Averages 2015 - Batsmen dominate as bowlers toil

Given that the cricket week on Jubilee was played out on some of the most batsmen-friendly pitches we have ever used, it is unsurprising that the 2015 averages make better reading for the batsmen than the bowlers.

Brad Scriven, who like his brother missed the early part of the summer, including the Cricketer Cup matches, through injury, scored the most runs thanks to an excellent cricket week in which he scored over 300 runs in four innings, including two hundreds.  The week also saw two of the most remarkable knocks. Mike Burgess slammed 131 in XX minutes on the Wednesday while Will Rollings – 52 runs in 13 OC matches going into the game against Buccaneers – broke Nigel’s Paul’s OC 52-year-old  record for the highest score .  Eds Copleston, returned from his sojourn to the USA, broke Paul’s record for the most career runs while his fourth OC hundred same 15 years after his third. In all, we scored nine hundreds in the season - easily a record, as were the six in the week.

The bowlers suffered, especially the seamers, and 52-year-old Michael Chetwode was the joint leading wicket-taker with the marginally younger Jack Scriven.  Scriven also managed one of our two five-wicket hauls, the other being Seren Waters’ 7 for 32 in a losing cause in the Cricketer Cup at Eton.

We fielded more players than usual, but it was heartening that a lot were recent leavers.

The averages are, regrettably, incomplete as we are still waiting for a copy of the scorecard from Millfield who have told us “it will appear at some point before the start of next season”. When it does, the records will be amended accordingly.

Qualification: Five matches or five wickets

Chetwode and his children guide us to a winning start

OCCC 230 for 5 (Gates 56*, T Crump 55, W Langmead 52, Jones 50) beat Esher 211 (39.4 overs, Chetwode 4-14) by 19 runs
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Our first line up of the season was a blend of experience and youth, and on paper a very strong batting line up. We won the toss and took the opportunity to post a score for Esher to chase down in their 40 overs. The unseasonably fine weather, in evidence again on the day albeit accompanied by a cold wind, had allowed a good track to be nurtured and we were able to build a strong start.


Rob Jones and Will Langmead eased their way to 94 at the 15 over mark. However we were 109 for 2 just four overs later, with both openers falling shortly after celebrating their half centuries - Jones leg-before for 50 and Langmead caught behind for 52.

Damien Hill missed his opportunity after being caught for 3, and we got bogged down over the next 15 overs as the scoring rate dropped from 6 an over to 4 an over. Jonny Gates and Tom Crump then began to find more fluidity as the rate climbed to over 8 an over during the last 10 overs. Credit should also be given to Gates for his incredible ability to farm the strike!

Crump, who eventually got to face, was then caught and bowled by the Esher captain (another OC) for 55 in the last over, which brought Rich Aston to the crease. He was promptly on his way back after being run out without facing. Gates eventually finished unbeaten on 56 and we posted 230 for Esher to chase.

Roo Hume opened up with a maiden, and Marcus Fletcher opened at the other end up the hill and into the wind. Although we got of to a reasonable start we never really created an opportunity in the opening overs and the good batting track meant that anything full or short was duly dispatched.

Langmead came on to bowl spin and caused some problems, beating players in the air. He was unlucky not to have a stumping to his name but then got his reward when OC Alex Szepietowski smashed the ball back at him and he parried it to the waiting Crump at mid-off. Experience then came to the fore, as the ever dependable Mike Chetwode tightened things up and then bowled the left hander for a duck.

At the halfway stage Esher were 85 for 3 as Chetwode strangled their middle order and that pressure brought wickets. Despite a number of missed opportunities, with Rob Merry having a shocker behind the stumps, we looked to be just in front. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and Esher remained behind the curve – needing 96 off the final 10 overs and then 83 off the final five.

Hill bowled with uncharacteristic control and captain Abeed Janmohamed’s first spell was also tight. However having bought a wicket Abeed brought Esher’s pro (Ahmed) to the crease – who then calmly dispatched some fairly friendly Janmohamed pies for two sixes and a four. This gave Esher something to cheer about and a glimmer of hope but a fantastic diving catch in the deep by Crump off Hume removed the Ahmed threat and Esher’s chances. The game was wrapped up by an easy run-out as we finished them with two balls to spare, 19 short of our total.

A good result and first outing this season for a number of players. Several batsman put their hand up for Cricketer Cup places, and it was pleasing to see the recent school leavers play their part. Four batsman got half centuries but the stand out performance once again was old lag Chetwode with figures of 4 for 14 off his eight overs.

Somethings old, somethings new

The averages for 2010 showed significant contributions from both young and old, but the story of the season was provided by the veteran Simon Copleston, who returned from exile in Dubai to record his sixth OC hundred, equally the record of Nigel Paul; despite barely lifting a bat in anger for several seasons, he also came within six runs of a second century. His 267 runs at 89.00 topped the averages and took him past 4000 runs, only the second batsman to achieve the landmark, again after Paul. He also leapfrogged his brother, Eds, whose own departure for New York curtailed his own record-chasing activities.

