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

Watkinson leads another Florida excursion

Henry Watkinson leads arguably the strongest OCCC squad to Florida on November 24 for the seventh time in the club’s history and the first since 2007 in an effort to lift a trophy that has just escaped the club’s grasp on more than one occasion in the past.

The Sarasota International Six-a-Side Thanksgiving tournament has attracted such names as Chiv Chanderpaul, Fayood Bacchus, Jonathan Trott, Mike “RJ” Gatting, Paul Maynard and Steve Watkin in the past and the cricket has been extremely competitive with strong OCCC sides falling at the semi final stages at three previous tournaments.

“We arrive this year with our tail between our legs since last time we took a side to the festival we failed to win a group game,” Watkinson admitted. “Admittedly we had a young side then but we had experience as well and it goes to show that we are playing people who play this format of cricket a lot more than we do and we need to learn quickly as good sides can come unstuck very quickly in Sarasota.”

Watkinson also brushed aside claims that his selections had choked in the later stages of this tournament in the past. “It wasn’t nerves that got the better of us it was the teams unwillingness to say no to large amounts of alcohol plied to it by the very friendly locals as well as the opposition on the Saturday night gala dinner before the semi finals on Saturday morning.”

Watkinson feels buoyed by the fact that Rick Johnson has assumed the John McDermott managerial role of building bridges at the festival. “Mac’s are very broad shoulders but if anyone can fill his shoes then Rick can. I was very sorry Mac has had to stay at home due to his wife Sylvia’s advice. In the past we have got into plenty of trouble here but Mac has always bailed us out.”

Watkinson’s team consists not only of Johnson but of Eds Copleston who will be eager to prove that there is life after captaincy, previous tourists Jonny Gates and Sam Langmead, who will have no doubt benefitted from the experience of their earlier chastening visit. Crowd favourite and talented Will Howard will be extremely useful behind the stumps in a pivotal role as will the OCCC’s most talented newcomers of the last three years Alan Cope and Matt Crump. Globetrotting Steve Bailey, recruited while drunk at the weekend’s OC Society Dinner, makes up the numbers.

Watkinson says he will set foot in Florida with a team that is cognisant of a gruelling three-day campaign in which everyone has to be at the top of their game to prevail but also with more than a little hope that this could be the year.

"This one is for Mac," Watkinson admitted.

Henderson takes over as Copleston quits

Eds Copleston has resigned as captain of the OCCC after only three seasons in charge following his move to the USA on business. Eds had hoped to be able to juggle work with cricket and continue in the role courtesy of air miles, but business commitments meant he has been unable to play since moving to New York in June.

"It’s with great sadness that I have decided to resign as captain,” he said. “The club has given me an enormous amount of pleasure over the years and I feel like I have more to give back to it."

Ed Henderson is set to be appointed as his replacement at the AGM early next year. "The club’s in good hands with Hendo as club captain," Copleston said, adding: "Although he does lack captaincy experience, so I hope the club supports his efforts."

Eds took charge of the cup side in 2001 and led the side to four Brewers Cup finals between 2002 and 2006, winning three times. He also captained us to the Cricket World Trophy in 2007 before taking over the full club captaincy from Henry Watkinson in 2008.

Copleston’s departure also meant he was overtaken by his brother on the all-time run-scoring list, and a superb 2010 season for Simon, who also lives abroad, enabled him to become only the second OC to pass 4000 career runs.

"Congratulations to Simon … it’s is a further sign of the continued Copleston dominance of the OCCC batting aggregate board and it is inevitable now that Nigel Paul’s record will fall to either Simon or myself as we now have 8000 OCCC runs between us."

Janmohamed named Cricketer Cup captain

Abeed Janmohamed has been named as the club’s Cricketer Cup captain, replacing Eds Copleston who is heading for a two-year sabbatical in New York.

“Abeed and I have both captained counties at all our respective age groups, captained the school and then gone on to captain in Surrey championship leagues – which makes him the obvious choice,” Copleston said. “I put my full trust in Abeed and believe is the right man for the job. The first round away tie at Malvern is about as hard as games come and I hope Abeed and the boys can win that. It would be a terrific achievement.”

He has a hard act to follow. Since taking over as cup captain in 2002, Copleston has led the OCCC to four Brewers Cup finals, winning three of them, as well as victory in the 2007 Cricket World Trophy.

