GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 71
November 2008
Caption Competition
1. Peg Leg: I’m looking forward to getting back to the nets. I play my best cricket there.
Peg Leg: Leave it to me, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Out and About with the Professor
A couple of weeks’ ago my wife and I went to have a look round a place called Harewood House. This is a nearby stately pile which is home to the Lascelles family, a charming bunch who made their fortunes out of slavery in the 18th Century and opium in the 19th. In the Music Room we fell into conversation with the volunteer guide, a Mrs Susan Sharpe, who was very well versed on the life of the second Earl of Harewood and associated matters. For some reason we started talking about the commercial uses that the House had been put to, including weddings. Weddings were, it seemed, an important source of revenue, and indeed Mrs S had just recently been to a "cricket wedding".
"Oh really...a "cricket wedding"...what was that?"
"Well", said Mrs S. "have you heard of a cricketer called Len Hutton?"
We established that we had.
"Well it was his grandson's wedding, and we were invited."
We then established that I had also heard of Ben and indeed father Richard, and was fairly interested in cricket matters in general.
"Oh", she said, "then you might have heard of my husband, Phil Sharpe".
Yet more confirmations followed together with expressions of interest, when the offer was made, in meeting up with Phil and chatting about the noble game. “Well”, said Susan (we were on first name terms by now), “Phil is making up a table for a dinner at Headingley…would you like to come?”
Of all the questions I’ve had to confront in my life this was among the least challenging, and so last week my wife and I went to what turned out to be the inaugural dinner of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players Association. And all the old boys were there!
The event was organised by Brian Stott who played in the late 1950’s/early 60’s and compered by Mike Cowan, a very funny man, who played in the same era and opened the bowling with Fred Trueman (“we ‘ad to carry ‘im…’e were rubbish”). In addition to Phil, I met Brian Close, Dickie Bird, John Hampshire, Don Wilson, Mike Cope, and several others that I didn’t recognise or whose names I have forgotten. I had a wonderful time…it was like being 10 years’ old again brandishing my autograph book. Every time I looked round there was a famous face from the past. The Sharpes know everybody and so when I wasn’t eating or drinking, I was shaking hands – you would have loved it.
Don Wilson gave a long and rambling, but very well received, speech
(“That’s shortened the winter a bit”…Cowan again) but looks a very poorly man. All the others were in varying degrees of decrepitude – Dickie Bird is worried about his blood pressure (which seems only fair) – excepting Hampshire who looks little different from his playing days. There were two very good comics; one being an impressionist. His take-off of Dickie brought tears to the latter’s eyes (not hard to do) and presumably exacerbated the medical condition.
All-in-all, a pretty good do.
There will be another dinner next year and I can’t wait. My wife enjoyed it as well…or so she said.
More Yorkshire Matters The Great Jack Morgan changes allegiances, at least for the last match of the season Yorkshire are in dire danger of relegation and probably need to win their last match at Hove (I am still hoping to see some of the match) to survive, yet their captain cannot be bothered to turn out. What a disgrace. Will this depress the young Yorkies or will they decide to show the sad old bastard that they never needed him anyway? Selvey wrote a ridiculously sycophantic eulogy about the over-the-hill warhorse without the hint of criticism about his failure to take the helm at Hove and guide the lads to safety: another disgrace. Vaughan has also dropped out, but he wouldn't have made selection anyway. How inspiring it must be to have two players of such experience yet so little desire to rescue their county that they prefer to put their feet up rather than help the lads stay in the top flight. I might even be supporting the Yorky lads on my visit to the match.
The skies were totally cloudless for my visit to Hove on Friday, though there was a cool easterly blowing in the morning which meant that it didn't really warm up until the afternoon. My boys (Yorks) acquitted themselves well and it soon became apparent that they could not lose the match and, given the developments elsewhere, they would not be relegated and neither would Sussex. What a good idea to drop Gough and Vaughan. Despite Chris Nash's worthy 106, Sussex could manage no more than a feeble 207 and deservedly followed on. They made a better stab at it in the second innings and Goodwin (118), Yardy (72), Martin-Jenkins (56) et al carried them to safety on Saturday. There was some talk amongst the locals that RSCMJ might be close to retirement and there was general dismay at their slim bowling resources: of the seven bowlers used, three (Yardy, Nash and Wright) were seen as batsmen, one (Rayner) was considered to be a second team player, another (Sami) was a short-term emergency signing and the other two (Lewry and Martin-Jenkins) are thought to be on the brink of retirement!