There were two other hundreds, one in his first innings for the club, one in his last. Duncan Allen, at the time in the Upper Sixth, made a much-lauded 109 not out against Old Wykehamists on his debut, and went on to play for Kenya Under-19s before the year was out. The other came at Headley where Nathan Ross scored 112 shortly before heading back to Australia after a nine-year stay in which he became the first and only non-OC to play regularly for us. It was a popular and deserved way to sign off.

The Crump brothers again weighed in with valuable runs, Sam Langmead showed rowing the Atlantic had left no scars with a brace of 70s, while Dave Wilson proved a far better prospect than his father (Mike) with a pair of 60s.

Of the 116 wickets taken during the season, only three bowlers managed ten or more, two youngsters - Matt Crump with 11 at 15.73 and Andrew Goudie, in his debut season, with 13 at 22.38 - and another older than those two combined - Michael Chetwode with 10 at 24.30. Matt Crump was also one of only two bowlers to take a five-for, the other a man two years older than Chetwode, Graham Webb, whose 5 for 25 came in the Cricketer Cup defeat against Old Malvernians, only the third time anyone had taken five in a cup tie, the other two occasions almost inevitably featuring Chetwode.

Paddy Harman looked a useful allrounder with runs and wickets.

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Season ends with heavy defeat

West End Esher 128 for 3 beat Old Cranleighans 126 (Hill 40) by seven wickets

What has been in many respects a frustrating season ended with a heavy defeat at West End. The on-field drubbing was largely offset by a lovely setting and an excellent post-match BBQ.

With a weakened side containing several faces who no longer play regularly, we never got to grips with some decent but not devastating bowling on a far from tricky pitch. Several batsmen perished to horrible shots, and at 75 for 8 it appeared likely the game could be over before the charcoal was even lit. But Damien Hill, horrendously hungover from his birthday celebrations the day before, swung to good effect against the secondary bowlers before missing a full toss, adding 35 for the ninth wicket with Martin Williamson and scrambling us into three figures.

The ever-dependable Mike Chetwode struck early, actually removing a stump from the ground for the first time in years, but we did not have nearly enough depth to the bowling or runs on the board to threaten an upset. Nigel Radbourne rolled back the years with his offspin to claim a late wicket, and a daft run out engineered by Gareth Starling and aided by Tristan Rosenfeldt removing the bails in advance of receiving the ball gave the scoreline a smidgeon of respectability.

Under par on a soggy Jubilee

Radley Rangers 141 for 4 (27.1overs: Goudie 2-58; Harman 1-15) beat Old Cranleighans 140 for 5 (35 overs: Crump T 42*, Langmead W 28)

Despite heavy overnight rain we were able to get a game of sorts on a soggy Jubilee, albeit one of the limited-overs variety increasingly the norm but less than popular with some of the old guard.


Damien Hill won the toss and batted but, by his own admission, “I put too many youngsters too high up the order and the innings stagnated”. We limited to 60 for 2 after 20 of the 35 overs, failing to put pressure on the fielders with some very ordinary running. Will Langmead, who broke the all-time record for the most runs in a school season in 2010, made 28 but it was only when Tom Crump (42*) came in that things got moving, and David Bugge contributed a breezy 15 at the close, rolling back the clock with a lusty lofted cover-drive in the penultimate over.

Paddy Harman opened the bowling, getting through all his seven overs in one burst, maintaining a good line with a couple of maidens and accounting for Radley’s opener in his final over – caught behind by Langmead. Our other opening bowler, Will Jordan, got dispatched, and after seven overs Radley were 60 for 0 and seemingly set for a comprehensive win.

Goudie did a good job of slowing the rate down, as did Hill whose seven overs only cost 11 runs, but the asking rate by then was so low as to be academic. Jumbo Jupp took a wicket with a long hop and the game ended when Bugge’s first ball was thumped to the boundary.

“We were well beaten,” Hill admitted. “But it was a decent fightback after a stodgy batting display and rocketering (sic) start to Radley’s innings.”

Tense draw to end the season

Old Cranleighans 186 for 8 drew with West End Esher 185 for 7

The 2009 season concluded with a draw at West End Esher in a game which went down to the final delivery. Eds Copleston won the toss, and after losing three early wickets Hill (45), Copleston (40) and Rob Merry (49) helped steer us to 186 for 8.

Ed Henderson (4 for 48) made early inroads into the West End innings before a middle-order revival meant a tight run-chase which went to the wire. West End needed five to win off the last three balls, but a wicket from Clarence-Smith followed by a dot ball ensured the home side fell two runs short.

Sleepy enjoyment resumes at Headley

Old Cranleighans 242 for 6 dec (Chetwode 72, Russell 46, Wilkie 41*) drew with Headley 240 for 6
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A lovely sleepy summer’s afternoon and a perfect antidote to the abomination resulting from poor captaincy 12 months earlier, the game going down to the last ball. Village cricket as it should be played.

The OC hierarchy banished the captain of 2008 to Singapore and picked a side who would offer some va-va-voom. Michael Chetwode, drafted in after his Frogs game was cancelled hours before, volunteered to open with returning legend Peter Russell, and the pair added 110 in 11 overs. Russell, slightly tubbier but still a magnificently tanned sight for the ladies, oozed class after a rusty start. Chetwode also oozed something, but enough of that. He sliced, heaved and smote to great effect, aided by four dropped catches, and produced the shot of the day, a delightful eight iron which left a large dent in Rick Johnson’s car door.

