England cricketers to debate at Cranleigh

England cricketers past and present will form a distinguished panel at a forthcoming MCC Spirit of Cricket event, sponsored by Artemis Investment Management and being held at Cranleigh School, Surrey, on Monday 21st April.

Former Test captain Chris Cowdrey will host an evening of lively debate and will be joined by England spin bowler Monty Panesar, Middlesex captain Ed Smith and the National Selector, Geoff Miller, in discussing the spirit of cricket and issues affecting the game today.

The MCC Spirit of Cricket evening at Cranleigh is a spin-off of the hugely popular annual Cowdrey Lecture (first delivered by Richie Benaud in 2001) - an event that has quickly established itself as an important date in the cricket calendar.

The invited audience will be comprised of young school and club cricketers and their coaches. In what promises to be an entertaining evening, the host, Chris Cowdrey, said:

"I'm proud of my father's achievement, along with Ted Dexter, of setting out a vision for the spirit of cricket. It was terrific for this to become part of the Laws of Cricket but the challenge now is to make this relevant to cricketers of the future. Cranleigh School has set us the challenge of having a fun evening which also gets to grips with some of the big questions facing the game today. At such a busy time of the cricketing year, we are extremely grateful to Monty, Ed and Geoff for giving up their time to debate these issues with us, and to Artemis Investment Management for sponsoring the event."

MCC Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, said: "MCC retains a passionate commitment to promoting the spirit of cricket. The Cowdrey Lecture serves an important function in discussing the cricketing issues of the day and the evening at Cranleigh School promises to be an exciting extension of this. I am particularly pleased that the event will be held in the early season and will be attended by a young audience. With such an impressive panel, I'm sure that the topics raised will inspire each young cricketer as they approach the beginning of their own cricket season."

Managing Director of Artemis Fund Managers, Dick Turpin, said: "Artemis is delighted to support such an important venture. The Spirit of Cricket must play a central part in the future of the game worldwide".

Guy Waller, Headmaster of Cranleigh School, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting this event. Those of us involved in Schools' cricket like to think that we play the game in the best possible spirit but it is never something to be complacent about. "

Roger Loveland

Roger Loveland has died at the age of 67. Like his brother Tony, he was a stalwart of the OC Hockey Club but he also played a considerable amount of cricket, although not that much for the OCs. He was in the school 1st XI in 1957 and 1958 and made his OCCC debut in 1964. In 10 appearances he scored 112 runs at 28.00 and took one wicket. A full tribute appears on the OCHC site.

AGM looks ahead to a busy season

The following are the minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Old Cranleighan Cricket Club held at the OC Club, Thames Ditton, on Thursday January 31, 2008.

Present: Graham Brown, Mike Chetwode, Eds Copleston, Allen Dean, Ed Henderson, Abeed Janmohamed, Rick Johnson, John McDermott, Tristan Rosenfeldt, Henry Watkinson, Martin Williamson.

Apologies: John Cooke, Matt Crump, Robin Elsdon Dew, Rob Merry, Richard Seeckts, Peter Shelley, David Westcott, Andy Wright.

Rules: The meeting voted unanimously to adopt the revised rules as sent out by email.

Captain’s report: In a brief captain’s report, HW said that India had been good, the summer good, but Sarasota not quite as good, other than off the field.

Hon Fixtures Secretary’s report: TR gave a lengthy speech on the 2008 fixtures. The main change was that the Elstead fixture, new to 2007, had not been renewed as it was not felt to be the kind of end-of-season game we were after. Alternatives of were discussed but TR was asked to seek others. The bulk of games were as in 2007 although the frogs had been incorporated into the week. We were again scheduled to play Wellington but there was concern over match fees and recipricocity and TR was asked to investigate.

The Cricketer Cup clashes were discussed at some length and especially the issue of the clash with the School match were we to progress to the second round. The rules do not allow us to play away from the school and the headmaster had made it clear we would not be allowed to be at Cranleigh on that day (June 29). TR would ask potential second-round opponents (Winchester or Clifton) if we could play away should the need arise. Whatever happened, we would field a side against the school on the same day.