I was delighted that the Yorky spin twins, Rashid and Wainwright, should enjoy such a successful match with 215 runs for once out and 14 wickets for 269 between them in the match, though it was not quite enough to bring them victory. I have seen Wainwright in the 2s and he has batted well in the lower order, but I have never seen him take many wickets before, in fact he took only 7 for the 2s in 2007 at an average of nearly 50. Hoggy did not look quite at his best: he had two wickets on Thursday night, but then bowled another nineteen wicketless overs, though he did find the edge a few times. Richie Pyrah is a useful all-round cricketer and took a couple of cracking catches, but they don’t give him much of a game: he batted no 9 (a night-watchman had been used) and bowled only three overs in the match. It was the 26th of September and was the latest in the year that I have ever watched first class cricket in this country (the record earliest is probably 14th of April 2007) and it took my total for the season to par 40 (though the arithmetic average is just below 42). I think I reported that 18 days by the end of June was a record and July's 11 days meant that 29 days after the first four months was a joint record, but an all-time low of 4 days in August meant that I was struggling to get past the record low of 37 days for the season, especially as September started so dismally. However, September's weather improved and 7 days for the month was only one below the record, allowing me to sneak up to 40 for the season.
It must have been the best ever climax to a Championship season with all four matches affecting the title and/ or relegation issues. Overall, I think Durham probably deserved it: they have the best pace attack (England contenders Onions and Plunkett cannot even get into the side) and that is usually decisive. The ridiculous Kent chairman blamed their relegation on supporters not turning up on the fourth day to witness the last rites when they were already all but certain to be relegated: what rubbish!
Battersea Matters
Dave Garrard sent me this following photo of his Battersea GS 1st XI from 1966.
Back row, left to right) Mick Staddon, Dave Petch, Les Fitt, Graham Leach, Frank Lewis
(Front row) Mr. J. Cowan (Headmaster), Mick Stannard, Roy Payne, Dave Garrard, Mike Selvey, Roger Ackerley, Mr. K. Dobson (Cricket Master)
This was a very good side primarily on the back of three very talented players. In 1966 during the St Clement Danes Cricket Week we got off to a good start beating the London Colts on the Monday but were soon brought down to earth by Battersea on the Tuesday. We batted first and Mike Selvey marked his run up which started just short of the Scrubs, whilst the wicket keeper took up a position closer to the huts than the square as Jack Morgan and Roger Kingdon prepared to open our innings. Fortunately the square had been re-laid the previous year and all the wickets in 1966 were placid. In these conditions Selve was quicker than anything any of us had previously encountered but not dangerous. He didn’t run through us but we were certainly demoralised and it was only thanks to a plucky innings by Jeff Coleman that we reached 130. After tea Garrard and Payne strode out and slapped our attack around with disdain and had the game won by ten wickets in next to no time.
Middlesex Matters The Great Jack Morgan gives us his thoughts at the conclusion of the season
It was great that Middlesex ran into some form at the end of the season and managed to finish third. This makes the season look much better and gives some hope for next year, but I hope they don't think that everything is now OK and that no further improvements to the squad and the performances are required. Northants crucially lacked three of their South African contingent and blokes who could not get a run against JJVDW at Uxbridge (yes, I mean Strauss, Godleman and Shah) were now scoring freely against the inadequate replacements. Still, beating poor sides is better than losing to them I suppose and some credit must go to Udal for lifting the chaps for a decent effort at the end of a disappointing season. Dirk wasn't even on the pitch on the first three days was he? Then he suddenly appears and takes 4 for 42, which not only takes him to the top of the Middlesex averages, but places him ninth in the national averages:
I have just seen the Middlesex squad for the Stanford tournament and was shocked at the omission of Smithy, Dirk and Bergy with no explanations offered. I suppose Dirk is needed by Queensland is he? And was that why they had to borrow Carter? Bergy (fast scoring all rounder) looks ideal for T20 on the face of it and he will be sick to be left out. But the sensation is surely the axing of Smudger: is this internecine strife? Will he now leave the club? I had heard that he was sure to stay whether he was captain or not... perhaps he is going to concentrate on his writing? Losing three batsmen at the same time looks like carelessness. Or is he still injured? We are suffering from a distinct lack of information.
You will not be surprised to hear that I am not in favour of the latest xenophobic crackdown on non-British players. Middlesex have many promising young players (Godleman, Malan, Morgan, Housego, Robson, London, Finn, Evans, Williams et al), but it would certainly be a weak side if they all had to be thrown in together because foreigners had been banned. And if the answer to this is that all counties will be in the same position then it means that the quality of the Championship will have taken a nosedive and will not be attractive to sponsors or spectators and will be no preparation for Test cricket.
Ashes Matters
The ashes will soon be upon us again. I found myself wondering whether the new muscular looking England side will be able to recover them. I asked George for his thoughts. He replied:
“We don’t know yet whether England will continue to play with the renewed determination and vigour they showed in late summer. By the way, they were only a couple of very poor decisions in favour of Smith in a single great innings from winning the series. Australia were three wickets ( Trent Bridge ) and 3 runs Edgbaston from beating England 3-0 in 2005. Will Vaughan come back and open with Cook? Will Bell perform to his capability? Can Shah replace Collingwood and score runs in this hot house. Does Freddie at 6, Prior at 7 and Broad at 8 give some stability? And is the skipper good for another 500 runs?
Going back to the 2005 series, England were not expected to be able to bowl out the Aussies twice. Flintoff was outstanding taking 24 wickets and is obviously key to success again. England would probably not have won though without those great performances of Simon Jones, taking 18 good wickets. Can Anderson and Broad replace Hoggard and Jones in terms of wicket taking? Will Harmison play properly under the new boss? How will Monty perform (or Patel?)