Sadly, no sooner had Chetwode’s thoughts started to flick back to his only career hundred, made on this same ground, than he played on for 72. Russell then started to open up with some beautiful drives and pulls before he suffered the same fate.

Johnson, in some tight-fitting trousers (but aren’t they all) made 12 exclusively between point and third man, something Headley stifled with five men behind square on the off, while Steve Bailey made a typically idiosyncratic 34.

Iain Wilkie, his remaining traces of hair now silver, started stiffly and got stiffer, but as the declaration loomed played some attacking shots which he would never have considered in his youth (or middle age) to finish on 41 not out.

Headley set off at a pace, aided by Johnny Gates, who proclaimed at tea he could hold hard catches but not easy ones, proving the point by missing a succession of sitters. Just to underline the point he also fluffed a stumping or two. In fairness to him, the chairman, a specialist keeper in his slimmer youth, refused to keep as it interfered with his consumption of the excellent tea.

It was tight all the way, Henry Watkinson using eight bowlers to spice up the chase. In the end Headley needed 13 off two overs with wickets in hand. Chetwode, ever reliant, was summoned and restricted the batsmen to three runs off the penultimate over. Watkinson then tossed the ball to Damion Hill, a spectator all day, for his first involvement, bowling the final over.

With four needed off the last ball, a shot was launched into the deep where Johnson dropped it, but his bulk ensured there was no way the ball would or could pass him to the boundary.

A draw and a thoroughly enjoyable game against a good hosts. Hopefully this ensures we will be invited back in 2010. As long as Tristan Rosenfeldt isn’t allowed to resume his captaincy.

Gates to the rescue

Following an early morning shower, the sun came out as we arrived for our first game of the season - at the picturesque Follies Farm near Chiddingfold. In his first official game as captain, Eds Copleston won the toss and elected to field having agreed a 40 over-a-side game.

We bowled tightly early on, Luke Moorby unfortunate not to make a breakthrough. Old Spots struggled to 35 for 3 after 15 overs. Alex Craven and Henry Watkinson maintained the stranglehold, Watkinson unlucky not to take a wicket as Jock Vickers failed to hold on to a number of chances behind the stumps. Johnny Gates replaced Craven and immediately took a wicket as his flighted offbreaks confused the Old Spots middle order. Damian Hill replaced Watkinson and runs started to flow more freely. Gates maintained the stranglehold from the other end though and looked impressive, taking 3 for 34 as Old Spots struggled to 154 for 8 off their 40 overs. It should be noted that Vickers was banished as keeper after one drop too many, and Copleston got his reign off to a flying start when he cracked a finger diving over the ball.

In reply, we faltered early on with Will Howard punching the second ball of the innings directly at cover point and calling Tom Merry through for a single Usain Bolt wouldn’t have made. Briefly Copleston and Howard steadied the ship, but when Copleston fell we were shortly 52 for 3. Howard and Hill kept us ahead of the rate and at 82 for 3 off 15overs the game looked to be there for the taking. Howard, however, threw his wicket away with a trademark leading edge before Hill and Moorby fell shortly after. At 96 for 6 the game was very much in the balance. Watkinson and Gates then batted with determination before opening up towards the end to ensure a winning start to the new era.

A win to end the tour

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The final match of the tour and the last chance for new but under-fire captain Eds Copleston to rescue his shredded reputation. The day started with a fascinating tour of one of South Africa’s biggest townships and from there moved on to the match. The intended venue at had, sadly, fallen victim to vandalism and looting and cricket there has all but died out. Nevertheless, we had an opposition, although our travelling support was issued with strict orders not to move from immediately in front of the pavilion … it seems the previous side had ignored this rule and had paid the price.

We batted first and yet again our top order failed to fire, proof if it were needed that combining excessive alcohol and no sleep is no way to prepare for a game. Matt Crump made 23 but it wasn’t until Damian Hill thumped 29 and with Alex Craven and Mike Roper making late runs, we were able to post 152 for 8. Tristan Rosenfeldt’s tour came to an end when he was hit on the finger, his you-can-get-gloves-cheaply-in-Mumbai equipment offering as much protection as a meringue. He departed muttering “when will bloody India stop haunting me” only to reappear with a comedy bandage on his hand, more befitting someone who had trapped his hand in a machine.

It seemed as if it would be four losses in four when we conceded 11 wides in the first five overs as the home side raced to 34 for 0. But then we suddenly found some bottle. Michael Chetwode restored some much-needed control and then part-time spinners Matt and Tom Crump and Alan Cope chipped away at the batting. There were still some glitches – Tom Crump managed an 11-ball over – and the odd dropped catch, but we still put ourselves in a winning position before some late jitters took the match almost to the wire. Cool heads prevailed and as the run-rate climbed, we grabbed the last two wickets and finally had our win on tour.

Presentations followed – we waited to see if Copleston would use the same “this is the most beautiful ground we have played at” speech but even he realised that would be too much – which included handing over more Alive and Kicking footballs. A detour at a township bar – where the “barmaid” served from behind a Fort Knox-like system of grills – followed before we headed home.