Hon Treasurer’s report: In his final report after 25 years in the role, MW said the books had balanced but that was largely through donations from the OC Society and two individuals which totalled £750. The introduction of annual subscriptions (£10) would enable us to book umpires for all games and give us a sounder financial footing. The incoming treasurer would need to make the establishment of standing orders a priority.

South Africa tour 2008-09: EH reported plans were progressing and around 18 people had committed (13 players) with several others more probable than possible. Attempts to reduce the cost had failed as we were travelling at a peak time but other options – sponsorship etc – were under consideration. EH briefly suggested that matches could be played inside Zimbabwe on the Zazmbian leg of the trip but this was vociferously opposed on moral grounds. There were possibilities of a charity visit to Soweto while in SA.

Cup competitions: There were mixed views on our continuing in the Cricket World Trophy but it was agreed that we should on the understanding that selection was, unless unavoidable, mutually exclusive with the Cricketer Cup side. HW would skipper the CC side and EC the CWT side. Selection would be by the cricket committee.

Election of officers: There being no other nominations other than the ones circulated before the meeting, all were passed unanimously. The only changes from 2007 were than MW stood down as secretary and treasurer to be replaced by EH and RM. Rick Johnson was elected to fill the new post of chairman. Two new vice presidents were elected - Heather Dean in recognition of her services as a scorer and supporter for many years, and Clem Williams in recognition of his efforts as master in charge at Cranleigh and his support for the OCCC then and since leaving.

President: John. W. McDermott
Chairman: Rick Johnson
Captain: Henry Watkinson,
Honorary Secretary: Ed Henderson
Honorary Treasurer: Rob Merry
Honorary Fixtures Secretary: Tristan Rosenfeldt
Committee: Michael Chetwode, Martin Williamson,
Vice Presidents: (new nominations) Heather Dean, Clem Williams.

Any Other Business: 1) RJ expressed the desire for two social functions a year, one oldies event in the season and a dinner in October. While the latter was approved, it was felt the former was unnecessary although it was agreed that notice would be sent out that former players would be especially welcome on one specified cricket week day. 2) It was agree to allow Damien Hill to run with his plan of a sixes event on one of the Saturdays of the week. 3) JM asked for a note to be made of the death of Ted Crowe of the Old Blundellians, whose links with the OCCC go back more than four decades.

Packed fixture list for 2008

The fixtures for 2008 have been announced and we kick off earlier than ever with a game on April 13 and another two by the end of the month. We finish in early September with a game as yet to be fixed … but Rosenburg is on the case.

Our Cricketer Cup campaign starts with a home match against Lancing Rovers at home on June 15 – this will also be OC Day – and if we win then we will have to cede home advantage against either Winchester or Clifton because it clashes with Speech Day. Our defence of the Cricket World Trophy title starts with an away trip to Taunton on June 1 and if we win we are at home on June 22.

The cricket week starts on Sunday July 6 and we have games on eight days with two away matches – at Old Georgians and Old Tonbridgians.

Ted Crowe, Old Blundellian, dies

Ted Crowe, a very good friend of Old Cranleighan cricket, died suddenly aged 79 in his armchair at his home in Sampford Peverell, Devon on January 28, 2008.

Ted went to Blundell's School in Tiverton. After National Service in the Army and Pembroke College, Cambridge, he became a member of the staff at Blundell's, combining teaching mathematics with coaching rugby and cricket during his time at the school from 1953 to 1989.

"Ted always encouraged youngsters to play," Old Blundellian Vic Marks, who went on to play Test and one-day cricket for England, recalled. "He didn't try to coach too much but made sure they had the opportunity to play in good quality matches against better players and had the chance to improve their game that way. Ted never married, for no other reason than he had all the family he needed at Blundell's. We will all miss him."

