Maynard and some spectacular batting ensued in a partnership of 170 for the fifth wicket before De Bruyn fell for 82 (off 96 balls with 14 fours) shortly before the close. Dalrymple also deserves praise here as he came on to bowl when De Bruyn and Maynard were at the peak of their assault, yet managed to pick up 2 wickets for 25 runs in his 8 overs. However, Maynard continued to ride his luck on day 4 and went on to a magnificent 141 off 101 balls with 17 fours and 6 sixes and, finding a useful ally in Gareth Batty (34* off 41 balls), he managed to lift the total to 379, setting Middlesex 189 to win. Collymore often seems to be less effective in the second innings than he was in the first (Corey has taken more than twice as many first innings wickets as he has second innings wickets), but Murtagh was again the leading bowler with 5 for 98 and 10 for 128 in the match.
Middlesex were justified in adopting a cautious approach at the start of their second innings as there was still something in the pitch for the bowlers and there were 80 overs available to get the runs. However, Scott Newman was looking in good form and seemed sure to go on to a rare first class 50 when he departed for 39 (out of 63 for the first wicket with Sam Robson), the sort of score at which he often falls. De Bruyn (2 for 32) and Linley (2 for 50) were causing considerable trouble at this stage of the innings as Middlesex slumped to 84 for 3 and suffered a period of anxiety. However, Robson was playing extremely soundly and his partnership of 86 with captain Dexter (31) ensured that there would be no slip-ups. Robbo finished with an outstanding 94* containing 11 fours and a six as Middlesex cruised to victory by 6 wickets. Middlesex 22 points Surrey 3.
T20 Matters
Gloucester v Middlesex T20
Only Middlesex could concede the bulk of T20’s batting records to Gloucestershire. Marshall and O’Brien both scored hundreds and hit fifteen sixes between them. 254 for 3 was an awesome score and Middlesex decided to send out Stirling and Rossington with the task of scoring at nearly thirteen an over. Their combined age is under forty and although Stirling has a World Cup century under his belt he rarely gets it off the square for Middlesex. They quickly succumbed as did most of the rest of the side and Middlesex ignominiously lost a T20 match by over a hundred runs.
Somerset v Glamorgan T20
Glamorgan won the toss and it is hard to know how many they would have had to score to win. Perhaps if they had got as many as the feeble Gloucester line up got at Uxbridge it would have been interesting. In the event they got more than often seemed likely, 166 for 8, but this was woefully inadequate as Somerset won at a canter with three overs to spare. Trego opened and set the tone by hitting the first ball of the innings, bowled by the Welsh Wizard, out of the ground. When he went for thirty odd Banger took over and played sublimely. Kieswetter’s absence meant that Buttler kept wicket and there was room to include Meschede who somewhat surprisingly batted at three. However, all was revealed as he matched Banger for tempo and scored his 53 from 28 deliveries and hit four effortless sixes. Buttler came in with only a handful required but scored off each ball he faced and when the scores were level he struck an enormous six over extra cover. How this lot would play on a green surface or a turner who knows but at Taunton they look fabulous. Earlier Peterson had impressed briefly. I had not seen him bat before and he showed some real class until he was bowled, a la KP, by Kartik’s arm ball.
Essex v Middlesex T20
This was one of those occasions where things looked too good to be true from a Middlesex point of view but you just knew that that they would find a way to screw it up which, of course, they duly did. Dexter won the toss and put Essex in. They had a very strong batting line up and there had to be the very real chance that they would rack up an enormous score as Gloucester had done at Uxbridge. However, this wasn’t to be and by the time Owais had run himself out Essex were creaking at 22 for 3. This became 72 for 7 when Napier came in at the rather low position of number nine. Tom Smith had taken 2 for 14 in three overs and Dexter kept him on for his fourth. He decided bravely but foolishly to toss it up to Napier who hit three sixes out of 21 scored from the over. This finally got Essex going and although Napier went in the next over ten Doeschate and Phillips slogged it around and Essex finished on an almost respectable 139. This was more than enough for the miserable Middlesex side who reached 90 for 8 before McClaren and Smith closed on 131. Another example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Glamorgan v Somerset T20
Arul Suppiah is one of the unsung heroes of the Somerset side but in the game against the Indians he opened with well known local cider man, Andrew Strauss, and recorded a large century. Then, as an occasional and unthreatening slow left armer, in Wales he took 6 for 5 in 22 balls to record the best ever figures in the world history of 20/20 cricket. The previous best was Sohail Tanvir’s 6 for 14 in 2008. I saw Tim Murtagh in 2005 take six Middlesex wickets for 24 at Lord’s.
Lancashire v Leicestershire T20
Abdul Razzaq has now played for most counties at one time or another. His latest is Leicestershire and he arrived on the evening flight the night before this match and so met his new colleagues for the first time in the dressing room. Lancashire made a creditable 162 although I fail to see how their flimsy batting reaches a hundred in any of the competitions. Razzaq bowled a fairly lively spell which was economical until the last ball of the innings was despatched for six. Leicestershire’s reply was unconvincing and they collapsed to 99 for 6 with precious little time left. However, Razzaq stepped up to the plate in the way that Afridi used to. He scored 62 from 30 deliveries including five sixes to carry his side to an unlikely victory with a ball to spare.
Durham v Northants T20
Durham could only muster144 against a mediocre Northants attack. However, it was almost a hundred too many as only Niall O’Brien reached double figures in reply. Claydon took 3 for 6 but he was upstaged by Collingwood who took 5 for 6 including a hat trick. Northants were dismissed in twelve overs and five balls.
Essex v Glamorgan T20
Except for Middlesex it has been a season for bowlers in the T20 competition and it was Tim Southee in this match who took 6 for 16. Who would have thought that bowlers would be taking six wickets in a four over spell, on covered wickets?