“It’s a true privilege to be given the honour of captaining the OCCC following in the footsteps of legends like Chetwode, Watkinson and Copleston<” gushed former Kenya international Janmohamed. “I am surprised given that i am yet to score an OC hundred or distinguish myself in OCCC colours.” He added his captaincy would be “less methodical and more spontaneous” adding he would be looking to get the best from the younger players.

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.

Charterhouse ease home as Crump goes AWOL

Chaterhouse Friars 119 for 5 beat Old Cranleighans 118 (Crump T 62, Vickers 29) by five wickets

After two days of lousy weather, the rain finally relented for our visit to Charterhouse. However, the pitch was still very wet and that meant the toss was crucial. We lost it, were stuck in, and from the moment Alan Cope was struck twice by lifting deliveries before being dismissed for 0 in the opening over, we were up against it.

As per the teamsheet, it was a Crump who captained the OCs. However, it wasn’t Matt, the match manager, but younger brother Tom. Matt had withdrawn the night before claiming he had tickets for the second day at Cardiff. Eds Copleston’s splenetic reaction was repeated 18 hours later when he found out that Matt had not only missed the match but also failed to secure the promised ticket for the Test. “It’s very disappointing for the club,” Copleston muttered. “It could take many years for Crumpy to rebuild the trust of his team-mates after this debacle.”

Back to the match. With the ball popping from every length, batting was a hit or miss affair. Jock Vickers’ natural game – swing and smash – worked for a while as he bludgeoned 29, aided by four dropped catches, while Tom Crump salvaged some family pride with a superb 62. Sadly, the rest of the side offered little and we were bowled out for 118.

With conditions improving and our opening bowler in hiding from Eds, we were short of seamers to exploit the pitch. The Harman brothers both bowled well, Phil Roper was as tight as ever, and even Vickers managed a wicket. But we were 50 runs shy of making Charterhouse sweat and they eased to a five-wicket win before the scheduled team interval.

Rain blights midweek matches

Old Cranleighans 129 for 7 (Copleston E 32, Rosenfeldt 26, Crump M 20) drew with Old Georgians

Warm and sunny turned to cold and wet, and in end after on an-off day, the match was abandoned at 4pm with the square left sodden by 45 minutes of heavy rain. In the play there was, our batting found conditions hard, with only Eds Copleston (32 off 28 balls) managing to find any touch. Two wickets on the stroke of an early lunch saw us go into the interval on 40 for 4, and our only period on top came after the re-start as Copleston and Tristan Rosenfeldt put on 52 in 28 minutes. But once Copleston went and light rain started, we lost momentum.

Old Cranleighans v Grasshoppers - match abandoned

The rain which caused Tuesday’s abandonment lasted through the night and left the square underwater, and a second shower in the morning ruled out any play before the afternoon. An inspection at 2pm resulted in a 3pm start, but as the teams changed and prepared for the toss, the heavens opened again and that was that.

Records tumble in cricket-week opener

Old Cranleighans 358 for 5 (Preece 121, Watkinson 83, Copleston 64*) drew with Eton Ramblers 333 for 8 (J Redmayne 121, Jupp 3-30, Hannah 2-28, Henderson 2-85)Click here for match photos

The cricket week got off to a cracking start with a match against Eton Ramblers that saw more than one century-old record broken. Sadly, it also marked the end of the Wimbledon-long heatwave.

The game itself was drawn, but on a pitch which offered nothing for bowlers, almost 700 runs were scored and the match was in the balance for the last two hours, thanks largely to Eton’s decision to chase a seemingly impossible target from the off. We made a record 358 for 5, 11 more than our record score set in 1907, and Eton finished on 333 for 8. The aggregate of 691 runs smashed the previous record of 601, also set in 1907.

The outfield was baked brown and the pitch a road. Eds Copleston won the toss and we got off to an uncertain start, losing three early wickets, the unluckiest being Simon Copleston, leg-before for 1 despite a thick inside edge, and after flying all the way from Abu Dhabi to play. But the left-handed pair of Chris Preece and Henry Watkinson then set about the second-string bowlers, capitalising on a lightning fast outfield in a fourth-wicket stand of 166 at almost seven an over. Preece drove and pulled with assurance, Watkinson, allowed a rare foray up the order, looked the batsman of old, especially off the front foot.