Ted was originally from the south east and was born and grew up at South Nutfield near Reigate in Surrey. The son of a cricket enthusiast who formed his own team which he aptly called The Crows. As a young man he played rugby and cricket, where he was a wicketkeeper and hard hitting batsman. When the original Tiverton CC folded, he joined Sidmouth and played for them until the mid-1970s. After retiring from teaching, Ted joined the Devon CCC committee in 1991 and was still a member when he died. He was elected a Vice President of the Cricketer Cup committee in 2006.

"Ted was a good pal for over 50 years," said John McDermott. "From the early days in the 1950s when as Master in Charge of rugby he brought those very powerful Blundell's sides to the OC Club, later when the OCCC cricket week was restarted he brought an Old Blundellian XI annually for a two-day match at Cranleigh. Finally for the last 11 years he generously hosted his OCCC friends at the Old Blundellian suite at Taunton County Ground. He never changed. He loved his sport being very knowledgeable and well known. He was great fun to be with."


Ted was a familiar figure at the County Ground in Taunton, where he hosted the Old Blundellians box in the Ondaatje Pavilion since it was first built in 1995, and which in future will be known as the Ted Crowe Box.

Meaker prepares for U-19 World Cup

Stuart Meaker is blogging for Surrey CCC during his time with England at the Under-19 World Cup

Last week was the official start of the competitive cricket that we were going to be playing in Sri Lanka. The Triangular One Day series between us, Pakistan and Sri the Lankan under 19s had kick started on the Tuesday with Pakistan triumphing over the home side.

The following day, it was our turn to get a crack at the Pakistan team. It promised to be a very competitive match because of our encounters last summer. We won the toss and elected to bat but our start left much to be desired as we slipped to 44 for 5.

This however brought Ben Brown to the crease with Dan Redfern at the other end. Their partnership of 105 and Brownies' knock of 93 not out left us with a respectable total of 213. Thanks to a reasonable start with the ball, tricky middle spells from our spinners and great death bowling from Jimmy Harris and Jimmy Lee we won our first match of the series. The following day however was not as successful. Taking on Sri Lanka, we struggled to post a big score and got bowled out for 208 - well short of what was required on a fairly flat wicket. This showed as the Sri Lankans knocked it off with relative ease.

We had a well-earned day of rest the next day and a team meal in the evening. We followed the time off with a net session the next day and the squad felt ready to battle against the Sri Lankans once again, this time at the Singhalese Sports Club a Test Match ground. It was a huge game as all three teams had both won one and lost one match so we still had a good chance of making the final. Unfortunately this was not to be the case. We elected to field this time on what was in hindsight a very flat pitch. The Sri Lankan top order got a hold of our bowlers and set about producing a mammoth score of 310. They had returned the favour from our first encounter and hit us at a crucial time. Browny got the chance to open with Billy Godleman and after getting off to a flier with a few early boundaries the wickets began to tumble and so too our chances of qualification into the final. We eventually fell 140 short to be exact! I think its safe to say that on this occasion we were very much outplayed in all departments of the game.

Our final Tri-series game came with some good news for me. I was given the ok to play against Pakistan. It was a great relief after the frustration of having to watch my team mates have all the fun. We were on the same wicket that we had taken on the Sri Lankans on just two days before. As such, we elected to bat first and thanks to a brilliant Century from Billy Godleman, his second of the tour so far, we managed to post a total of 250. The other half of the innings unfortunately did not go quite according to plan. The excitement of getting the chance to play was short lived as my first two overs went wicketless for 18 – not the best start! Pakistan got off to a great start and in an attempt to stem the flow of runs we introduced the spinners after only five overs. This however did not do much to slow the rate as they galloped ahead to 88 from just 10 overs. This forced the skipper Alex Wakely to not take the power play and they proceeded to about 130 before they lost their first wicket. The wickets prompted my second spell which was far better, producing overall figures of six overs for 34. Not bad considering.

Although that day there was a fair amount of frustration within the squad there was also a huge amount of determination, guts and character to keep plugging away and running in despite the ball disappearing to all parts. Many individual and team lessons have been learned this tri-series. Hopefully we can implement them next week.