Ponting will make a hatful of runs. Is Hayden past it? Is Clarke still the new Bradman? Will they miss Warne’s no.8 runs if he doesn’t play? Warne and McGrath took 59 wickets between them. Will Warne play? Expect Watson to be dangerous. Do they have a spinner without Warne?”
I found it extraordinary that George thought that Hamburger could make a return next year and so asked him what he based this on. He replied:
“This dates from May. After some spectacular performances in the Indian Premier League, the man who made a career out of tormenting English batsmen has hinted at the possibility of a sensational comeback. "If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around and Ricky [Ponting] thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," said Warne, who will turn 40 during next summer's Ashes.
"If I wanted to keep playing I don't think there is an issue with me being the No 1 spinner and performing."
It looks unlikely, but I think if Ponting et al feel that he could swing a close series it’s not impossible.”
Bush Matters
When I attended the Ladies Day at South Hampstead in September Mary Hancock took me on one side and said that she had a bag of goodies for me. This turned out to be various documents rescued from Ken Fletcher’s effects. Several of these were Centenary Booklets from other clubs on the circuit. Included amongst these was the Shepherds Bush CC Centenary Book from 1982, which was compiled by John Hatfield. There is much of interest in this booklet including the 1980 Reunion day picture in which Frank Foreman has offered to identify the attendees. I have lifted the following picture of the 1970 first eleven which includes several of the Googlies community. Roy Cutler was at the South Hampstead Re-union in 2004, Steve Wright has been a recent contributor, Dave Perrin is the current President and facilitates the Old Danes Gatherings at the new SBCC, Malcolm Rhoades joined brother Gary at this year’s Old Danes Gathering and the Professor is seated in the front row on the left. Vic Washtell turned up at Lords in September where he now is employed as a steward after spending many years teaching in the Caribbean.
KP Matters Nick Reed sent me this Without wanting to put my head above an ever-peppered parapet, I was not necessarily convinced by the Ashwell Prince quote about That Nice Mr. Pietersen's responsibility for the loss of the test series, for two reasons.
First, Pietersen's dismissal was far from the obvious cause of England's defeat; Smith surviving two half-way-up-middle LBW shouts in the second innings was surely more crucial, tarnishing what if chanceless would have been the best 154 not out in adversity since Gooch at Headingley. Without that, South Africa would surely not have got the testing 250-odd target.
Secondly, the South Africans have discovered counter-intuitive spin. The only other direct comment I can remember this summer by a Protean about England's selection was Mickey Arthur badmouthing Harmison's appearance in the squad, which sounded like and surely was a plea for England not to select their fastest, most experienced and bang in-form bowler. I suspect Prince's comments are equally disingenuous.
I replied You will know by now, or have always known, that I am a bigot and am always on the look out for views that reinforce my prejudices....Bringing umpiring decisions into such debates (unless they reinforce my view) is always tricky since they are inevitably isolated and difficult to balance against those that may have gone the other way during the match.
He responded I quite agree about umpiring decisions, and also think that if, heaven forefend, technology is used to decide LBWs games will become a lot shorter.
I had been planning all summer to write for you a vigorous defence of Steve Harmison, wondering why the cricket establishment and media in this country seem to have a distrust of raw pace and bringing in the often shocking treatment of Devon Malcolm as supporting evidence. But with Harmison recalled and acclaimed that would seem to be preaching to the choir. I'll save it for the next time he gets dropped after bowling a couple of wides in favour of someone who'll take 1-60 in 28 overs. Only Harmison could have been castigated, as he was during an SA domestic game last winter, after taking 6 for 90-odd in an innings.
My other bugbear is why England's batsmen don't bowl more. Apart from the obvious Collingwood, Pietersen and Bell are both competent bowlers and Vaughan probably better than that*, yet for years these options have only been explored when the opposition are 400-3 or some such. Why not have such partnership-breakers bowling earlier as Gooch and even Boycott used to do, then Shah or Bopara (both of course also capable of turning an arm over) could join the batting line-up, Flintoff play his natural 7 as part of a four genuine bowler attack, and a proper wicketkeeper (don't get me started on THAT one!) at 8. One of the most interesting things about Steve Waugh's Aussies was that he'd bowl Damien Martyn or himself for a couple of overs even at, say, 150-3 on the first day, just to keep the batsmen thinking.
Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, bigotry and the England captain. I've never been a fan of Pietersen, for similar reasons to many of your correspondents but I suspect from a different line of attack - in that I believe his opposition to South African positive discrimination was, whether through naiveté, unthinking self-promotion or something more blatant, simply racist. However, it cannot be denied that he is by streets England’s best batsmen and shows signs of being a decent captain. Blast him!
Wallis Matters
In August Allen Bruton organized a lunch to enable Keith Hardie to meet up with some of his old colleagues at South Hampstead. Allen generously agreed to collect Don Wallis on what must have been a very circuitous route to Warwickshire for the event. Bill Hart was also in attendance although he had retired before Keith’s seasons at the club and so Keith met him for the first time at the lunch. He will remember him.
