ONE OF THOSE AWKWARD mornings when it’s not nasty enough to cancel, but looking distinctly iffy. As it turned out the sun shone intermittently and rain never threatened. From the cricketing perspective wind and an erratic pitch – its vagaries compounded by a wet summer and haphazard cutting – made batting tricky. The match started late, partly because Tim Young, the Thebertons’ supremo, got stuck in traffic in London and then meandered around the Chilterns without benefit of directions (left in Chiswick). Their captain Paddy balked at V&A skipper Simon Foster’s suggestion of a 30 over game and 35 overs was agreed as a compromise. Several of the Thebertons mentioned that they were very strong, as they had been the previous week when they’d ‘rolled over’ the opposition. They suggested they should bat first to make a day of it. Simon Foster, ever stubborn or perverse, won the toss and […]

A rather different day apparently. A declaration game, only their captain David Maddocks, now sporting a new haircut, believes in safety first so they batted for 51 overs for 200 odd runs. As far as Martin can recall [it was a long time ago, last Saturday] the pick of our bowlers was Linthwaite’s timber merchant friend Peter, with Dennis (2 wickets) and Enzo (1 clean bowled), Chris Williamson and Mooro, and Bowden (also with 1 clean bowled) and Linthwaite himself all (or almost all) picking up wickets. We actually batted for 41 overs so there wasn’t a huge disparity. But we got bogged down and with 20 overs to go it was apparent that we were not going to get the runs so a draw beckoned. At this point captains have an option to bowl their own crap to make the total gettable and thus encourage foolhardy shots, and wickets. […]

We batted first in an overs game. They gave us two excellent players – as last year – Matt Chataway, the Joggers’ captain’s brother, and Eddie, a very good bowler. We played more than adequately for our 180 odd, with runs being scored by Richard Woolhouse (30), Matt (a fine 60), Dennis (40) and Bowden (25). Figures are approximate because a) I was away and don’t have the scorebook and b) Martin’s memory is befuddled with substance abuse. They are an adventurous lot and always go for their shots, whatever the situation. But very good bowling by Eddie, Richard (a brilliant caught and bowled), Linthwaite and Dennis skittled them out for 110. So a nice day with pleasant company, and a result. Super catering courtesy of Lucinda, which she also did for the next game. Her teas are memorable, her cotton dress too, all in all a tea lady at […]

THIS GRUELLING MATCH was played in a pleasant breeze and sunshine. Skipper Martin Bowden and their captain Joss Buckley agreed on a 20-overs-after-6 game. They were not to know that this would condemn us to 58 overs in the field. The pitch was soggy so Martin, having won the toss, put them in. This looked a damn good toss to win when they were 45 for 7, and then, after a little wag, 68 for 8. Simon Roche got a lovely early wicket with outswing (pitching outside leg stump and hitting middle and leg), Eddie Holmes nicked the off stump, Martin got two including Mike Morris with a beauty, a trademark inswinger; James Nixey caught a very good catch off Linthwaite with professionally cupped hands at mid-wicket, Guy Seddon picked up two wickets, including an LBW notable for the gay appealing of both bowler and wicket-keeper, a puny and belated […]

IT WAS FINALLY WARM ENOUGH and (just) dry enough for V&A athletes to begin the season. The continued absence of the Club’s President prompted rumours. Inevitably there was speculation that he had been tempted by the I.P.L Rupee: however, bidding for his services failed to reach the 30 Rupee ‘reserve’ price (approx 37p). Calcutta were interested but a spokesman said: “We already have a punkah wallah, and evening games require someone who can stay sober”. The explanation is, in fact, entirely innocent: he has been staying with his old friend Max Mosley and reminiscing about the war with various Germans. We were only 7 by Thursday, but Martin rang around and uncovered 4 more from London Nigerians to give us a full X1. We were put into bat on a soggy wicket (it was under water the previous evening) and struggled until lunch when we were about 80 odd for […]

‘CATCHES WIN MATCHES’ but rarely can a side at our level have caught 7 such stunning catches as The Catchiteers did on Sunday. It was the difference between us – we dropped them, they caught them. Some of our ground fielding was pretty wallyish too, not to mention names like Rupert. One could argue that 4 overthrows carelessly conceded proved fatal. As a sign of the Catchiteer’s unwonted brilliance even Rob Noble – hitherto a girlie, a Fotherington-Thomas in the field – not only stopped balls but dismissed our potential match-winner, skipper Dennis de Caires, with a fine, hard catch at mid-on. We played a 30-over game because some of us wilt in the field, and last week it was getting pretty dark at the end when we played 35. As it turned out some of us were so buggered – Dennis (back), Bird (bust toe) – that the end […]

THE DAY WAS RATHER COLD BUT THE CRICKET WAS ALWAYS ENTERTAINING. As we were only 8 when play started (11.50 a.m., not bad) we contrived to bat first in a 35 over game. Rico opened (with a runner) with the ever willing James Nixey. James had just stroked a beautiful ball towards the pavilion when he received a nasty bouncer which he fended off with his forearm, very painfully. Unfortunately it tickled the bail off. Martin Bowden, who was umpiring, did not feel the ball was high enough to no ball, but in truth if James hadn’t used his arm his head would now be in Pishill. Dennis came in and flashed at a couple but we’re used to that and he usually settles down to murder the bowling. But he got a tempting full toss to leg and top edged it to shortish long leg. Enter Bowden who got […]

First a word about the previous week’s invitation game in Sussex. Tony Bird had organised a game at Madehurst near Petworth, on a charming rural ground shaped like a bowl, against the actor Richard Durden’s team, The Invalids – so called because they were formed by two convalescing British soldiers in the desert in WW2. An invitation V&A side came down for the day and the night – at Tony’s house nearby (he and Tom were absent owing to an obligatory family wedding party). The pitch was soggy and the ball held up, so catches to mid-off and on predictably dismissed their leading batsmen cheaply (they went in first in a 35 over game because we were a quorum and they weren’t at kick-off time). Ed, Robbie and Olly Bamber all caught good catches in the deep. Sam Tyson was too good a bowler and was taken off after 4 […]

THE SUN SHONE for most of the day, but it was damp in the morning and captain Bird N. sent the Talbotians in to bat (in a 35 over game), thinking that the pitch would be easier in the afternoon. A reasonable assumption and, as it turned out, correct. But actually the decision was forced on him because we were a quorum to field and they weren’t – they mustered 6 or so at the time. Dino, the T’s skipper, had phoned early Friday to say they were only 7 which included a little girl and did we want to cancel. No, was the answer, we could provide subs and anyway having 7 by lunchtime on Friday wasn’t too bad by V&A standards. In the event they were 9 and their little girl played for Middlesex. But she was little. And a girl. Yet she was Adam’s nemesis. We began […]

THE SUN CAME OUT. A minor miracle, considering the hail of last week. Nothing about this almost biblical weather surprises. Perhaps a plague of locusts next, followed by boils… Dennis was skip and agreed a 35 over game – quite enough time in the field for some of us. We lost the toss and were sent in – it was a good toss to win as batting became progressively easier. We started badly with James Nixey bowled first ball, and Peter Heathcote run out by Olly Betts who called a quick single to a bloke who does not do ‘quick’. But Tom Bird and Olly had a nice partnership of 30 or so before opening bowler William Bevan, he of the aggressive speed and manner, bowled Tom as he had James. Enter Dennis, who smacked a marvellous 25 to all corners, including a majestic 6. There was an amusing incident […]