After a brief pit stop we headed to Newlands for the end-of-tour dinner in the chairman’s dining room. We took the group photo in the middle with Table Mountain in the background and headed inside. Within minutes we were back out on the square to have another group photo, this time including the Johnsons who, inevitably, were late. Not Rick’s fault. Obviously.

The dinner was followed by closing fines and awards. The batsman of the tour was Damian Hill, the bowler Michael Chetwode, the fielder Tom Merry, and the overall Man of the Tour Keith Crump, whose uncomplaining good humour and ability to ignore the worst excesses of his sons was an example to all.

A few late-tour arguments ended the evening, various pubs were visited and the last of the squad returned to the hotel at 10am, complete with lurid tales.

Three out of three

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By now under pressure after two defeats and with the resignation of another captain ringing in his ears, Eds Copleston promised changes and a new purpose for the game at Constantia Vitsig, a glorious little ground nestled in a vineyard. He even took those members of the XI who didn’t tell him where to stick it on a pre-match run. For 20 overs it seemed a corner had been turned only for us to run slap bang into a massive brick wall.

One problem was that despite the youth and size of the squad, injuries were taking their toll and so we went into the match with four front-line bowlers and only one able to take anything more than a four-pace run-up. After a rollicking start, the guile of Chetwode, Cope and Matt Crump (reduced to bowling spin because of a detaching toenail that belonged in a museum of horrors) reduced Constantia to 98 for 5 in the 19th over. All was well. Except Eds was left without any of the four to bowl the last seven overs. Putting his faith in Langmead and Hill was a bold move that didn’t quite work as those overs yielded 109 runs. Langmead 4-0-58-1, Hill 3-0-50-0. Gray, Constantia’s opener, made an excellent 129*including nine sixes, as they posted 268 for 8.

The talk at the break was of the need for a positive start, but we lost Rosenfeldt in the third over (although he did score his first run in five innings in South Africa) and by the end of the tenth over we were 30 for 3 with Cope and Matt Crump out. From then on it was only ever going to be a face-saving exercise. Copleston briefly sparked with 26, Gates played himself into some form with 25, Hill bludgeoned 30 and Langmead at the end made 38*, but it was another heavy defeat by 91 runs.

After fines and the passing of Dick of the Day to Hill for his bowling, we dined at one of South Africa’s best restaurants where we managed to behave. For about half an hour. The napkins were knotted, the wine flowed and Chetwode muttered “don’t any of you know how to behave in a real restaurant” more than once. We were joined by the Johnsons who had decamped to a luxury villa on the estate for the remainder of their tour, a move which was widely condemned in public and envied in private.

Defeat under Table Mountain

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The second match of the tour took place at Western Province CC, a stunning ground situated under Table Mountain. The weather was glorious, and our hosts even went as far as handing us the toss on a plate (quite possibly the only thing Eds Copleston will win all tour). We started decently, Damian Hill’s idiosyncratic strokeplay contrasting and outscoring the more classy Alan Cope. Cope fell leg before to a Tom Merry instant decision, and thereafter we limped along, with only a stand of 63 for the fourth wicket between the Crumps enabling us to reach a half-decent total. The gamble of pushing the veterans Chetwode and Watkinson into the middle order to boost the scoring rate failed dismally. Copleston and Matt Crump scurried and swept at the end to help us reach moderate respectability.

Between innings we were treated to a sight never before seen at an OC match as Chetwode warmed up with some painful and horribly stiff contortions. No matter that he needed help to get up afterwards, it showed excellent intent.

Left to defend 160, we did make an early breakthrough when Watkinson won over the umpire with an obscenely long three-part screeching appeal. The ball was going down leg but no matter. It turned out to be our only success of the afternoon and our bowling was cut to ribbons and our fielding, increasing affected by sambuca Belgrano calls the previous night, became increasingly listless. WP Chairman’s XI romped home by nine wickets with almost eight overs to spare.

A marvellous barbeque followed, showing up Rick’s efforts in terms of quantity and also timeliness, and fines then took place against the backdrop of sun setting next to Table Mountain. Rick, to widespread acclaim, took the Dick of the Day tie. The journey home, past houses with ubiquitous razor-wired walls and promises that they were protected by armed response units, was enlivened by a karaoke session, the highlight in quality being Mike Roper, in entertainment Hill’s Suggerhill Gang rap.

The evening started full of promise but ended with the usual number of casualties. Despite warnings not to venture out after dark, Rick led the 4am walk home through the deserted streets to the hotel. Even the local thugs knew not to mess with a 5’4” puffball dressed in a hideous blazer.

The one unanswered question was the whereabouts of the nominated 12th man during the game. Rosenfeldt was missing at the start on an almost inevitable burger hunt, but then spent the remainder of the day telling everyone within earshot about his regular bowel movements. Any sympathy from neutrals soon evaporated when it transpired that his problems started in Lusaka when his desire for meat took him on a 45-minute cab ride which finished in two chicken burgers from a street vendor.