The reminiscences covered many years at South Hampstead and Keith must have been puzzled by some of the anecdotes which featured individuals that he had never heard of. The story greeted with most incredulity was told by Don Wallis who modestly recalled a visit to Dulwich CC when he took 7 for 60 odd. He went on to explain that Colin Newcombe had been playing in the side and that he had dropped nine catches off his bowling alone. When quizzed on this Don was unable to explain whether, if all had been caught, he would have ended up with sixteen wickets in the innings or whether he had subsequently snared some of the batsmen with alternative deliveries.
Don Wallis, Bill Hart, Allen Bruton and Keith Hardie
Later in the season both Don and Colin were in attendance at the Ladies Day at South Hampstead and the temptation was too great to get Don to confront Colin with his allegation. Colin seemed mystified and didn’t recall the occasion but took Don’s taunt in good spirit and what could have been a difficult moment passed.
I have been corresponding regularly with Bill Hart recently as he has been compiling various records from the scorebooks of the sixties. He sent me the following:
“As part of the work that Allan Cox and I are doing on scorebook transcriptions, I have come across the scene of one of Don's oft-repeated stories. It is the one where he had a "7 for" at Dulwich, despite Newcombe dropping 9 catches. Lo and behold, on the 11th July 1964, he did take 7 for 71 at Dulwich. However, there is one snag to the story - Newcombe was not playing! The SHCC team was: - Cordaroy, Peach, L.Stubbs, Ager, Nienow, Denley, Cleaver, Brooks, Hart, Wallis, Phipps.”
Pickering Matters
Terry Hunt sent me this
I was saddened to hear of the death of Tony Pickering, whom I last saw at the bar at Ealing Cricket Club, before he moved to the south-west, and was interested in Bob Fisher's article. I live within walking distance of Hanwell Town FC and the last football match that I went to was their opening Southern League match in August 2006 against Winchester City, a deceptive 2-0 victory, which proved to be their last for many months, leading to relegation at the end of the season.
Anyway, I wanted to talk about Tony Pickering. I first met Tony in 1950 at Victoria Junior Boys' Primary School in Becklow Road, Shepherds Bush. He then lived at Westville Gardens. We became best friends, together with Andrew Paterson, with whom I had also been at Wendell Park Infants' School. In the summer my parents would often take me to Chiswick House grounds, where Tony's father captained the Turnham Green Cricket Club, and Tony and I had access to the pavilion, where we met Brian Johnston and other cricketers of the time.
In 1954, Tony and I opened the batting for Victoria in the Hammersmith Schools competition, which we won. Our team was brilliantly coached by Mr Thomas, a fiery Welshman, who was mad about cricket and taught us to hit the ball only along the ground - anyone being caught out would be immediately dropped. We would practice forward defensive strokes against sorbo balls, which really taught control. Well, we won the competition without losing a single wicket all season. Mr Thomas had a dubious ploy. He would convince the opposing master that we had a player still to come, so would like to bowl first - the real motivation was to save him time. It always worked; we rattled out the opposition, mainly through our fast bowler Copeland (we didn't use christian names in those days), then Tony and I would knock off the runs without losing a wicket. In one case, we got the opponents out for 0, the last wicket being a run out when they dared to try for a run. We played all games at Ravenscourt Park on coconut matting wickets above the all-weather football surface, which gave a regular bounce.
Back row: Nicholson, Copeland, Paterson, Shepherd, Mr Thomas, Chaplin, Russell
Front row: Hunt, Matthews, Pickering, Woodward, Towner
In spite of Tony's later success at soccer, he was less known for that sport at school. Indeed, at St Clement Danes he was not always in the team, and never in the first XI. I remember playing our last game for the school 2nd XI against Ealing Grammar in 1961; Tony, who normally played at left-half, was moved up to the forward line and scored 4 goals in a 6-1 victory, presaging his later success at Hanwell. I attach a photo of him in soccer gear at Victoria, where the school won both the Hammersmith Schools' League competition, and the Cup at QPR, with a goal in the last 20 seconds from left-back Blanchett.
Back row: Towner, Chaplin, Holland, Mr Harvey, Heseltine, Paterson, Pickering
Front row: Blanchett, Hunt, Matthews, Woodward, Dallamore
Football Matters
When Andrew Baker’s Ladies team played their last match a rather unseemly event took place when their star midfield player took a volley in the groin from close quarters. The team’s trainer, Kelvin West, sprinted onto the pitch with a bucket of cold water which he applied to the bruised area with a sponge which he plunged down her shorts. Andrew has, rightly, decided that such public displays of gratuitous groping cannot be allowed to continue and has recruited his own White Cross Squad, which will deal with on field injuries in future. The indefatigable Kelvin West agreed to kit out this medical quartet and here they are ready for the next match:
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An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 71
November 2008
Caption Competition
1. Peg Leg: I’m looking forward to getting back to the nets. I play my best cricket there.
- Peg Leg: I don’t see why I shouldn’t have a central contract. It’s like being an honorary member of the Stanford team. Anyway it will tide me over until Yorkshire gives me a testimonial.