Lord’s Matters
I hadn’t planned to go to any test matches this year but Shaun Saddington asked me if I could get any tickets and so when the Professor asked if I wanted any at one of our occasional editorial lunches I said I would have two for the first day. In due course the Professor received his allocation and sent me my tickets. I was a little surprised that they were for the second day but I contacted Shaun and told him I had a ticket for him. He said that he couldn’t make that day and so I offered it to Mike Hemple. Mike is the last bowler I took a catch off behind the wicket. This took place three years ago in my Trade Association’s annual charity match for Ben organised by Alan Flipper Seal at his old club, Dorridge. I hadn’t played for twenty five years but assumed, as one does, that I would still be able to play properly. In the event I think that I got off lightly with a twisted ankle, a pulled hamstring and a split lip. Since this event I have always resisted Mike Hemple’s suggestions that I turn out again on these occasions.
When I saw the Professor at the Googlies Hundred lunch he said to me that he supposed that the next time we would meet would be on the first day at Lords. I looked puzzled but said fine. When I got home I checked my ticket and found that it was for the second day. I contacted the Professor and he could only conclude that the ticket office had made a mistake and sent him two for consecutive days rather than four for the first day. I wished him a good day and thought that I had better contact Mike Hemple and ensure that his ticket was for a seat adjacent to mine on the second day. When he called back to confirm this he told me that he had recently played in this year’s Ben Charity match and cracked a rib and so wouldn’t be able to join me. However, he sent his brother, Paul, in his stead.
Paul, who I had not met before, joined me in the Mound Stand and we had an excellent day’s cricket and the forecast rain never materialised. Paul proved good company and an excellent ear for my usual bigoted ramblings. The only puzzle was why, with seven overs still to be bowled to catch up play lost on the first day, the players all trooped off at 7pm in brilliant sunlight. Professional cricketers will do anything to avoid playing cricket.
Oval Matters
The Great Jack Morgan is forced to go south of the river
After 9 days with no cricket worth watching at all (and in the middle of a 37 day famine with no Championship cricket at Lord's), it was a relief to get to the Oval for the Championship match between Surrey and Kent. Surrey chose to bat first, but were looking uncomfortable on 28 for 2 when the hero of the hour, Zander de Bruyn, strode to the wicket to take charge. Skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown helped him to add 60 for the third wicket (RJHB made 34, but the official scorecard had him out for 2, awarding the 34 to Ramprakash) and there were useful stands with Steve Davies and Tom Maynard, but no partner hinted at permanence until Gareth Batty joined Zander at 239 for 6. De Bruyn was in great form and Batty played his part in a stand of 135 for the seventh wicket before Gareth fell for 65 off 107 balls. The innings then subsided from 374 for 6 to 387 all out with Zander eighth out for 179 off 200 balls with 25 fours. The pitch appeared to be giving some assistance to the seamers, so it was strange that five of the home wickets fell to Kent's part-time spinners Martin van Jaarsfeld (2 for 33) and Joe Denly (3 for 71).
The Surrey total took on huge proportions, however, as Tim Linley (3 for 52) and Stuart Meaker (3 for 67) reduced Kent to 87 for 6, before Geraint Jones was joined by 22 year old Alex Blake. Initially, Jones looked the more composed of the two as Blake used the outside edge more than is recommended, but gradually Blake took charge and beat Jones to 50 as the pair added an impressive 138 for the seventh wicket before Jones fell for 61 with the score on 225. Kent then folded for 250 all out with Blake last man out, running himself out (attempting to retain the strike from last man Ashley Shaw) for an excellent 96 off 126 balls with 16 fours and a six. Surrey had a lead of 137, but did not bat very well in their second innings. De Bruyn again looked at home, so it was a surprise to see him depart for 27, while Davies looked in top form in making 39 from 44 balls, but it needed a last wicket stand of 36 by Chris Tremlett and Linley, which turned out to be absolutely crucial, to take Surrey up to 184 all out and to set Kent 322 to win. The unexpected stars of the Kent attack were David Balcombe, unable to get a game at Hampshire despite their poor form, who bowled admirably to take 5 for 63 (and 7 for 143 in the match) and Joe Denly, suddenly looking like an accomplished leg-spinner, who took 3 for 43 to finish with 6 for 114 in the match, easily a career best.
It was always going to be tough for Kent to chase that many in the fourth innings, but they, or rather skipper Rob Key, made a spirited attempt to get the runs. Key batted magnificently, but received scant support from his team-mates. Apart from Van Jaarsfeld (35), who helped to add 109 for the third wicket, it was a solo effort from Key. He put the visitors in with a genuine chance of victory, but when he was ninth out, early on day 4, for 162 with 16 fours and a six, the game was up, Kent were all out for 300 and Surrey had won by 21 runs. Surrey's heroes were Linley (4 for 48 and 7 for 100 in the match) and Batty (4 for 71 and 6 for 124 in the match), but mention should also be made of 20 year old slow left armer Zafar Ansari (from Hampton School and Cambridge University) who picked up his first two Championship wickets (for 49 in 21 overs) in the second innings of his debut. Are Surrey the first county to play two men whose first name begins with Z in a Championship match? Surrey 21 points Kent 5.
Coleman Matters
Jeff Coleman makes his debut in these pages
I felt a bit of a fraud at the Googlies Centenary Lunch for not having previously contributed. Here is something to rectify that, if you are happy to include it. Sitting at Radlett for four days watching the seconds demolish Glamorgan in the SET and the SEC and while checking current scores in the press. I started to come up with a side currently playing championship cricket comprised of players who have slipped out of the Middlesex exit door. This during a week when both Compton and Godleman made good hundreds for their new counties. In turn this led me to consider whether the club’s man management abilities have been the best over the last ten years or so. Here is the side I selected. It is balanced, contains only one overseas player, is a little short on pace but having the groundsman prepare a flat, dusty, grass free track I would back them to give our current eleven a run for their money.