Henderson plunders, Rosenfeldt eats

OCs 189 for 8 (Rosenfeldt 56, Henderson 53*) lost to Frogs 191 for 4 by six wickets

At 5pm on the day before the game we had eight players and no catering arrangements in place for Sunday's game against the Frogs. A thought shower and no little blue sky thinking later we had 11 men and a car boot full of economy meat and salad. Adam Takla and Dave Shapland came in for their OC debuts whilst Ed Henderson and Tristan Rosenfeldt scuttled off home to prepare some salads for the BBQ (green for the former, potato for the latter... under his mother's supervision).

Sunday was a fine day and and it was a pleasure to welcome Rob Warbuton as captain of the opposition. Rosenfeldt arranged for us to bat first so that we could prepare the BBQ and Warburton cleverly arranged for there to be no ten-over limit per bowler in the fifty-over match.

Johnny Gates composed an elegant 9 until he was shot out by an umpire keen to get into the action. Damian Hill butchered a quick twenty, Shapland didn't hang around and Tom Merry, still mentally in Infernos where he had been the previous night, thought he could steal a quick single. Rosenfeldt was at the other end and quite simply wasn't having any of it.

Henderson, flagrantly disobeying doctors orders not to aggravate his foot, came in at the allrounders position of No. 6 and scratched around for an unbeaten half century, his maiden for the club. A total of 180 in 50 overs wasn't enough but it was at least something and, given the relative weakness of the batting, was a decent effort.

Early wickets were required but not forthcoming. A Paul Vickersesque left hander wiped several ugly boundaries despite craven bowling with impressive control. Henderson claimed his first wicket as an off spinner and Hardy-King bowled with pace and aggression but the result was never in doubt. The Frogs won by six wickets with 10 overs to spare.

Pop-gun OCs draw with Headley

Headley 284 for 6 (J Midmer 72*, W Midmer 52, Bugge 4-46) drew with OCs 229 for 7 (Copleston 66, Hill 43*, Fawcett 37)

The annual Golden Oldies side was not, due to some late cry-offs, not altogether old and certainly wasn’t gold. We came away from a sunny, if windy, Headley with an honourable draw but paid for turning up with a bowling attack for which the label pop-gun would be overplaying its strength.

We fielded well, especially the indefatigable Damian Hill who seemed to be permanently charging around the boundary on the road side and diving to save fours. We held almost all the catches that came our way, and batted solidly. But with no front-line bowlers, and not many from the second string either, we were always up against it.

Tristan Rosenfeldt, with the hairline and girth of a Golden Oldie if not the sharp wit or tactical know-how, fielded on winning the toss. He had no option. We couldn’t have bowled out a blind school. John Wells and Hill shared the new ball but with enough loose stuff for a strong Headley line-up to feast. The change bowlers failed to stem the flow, but David Bugge did roll back the clock with some brisk offspin and he grabbed four wickets. Rosenfeldt risked his life by taking Bugge out of the attack when he seemed set for a five-for. Men have died for less, but he got away with it.

He then underlined his naivety by opting, against advice, to toss it up and invite Headley to have a go. The challenge was accepted with glee. Eds Copleston took two overs to pitch one on the cut strip, by which time several hours had been lost searching for the ball in the undergrowth, but when he did he took an immediate wicket, probably because the batsman was in a state of shock. Rosenfeldt rather interestingly brought himself on and only sped up the flow of runs. In the end Headley called off the slaughter at 284 for 6 off 41 overs.

Our reply got off to a poor start when Tom Merry was caught behind off a snorter in the first over, and then Iain Wilkie was bowled after some crisp leg-side shots. Copleston, unleashing some super drives, and Will Fawcett, playing from instinct and hammering a remarkable straight six, took the score to 106 and at a rate that had us right on course. It was hard work on a pitch where the ball never came onto the bat.

But Fawcett was undone by a straight one and then the game turned on a quite remarkable catch in the deep to remove Copleston for 66, the boundary fielder taking a one-handed diving catch an inch from the turf as he ran in at full speed. The outstanding legspin of Josh Pickering, a delight to watch, further applied the brakes and we were left needing double figures from 15 overs out.

Hill’s encounter with Pickering was beauty and the beast. Confronted with guile, flight and real turn, Hill leant back and heaved to good effect. Legbreak and googly were all thumped over midwicket with equal disdain and ignorance, and at the end John Wells joined in the fun as well.

On paper we were within 50-odd runs of the target but the reality were that we never seriously in the hunt as the strongest Headley side for several years always had the depth to shut things down. To their credit, they didn’t.

Cup defence ends at the first hurdle

Old Alluredians 139 (Chetwode 5-15) beat Old Cranleighans 132 by seven runs

After all the entertainment we have gained from cup competitions since we joined the Brewers Cup in 2001, this took us back to the beginning. The club has progressed significantly since we were knocked out in the 1st round by Old Hurstjohnians in 2001. We have raised the Brewers Cup three times in four years and the Cricket World Trophy last year. However the availability for this round was dire… University exams, holidays (yes, during the cricket season) and a general lack of interest in travelling down to Kings Taunton turned the usual selection dilemmas into a scramble for 11 players.