- Peg Leg: It’s not about getting runs any more, its more about how you feel and the respect you generate from the others.
- Peg Leg: Why don’t you have a central contract?
Peg Leg: Leave it to me, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Out and About with the Professor
A couple of weeks’ ago my wife and I went to have a look round a place called Harewood House. This is a nearby stately pile which is home to the Lascelles family, a charming bunch who made their fortunes out of slavery in the 18th Century and opium in the 19th. In the Music Room we fell into conversation with the volunteer guide, a Mrs Susan Sharpe, who was very well versed on the life of the second Earl of Harewood and associated matters. For some reason we started talking about the commercial uses that the House had been put to, including weddings. Weddings were, it seemed, an important source of revenue, and indeed Mrs S had just recently been to a "cricket wedding".
"Oh really...a "cricket wedding"...what was that?"
"Well", said Mrs S. "have you heard of a cricketer called Len Hutton?"
We established that we had.
"Well it was his grandson's wedding, and we were invited."
We then established that I had also heard of Ben and indeed father Richard, and was fairly interested in cricket matters in general.
"Oh", she said, "then you might have heard of my husband, Phil Sharpe".
Yet more confirmations followed together with expressions of interest, when the offer was made, in meeting up with Phil and chatting about the noble game. “Well”, said Susan (we were on first name terms by now), “Phil is making up a table for a dinner at Headingley…would you like to come?”
Of all the questions I’ve had to confront in my life this was among the least challenging, and so last week my wife and I went to what turned out to be the inaugural dinner of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players Association. And all the old boys were there!
The event was organised by Brian Stott who played in the late 1950’s/early 60’s and compered by Mike Cowan, a very funny man, who played in the same era and opened the bowling with Fred Trueman (“we ‘ad to carry ‘im…’e were rubbish”). In addition to Phil, I met Brian Close, Dickie Bird, John Hampshire, Don Wilson, Mike Cope, and several others that I didn’t recognise or whose names I have forgotten. I had a wonderful time…it was like being 10 years’ old again brandishing my autograph book. Every time I looked round there was a famous face from the past. The Sharpes know everybody and so when I wasn’t eating or drinking, I was shaking hands – you would have loved it.
Don Wilson gave a long and rambling, but very well received, speech
(“That’s shortened the winter a bit”…Cowan again) but looks a very poorly man. All the others were in varying degrees of decrepitude – Dickie Bird is worried about his blood pressure (which seems only fair) – excepting Hampshire who looks little different from his playing days. There were two very good comics; one being an impressionist. His take-off of Dickie brought tears to the latter’s eyes (not hard to do) and presumably exacerbated the medical condition.
All-in-all, a pretty good do.
There will be another dinner next year and I can’t wait. My wife enjoyed it as well…or so she said.
More Yorkshire Matters The Great Jack Morgan changes allegiances, at least for the last match of the season Yorkshire are in dire danger of relegation and probably need to win their last match at Hove (I am still hoping to see some of the match) to survive, yet their captain cannot be bothered to turn out. What a disgrace. Will this depress the young Yorkies or will they decide to show the sad old bastard that they never needed him anyway? Selvey wrote a ridiculously sycophantic eulogy about the over-the-hill warhorse without the hint of criticism about his failure to take the helm at Hove and guide the lads to safety: another disgrace. Vaughan has also dropped out, but he wouldn't have made selection anyway. How inspiring it must be to have two players of such experience yet so little desire to rescue their county that they prefer to put their feet up rather than help the lads stay in the top flight. I might even be supporting the Yorky lads on my visit to the match.
The skies were totally cloudless for my visit to Hove on Friday, though there was a cool easterly blowing in the morning which meant that it didn't really warm up until the afternoon. My boys (Yorks) acquitted themselves well and it soon became apparent that they could not lose the match and, given the developments elsewhere, they would not be relegated and neither would Sussex. What a good idea to drop Gough and Vaughan. Despite Chris Nash's worthy 106, Sussex could manage no more than a feeble 207 and deservedly followed on. They made a better stab at it in the second innings and Goodwin (118), Yardy (72), Martin-Jenkins (56) et al carried them to safety on Saturday. There was some talk amongst the locals that RSCMJ might be close to retirement and there was general dismay at their slim bowling resources: of the seven bowlers used, three (Yardy, Nash and Wright) were seen as batsmen, one (Rayner) was considered to be a second team player, another (Sami) was a short-term emergency signing and the other two (Lewry and Martin-Jenkins) are thought to be on the brink of retirement!