Preece completed a chanceless hundred, his first for the club, and it was only when he had passed three figures that he was dropped - twice in successive balls - as he hit out. Watkinson seemed set for his own century, much to the chagrin of Rick Johnson who was busy counting the cost of getting two names engraved on the new honours boards, when he was well caught in the covers for 83. But so quick had the runs come that Copleston had little choice but to bat on, taking the total to 358 for 5 in only 49 overs.

Eton made a good start before Jumbo Jupp, on as first change, took three wickets to reduce them to 103 for 3 in the 21st over. With an asking rate at that point of almost ten an over, the game seemed destined for a draw. But the Redmayne brothers laid into some generous bowling, Johnny Gates offering the richest pickings, to such good effect that Copleston was forced to recall his frontline attack sooner than intended.

The last 20 started with Eton requiring 184 – while that seems steep, with the Redmaynes in full flow, they were in the box seat, and when a sharp piece of fielding from Preece accounted for T Redmayne, Innes kept the score ticking over. The asking rate was matched for the first ten overs, Henderson and Watkinson struggling gamely to keep a check on the runs. Jamie Redmayne was caught by Preece on the boundary but he was unable to stop himself stepping over the rope.

Sixty-three were needed over six when Jamie Redmayne thumped Watkinson for 21, putting Eton in the driving seat, but in the next nine balls the game turned on its head. Henderson had Redmayne caught for 121 with the last ball of his 13th over, and then Elliott Hannah, called back to replace the tired Watkinson, struck with successive deliveries. With the first ball of his next over, Henderson bowled Duff-Gordon, and Eton had slumped from 321 for 4 to 325 for 8. The pitch was as perfect as ever, however, and the final 17 balls were easily negotiated.

The evening was spent in the curry house where the young recruits indulged in a much-favoured past-time of abusing the chairman. It is reported, but not confirmed as yet, that at one stage Johnson was rendered speechless. If so, it was a truly remarkable day in every respect.

Waters and spin sink Haileybury

Old Cranleighans 187 for 1 (Waters 103*, M Crump 35, T Crump 31*) beat Haileybury Hermits 186 (walker 93, Watkinson 4-58, Webb 2-30) by nine wickets with 23.5 overs to spare
Click here for match photos

A excellent 107 not out from Seren Waters helped us to an easy nine-wicket win over Haileybury Hermits in the first round of the Cricketer Cup, setting up a challenging second-round tie at Tonbridge in a fortnight.

The setting could not have been better, with the sun shining and hundreds of Old Cranleighans and their families lining the Jubilee boundary. The Red Arrows flew over shortly before the start of the game, and when Eds Copleston won the toss it seemed it was going to be our day all the way.

We started shakily,however, Henry Watkinson and Ed Henderson conceding 17 off the first two overs, but the pair stuck to their guns and reined the openers, and by the tenth over each had taken a wicket and Haileybury were struggling on 43 for 2.

Then came a stand that appeared to be setting them on their way to a formidable total as Nick Walker and Stewart put on 108 for the third wicket. We knew that Walker, whose first-class career with Derbyshire and Leicestershire ended in 2008, would be the danger man, and he set out his stall by smacking Watkinson for two sixes in his first ten balls.

Copleston then set the three-prong spin attack of Phil Roper, Graham Webb and Waters into operation. Initially it seemed as if Walker would continue to dominate, hitting Roper for four fours in eight deliveries, but the next 15 overs produced only two more boundaries. Walker was adept at milking the singles, but Stewart struggled to keep the strike rate up. He managed only one run in the first 38 balls he faced, and 22 of his 24 runs, made from 98 deliveries, were singles.

Roper was unlucky as twice Webb spilt catches off well-hit reverse sweeps, but in the end the pressure told. Copleston switched Webb to the bottom end and with his second ball he had Stewart stumped. Three overs later Waters bowled another Stewart, and then within two balls the innings completely came unstuck.

Gaur was well run-out trying to give the strike to Walker, and next ball Walker himself, limited to singles by tight bowling and good field-placing, was cleaned up by Webb. At 151 for 2 with 18 overs remaining and the pitch playing well, most spectators were talking of a target of 270 plus; nine overs later Haileybury were 171 for 6 and all at sea.