Godleman
Compton
Shah
Ramprakash
Joyce
Trego
Scott
Kartik or Vaas depending on the wicket
Wright
Richardson
Rankin
12th man Whelan
A mention of the cricket at Radlett. Dan Housego top scored in all three innings achieving a total of 277 for once out. At the time of writing his second eleven performances this season show a T20 average of 94 at a strike rate of 120 (oddly he did not get a chance in the very unsuccessful main T20 side), an SET average of 60 and an SEC average 97. Let’s hope he is not another who slips away.
You may recall that Jeff sponsors Dan’s kit........
Hart/Wright Matters
The recent contributions from Steve Wright and Bill Hart have provoked further comment:
First from Arthur Gates
I came into a very inexperienced Bush side at the same time as Dave Jukes and he played many valuable innings but you never really knew which Dave was going to bat, whereas Terry Cordaroy was the best opening bat that I played against, never giving his wicket away and playing classical and elegant strokes.
My early memories of playing against South Hampstead were the stentorian tones of Mr Wallis announcing himself on the ground and then playing against him, Bob Peach, Len Stubbs and Terry in what was a very good side. I don’t know how we fared against South Hampstead in the late sixties and early seventies, no doubt Bill will inform us, but I know that the experience of playing sides like them stood the young players in good stead.
And then from Allen Bruton
I understand that two speakers have already been booked for the next South Hampstead Dinner. W.Hart Esq. will propose the guests, response by S.Wright Esq. (Shepherds Bush C.C.). Early booking is advised. Recent correspondence from the aforementioned gentlemen illustrates what a great game club cricket is when memories are evoked, passions aroused and team mates defended some 35/40 years after the actual events. My own recollection is that David Jukes and Terry Cordaroy each contributed enormously to the London club cricket scene in their individual ways.
Revier Matters
Jim Revier has been a regular correspondent this month
Email 1
In this morning's Independent there is a photograph of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann hitting a lorry tyre with a mallet as part of a “strengthening exercise ". In the background other players appear to be performing on a gym bench. I understand also from Stephen Brenkley's accompanying piece that Broad narrowly avoided injury after stumbling over a medicine ball during "fielding practice”. Broad, of course, was already doubtful to play because of injury. Who dreams all this up? I note that Sri Lanka won the game by 9 wickets. Perhaps they had a net rather than go the England route.
Of course this could never have happened in my days at the Bush. The only exercise taken before a game was to push the sightscreen into position. This only happened if one was stupid enough to arrive at the ground too early. Otherwise a fag or a pint before a game was preparation enough. One or two of the larger lads such as Ron Read, Keith Wetherall, Johnny Darbon or Alf Langley may well have got some pleasure out of bashing a tyre with a mallet, but the mere thought of the likes of Geoff Cleaver or Jack Barrett performing the same task is too awful to contemplate.
Email 2
Chocolate Hatters Matters.
The usual problems have surfaced. There is a lack of consistency in the batting, which Ramps’ past excellence has covered up. Now that the great man is averaging a mere 48 following his late start to the season following his injury (acquired playing football), the rest of the batting has failed to rise to Adams' expectations. What with the annoying demotion of the promising Jason Roy to accommodate a rare appearance by the PPS, frustration has been the word. The bowling, which was always going to be a problem in my opinion, has lived up to my low expectations.
Email 3
The debacle at Guildford surely backs up my recent missives. Maynard and De Bruyn, I have to admit, have been useful signings, but the bats so rarely gel together and at Guildford there was no gel at all in the first innings. Latest bowling averages:
Surrey
Linley 37 at 21
Meaker 27 at 23
Dernbach 17 at 39
Tremlett 6 at 51
Arafat 10 at 69
Middlesex
Murtagh 50 at 19
Finn 20 at 21
Berg 16 at 24
R-Jones 15 at 24
Collymore 31 at 24
This shows why Middlesex may go up and Surrey will not.
Well I hope all the new Rangers signings have excited you. This is building up to be the most traumatic season since 1968/9. The Ecclestone statement at the weekend was a disgrace and an insult to Colin. The old saying was “The only two certainties in life are death and taxes”. Here's two more – “Warnock will always rate as a very good if not great manager in most Rangers supporters eyes and Bernie Ecclestone will always be a midget”.
Russell Bowes
Robin Ager sent me the following tribute to Russell Bowes who died in July
Russell, born in Bradford and brought up in Birmingham, came to London in his mid-twenties and joined South Hampstead in 1965. He was at the club for five years, and the records show that, during that time, bowling off breaks from a very short run, he took 264 wickets for 4644 runs in 1577 overs. His tally of 736 runs probably did him less than justice: like many lower order batsmen, he rarely had the chance to play a long innings. These figures exclude his efforts for the Wednesday side, for which, as a sales rep in those pre-mobile phone days (and before he had his own business) he would often find himself available. He also played for Teddington, Shepperton and Turnham Green, where he was captain in 1972. He was an enthusiastic member of the MCC and the Forty Club, and played his last games in his sixties.
So much for the playing record. But it would be quite wrong to judge Russell purely in statistical terms. He believed that being a member of a club did not just mean making yourself available for selection at the weekend: it also entailed helping to make the wheels go round. In the South Hampstead Centenary booklet of 1975, Jim Sharp paid tribute to Russell’s pioneering efforts to set up a weekly discotheque to enliven the winter evenings at the club. He was also a conscientious Catering Manager, a task he took on with his usual “can do” attitude. Later, he served on the Sussex CCC committee, and was pleased to start on a coaching course quite late in life: I’m not sure if he finished it, or if he actually coached anybody.