We did, however, turn up with a full compliment on a warm day down in Taunton. We won the toss and elected to field, given that the green pitch was still drying. Our opening attack was a blend of youth and experience with Henry Watkinson and Max Barson (on debut). Both bowled with good control to contain the OA’s openers. Watkinson struck early on as he bowled an excellent tight line and some sharp fielding contained the OAs to 40 for off 14 overs. Our first change, Jumbo Jupp, was expensive in a short spell before Rob Jones gave us more control, with Alex Craven bowling his usual miserly line and length from the other end. Mike Chetwode came on to replace Jones and immediately gave us back complete control of the game as he took 5 for 15 either side of lunch. Some excellent groundfielding helped us keep the pressure on at both ends and OAs had no answer to Chetwode. Jones replaced Craven to take the last three wickets as OAs left us 140 to win.

With a very achievable target the plan was simple - bat sensibly for as many overs as it took. After some excellent early drives from Jones, we quickly found ourselves in trouble at 35 for 3 with Jones, Barson and Johnny Gates all back in the pavilion. Eds Copleston and Will Howard steadied the ship before we lost Howard LBW trying to work a straight ball to the leg side(all too familiar) to leave us 60 for 4. Jock Vickers and Copleston took us to 85 for 4 before Copleston was controversially given out caught off his pad. At 85 for 5 we were reeling and shortly afterwards Vickers fell LBW to leave youngsters Damien Hill and Jupp with a difficult task - 95 for 6 at tea. The run rate was never an issue and we knew if just batted for another 10 overs the game was ours. Jupp batted with maturity and mental strength to get us to within 7 runs of victory as at the other end wickets continued to tumble - Hill ran himself out, Wakinson was bowled and Craven fell LBW. Shortly afterwards the umpires had the last word as Jupp was stumped off what debatably could have been a no-ball.

We didn’t deserve to win this game the way we batted, Taunton played with spirit and deserved their exciting win. The majority conclusion after the game was this is a thoroughly worthwhile tournament to be in and can provide some good cricket for all OCCC club members going forward. This also represents an opportunity to blood players and test them under pressure in cup cricket. We must move on and learn alot from this experience as attention now moves to the first round of the cricketer cup this weekend - a home tie against Lancing…

Winning start at East Horsley

Old Cranleighans 159 for 5 (Gates 48, Watkinson 42) beat East Horsley 158 for 9 dec (Chetwode 4-40) by five wickets

After two cancellations by the opposition, our season finally got underway at East Horsley where we overcame the home side and showers to record a five-wicket win. Boss and employee, Henry Watkinson and Johnny Gates, provided the bulk of the runs while the old warhorse Mike Chetwode was the pick of the bowlers.

The Horsley innings was unremarkable, much like Graeme Brown’s innings which was brief. Chetwode was as he always is at the start of the season, heavier but metrognomic, Damien Hill and mini Crump chipped in with two a piece, and just to show that life was returning to normal, Gates recorded his first drop of the summer, a skier that the slips left for the keeper, the keeper left for Gates, and Gates spilt. Nine fielders got the giggles, Henry produced his first teapot of the summer – believed to be a record as it has never been sighted before May – and the reprieved batsman went on to make 75.

Matt Crump and Rob Merry made good progress until Crump’s patience snapped and he was bowled shaping to belt a straight one over midwicket and then Merry was bowled just missing a similar delivery. Gates continued his involvement by running Rob Campbell out and when Hill was bowled we were wobbling on 40 for 4.

But the Headtstart twins took control, attritionally at first with Watkinson taking almost 20 minutes to get off the mark, but they did all that was needed. Once he had started, Watkinson cut loose and although he holed out to midwicket, Gates stayed until the end to make amends for all that had done before.

Sarasota 2007 - Sharks, golf and some dreadful cricket

Rob Merry reports on the second tour of the year, a return to the USA
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We travelled to this popular six-a-side tournament in Sarasota, Florida with a mix of youth and the experience offered by captain Henry Watkinson and Mike Chetwode – both of whom had been several times before. A few of us got there a day early to ‘acclimatise’ on the beach. The first night gave us an indication of what was to follow – our thanks to the wonderful hospitality shown by the extended Perry family.
While we were rarely found wanting in the drinking department, it was unfortunately a different story on the cricket pitch. It took the four young guns time to come to grips with the nature of six-a-side (five overs, five different bowlers, limited run-ups, two runs + another ball for wides and no-balls, and an artificial wicket). We failed to get bat on ball often enough, lacked enough big hitting and always had one poor over bowling.

Our first two games were probably against the weakest of the sides in our group and by the time we had found our feet with some strong hitting from both Jonny Gates and Sam Langmead we were up against stronger opposition. In the past we had always reached the quarter-finals but this year it was not to be. Our nightly antics probably had something to do with it and there were some useful players knocking about – Shiv Chanderpaul kindly agreeing to don the OC touring blazer.

Off the pitch we were equally unsuccessful! We had to get more golf balls delivered on our golf outing on what was admittedly a difficult but very impressive and enjoyable course. We did have some success in on a deep-sea fishing trip but whilst we were catching relatively little fish two Americans on our boat caught a shark!
Our partying really came to a head at the gala dinner, where Mac was guest speaker - our failure to make the finals day meant that we had nothing to hold back for. Other highlights included a trip to our sponsors – a local entertainment arena our dubious repute, some great dinners, thanksgiving partying, and the weak dollar!