That set the scene for Watkinson, whose pace is a distant memory but who has become a canny death bowler, taking on the mantle which Mike Chetwode used to fulfil so skilfully. By relying on line and length, with the occasional slow full toss into the mix, he polished off the innings with three wickets in five deliveries.

Haileybury had lost their last eight wickets for 35 runs, and defending 186 needed a to hit the ground running. Perhaps the hour-long lunch break, during which former housemaster Roger Knight formally opened the pavilion, did for the visitors.

The opening attack was wayward – there were ten wides in as many overs – and Waters, in good form after a mediocre start to the summer, was savage on anything wide of the off stump, cutting and driving with elegance and power. Matt Crump was by no means going to play second fiddle, and he was as always strong off his legs.

As the hundred approached, both batsmen started taking more chances. Waters was inexplicably dropped at mid-on when in his forties, Crump not as fortunate soon after.

The arrival of Tom Crump only accelerated the finish, cracking four fours in nine balls. Waters, whose fifty came in 61 minutes off 64 deliveries, laid into the weary attack, racing to his second hundred, his second fifty taking only another 32 balls and 34 minutes. His was innings which oozed class, and it was a fitting end to a weekend which had started with his father being awarded the MBE for services to Kenyan cricket.

Squad named for Cricketer Cup first round

Following the OCCC Cricketer Cup selection panel conference call (and Rick Johnson was still 25minutes late for that), the following 14-man squad has been named for the first-round tie against Haileybury Hermits on Jubilee on June 14.

Michael Chetwode, Eds Copleston (captain), Matt Crump, Tom Crump, Paddy Harman, Ed Henderson, Will Howard (wkt), Abeed Janmohammed, Rob Jones, Chris Preece, Phil Roper, Seren Waters, Henry Watkinson, Graham Webb.

The only two absentees from last year’s Cricketer Cup final are Stuart Meaker, who is on Surrey duty, and James Halton, who is injured. Alan Cope, who played in all rounds of the 2008 campaign other than the final, is out for the season with a back injury.

Paddy Harman, currently at Durham University, and Chris Preece, who made his OCCC debut against Winchester last week, come in to the squad for the first time.

Copleston battles to secure the draw

Old Wykamists 260 for 7 dec drew with Old Cranleighans 178 for 8 (Copleston 88, Henderson 30)
Click here for match photos

Following two away wins, the inaugural home game in front of the new pavilion on Jubilee saw us take on Winchester on a gorgeous day at Cranleigh in what was a Cricketer Cup trial for both teams.

The pavilion looked utterly superb with the new OCCC flag flying happily in the breeze. Eds Copleston lost the toss and Winchester decided to bat, a wise move given the unseasonally hot weather. Henry Watkinson and Ed Henderson tied down the openers with the new ball before the pressure told and Henderson claimed two quick wickets. Mike Chetwode, coming back from his retirement announced in South Africa, maintained the pressure, and a wicket for him and a nonsensical run-out reduced Winchester to 70 for 4.

Ed Prince proved wayward in his first spell, but his replacement Chris Preece tied things down again before lunch. The expansive new catering facilities allowed us to serve the opposition bacon sandwiches before the game and follow that up with a fine lunch – many thanks to our Head Catering Manager & Assistant Catering Manager – better known as Helen & Hayley. Lunch proved too good for us and we looked sluggish afterwards, allowing Winchester to fight back to close on 260 for7.

Against an opposition clearly not in the mood for generosity, we made a decent start before Preece, who latched onto anything pitched up, and Johnny Gates gave their wickets away within four balls shortly before tea.

Andy Ainsley fell straight after the restart and was soon followed by Jock Vickers, bowled attempting a lofted drive, and our batsmen were struggling against the nagging offspin of Tom Hemmingway. Tom Merry was bowled round his legs, and when Watkinson managed his trademark chip to cover we were 65 for 6 and in all sorts of trouble.

Copleston, struggling in the last couple of years, needed a good score and he rolled back the clock with a defiant 88, mixing his typically impish running with some powerful hitting, including three sixes. He clearly benefited from one-on-one coaching from Stuart Welch. He found a partner in Henderson, whose pretensions as a batsman have been advanced by the foot injury which meant he was unable to bowl last summer.