Russell was interested, and participated, in a wide range of sports: he was a useful footballer, with whom I played for the Polytechnic in the Southern Amateur League, and he played golf regularly. When he moved to Sussex he took up new interests: riding to hounds and, latterly, Real Tennis. But I believe his real passion was for cricket, and he will have been delighted that his two sons and his daughter have followed him in this respect.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer some five years ago and, despite the debilitating effects of the disease, maintained an air of optimism (or perhaps it was Yorkshire stubbornness) until the end. As far as I know, his last “public” outing was to attend the South Hampstead dinner in April this year. I hope, and believe, that he enjoyed the occasion.
Dingbat Matters
The Great Jack Morgan is upset again
Fun with The Cricketer: it is not often that I am found hooting with laughter at the C, but that Neil Dexter is such a card! Asked: "How many County Championship wooden spoons have Middlesex and Surrey won between them?" Neil considered carefully and thought the answer might be... I hope you are sitting down when you read this... 36! Good one Neil... only 36 out! So when supporters were desperate that we should avoid the wooden spoon last season for the first time in our history, our captain did not realise the humiliation we were about to suffer and (presumably) could not give a stuff! How could such an astonishingly clueless moron become the captain of our great club? I think we should introduce an intelligence test for all captaincy candidates in order that we can veto obvious loonies so that they do not publicly humiliate us... or at least so that we can ban them from speaking to the media. This was a total embarrassment.
Football Matters
I recently found myself in the privileged position of special access to Andrew Baker’s Ladies Team’s training ground. Andrew was putting potential new recruits through their paces. As one would expect it was a rigorous session and Andrew had his full staff with him. In this picture he is seen with two of his top scouts Jill Jones and Sarah Rowley.
It was a hot summer day and the ladies got a real sweat up as they were put through their paces. After much deliberation they decided to offer contracts to the following:
Googlies and Chinamen
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James Sharp
Broad Lee House
Combs
High Peak
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Tel & fax: 01298 70237
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An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 104
August 2011
Caption Competition
- Andrew Strauss: Have you heard lads? Zaheer Khan is out for the series.
- Duncan Fletcher: Where is Geraint Jones?
- Sam Allardyce: Do you tall blokes fancy a game at Upton Park?
- Andy Gray: Just wait till you get women umpires.
- David Cameron: Hi guys, is this a Community Project?
Yorkshire’s dismal County Championship season continued last week with defeat in the Roses match…it did not go down well with the locals. The home team used two handy ploys to try to defeat the dreaded enemy: one was to re-sign a world class batsman and the other was to field twelve men. Neither worked, although the latter very nearly did.
I toddled off bright and early to the North Stand to sit in glorious Yorkshire sunshine and watch a most unlikely game of cricket in which Yorkshire recovered from 45-8 in their first innings to actually make a game of it and end up only 23 runs short in the second. Yorkshire haven’t batted well or bowled well this year and so I was not especially optimistic. They gave a debut to a young man called Wardlaw (although at 26 he is not so young by modern standards) and brought back Rudolph who had left at the end of last season to return to South Africa so that: “his wife could continue her career”. How Mrs Rudolph has been doing in her chosen profession has not been revealed to the Headingley faithful, but in her husband’s absence Yorkshire’s batting has been dire. Sadly Rudolph’s Return didn’t work either and he made two modest scores.
The other ploy was to play 12 men. This is increasingly common these days – but it still strikes me as slightly odd. Bresnan was released from Lord’s and so came back into the team about half way through the match. Wardlaw thus bowled but didn’t bat while Bresnan batted at 11 and helped add 40 for the last wicket. He followed that up with 4-50 and could have had six or seven wickets. This is all, of course, agreed beforehand these days but it does seem strange. I fancy Lancashire might have felt just a little miffed had Tim from Pontefract won the game. He didn’t, but even with nine wickets down there was some hope since with the delightful perversity of reasoning that surrounds Yorkshire cricket, the No. 11 batsman was Pyrah…who had made a hundred in the first innings. But it was not to be – the Lancashire captain Chapple took five wickets and that was too good for my newly-adopted team. Chapple is, of course, a Yorkshireman, born in Skipton where, recently, was unveiled a statue of one of that elegant town’s most famous residents – Fredrick Seward Truman. I’m not sure the good burghers of Skipton will be funding a life-size bronze of Chapple too soon…unless it is to throw things at.
Yorkshire need Rudolph to start scoring runs quickly or we will have the likes of Gloucestershire and Glamorgan to look at…a truly dismal prospect. Meanwhile, high-flying Lancashire are on track for a notable double this year: the County Championship and the prize for the most ugly addition to a county ground. This newly-instated latter competition is much the harder to win, of course, and Googlies readers might like to venture their own favoured entry; there is a great deal of choice.
Another competition might be to designate the best Test innings of the season. It must be very upsetting for Lord Ray to find that Pietersen is the current favourite. I was at Lord’s on the first day and you James on the second and it would be difficult to think that KP could have made a more important and impressive contribution. Lord Ray, I recall, claims that the modest Pietermaritzburger doesn’t score runs when it is difficult or when England really need them. Well, it was very, very difficult on the first day and his runs were very, very important to England’s victory. So…I sense that some new justifications are being sought by our sagacious peer.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan updates us on the month’s matches
The Uxbridge wicket for the Championship game against Gloucestershire looked to be a little greener than many of the Uxbridge featherbeds of the past, but 20 year old Kiwi Test player Kane Williamson (deputising for Alex Gidman) sensibly chose to bat. Gloucestershire looked to be wobbling a little at 52 for 2 and though Chris Dent (61) and Chris Taylor (52 off 61 balls) batted well, they still looked a trifle wobbly at 183 for 5. However, Ian Cockbain at no 5, was batting like the solid opener that he is and he was joined by Will Gidman, younger brother of the missing captain, who played attractively for 52 off 70 balls in a stand of 112 for the sixth wicket, and then by Jon Lewis who hit a career best 71 off 79 balls in a stand of 97 for the eighth wicket before Cockbain fell for a career best 127. Gloucestershire went on to 459 for 9 before declaring early on day 3 after most of Tuesday’s play had been lost to the weather. Corey Collymore (4 for 80) was the best of the Middlesex bowlers, who were missing Finn, Berg and Roland-Jones, while Steve Crook picked up 3 for 101.
