So, here we go again. Another weekend of fixtures approaches after a busy week at the club with open days, fundraisers, colts’ games, The Slam, and of course, training sessions. We have ridden our luck somewhat, with glorious sunshine only interrupted by overnight rain. Long may the sun shine on the righteous.
Twyford v First XI
The Ones travel down to Twyford this weekend for what will, in all likelihood, be a pivotal encounter with a team that sits one place below us in the league with a near-identical record. Skipper, James Bayliss, has certainly had a tough week with selection headaches as he tries to put together a team that will compete for victory.
It’s a good headache but shoehorning the returning Gerry Dique and Brad Compton-Bearne into a winning side has not been easy. James even considered dropping himself but, in the end, opted to give Woody a bash at opening for the Twos. Woody was of course disappointed, but he is a class, statue-deserving club man, who knows the deal. As a consolation Woody gets to open the bat in the Two’s with his oldest mate, Steve Bown.
Otherwise, the team is quite settled, with Nigel Bishop also back to the Two’s after playing an excellent fill-in role with the bat last week. There was also a temptation to bring in paceman, James Lancaster, who has looked ‘tres rapide’ and indeed on the money, in training. However, James has instead, backed his bowling line-up to follow the lead of Stef Kaltner and aim for more consistency and a need to pitch the ball up more.
This is a big game for The Oaks and a test of any promotion credentials they hold. Twyford looks a very decent side but appears to depend on a select few to do a lot of their work. Early inroads into their batting lineup will be key, as will the ability to set up our strong middle order by seeing off a lively-looking Twyford bowling attack. With the top two playing each other, this is a big opportunity for both teams.
Second XI v Old Basing III
The Second XI entertain Old Basing at Oakley Park looking to end a terrible run that has seen four defeats in five games. Skipper, Jack Brundle, has had a host of quality players to choose from as he tries to find a winning formula to push us up the league.
The Two’s woes have been hard to fathom, and no one has really come up with an explanation as to why we are not winning enough games. It appears to be a combination of good players being a bit out of nick, never getting a settled side, and a good old-fashioned dose of misfortune. There is also a feeling that we look at our line-ups and think we are better than we are, but I’m not so sure that is a fair comment.
Whatever the case, we have a great opportunity to put things right, with Jack boosted by Woody coming down to bolster the batting and James Lancaster adding spice to the bowling attack. There is something of an old boy’s reunion as well, with James and George Lethaby lining up in the bowling attack for the first time since they played in the same Colts team over a decade ago. An emotional moment that will surely bring tears of nostalgia and hopefully a clutch of Old Basing wickets.
Emotional: George and James are Reunited
Nigel Bishop is also back in the side after a confidence-boosting knock for The Ones last week and Ian Bennett returns behind the stumps. I am not going to utter a sentence featuring the words paper, on, and good, but I am as confident as I can be that The Oaks are going to put on a display the line-up merits. Come on lads, let’s do this!
Cove IV v Third XI
The story of the season is rapidly becoming the success of the Third XI, although I have probably now cursed them. Three wins from 5 have them nestled in sixth place, ready for anyone above them to slip up.
Jeff has often had the hardest job of all the skippers, trying to pick 11 from 15 or 16 as availability remains buoyant (it surely won’t last?). He has had to do this whilst juggling between remaining competitive and ensuring paid-up members get cricket. He deserves credit for doing just that.
Unusually, The Oaks find themselves in the somewhat alien territory where they are favourites, which is always dangerous. However, Jeff knows that he has, arguably, his strongest team, with a host of players who could claim they should be in the Twos. Ben Robinson, Dan Beckell, Nick Green and Jeff himself, are all easily capable of second-XI cricket.
However, we are in a great position where all of those players are just glad to be representing the club, pushing on the teams above. Jeff seems to be finding the right formulas for the games and the players are responding well, enjoying their roles. Because of that, we are winning games. Easy, this cricket lark, isn’t it?
Still, to make it four from six, Jeff will need to ensure his players keep up what they have been doing so well. This is a great opportunity to increase the average points tally and make the teams above us sweat.
A Good Week!
So that’s the preview nearly done. It’s been a fantastic week for the club, with functions raising more money for the coffers and more good results than poor. Moving into July, the ones are still contenders, the twos have plenty of time to get back on track and the threes have an opportunity to make 2023 a special one.
So, with that in mind, let’s go out, enjoy playing, do our best, and see where it takes us.
Hey ho, let’s go…enjoy!!