I was delighted that the Yorky spin twins, Rashid and Wainwright, should enjoy such a successful match with 215 runs for once out and 14 wickets for 269 between them in the match, though it was not quite enough to bring them victory. I have seen Wainwright in the 2s and he has batted well in the lower order, but I have never seen him take many wickets before, in fact he took only 7 for the 2s in 2007 at an average of nearly 50. Hoggy did not look quite at his best: he had two wickets on Thursday night, but then bowled another nineteen wicketless overs, though he did find the edge a few times. Richie Pyrah is a useful all-round cricketer and took a couple of cracking catches, but they don’t give him much of a game: he batted no 9 (a night-watchman had been used) and bowled only three overs in the match. It was the 26th of September and was the latest in the year that I have ever watched first class cricket in this country (the record earliest is probably 14th of April 2007) and it took my total for the season to par 40 (though the arithmetic average is just below 42). I think I reported that 18 days by the end of June was a record and July's 11 days meant that 29 days after the first four months was a joint record, but an all-time low of 4 days in August meant that I was struggling to get past the record low of 37 days for the season, especially as September started so dismally. However, September's weather improved and 7 days for the month was only one below the record, allowing me to sneak up to 40 for the season.
It must have been the best ever climax to a Championship season with all four matches affecting the title and/ or relegation issues. Overall, I think Durham probably deserved it: they have the best pace attack (England contenders Onions and Plunkett cannot even get into the side) and that is usually decisive. The ridiculous Kent chairman blamed their relegation on supporters not turning up on the fourth day to witness the last rites when they were already all but certain to be relegated: what rubbish!
Battersea Matters
Dave Garrard sent me this following photo of his Battersea GS 1st XI from 1966.
Back row, left to right) Mick Staddon, Dave Petch, Les Fitt, Graham Leach, Frank Lewis
(Front row) Mr. J. Cowan (Headmaster), Mick Stannard, Roy Payne, Dave Garrard, Mike Selvey, Roger Ackerley, Mr. K. Dobson (Cricket Master)
This was a very good side primarily on the back of three very talented players. In 1966 during the St Clement Danes Cricket Week we got off to a good start beating the London Colts on the Monday but were soon brought down to earth by Battersea on the Tuesday. We batted first and Mike Selvey marked his run up which started just short of the Scrubs, whilst the wicket keeper took up a position closer to the huts than the square as Jack Morgan and Roger Kingdon prepared to open our innings. Fortunately the square had been re-laid the previous year and all the wickets in 1966 were placid. In these conditions Selve was quicker than anything any of us had previously encountered but not dangerous. He didn’t run through us but we were certainly demoralised and it was only thanks to a plucky innings by Jeff Coleman that we reached 130. After tea Garrard and Payne strode out and slapped our attack around with disdain and had the game won by ten wickets in next to no time.
Middlesex Matters The Great Jack Morgan gives us his thoughts at the conclusion of the season
It was great that Middlesex ran into some form at the end of the season and managed to finish third. This makes the season look much better and gives some hope for next year, but I hope they don't think that everything is now OK and that no further improvements to the squad and the performances are required. Northants crucially lacked three of their South African contingent and blokes who could not get a run against JJVDW at Uxbridge (yes, I mean Strauss, Godleman and Shah) were now scoring freely against the inadequate replacements. Still, beating poor sides is better than losing to them I suppose and some credit must go to Udal for lifting the chaps for a decent effort at the end of a disappointing season. Dirk wasn't even on the pitch on the first three days was he? Then he suddenly appears and takes 4 for 42, which not only takes him to the top of the Middlesex averages, but places him ninth in the national averages:
I have just seen the Middlesex squad for the Stanford tournament and was shocked at the omission of Smithy, Dirk and Bergy with no explanations offered. I suppose Dirk is needed by Queensland is he? And was that why they had to borrow Carter? Bergy (fast scoring all rounder) looks ideal for T20 on the face of it and he will be sick to be left out. But the sensation is surely the axing of Smudger: is this internecine strife? Will he now leave the club? I had heard that he was sure to stay whether he was captain or not... perhaps he is going to concentrate on his writing? Losing three batsmen at the same time looks like carelessness. Or is he still injured? We are suffering from a distinct lack of information.
You will not be surprised to hear that I am not in favour of the latest xenophobic crackdown on non-British players. Middlesex have many promising young players (Godleman, Malan, Morgan, Housego, Robson, London, Finn, Evans, Williams et al), but it would certainly be a weak side if they all had to be thrown in together because foreigners had been banned. And if the answer to this is that all counties will be in the same position then it means that the quality of the Championship will have taken a nosedive and will not be attractive to sponsors or spectators and will be no preparation for Test cricket.
Ashes Matters
The ashes will soon be upon us again. I found myself wondering whether the new muscular looking England side will be able to recover them. I asked George for his thoughts. He replied:
“We don’t know yet whether England will continue to play with the renewed determination and vigour they showed in late summer. By the way, they were only a couple of very poor decisions in favour of Smith in a single great innings from winning the series. Australia were three wickets ( Trent Bridge ) and 3 runs Edgbaston from beating England 3-0 in 2005. Will Vaughan come back and open with Cook? Will Bell perform to his capability? Can Shah replace Collingwood and score runs in this hot house. Does Freddie at 6, Prior at 7 and Broad at 8 give some stability? And is the skipper good for another 500 runs?