After the loss of Andrew Strauss in the first over, Chris Rogers soon emerged as the hero of the Middlesex batting and emphasised his status as the club's leading scorer. There were respectable stands with Sam Robson, Scott Newman, Neil Dexter and John Simpson, but it was unsatisfactory that i) no other batsman was able to go on beyond skipper Dexter’s 41; and ii) the team collapsed from 253 for 4 to 285 for 8 leaving them in dire danger of following on and losing the match. Fortunately, Tony Ireland, again looking a far better batsman than his record would suggest, stood firm until the follow on had been saved and Rogers had gone through to an excellent 148 with 17 fours and 2 sixes, but still Middlesex were out for 325, a deficit of 134. An astonishing incident occurred when Rogers was on 96: off-spinner Jack Taylor bowled him one just outside leg stump which Chris tried to glance and the ball ran down to (very) fine leg for four, whereupon umpire Neil Bainton signalled four runs and we all started to applaud Rogers's century, but then we noticed that Chris was in conversation with Bainton and was obviously telling him that he had not hit the ball, so Bainton changed his signal and Rogers had to wait for his hundred: this is totally unique in my experience of cricket at any level.
Gloucestershire were in some trouble at 65 for 4, with Tim Murtagh (3 for 28) enjoying better fortune than he had done in the first innings. Steve Crook collected two more wickets to become the highest wicket taker in the match with 5 (all batsmen in the top 6): he is expensive but explosive as he proved by detonating two stumps clean out of the ground, leaving a solitary pole standing, for both of the wickets he took on the last day. There were also two rare, but deserved, Championship wickets for left arm spinner Tom Smith. Williamson entertained us with a good looking 73 off 98 balls, but it was disappointing that with a substantial first innings lead and 80 overs left in the day, he felt that there was no chance of pushing on to victory, so the match drifted away just as the spectators were doing. Strauss Report: balls received: 7 (including one no ball); runs scored: 2; balls bowled: 6; runs conceded: 2; catches dropped at slip (out of 3): 3; verdict: useful defensive bowler, lower order batsman, third man and mid on. Middlesex 8 points, Gloucestershire 11.
When Rory Hamilton-Brown won the toss and asked Middlesex to bat in the Championship match at Guildford, it was clear that the visitors would be in for a struggle on a track that (like so many this season) would be helping the seamers. Middlesex quickly slipped to 51 for 4, but Chris Rogers (59) is a tough little scrapper and, on this occasion, he found a worthy partner in Jamie Dalrymple as they put on 101 for the fifth wicket. It has not always been possible to give Jamie a glowing write up in recent years, but on this occasion he thoroughly deserves all the panegyrics that come his way. With little support from the other end, he took Middlesex up to a competitive score of 308 all out (spread over two full days because of inclement weather) and his last wicket stand of 71 with Corey Collymore (Corey does not feature in many stands of 71) was totally dominated by Dalrymple as he decided to cut loose when he saw Collymore striding to the crease. Jamie finished with 122* with 16 fours and two sixes. Tim Linley was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 60.
It is hard to explain why Surrey should have capitulated for 117 all out in their first innings on day 3, so let's put it down to the brilliance of Tim Murtagh (5 for 30) and Collymore (4 for 28): an exceptional performance from a fine pair of fast-medium bowlers. Inevitably, Surrey did better in the follow on and their policy of attack was led by skipper RJHB with 62 off 67 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Yet still the hosts fell to 114 for 4, but then Zander de Bruyn was joined by Tom Maynard and some spectacular batting ensued in a partnership of 170 for the fifth wicket before De Bruyn fell for 82 (off 96 balls with 14 fours) shortly before the close. Dalrymple also deserves praise here as he came on to bowl when De Bruyn and Maynard were at the peak of their assault, yet managed to pick up 2 wickets for 25 runs in his 8 overs. However, Maynard continued to ride his luck on day 4 and went on to a magnificent 141 off 101 balls with 17 fours and 6 sixes and, finding a useful ally in Gareth Batty (34* off 41 balls), he managed to lift the total to 379, setting Middlesex 189 to win. Collymore often seems to be less effective in the second innings than he was in the first (Corey has taken more than twice as many first innings wickets as he has second innings wickets), but Murtagh was again the leading bowler with 5 for 98 and 10 for 128 in the match.
Middlesex were justified in adopting a cautious approach at the start of their second innings as there was still something in the pitch for the bowlers and there were 80 overs available to get the runs. However, Scott Newman was looking in good form and seemed sure to go on to a rare first class 50 when he departed for 39 (out of 63 for the first wicket with Sam Robson), the sort of score at which he often falls. De Bruyn (2 for 32) and Linley (2 for 50) were causing considerable trouble at this stage of the innings as Middlesex slumped to 84 for 3 and suffered a period of anxiety. However, Robson was playing extremely soundly and his partnership of 86 with captain Dexter (31) ensured that there would be no slip-ups. Robbo finished with an outstanding 94* containing 11 fours and a six as Middlesex cruised to victory by 6 wickets. Middlesex 22 points Surrey 3.
