After last weeks exceptional set of results, it is difficult to know how we can perform better this week. What we do know is that due to high pressure building and drawing increasingly hot air up from the south, it’s going to be a scorcher. Blue skies and a temperature of 28c are just a warmup for what is to come. If Monday’s predicted heat surge was set to arrive 2 days earlier, we could have been in a situation where we cancelled due to heat. A first, surely?
So, with sun hats and lotion at the ready, we go again, with great availability. The Ones are off to Hartley Wintney in a buoyant mood after a great couple of weeks that has kept them interested in the promotion race.
They travel without opening bat Will Cheyney and strike bowler, Stef Kaltner. Will is busy setting the new record for most weddings and stag weekends attended in one season, whilst Stef must rest up a nagging Achilles injury. The replacements are the irrepressible James Bayliss, who will cover for Will, and Brad Compton-Bearne who comes in as a belligerent and dangerous all-rounder.
Otherwise, it’s as you were in a strong looking line-up that will need to be ready to maintain form. Hartley Witney field varying sides and if their First XI are at full strength, The Oaks can expect a stiff test from good players coming down a level. Cricket at our level is all about availability and what teams can maintain it deep into the season. This game will be a classic example of that and a big influence on the outcome.
The Twos had a real confidence boost against a weakened Hartley Wintney Third XI last week and will hope to take that into a strong second half of the season. They have maintained good availability this week and entertain Overton in the B3400 derby with a good-looking side, at least on paper.
There are some enforced changes due to holidays and injury. Nelly Warner comes in for George Rutt (who is probably climbing a mountain) and Steve Savage is behind the stumps if he recovers from his recent ton in the geriatric league. We also see the return of Mike Tiley after an Oakley sabbatical, whilst Benjamin Robinson is back in the side after a week off being called Benjamin by the Chairman. Talking of the chair, Bob Lethaby comes in to fill the ‘you probably won’t do much to be fair mate’ role, but may be needed to bowl an over or two and wander out of his crease later in The Oaks innings.
Overton are having one of those seasons where some weeks they have up to 200 players unavailable, so it is never really known what they will turn up with. However, as a club, they have some quality players who are a match for anyone at our level. On the flipside, when they are depleted, they do struggle a bit, with even Andy Galvin getting a game. With that in mind, it is a game that is impossible to call but the ‘O’s are always good, sociable guests. With sunshine and blue skies, it should be a good day for both teams to go out and enjoy themselves without the pressure of going up or down.
The Three’s travel to the quintessential surroundings of the local nuclear bomb factory, where AWE Tadley are the hosts. Skip and all-round legend, Kris Tucknott, is back in action and names a team he will be satisfied with, mainly due to it having some cricketers in it.
Dan Beckell will be looking to build on a good knock last week but if he doesn’t, he can do a few hundred pounds worth of improvements to the AWE changing rooms. The Oaks will however, miss the big hitting Nick Green, who is probably busy lifting a bus or something. However, there are plenty of other batting options with the dashing and cultured Deano James flourishing in his new holding role, unselfishly building a platform for others to go big. It’s hard to find a superlative to match Deano, so, let’s just say this. In cricket, there are boys who become men, and there are men who become Deano.
It’s taken a while for Kris to be able to put out full teams with asking Interpol to find him enough players and he has to deal with that. He must overcome a sense of lacking dramatic last-minute withdrawals and look to build on last week’s victory. A look at his line up means that I for one, know that he can ruddy well pull it off.
So that’s it. We are ready to go again without any fears of poor weather or lack of players. Please go on your various travels armed with lotion, water, and sun hats. Then return with tales aplenty about the successes and disasters you have witnessed whilst representing this grand old club.
Go well my merry men, go well.