Going back to the 2005 series, England were not expected to be able to bowl out the Aussies twice. Flintoff was outstanding taking 24 wickets and is obviously key to success again. England would probably not have won though without those great performances of Simon Jones, taking 18 good wickets. Can Anderson and Broad replace Hoggard and Jones in terms of wicket taking? Will Harmison play properly under the new boss? How will Monty perform (or Patel?)
Ponting will make a hatful of runs. Is Hayden past it? Is Clarke still the new Bradman? Will they miss Warne’s no.8 runs if he doesn’t play? Warne and McGrath took 59 wickets between them. Will Warne play? Expect Watson to be dangerous. Do they have a spinner without Warne?”
I found it extraordinary that George thought that Hamburger could make a return next year and so asked him what he based this on. He replied:
“This dates from May. After some spectacular performances in the Indian Premier League, the man who made a career out of tormenting English batsmen has hinted at the possibility of a sensational comeback. "If Australia really needed me and there was no one else around and Ricky [Ponting] thought I could do the job, you would weigh up the options," said Warne, who will turn 40 during next summer's Ashes.
"If I wanted to keep playing I don't think there is an issue with me being the No 1 spinner and performing."
It looks unlikely, but I think if Ponting et al feel that he could swing a close series it’s not impossible.”
Bush Matters
When I attended the Ladies Day at South Hampstead in September Mary Hancock took me on one side and said that she had a bag of goodies for me. This turned out to be various documents rescued from Ken Fletcher’s effects. Several of these were Centenary Booklets from other clubs on the circuit. Included amongst these was the Shepherds Bush CC Centenary Book from 1982, which was compiled by John Hatfield. There is much of interest in this booklet including the 1980 Reunion day picture in which Frank Foreman has offered to identify the attendees. I have lifted the following picture of the 1970 first eleven which includes several of the Googlies community. Roy Cutler was at the South Hampstead Re-union in 2004, Steve Wright has been a recent contributor, Dave Perrin is the current President and facilitates the Old Danes Gatherings at the new SBCC, Malcolm Rhoades joined brother Gary at this year’s Old Danes Gathering and the Professor is seated in the front row on the left. Vic Washtell turned up at Lords in September where he now is employed as a steward after spending many years teaching in the Caribbean.
KP Matters Nick Reed sent me this Without wanting to put my head above an ever-peppered parapet, I was not necessarily convinced by the Ashwell Prince quote about That Nice Mr. Pietersen's responsibility for the loss of the test series, for two reasons.
First, Pietersen's dismissal was far from the obvious cause of England's defeat; Smith surviving two half-way-up-middle LBW shouts in the second innings was surely more crucial, tarnishing what if chanceless would have been the best 154 not out in adversity since Gooch at Headingley. Without that, South Africa would surely not have got the testing 250-odd target.
Secondly, the South Africans have discovered counter-intuitive spin. The only other direct comment I can remember this summer by a Protean about England's selection was Mickey Arthur badmouthing Harmison's appearance in the squad, which sounded like and surely was a plea for England not to select their fastest, most experienced and bang in-form bowler. I suspect Prince's comments are equally disingenuous.
I replied You will know by now, or have always known, that I am a bigot and am always on the look out for views that reinforce my prejudices....Bringing umpiring decisions into such debates (unless they reinforce my view) is always tricky since they are inevitably isolated and difficult to balance against those that may have gone the other way during the match.
He responded I quite agree about umpiring decisions, and also think that if, heaven forefend, technology is used to decide LBWs games will become a lot shorter.
I had been planning all summer to write for you a vigorous defence of Steve Harmison, wondering why the cricket establishment and media in this country seem to have a distrust of raw pace and bringing in the often shocking treatment of Devon Malcolm as supporting evidence. But with Harmison recalled and acclaimed that would seem to be preaching to the choir. I'll save it for the next time he gets dropped after bowling a couple of wides in favour of someone who'll take 1-60 in 28 overs. Only Harmison could have been castigated, as he was during an SA domestic game last winter, after taking 6 for 90-odd in an innings.
My other bugbear is why England's batsmen don't bowl more. Apart from the obvious Collingwood, Pietersen and Bell are both competent bowlers and Vaughan probably better than that*, yet for years these options have only been explored when the opposition are 400-3 or some such. Why not have such partnership-breakers bowling earlier as Gooch and even Boycott used to do, then Shah or Bopara (both of course also capable of turning an arm over) could join the batting line-up, Flintoff play his natural 7 as part of a four genuine bowler attack, and a proper wicketkeeper (don't get me started on THAT one!) at 8. One of the most interesting things about Steve Waugh's Aussies was that he'd bowl Damien Martyn or himself for a couple of overs even at, say, 150-3 on the first day, just to keep the batsmen thinking.
Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, bigotry and the England captain. I've never been a fan of Pietersen, for similar reasons to many of your correspondents but I suspect from a different line of attack - in that I believe his opposition to South African positive discrimination was, whether through naiveté, unthinking self-promotion or something more blatant, simply racist. However, it cannot be denied that he is by streets England’s best batsmen and shows signs of being a decent captain. Blast him!