T20 Matters
Gloucester v Middlesex T20
Only Middlesex could concede the bulk of T20’s batting records to Gloucestershire. Marshall and O’Brien both scored hundreds and hit fifteen sixes between them. 254 for 3 was an awesome score and Middlesex decided to send out Stirling and Rossington with the task of scoring at nearly thirteen an over. Their combined age is under forty and although Stirling has a World Cup century under his belt he rarely gets it off the square for Middlesex. They quickly succumbed as did most of the rest of the side and Middlesex ignominiously lost a T20 match by over a hundred runs.
Somerset v Glamorgan T20
Glamorgan won the toss and it is hard to know how many they would have had to score to win. Perhaps if they had got as many as the feeble Gloucester line up got at Uxbridge it would have been interesting. In the event they got more than often seemed likely, 166 for 8, but this was woefully inadequate as Somerset won at a canter with three overs to spare. Trego opened and set the tone by hitting the first ball of the innings, bowled by the Welsh Wizard, out of the ground. When he went for thirty odd Banger took over and played sublimely. Kieswetter’s absence meant that Buttler kept wicket and there was room to include Meschede who somewhat surprisingly batted at three. However, all was revealed as he matched Banger for tempo and scored his 53 from 28 deliveries and hit four effortless sixes. Buttler came in with only a handful required but scored off each ball he faced and when the scores were level he struck an enormous six over extra cover. How this lot would play on a green surface or a turner who knows but at Taunton they look fabulous. Earlier Peterson had impressed briefly. I had not seen him bat before and he showed some real class until he was bowled, a la KP, by Kartik’s arm ball.
Essex v Middlesex T20
This was one of those occasions where things looked too good to be true from a Middlesex point of view but you just knew that that they would find a way to screw it up which, of course, they duly did. Dexter won the toss and put Essex in. They had a very strong batting line up and there had to be the very real chance that they would rack up an enormous score as Gloucester had done at Uxbridge. However, this wasn’t to be and by the time Owais had run himself out Essex were creaking at 22 for 3. This became 72 for 7 when Napier came in at the rather low position of number nine. Tom Smith had taken 2 for 14 in three overs and Dexter kept him on for his fourth. He decided bravely but foolishly to toss it up to Napier who hit three sixes out of 21 scored from the over. This finally got Essex going and although Napier went in the next over ten Doeschate and Phillips slogged it around and Essex finished on an almost respectable 139. This was more than enough for the miserable Middlesex side who reached 90 for 8 before McClaren and Smith closed on 131. Another example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Glamorgan v Somerset T20
Arul Suppiah is one of the unsung heroes of the Somerset side but in the game against the Indians he opened with well known local cider man, Andrew Strauss, and recorded a large century. Then, as an occasional and unthreatening slow left armer, in Wales he took 6 for 5 in 22 balls to record the best ever figures in the world history of 20/20 cricket. The previous best was Sohail Tanvir’s 6 for 14 in 2008. I saw Tim Murtagh in 2005 take six Middlesex wickets for 24 at Lord’s.
Lancashire v Leicestershire T20
Abdul Razzaq has now played for most counties at one time or another. His latest is Leicestershire and he arrived on the evening flight the night before this match and so met his new colleagues for the first time in the dressing room. Lancashire made a creditable 162 although I fail to see how their flimsy batting reaches a hundred in any of the competitions. Razzaq bowled a fairly lively spell which was economical until the last ball of the innings was despatched for six. Leicestershire’s reply was unconvincing and they collapsed to 99 for 6 with precious little time left. However, Razzaq stepped up to the plate in the way that Afridi used to. He scored 62 from 30 deliveries including five sixes to carry his side to an unlikely victory with a ball to spare.
Durham v Northants T20
Durham could only muster144 against a mediocre Northants attack. However, it was almost a hundred too many as only Niall O’Brien reached double figures in reply. Claydon took 3 for 6 but he was upstaged by Collingwood who took 5 for 6 including a hat trick. Northants were dismissed in twelve overs and five balls.
Essex v Glamorgan T20
Except for Middlesex it has been a season for bowlers in the T20 competition and it was Tim Southee in this match who took 6 for 16. Who would have thought that bowlers would be taking six wickets in a four over spell, on covered wickets?
Lord’s Matters
I hadn’t planned to go to any test matches this year but Shaun Saddington asked me if I could get any tickets and so when the Professor asked if I wanted any at one of our occasional editorial lunches I said I would have two for the first day. In due course the Professor received his allocation and sent me my tickets. I was a little surprised that they were for the second day but I contacted Shaun and told him I had a ticket for him. He said that he couldn’t make that day and so I offered it to Mike Hemple. Mike is the last bowler I took a catch off behind the wicket. This took place three years ago in my Trade Association’s annual charity match for Ben organised by Alan Flipper Seal at his old club, Dorridge. I hadn’t played for twenty five years but assumed, as one does, that I would still be able to play properly. In the event I think that I got off lightly with a twisted ankle, a pulled hamstring and a split lip. Since this event I have always resisted Mike Hemple’s suggestions that I turn out again on these occasions.
When I saw the Professor at the Googlies Hundred lunch he said to me that he supposed that the next time we would meet would be on the first day at Lords. I looked puzzled but said fine. When I got home I checked my ticket and found that it was for the second day. I contacted the Professor and he could only conclude that the ticket office had made a mistake and sent him two for consecutive days rather than four for the first day. I wished him a good day and thought that I had better contact Mike Hemple and ensure that his ticket was for a seat adjacent to mine on the second day. When he called back to confirm this he told me that he had recently played in this year’s Ben Charity match and cracked a rib and so wouldn’t be able to join me. However, he sent his brother, Paul, in his stead.
Paul, who I had not met before, joined me in the Mound Stand and we had an excellent day’s cricket and the forecast rain never materialised. Paul proved good company and an excellent ear for my usual bigoted ramblings. The only puzzle was why, with seven overs still to be bowled to catch up play lost on the first day, the players all trooped off at 7pm in brilliant sunlight. Professional cricketers will do anything to avoid playing cricket.