Everyone enjoyed the trip, despite our cricketing prowess, or lack of it. A big thank you to Sarasota Cricket Club, the other teams and the extended Parry family – who provided wonderful hospitality throughout.

I’m sure that all the youngsters will return and hopefully Henry and Mike will join us. Damien has also lost no time in addressing our cricketing performance. He is spearheading the effort to get a OCCC six a side tournament up and running at Cranleigh sometime next summer – watch this space!

Rosenfeldt leads youthful CWT side

For the first time in the club’s history, we will be playing two cup matches on the same day. While the senior side travel to Old Cholmelians in the Cricket Cup second round on Sunday, June 24, Tristan Rosenfeldt leads an A team against Old Georgians in the second round of the Cricket World Trophy.

The side for that game, which starts at 11.00am on Jubilee, is as follows:
Tristan Rosenfeldt (capt), Graeme Brown, Tom Crump, Jonny Gates, Damien Hill, Jumbo Jupp, Sam Langmead, Rob Merry, Mike Roper, Phil Roper, Seren Waters.

The great thing is that the XI is young, with Brown the veteran at 29 and Rosenfeldt the second oldest (and by far the baldest) at 24. “As you can see this is a very youthful looking side and also one packed with quality,” said Rosenburg. “Many of us have played together but it will also be good to play with some of you guys for the first time, and I think this so called ‘Development Side’ really emphasises the strength in depth of talent the club has. I am very much looking forward to captaining this side.

“I am sure you all know, the Cricketer Cup side is playing on the same day hence the selection of this side. This game gives the opportunity for us all to play competitive cup cricket for the OC’s but also gives a platform to many of you to prove your worth and to start knocking on the door of Cricketer Cup selection, let’s give Henry and the selection committee some real headaches for future cup team selection.”

Rosenfeldt puffs as we come up short at Esher

Esher 239 (50.5 overs - Tallent 73, Moores 49, Porter 4-40, Chetwode 2-47, Copleston 2-50) drew with Old Cranleighans 232 for 6 (44 overs – Gates 61, Merry 58, Copleston 53, Ahmed 2-45)

Fresh from back-to-back wins the previous weekend under Henry Watkinson, the captaincy was handed to Tristan Rosenfeldt. After listening to his self-promotion while we trekked across India, it was time for the big man to show everyone whether he was all hot air. Signs that it was came when he immediately announced it was “without doubt a prouder moment than my future wedding or first-born’s birth will be”.


On a pitch in wonderful condition, Esher won the toss and confidently decided to bat. With one short boundary and a lush outfield, it certainly looked a day for the batsmen. This was proved to be the case when after 27 overs of the new regime, with the skipper relying on Mike Chetwode and Alex Craven to get the early wicket, Esher were trundling along comfortably on 117 for 0. This score certainly did not reflect the quality of bowling, but emphasised the woeful fielding. The absence of Damien Hill (who stumbled out of a Clapham nightclub the night before and no doubt made a few 3 or 4am phone calls to certain female members of the OCCC India tour before eventually hitting the sack) from the field for the first hour didn’t help.


Johnny Gates, a man with a burgeoning reputation for not being able to catch a cold, shelled two in as many overs to take his season’s tally of drops to four, much to Chetwode’s amusement. Chetwode bowled his usual tight line, a perfect example to many of the youngsters playing and was unlucky not to have a better haul to his name.


The breakthrough came when Moores was caught behind by Rob Merry, via the back of the bat as he shaped to sweep Hill. It was at this point that Chris Porter came into the attack. Taking just a few balls to get into his stride, he took his first wicket of the day in his second over with a ball that jumped … cue wild celebrations and a Porter clenched fist.


It was a renewed buzz and atmosphere around the field that greeted Sohail Ahmed (one unnamed OC, finding out he was a Pakistani Academy player, chirping “well, you’re gonna be embarrassed when you get a duck”). It is his third season at Esher and he has no doubt adapted to Surrey life wonderfully, and promptly got off the mark with a well struck six. However, life at the Academy had in no way prepared him for Eds Copleston.


Having been found out on the turning wickets of the subcontinent as a man who offers no spin at all, Copleston and Porter become our very own Warne and MacGill. After being smacked for 10 in his first over, Copleston deceived Sohail with a cleverly flighted, slower, held-back delivery that dropped marginally short of the man at wide mid-on. He was clearly flustered, and Porter immediately picked him off, caught well at deep mid-on by Chetwode, exorcising the demons of the week before and his knuckle staying firmly within his skin.


This started a mini collapse. Copleston took a slip catch to remove Esher opener Tallent for a well made 73. Trusty, in only his 2nd game for us and a tennis player at school, showed his cricketing credentials with some solid ground fielding and topped off an outfielding performance with a well-judged catch in the covers … the same, however, couldn’t be said for Mark Shapland, who shelled an easy enough chance to deny Porter his first five-for for the club. The stares exchanged between them were reminiscent of the times Mark failed to deliver the bread and milk within three minutes of the break time bell going. A definite no-no.