We were always off the pace, but appeared to be well on course for the draw only for Copleston to fall leg-before in sight of his hundred since 2000. A setback became all the more serious when soon after Henderson was brilliantly caught at leg slip off an authentic glance, but Rob Merry, nursing a dislocated finger, and Prince played out the last four overs among some enthusiastic appealing from Winchester.

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.

Season starts with London-wide bus campaign

As a prelude to the forthcoming season, the incoming captain Eds Copleston has launched an advertising campaign across London.

The advert (above) is at the moment displayed on the side of a No. 77 bus running from Green Park through Parliament Square, the Embankment and down to Clapham.

"We don't need players, we need support and we need national recognition for being the best old boys cricket club in the country," gushed Copleston. "The club will grow stronger and a more captive audience can only be a good thing. If we can push the advertising global for the website, the public will really start to take interest.

"There is no reason we can't get a thousand people to support a big cup game for instance. I see this as a natural step for the club, the dream is alive."

Copleston is currently receiving therapy and should be available for the start of the summer.

A win to end the tour

Click here for the day's photos

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

Click here for the day's photos

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

Click here for the day's photos

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.

Finally cricket ,,, and a defeat

Click here for the day's photos

More than a week after landing we finally took to the cricket field at the wonderful Van der Stel CC in Stellenbosch, surrounded by mountains and under a deep blue sky. We fielded and made a quick breakthrough when Matt Crump ripped out an off stump, and soon after Tom Merry scored a run-out with a direct hit, When Michael Chetwode had J Engelbrecht caught behind, the home side were 62 for 3 and we fancied our chances. But while we stuck to the task, Cape Cobra's contracted Sybrand Engelbrecht hit 89 to help boost his side to 228 for 7 off their 50 overs. Matt Crump was the most successful bowler with 3 for 36.

We lost Tom Crump to the fourth ball of the innings and Johnny Gates followed shortly after – from then on in only Matt Crump saved us from complete humiliation. He effortlessly stroked his way to 88 off 106 balls, including 12 fours, while all around fell to rash shots and reckless running. Eds Copleston led the headless charge, escaping a dropped catch only to leave himself high and dry as he tried for a resulting run that was never there. Aside from Crump, only 40 runs came off the bat. It really was that dismal.

Dinner was taken by all at Panama Jacks in the harbour in Cape Town and will be remembered not just by the touring party, but all those unlucky enough to be in the restaurant, for the performance of Jonny 'the bugler' Gates. After perhaps one too many Castle lagers he expelled what had gone in and there are flags on the ceiling and windows in the restaurant that will never, ever be the same again. It was quite remarkable - please ask anyone present for more details. Or perhaps don’t.

Happy New Year!

Click here for the day's photos

There can be few more unsuitable ways to prepare for a long hard night of partying than spending the day battling the Zambezi river during five hours of intense white water rafting. Copleston apart, this is what the majority of us did and it was exhilarating. In the stunning deep gorge in scorching sun we took on rapids with names such as the 'Washing Machine' and the 'Devils Daughter'. Flipping over in the middle of some grade 4 rapids and getting stuck under an upside down boat can be a little hairy. However fun was had by all.

Minutes after arriving back at the hotel from the rafting trip we were departing for a more sedate form of water activity - a sunset cruise aboard an exclusively chartered boat with as much food and drink as we could consume. Floating alongside crocodiles and hippos wasn't going to stop an over 25's versus under 25's boat race. Some impressive downing from the young shavers Cope and Roper left it all for Rosenfeldt to do on the home straight but, despite pouring half of the bottle of beer down his front, he couldn't secure a win for the older crew.

Following the boat trip we rocked up at the Waterfront Hotel for Livingstone's biggest party. Despite the rest of the party goers appearing to be under 18 to begin with, the cheap alcohol flowed and the crowd matured. An absolute cracker of a night ensued.

Appeals fail at the Falls

Click here for the day's photos

For those avid follows of the blog (I am assured there are a few!!) - apologies for the delay in getting this to you, a combination of being very busy and a few connectivity issues are to blame ...

