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 […]

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 […]