Back at the crease – and loving every minute of it!
IT’S cricket, but not as we know it. At the same time England were being surprised by a reinvigorated Ireland team at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, I was making my season debut a few miles north at the stunning Hampshire Hogs ground. While it is all bio-secure bubbles and on-ground hotel accommodation at international level, down in clubland it is all about hand sanitiser, elbow tapping and bringing your own picnic lunch and tea.
Players arriving and leaving the ground in whites is reminiscent of school under-11 away games.
And the umpire not being able to hold either the ball or bowlers’ hats, jumpers etc takes a bit of getting used to, as does avoiding applying saliva to the ball.
Maybe it was the quintessentially English ground in the rolling Hampshire countryside, the good nature of both teammates and opposition, or the rare fact I got a few runs (not many, but a few), but I don’t remember ever enjoying a long day of cricket more.
I suspect it was a bit of all these things, but uppermost was a new appreciation of what we all really value in life.
The last few months have done that to us.
I am 44. Consequently, moving in the aftermath was painful.
I monitor my steps each day, in a very sad way, and am especially pleased with myself if I notch 15,000.
I hit that mark in a four-hour stint in the field – that’s a bit more than 10k. It is easy to forget just how fit cricketers need to be.
The highlight of the day was a maiden century for Falkland youngster Tom Ettridge.
Having watched his dad Jim bag quite a few of these over the last 25 years, it was good to see the next cab leave the rank.
He opened the bowling and the batting, so he presumably enjoyed his day out, as well.
It was a magnificent hundred, full of dashing drives and stylish punches. Given the opportunity he could get millions of runs in league cricket over the next few years.
Back at the Ageas, with the series already lost and with the danger of going stir crazy, the chances of the
Irish producing a sensational performance seemed slim.
How would they lift their spirits to play their best game, having been locked in a hotel for a couple of weeks and with nothing but pride to play for?
To the outside world the role of sports psychologists in elite teams is still shrouded in mystery.
Step into the bio-secure bubble Sparsholt’s finest – Michael Caulfield. In fact, he is one of the finest well beyond the confines of Sparsholt. He would have been in the hotel around the team, pretending he was doing nothing in a very laid-back way, but in fact setting the mood, fixing a smile on faces, supporting the coaches behind the scenes and very subtly making sure the players were in just the right frame of mind to chase 329 and beat the world champions.
What a job! What a sport! 50 years ago August 06, 1970
Motorcyclists go green
FOLLOWING last year’s successful motor-cycle expedition along the Berkshire Ridgeway, Newbury and District Motor Club secretary Pat Tanner organised a “green roads” run for members on August 2.
After a rendezvous in Newbury Market Place, the party travelled via the Goring gap to Ewelme at the foot of the Chiltern Hills.
They encountered two members of the Trails Riders Fellowship who gave them useful tips on following the ancient route.
10 years ago August 5 2010
Pacemen sink Thame
FALKLAND crashed back into title contention as they shoved aside Thame Town from second spot to lodge themselves as Reading’s main challengers for the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West leadership.
Saturday’s nine-wicket mauling of Thame did not close the gap on the leaders, who remain 15 points clear, but it will have sent out signals after Reading laboured to a draw against the same opponents the previous week.
Falkland’s potent attacking force was the key, with Bruce Martin snapping up 5-21 in his 11.5 overs.
And paceman Neil Gunter also proved unplayable, delivering 11 overs – seven of them maidens – to rip out 5-5 and complete the job as Thame failed to make the 50-mark.
Thame collapsed to 26-6 and when Martin trapped Parmar for 14, it was all over at 48.
Will Challoner’s loss at six was a hiccup, but Martin stepped in to join Jim Ettridge they avoided any more worries with Martin 32 not out and Ettridge with 10 to his name when it was all sorted out inside nine overs.