Porter bowled well throughout and ended up with 4 for 40. Copleston picked up two wickets for his efforts, Rob Merry with some sharp glovework to get a stumping and Eds bowling the one that went “straight on” (the variation in action so very hard for the naked eye to pick up on). It was down to Craven and Chetwode to come back and polish off the tail with, backed up well with some good catching in the outfield, particularly from Jon Greeves, university housemate of Hill (the man who joined in the fielding banter with a scream of the name ‘Michael Jackson’, we still don’t know why). Between innings the teams trudged off for a wonderful BBQ and a couple of well-earned drinks.


Gates walked out purposefully - and full of chicken, steak and several sausages - to open the innings with Shapland, both being given a chance to make up for their dropped catches. Gates started well, looking solid in defence. This lasted all of four balls when Gates tentatively prodded one to mid-on and backing it up with a call of “Yes … no … wait ... no … yes … shit” which left Shapland run out without facing a ball. Shapland joined Sam Langmead as early-season victims of Gates’s calling.


Rob Merry, batting at No. 3, started his innings without the same fluidity he had the previous week, playing and missing at a few outside off stump, the run rate slowly rising. Gates on the other hand looked like a man with a point to prove, driving beautifully through the off and tucking away delicately off his legs. Merry found his touch, hitting two big sixes to overtake Gates and record his second consecutive fifty off 65 balls, including four fours in six balls. He was bowled, bringing Porter to the crease. He eased himself back into batting with a couple of solid fours before yorking himself with some poor foot movement.

At the start of the last 20 we were 116 for 3, 124 needed. Copleston kept us up with the run rate as Gates reached only his second OC fifty off 77 balls in a flurry of boundaries, before losing his head and being stumped for 61.

Copleston then took charge of the chase, running between the wickets like a man possessed and making a run-a-ball fifty, even though Esher were leaning heavily on Sohail who was tough to get away. Hill did a fine job in rotating the strike and proved to all that he can do a role at different times of the innings, particularly finding the straight boundary.


When Hill departed, sharply caught behind when trying to force one through the off, the game was evenly poised, but it turned when Sohail had Copleston caught superbly by Ahmed at deep mid-off for a well constructed 53.

Twenty off two overs was never going to be easy and the pedestrian Rosenfeldt and Greeves struggled to get the bowling away, not for lack of trying. Rosenfeldt, who perseveres with an over-tight shirt as if wearing it will defy the laws of calorific intake, showed his worth when he pulled a buttock muscle while swishing – in a John Inman manner – and missing. It rounded off a wretched day for the would-be skipper, but underlined he has the swollen ego and lack of fitness that the job demands.

We finished eight light but it was a great early-season game and at least Rosenfeldt avoided the humiliation of squandering our unbeaten record.

Spots prove no match

Old Spots 89 (Read 2-8, Chetwode 2-16 Houston I 2-19) lost to Old Cranleighans 92 for 2 (Hill 40*, Rosenfeldt 28*) by eight wickets

An excellent opening spell from Nick Read and Henry Watkinson set the tone in a game that we were always in control of. Read used the sloping pitch to his advantage to bowl two of the top order. Watkinson took objection at being dispatched to the boundary and bowled a good bouncer in response that the batsman fended to Rob Merry behind the stumps.

The fielding was mixed. The skipper led the way doing his best impression of David Seaman, by tipping a very takeable catch wide off an imaginary post. He made amends later in the game, but only after juggling twice.

Mike Chetwode was dependable as ever but his slower ball proved interesting. Richard Seeckts (playing for Old Spots) tucked into Steve Bailey but Kitbag had the last laugh. Unfortunately, this was at the expense of Chetwode who managed to send his index finger through the back of his knuckle taking a good catch in the deep – we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

Ian Houston also used the slope well and managed to get a considerable amount of genuine turn. His eight over spell brought two wickets, but on another day might have earned him many more. Bailey bagged his second wicket, a stumping, by bowling a flighted Coppleston-esque invitation which the batsmen just couldn’t resist. Johnny Gates, having already shelled a catch in the deep, ran away from the next one, claiming he was just trying to extend his bowling spell. He wrapped up the innings by bowling a bemused-looking teenager - the ball pitching outside off stump and jagging up the hill eventually hitting the top of leg.

Eighty-nine was never going to be enough, on what was essentially a good track, but in true OC style we tried to make it interesting. First Will Bond perished and then Harry Jupp went back to a good-length ball. Damien Hill batted well; the highlight being a hook that would surely have gone for six had Damien not swapped his tried-and-tested Newbury Uzi for a horrible sounding new plank. Tristan Rosenfeldt, sporting an OC blazer-style cap, picked up from his successes of last season putting away the bad balls with style.

The early finish enabled us to make the most of the sun and excellent Old Spots hospitality. Henry, who has resorted to bribing Millie with 7-Up for her attention, was caught in the act by a visibly shocked and disappointed Melissa Johnson. Rick Johnson, who spent most of the afternoon harassing people over the OC ball, was kind enough to invite the team back for a BBQ - a fitting end to a good start to the season.
Rob Merry