Oval Matters
The Great Jack Morgan is forced to go south of the river
After 9 days with no cricket worth watching at all (and in the middle of a 37 day famine with no Championship cricket at Lord's), it was a relief to get to the Oval for the Championship match between Surrey and Kent. Surrey chose to bat first, but were looking uncomfortable on 28 for 2 when the hero of the hour, Zander de Bruyn, strode to the wicket to take charge. Skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown helped him to add 60 for the third wicket (RJHB made 34, but the official scorecard had him out for 2, awarding the 34 to Ramprakash) and there were useful stands with Steve Davies and Tom Maynard, but no partner hinted at permanence until Gareth Batty joined Zander at 239 for 6. De Bruyn was in great form and Batty played his part in a stand of 135 for the seventh wicket before Gareth fell for 65 off 107 balls. The innings then subsided from 374 for 6 to 387 all out with Zander eighth out for 179 off 200 balls with 25 fours. The pitch appeared to be giving some assistance to the seamers, so it was strange that five of the home wickets fell to Kent's part-time spinners Martin van Jaarsfeld (2 for 33) and Joe Denly (3 for 71).
The Surrey total took on huge proportions, however, as Tim Linley (3 for 52) and Stuart Meaker (3 for 67) reduced Kent to 87 for 6, before Geraint Jones was joined by 22 year old Alex Blake. Initially, Jones looked the more composed of the two as Blake used the outside edge more than is recommended, but gradually Blake took charge and beat Jones to 50 as the pair added an impressive 138 for the seventh wicket before Jones fell for 61 with the score on 225. Kent then folded for 250 all out with Blake last man out, running himself out (attempting to retain the strike from last man Ashley Shaw) for an excellent 96 off 126 balls with 16 fours and a six. Surrey had a lead of 137, but did not bat very well in their second innings. De Bruyn again looked at home, so it was a surprise to see him depart for 27, while Davies looked in top form in making 39 from 44 balls, but it needed a last wicket stand of 36 by Chris Tremlett and Linley, which turned out to be absolutely crucial, to take Surrey up to 184 all out and to set Kent 322 to win. The unexpected stars of the Kent attack were David Balcombe, unable to get a game at Hampshire despite their poor form, who bowled admirably to take 5 for 63 (and 7 for 143 in the match) and Joe Denly, suddenly looking like an accomplished leg-spinner, who took 3 for 43 to finish with 6 for 114 in the match, easily a career best.
It was always going to be tough for Kent to chase that many in the fourth innings, but they, or rather skipper Rob Key, made a spirited attempt to get the runs. Key batted magnificently, but received scant support from his team-mates. Apart from Van Jaarsfeld (35), who helped to add 109 for the third wicket, it was a solo effort from Key. He put the visitors in with a genuine chance of victory, but when he was ninth out, early on day 4, for 162 with 16 fours and a six, the game was up, Kent were all out for 300 and Surrey had won by 21 runs. Surrey's heroes were Linley (4 for 48 and 7 for 100 in the match) and Batty (4 for 71 and 6 for 124 in the match), but mention should also be made of 20 year old slow left armer Zafar Ansari (from Hampton School and Cambridge University) who picked up his first two Championship wickets (for 49 in 21 overs) in the second innings of his debut. Are Surrey the first county to play two men whose first name begins with Z in a Championship match? Surrey 21 points Kent 5.
Coleman Matters
Jeff Coleman makes his debut in these pages
I felt a bit of a fraud at the Googlies Centenary Lunch for not having previously contributed. Here is something to rectify that, if you are happy to include it. Sitting at Radlett for four days watching the seconds demolish Glamorgan in the SET and the SEC and while checking current scores in the press. I started to come up with a side currently playing championship cricket comprised of players who have slipped out of the Middlesex exit door. This during a week when both Compton and Godleman made good hundreds for their new counties. In turn this led me to consider whether the club’s man management abilities have been the best over the last ten years or so. Here is the side I selected. It is balanced, contains only one overseas player, is a little short on pace but having the groundsman prepare a flat, dusty, grass free track I would back them to give our current eleven a run for their money.
Godleman
Compton
Shah
Ramprakash
Joyce
Trego
Scott
Kartik or Vaas depending on the wicket
Wright
Richardson
Rankin
12th man Whelan
A mention of the cricket at Radlett. Dan Housego top scored in all three innings achieving a total of 277 for once out. At the time of writing his second eleven performances this season show a T20 average of 94 at a strike rate of 120 (oddly he did not get a chance in the very unsuccessful main T20 side), an SET average of 60 and an SEC average 97. Let’s hope he is not another who slips away.
You may recall that Jeff sponsors Dan’s kit........
Hart/Wright Matters
The recent contributions from Steve Wright and Bill Hart have provoked further comment:
First from Arthur Gates
I came into a very inexperienced Bush side at the same time as Dave Jukes and he played many valuable innings but you never really knew which Dave was going to bat, whereas Terry Cordaroy was the best opening bat that I played against, never giving his wicket away and playing classical and elegant strokes.
My early memories of playing against South Hampstead were the stentorian tones of Mr Wallis announcing himself on the ground and then playing against him, Bob Peach, Len Stubbs and Terry in what was a very good side. I don’t know how we fared against South Hampstead in the late sixties and early seventies, no doubt Bill will inform us, but I know that the experience of playing sides like them stood the young players in good stead.
And then from Allen Bruton
I understand that two speakers have already been booked for the next South Hampstead Dinner. W.Hart Esq. will propose the guests, response by S.Wright Esq. (Shepherds Bush C.C.). Early booking is advised. Recent correspondence from the aforementioned gentlemen illustrates what a great game club cricket is when memories are evoked, passions aroused and team mates defended some 35/40 years after the actual events. My own recollection is that David Jukes and Terry Cordaroy each contributed enormously to the London club cricket scene in their individual ways.
