THIS IS OUR OLDEST FIXTURE. We have seen the Hermits grow old and fat, drink having taken its toll. But they are still keen and competitive, none more so than the combustible Jerry Bevan who can be relied upon to explode in the field. He did not disappoint on Sunday. What was a little disappointing was variable umpiring which saw Rob and Will dismissed for leg before which even our dopiest umpire would have considered too far forward to assess with any accuracy. Two rather better shouts from Olly Betts when we were bowling were rejected. Nevertheless the absence of Martin and Roger was the crucial difference between the two sides; we didn’t have enough bowling. This was compounded by our dropping 5 catches and the ball invariably falling between fielders. Nevertheless I would like my penn’orth. I happen to know that Tim, my brother-in-law and the offending umpire, does […]

A PERFECT DAY, cloudless, hot but not humid. Kites soared, deer gambolled, Bruno returned. We lost the toss. The Nashers put us in to bat (because we were then not quite a quorum, but were later 12), in a 40 over game. Adam and Rob started briskly. 9 off the first over – an Adam trademark 6 to square leg – and continued apace. Then the rate slowed a bit until umpire Bruno took a hand and gave Rob out LBW. A controversial decision. Rob thought it incontrovertibly bad, and said so. There was some debate as to whether the ball had hit the front or back foot. The wicket-keeper didn’t help Bruno’s case by commiserating with Rob. Rob asked for a simple apology and got one, sort of, which seemed to defuse the situation, and later they were seen to exchange pleasantries, sort of. The over rate was lamentable. […]

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a week makes. The previous Saturday’s V&A team of lethargic and creaking outfielders, was transformed into a brilliant unit of focused athletes who could run and bend and throw venomously, something quite alien to last week’s geriatrics. Even more importantly our fielding was punctuated by three extraordinary catches that dismissed their best batsmen, catches which rivalled Rob Noble’s recent effort at mid-wicket. Richard Cowley captained for The Pretenders and was uncharacteristically only ten minutes late (our skipper Martin Bowden, with Adam and Shaun arrived promptly at 12.23). We compromised on a 36-over game (they had wanted 40, too much for those with a drink problem and a pub to go to). They won the toss and elected to bat. Olly Betts and Andy Sharp opened the bowling and kept them down to about three an over. They had some decent batting but the ball popped up menacingly, […]

THE STORY OF SUNDAY’S GAME is simply told. Roger Smith was captain and elected to field in a 35 over match, chasing runs having paid off in the first two games. A glance in their dressing room showed they had a long tail. It is always comforting to see a posse of gentlemen of advanced years or girth. Of course apparent senility and decrepitude can be deceptive. Look at Andy Fraser. Some gnarled old professionals never lose the wristy cut. Tony Fisher, Stonor’s groundsman since Mafeking, can turn a ball both ways, and with more venom than even our own Mooro, whose clever donkey drop dismissed their eleventh man last week. Fisher was spinning before Mooro was conceived (Raffles Hotel, Singapore, 1965). They had a South African who made 130 before being bowled leg stump by Tom Bird. We missed him twice – two half-chances, a caught and bowled (Olly […]

THE RAINBOW INN couldn’t get a team so cancelled at midday on Friday. Several phone calls later, your correspondent found a team called Winnadune (Anglo-Saxon for Wimbledon as any fule kno) in Surrey looking for an away fixture (they too had been let down) so it was a perfect match. They described themselves as ‘medium standard’ which was true. A mixture of veterans and youth, with some damn good bowling – particularly their Pakistani contingent – and one very good hitter. A very pleasant team they were, buying a jug in the pub after the game, always a good PR move if teams want to play us again. One of their regulars is a six-foot seven West Indian. Luckily he wasn’t playing. There was a queue on Remenham Hill so kick-off was delayed until 2.40. The late start dictated a 30 over game. They won the toss, batted and started […]

THE NEW TERM always brings surprises, bright creosote on the walls, doors on lavatories, a new matron to replace the dead old one. And Saturday at Stonor was no exception – brand new nets that a county ground would be pleased with. When the surrounding grass has grown they will look less obtrusive. Some muttered that chicken wire around the boundary is more pressing, to stop the wasted minutes searching vainly for balls in the rough. We lost 3 on Saturday. Ricky Holland XI were a very pleasant and appreciative (of the view) bunch. Ricky Holland himself turns out to be a bloke of no distinction who doesn’t even know a team’s named after him. Strange. Olly Bamber and their jolly captain (an irritatingly good wicket keeper) decided on a 35 over game which for some of us is a long day, when the match really starts at 2.30 (drink […]