So, here we are again. Another weekend where a 0% prediction of rain is leaving the chairman in such a state, he is wondering if he will make ‘glass half empty’ weather forecasts ever again. It already seems a long time since we were contemplating whether the season would ever get going.
Despite (or perhaps because of) the fine weather, we are quite depleted in numbers this weekend. Injuries, a club stag weekend and the fact it is a bank holiday, followed by half-term, have left us looking painstakingly at the depth of the squad. At the time of writing the Third XI are looking, once again, at using talented all rounder, A. N Other.
Despite all these goings on, we still look well equipped to be able to compete. So here we go…
Crown Taverners v First XI
James Bayliss takes his first team to Crown Taverners after an unfortunate but necessary raid on Jack Brundle’s second team. With Stef Kaltner, Graeme Ridler, Mike Tiley, Michael Wood and Charlie Ead all unavailable, he had no choice.
James is, however, grateful for the return of all rounders, Will Cheyney and Brad Compton-Bearne, with George Lethaby, Alex Brundle and Ian Bennett all stepping up from a couple of good weeks in the Two’s.
The loss of Stef Kaltner as an opening bowler will hurt but there would appear to be enough, with 4 of the 5 coming into the team, all capable of knocking out some good overs. Perhaps the biggest loss with the bat is Charlie Ead but it is hoped his free flowing runs will be compensated by Brad Compton-Bearne, who carries a similar style, if not physique.
Last weeks big scorers, Dan Jones and Josh Carpenter are both in as is Matt Burrell, so the top order looks fine. In fact the whole batting line-up looks pretty solid all the way down the order, which shows great strength in depth when you consider we have 20 odd squad players unavailable.
Not a lot is known about Crown Tavs this year, as they have only played once, a defeat v Odiham Two’s. So, it’s a case of being prepared for every eventuality, doing our jobs well, and seeing where it takes us. Hopefully another victory and a good solid showing from the lads who are stepping up.
Two’s v Liphook & Ripsley II
I know it’s hard to, but sometimes you have to feel sorry for Jack. Never has the exasperating role of a second team skipper been more evident than this week. Jack’s preferred team has completely lost the middle order presence of George Lethaby, Ian Bennett and Alex Brundle, who have compiled around 180 runs between them in the first two games of the season. A blow, for sure, but how much of one?
Well, it’s not all bad news for Jack. He has managed to retain talismen, Mike Bryant and Dave Bowers for starters. Added to that, he also has the highly experienced Alan North, Dan Beckell and George Rutt all coming into the side. They are joined by Noah Beckell, a talented youngster with something to prove with bat and ball as well as Will Rabley, who returns to the side. Will offers athleticism in the field, an arm Steve Backley would be impressed with, and some utterly bizarre cricketing sledges.
Ok, it’s not the line-up of Jack’s cricketing wet dreams, but with club membership buoyant, he no longer has to consider digging up the local graveyard to fill a team. Despite everything Jack has had to to chop and change, it still looks a decent side from where I am sat. Whether it is decent enough, we don’t know. Liphook’s only outing so far, has been a trouncing of 9 man Old Basing 4’s.
An intriguing game this and impossible to call a favourite, so I won’t. The Oaks just need to be on the case, something the lad Bryant, normally takes care of.
Twyford Two’s v Third XI
The Third XI take the M3 traffic jam route down to Twyford for an encounter that leaves Jeff Triner’s side relatively unharmed by losses further up the Oakley availability list.
At the start of this post, it was noted that there would be a role for A N Other. However, that role that now appears to have been filled by Bob Lethaby’s old pal, Howard Langer, a competent batsman in his time. Howard, triggered by Bob’s emotional Facebook post, felt it was his duty to respond and have another shot at cricketing glory. What else could he do? Not respond, maybe?
Bob, carrying a knee injury he doesn’t like to talk about, also plays. He will be aided by turmeric, ibroprufen and a knee brace donated by his First XI skipper during a riverside chinwag that was bereft of the nice cup of tea Bob perpetually hinted at, without any success. Still, if he can walk to the crease, there is no reason the Oakley Express cannot roll back the decades with red leather in hand.
Hold on, hold, more breaking news…I am just hearing from the Reuters press agency that Howard Langer is out of the game. Rumours are circulating around Oakley HQ that he forgot he was taking his son to a Warwick University open day this weekend. That’s now been confirmed. Howard is out of the game, Oakley are back down to 10 as it stands.
So, JT will be looking at an obdurate batting line-up to build an innings. Phil ‘The Wall’ Carpenter is back in for his first league knock of 2023 and JT, Tuckers, Kalum and youngster, Steve Savage, all have runs in them. Ollie and Ravi also know how to hold a bat but Bob will be lucky to get a plain old duck, rather than a golden one.
There is enough bowling to get us through the game and at least be competitive against a Twyford team who have got off to a flier with 2 solid wins. Can we go and win? Possibly. Can we go out and enjoy the sunshine and play a bit of cricket? Definitely.
So on we go again, travelling a bit battered and depleted but still worthy of respect and the ability to bring home some points. It’s going to be a tough gig but the sun is going to shine on the righteous once again, so we should all go out and enjoy it. Any heroics will be an added bonus.
As Shania Twain sang in her dreadful 1997 hit, ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman’…
….Let’s go boys!