Revier Matters
Jim Revier has been a regular correspondent this month
Email 1
In this morning's Independent there is a photograph of Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann hitting a lorry tyre with a mallet as part of a “strengthening exercise ". In the background other players appear to be performing on a gym bench. I understand also from Stephen Brenkley's accompanying piece that Broad narrowly avoided injury after stumbling over a medicine ball during "fielding practice”. Broad, of course, was already doubtful to play because of injury. Who dreams all this up? I note that Sri Lanka won the game by 9 wickets. Perhaps they had a net rather than go the England route.
Of course this could never have happened in my days at the Bush. The only exercise taken before a game was to push the sightscreen into position. This only happened if one was stupid enough to arrive at the ground too early. Otherwise a fag or a pint before a game was preparation enough. One or two of the larger lads such as Ron Read, Keith Wetherall, Johnny Darbon or Alf Langley may well have got some pleasure out of bashing a tyre with a mallet, but the mere thought of the likes of Geoff Cleaver or Jack Barrett performing the same task is too awful to contemplate.
Email 2
Chocolate Hatters Matters.
The usual problems have surfaced. There is a lack of consistency in the batting, which Ramps’ past excellence has covered up. Now that the great man is averaging a mere 48 following his late start to the season following his injury (acquired playing football), the rest of the batting has failed to rise to Adams' expectations. What with the annoying demotion of the promising Jason Roy to accommodate a rare appearance by the PPS, frustration has been the word. The bowling, which was always going to be a problem in my opinion, has lived up to my low expectations.
Email 3
The debacle at Guildford surely backs up my recent missives. Maynard and De Bruyn, I have to admit, have been useful signings, but the bats so rarely gel together and at Guildford there was no gel at all in the first innings. Latest bowling averages:
Surrey
Linley 37 at 21
Meaker 27 at 23
Dernbach 17 at 39
Tremlett 6 at 51
Arafat 10 at 69
Middlesex
Murtagh 50 at 19
Finn 20 at 21
Berg 16 at 24
R-Jones 15 at 24
Collymore 31 at 24
This shows why Middlesex may go up and Surrey will not.
Well I hope all the new Rangers signings have excited you. This is building up to be the most traumatic season since 1968/9. The Ecclestone statement at the weekend was a disgrace and an insult to Colin. The old saying was “The only two certainties in life are death and taxes”. Here's two more – “Warnock will always rate as a very good if not great manager in most Rangers supporters eyes and Bernie Ecclestone will always be a midget”.
Russell Bowes
Robin Ager sent me the following tribute to Russell Bowes who died in July
Russell, born in Bradford and brought up in Birmingham, came to London in his mid-twenties and joined South Hampstead in 1965. He was at the club for five years, and the records show that, during that time, bowling off breaks from a very short run, he took 264 wickets for 4644 runs in 1577 overs. His tally of 736 runs probably did him less than justice: like many lower order batsmen, he rarely had the chance to play a long innings. These figures exclude his efforts for the Wednesday side, for which, as a sales rep in those pre-mobile phone days (and before he had his own business) he would often find himself available. He also played for Teddington, Shepperton and Turnham Green, where he was captain in 1972. He was an enthusiastic member of the MCC and the Forty Club, and played his last games in his sixties.
So much for the playing record. But it would be quite wrong to judge Russell purely in statistical terms. He believed that being a member of a club did not just mean making yourself available for selection at the weekend: it also entailed helping to make the wheels go round. In the South Hampstead Centenary booklet of 1975, Jim Sharp paid tribute to Russell’s pioneering efforts to set up a weekly discotheque to enliven the winter evenings at the club. He was also a conscientious Catering Manager, a task he took on with his usual “can do” attitude. Later, he served on the Sussex CCC committee, and was pleased to start on a coaching course quite late in life: I’m not sure if he finished it, or if he actually coached anybody.
Russell was interested, and participated, in a wide range of sports: he was a useful footballer, with whom I played for the Polytechnic in the Southern Amateur League, and he played golf regularly. When he moved to Sussex he took up new interests: riding to hounds and, latterly, Real Tennis. But I believe his real passion was for cricket, and he will have been delighted that his two sons and his daughter have followed him in this respect.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer some five years ago and, despite the debilitating effects of the disease, maintained an air of optimism (or perhaps it was Yorkshire stubbornness) until the end. As far as I know, his last “public” outing was to attend the South Hampstead dinner in April this year. I hope, and believe, that he enjoyed the occasion.
Dingbat Matters
The Great Jack Morgan is upset again
Fun with The Cricketer: it is not often that I am found hooting with laughter at the C, but that Neil Dexter is such a card! Asked: "How many County Championship wooden spoons have Middlesex and Surrey won between them?" Neil considered carefully and thought the answer might be... I hope you are sitting down when you read this... 36! Good one Neil... only 36 out! So when supporters were desperate that we should avoid the wooden spoon last season for the first time in our history, our captain did not realise the humiliation we were about to suffer and (presumably) could not give a stuff! How could such an astonishingly clueless moron become the captain of our great club? I think we should introduce an intelligence test for all captaincy candidates in order that we can veto obvious loonies so that they do not publicly humiliate us... or at least so that we can ban them from speaking to the media. This was a total embarrassment.
Football Matters
I recently found myself in the privileged position of special access to Andrew Baker’s Ladies Team’s training ground. Andrew was putting potential new recruits through their paces. As one would expect it was a rigorous session and Andrew had his full staff with him. In this picture he is seen with two of his top scouts Jill Jones and Sarah Rowley.
It was a hot summer day and the ladies got a real sweat up as they were put through their paces. After much deliberation they decided to offer contracts to the following:
Googlies and Chinamen
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Broad Lee House
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