Our trip from Lusaka to Livingstone did not start particularly successfully - the issue of lots of kit (familiar to anyone who has toured with the OCs before was to blame. Just outside Livingstone we had a fascinating tour of the Lusaka Alive and Kicking factory, run by Chris Roe (an OC who left in 2001). The charity produces footballs and netballs with health messages which they then distribute, along with educational seminars, to schools and townships across Africa (www.aliveandkicking.org.uk). The tour gave us a fascinating insight to the work the charity does as well as the opportunity to pick up some balls that several benefactors and our sponsors have kindly donated, to distribute in Zambia and South Africa.

Our 7 hour estimate for the coach soon became interesting... The road from Lusaka most of the way to Livingstone was exceptional, pot holes about as evident as an OC tourist drinking water at dinner. Unfortunately the road then ended (literally) and we hit 'roads' that would have and did challenge any vehicle, let alone a coach. All I can say is that it was a great relief that we finally made it to the hotel. The next day we has a great game drive around the Mosi-oa-tunda ('The smoke that thunders' - the local name for the Victoria Falls) - where we got up close and personal with hippos, impala, wildebeest, buffalo, baboons, zebras, giraffes, birds, snakes and lizards.

Following the game drive we went to learn more about the various activities on offer over a beer (thanks Karien!). The tourists had clearly developed a taste for the adrenaline rush of the coach journey as white water rafting, bungee jumps, walking with the lions, going to Livingstone Island to sit in a plunge pool and helicopter rides all proved popular as well as the New Years Eve cruise / party that had already been booked! The afternoon was spent by the poolside in splendid sunshine. Unfortunately the pool also led to our first casualty of tour, Matt Crump unfortunately getting a perforated eardrum from a stray elbow in the pool - we wish him well for a speedy recovery.

The only thing powerful enough to drag people away from a sunlounger or game of volleyball over the bridge in the pool (our invention which is now practically an institution) was the waterfall that backs on to the hotel. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls truly has to be seen to be believed and all stood in awe perilously close to the edge trying to get the perfect picture, whilst getting absolutely soaked. We were able to further appreciate this marvel at sunset, over drinks on the veranda at our regal sister hotel. This was followed by fines, where the first (and a particularly weak) appeal by Alan Cope, for not wearing the dick of the day cravat, was denied by the tour committee. Dinner saw the first successful appeal by Mike Chetwode (experienced in such matters) to the detriment of the accuser Eds Copleston (who should have known better).

We are all very much looking forward to the rafting and New Years Eve festivities. Happy New Year to all! Rob Merry

Opening match washed out

Boxing Day 2008 and the introduction of a throng of OC blazers brought some colour to the much maligned Terminal 5. Tristan Rosenfeldt was on hand to provide some last minute kit including the ‘vital’ tour underpants… The flight itself was fairly uneventful by previous standards. There was excitement at the announcement of the Gates’ engagement – until it was revealed that this was simply a ruse to get their hands on a glass of free champagne.

The weather forecast on the flight was ‘good visibility but scattered showers’. The tour organisers wore worried expressions as we were actually greeted by fog, low cloud and torrential rain. It took an age for the baggage to arrive and unfortunately for the youngest of the Crump clan he is still waiting…

Our exclusive coach took the scenic route from the airport stopping at the wrong Protea hotel. With the Twenty20 match not due to start until the afternoon the opportunity for a couple of hours sleep was welcomed by all except Ed and Eds who were dispatched to inspect the pitch. The pitch inspection was coupled with a press conference with our chaps fielding questions from the local press, flanked by the Zambian Cricket bigwigs.

On their return it was disappointing but not surprising to learn that the Twenty20 had been rained off. However we did take the opportunity to get out of the hotel and run a coaching session for about 20 youngsters. Cricket training sessions were followed by some touch rugby, football and some beers. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the young Zambians and no shortage of skill too. The press were in attendance again – Ed and Eds by now local celebrities.

The nine tour virgins were ‘welcomed’ at the traditional fines session, Matt Crump the proud recipient of the dick of the day cravat, before we went off for some splendid steaks at the Lusaka Country Club. It was then back to the ‘Arcade’ that backs on to the hotel to sample the local nightlife, and try to get to grips with being a cash millionaire in Kwacha .

A busy start then, and we must hope that the ground dries up enough for cricket tomorrow.