Well, we enter the second Saturday of the new season with an all too familiar looking forecast as May does its worst. We have no fewer than four matches scheduled over the weekend and it looks like we will lose at least one, probably, the lot.
First XI v Odiham
At Oakley Park, we are doing out best to get a game with Odiham in County 2, with the covers already on. Storm damage to the canvas hasn’t aided our cause but we can only try to laugh in the face of the bleeding obvious. We play cricket because despair makes us appreciate the rare occasions when are weekends aren’t lying in tatters. Those wet Saturday’s, trapped in our own private hell, as we walk aimlessly around the Wyevale Garden Centre pretending to be interested in geraniums.
Okay, let’s crack on. Taking Tom Barnes, Fawad Amin and Hugh Croft (all bowlers) out of the equation, captain, Alex Brundle, has a full-strength side out as he welcomes Chris Morris into the team. Otherwise, it is the same line up as the pre-season friendlies, with AB still looking for an ideal opening bowling partner for youngster, Josh Carpenter.
It is likely the bowling will be shared around. Clive Welsman is favourite to partner Josh, with AB, George Lethaby, Dan Jones, Will Montgomery and Will Cheyney all likely to be used. It will need more consistency from these lads for us to compete, something we are still searching for. The ability is there, and additional training nights have helped.
Working hard: The lads have been doing additional training at Oakley Park
The Oaks look okay batting wise, with a line up featuring plenty of players that can make runs, despite the loss of last season’s opening pair. If everyone who is capable, chips in, there is no reason why we can’t post a decent score. There is no doubt this will be a tough challenge against seasoned players at this level, but a great team spirit and the fact we are generally a young and fit side, will help enormously. We look forward to it.
Second XI v Donnington
The Two’s travel to Donnington expecting another topsy turvy affair in a fixture that always seems to conjure bizarre results. Captain, Jack Brundle, will be pleased with his line-up that features new boy, Mike Bryant, who is settling in well.
Jeff King comes back from ably deputising in the First XI to open the bowling, with veteran left armer, Ollie Rabley, speed merchant, Dave Bowers, spin king, Kalum Sapumanage, swinger bowler, Mike Bryant, and something or the other from Steve Bown, providing plenty other options.
As always with the Second XI, there appears to be plenty of run makers throughout the team, but we need to break the habit of ‘looking good on paper’ but not on the pitch. The early season form of Kalum, Bowny and Dave Bowers, is encouraging, whilst a hat-trick of ducks for the skipper is an admirable way of saving runs for the important games.
It could go either way this one. However, the most likely outcome is rain.
Third XI v St Cross V
The Third string entertain St Cross, whose captain was getting questioned about the game going ahead as early as Tuesday. The answer on Friday morning is, no, probably not. There are no covers at Newfound and groundwork is out of our control, so we are already looking for miracles.
It’s a shame, as Dan, boosted by the return of bombastic all-rounder, Dean James, has a good side out. There are batting and bowling options aplenty and it is a Third XI our First team would have been glad of a few years ago.
Boosted by not walking when he edged behind v Overton, Skip, Dan Beckell, has looked in-form in the early stages of the season as an opener. Backed up with the stoical resistance of Pip Carpenter and Kris Tucknott seeing off the openers, the game looks set up for the dashing, George Rutt, and Deano ‘The Finisher’ James, to take centre stage.
With youngsters, Noah Beckell, Sav Sapumanage and Harry Tucknott, dominating the bowling line-up, Dan can continue to help The Oaks build for the future.
Infuriating then, that the forecast is appalling.
Sunday XI v Falkland
On Sunday, our rained off game is against Falkland and there is only one man in the headlines. That’s right, it’s the return of Dan Sumner. Dan, after a tearful departure, is coming back to where he belongs, where the eagles fly, on a mountain high, far from the world below, up where the clear winds blow.
Obviously, we have some mere mortals in the side as well, with the obligatory Sunday line-up of youth, form finders and the standard old git refusing to accept that time waits for no man. This week, that man is ‘Mad’ Alan Howarth, who woos the crowd with his unique bowling action and unsavoury YouTube videos. A true legend in the making.
However, this one is all about the return of the king.
The team on Sunday is: (in no order) N Beckell, T McEwan, D Sumner, A Howarth, I Bennett, A Brundle, DJ, A Triner, S Sapumanage. M Clift, W Cheyney
Afore we go my merry men, afore we go…