Wallis Matters
In August Allen Bruton organized a lunch to enable Keith Hardie to meet up with some of his old colleagues at South Hampstead. Allen generously agreed to collect Don Wallis on what must have been a very circuitous route to Warwickshire for the event. Bill Hart was also in attendance although he had retired before Keith’s seasons at the club and so Keith met him for the first time at the lunch. He will remember him.
The reminiscences covered many years at South Hampstead and Keith must have been puzzled by some of the anecdotes which featured individuals that he had never heard of. The story greeted with most incredulity was told by Don Wallis who modestly recalled a visit to Dulwich CC when he took 7 for 60 odd. He went on to explain that Colin Newcombe had been playing in the side and that he had dropped nine catches off his bowling alone. When quizzed on this Don was unable to explain whether, if all had been caught, he would have ended up with sixteen wickets in the innings or whether he had subsequently snared some of the batsmen with alternative deliveries.
Don Wallis, Bill Hart, Allen Bruton and Keith Hardie
Later in the season both Don and Colin were in attendance at the Ladies Day at South Hampstead and the temptation was too great to get Don to confront Colin with his allegation. Colin seemed mystified and didn’t recall the occasion but took Don’s taunt in good spirit and what could have been a difficult moment passed.
I have been corresponding regularly with Bill Hart recently as he has been compiling various records from the scorebooks of the sixties. He sent me the following:
“As part of the work that Allan Cox and I are doing on scorebook transcriptions, I have come across the scene of one of Don's oft-repeated stories. It is the one where he had a "7 for" at Dulwich, despite Newcombe dropping 9 catches. Lo and behold, on the 11th July 1964, he did take 7 for 71 at Dulwich. However, there is one snag to the story - Newcombe was not playing! The SHCC team was: - Cordaroy, Peach, L.Stubbs, Ager, Nienow, Denley, Cleaver, Brooks, Hart, Wallis, Phipps.”
Pickering Matters
Terry Hunt sent me this
I was saddened to hear of the death of Tony Pickering, whom I last saw at the bar at Ealing Cricket Club, before he moved to the south-west, and was interested in Bob Fisher's article. I live within walking distance of Hanwell Town FC and the last football match that I went to was their opening Southern League match in August 2006 against Winchester City, a deceptive 2-0 victory, which proved to be their last for many months, leading to relegation at the end of the season.
Anyway, I wanted to talk about Tony Pickering. I first met Tony in 1950 at Victoria Junior Boys' Primary School in Becklow Road, Shepherds Bush. He then lived at Westville Gardens. We became best friends, together with Andrew Paterson, with whom I had also been at Wendell Park Infants' School. In the summer my parents would often take me to Chiswick House grounds, where Tony's father captained the Turnham Green Cricket Club, and Tony and I had access to the pavilion, where we met Brian Johnston and other cricketers of the time.
In 1954, Tony and I opened the batting for Victoria in the Hammersmith Schools competition, which we won. Our team was brilliantly coached by Mr Thomas, a fiery Welshman, who was mad about cricket and taught us to hit the ball only along the ground - anyone being caught out would be immediately dropped. We would practice forward defensive strokes against sorbo balls, which really taught control. Well, we won the competition without losing a single wicket all season. Mr Thomas had a dubious ploy. He would convince the opposing master that we had a player still to come, so would like to bowl first - the real motivation was to save him time. It always worked; we rattled out the opposition, mainly through our fast bowler Copeland (we didn't use christian names in those days), then Tony and I would knock off the runs without losing a wicket. In one case, we got the opponents out for 0, the last wicket being a run out when they dared to try for a run. We played all games at Ravenscourt Park on coconut matting wickets above the all-weather football surface, which gave a regular bounce.
Back row: Nicholson, Copeland, Paterson, Shepherd, Mr Thomas, Chaplin, Russell
Front row: Hunt, Matthews, Pickering, Woodward, Towner
In spite of Tony's later success at soccer, he was less known for that sport at school. Indeed, at St Clement Danes he was not always in the team, and never in the first XI. I remember playing our last game for the school 2nd XI against Ealing Grammar in 1961; Tony, who normally played at left-half, was moved up to the forward line and scored 4 goals in a 6-1 victory, presaging his later success at Hanwell. I attach a photo of him in soccer gear at Victoria, where the school won both the Hammersmith Schools' League competition, and the Cup at QPR, with a goal in the last 20 seconds from left-back Blanchett.
Back row: Towner, Chaplin, Holland, Mr Harvey, Heseltine, Paterson, Pickering
Front row: Blanchett, Hunt, Matthews, Woodward, Dallamore
Football Matters
When Andrew Baker’s Ladies team played their last match a rather unseemly event took place when their star midfield player took a volley in the groin from close quarters. The team’s trainer, Kelvin West, sprinted onto the pitch with a bucket of cold water which he applied to the bruised area with a sponge which he plunged down her shorts. Andrew has, rightly, decided that such public displays of gratuitous groping cannot be allowed to continue and has recruited his own White Cross Squad, which will deal with on field injuries in future. The indefatigable Kelvin West agreed to kit out this medical quartet and here they are ready for the next match:
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