Tag: Butterflies

A World Cup Upset In The Making?

A look at developments in a match that is now likely to end in the first upset of this world cup, and it will be a colossal upset at that – defending champions England are under the cosh against Afghanistan who have only won one previous world cup match. Also features a photo gallery.

The 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup hasn’t yet seen an upset – a minor nation taking down a major one. Today’s match features defending champions England and Afghanistan, who come into it with one win from 17 previous world cup matches. This post looks at developments in that game so far.

A TALE OF TWO BOWLING STYLES

Jos Buttler won the toss and put Afghanistan into bat. The first ominous sign was his revelation after the toss that he didn’t know why he had chosen to bowl first. Afghanistan got away to a rapid start as England’s seamers indicated that they had little idea of what they should be doing on that surface. By the end of the 10th over Afghanistan were 79-0. Afghanistan slowed thereafter, and lost three quick wickets when Ibrahim Zadran fell for 28 (out of an opening stand of 114, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz playing brilliantly and England contributing quite a few extras). Rahmat Shah was out cheaply, and then Hashmatullah Shahidi caused the downfall of Gurbaz for a splendid 80 when he took on a single that was never there and Gurbaz, even with a desperate dive at the end, was a good two yards short of his ground. Hashmatullah also scored very slowly in his own innings. Fortunately Ikram Alikhil played a fine innings, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman played an aggressive cameo late on. Afghanistan were all out to the second last scheduled ball of their innings for 284, a new highest ever world cup innings for them. The seamers bowled 25.5 overs and had combined figures of 3-189, while the spinners sent down 24 overs (Livingstone, who had never previously bowled a full allocation in an ODI innings, 10-0-33-1, Rashid 10-1-42-3 and Root, called on in desperation because the seamers, particularly Curran and Woakes, were so dire, 4-0-19-1) for a combined 5-94, while there were two run outs, one of them the tenth wicket. It was ominous that England’s spinners had done so well, since two of them, Livingstone and Root, are primarily batters, while Afghanistan had the talents of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and the veteran Mohammad Nabi available to them.

AFGHANISTAN IN CONTROL WITH THE BALL

Bairstow fell early to Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Root was also out cheaply, bowled by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who shared the new ball. Dawid Malan’s dismissal for 32 was really odd – he played the ball straight into a fielder’s hand. Naveen ul Haq got through the defences of Buttler to make it 96-4, and 21 runs later came a farcical situation. Livingstone was hit on the pads by Rashid Khan, absolutely plumb in front, and duly given out. He sent it upstairs, knowing that unless it was overturned it was virtually game over for England. When he saw the replay on the big screen he started walking even before they got to using the ball tracking software, so blatantly stone dead was it. That made it 117-5. England have moved on to 128-5, but Sam Curran, the number seven, has barely been any less unimpressive with the bat than he was the ball (given his figures of 4-0-46-0 it would be hard to be more so).

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off, including what may be the last butterflies of 2023 (today, like yesterday, has been sunny but cooler than the early part of October):

A small amount of rain fell with the sun still shining yesterday evening, and the next five pictures show one result.

While I have been preparing this post for publication Sam Curran’s miserable participation in this match (4-0-46-0 and 10 off 23 balls) has come to an end. England are 145-6 in the 31st over, needing 140 runs off 118 balls.

Europe’s Ryder Cup Triumph

At about 4:15PM UK time yesterday (the match was taking place in Italy, an hour ahead) Tommy Fleetwood won the 16th hole to go two up with two to play in his match against Rickie Fowler. That meant that a minimum a half a point was guaranteed for Europe in that match, which meant that Europe could no longer finish on less than 14.5 points, which meant that whatever happened from that moment on the Ryder Cup would be returning to Europe. This post looks back at the victory (I have covered up to the early stages of the Saturday afternoon fourballs here).

THE CLOSING STAGES OF DAY TWO

The Saturday afternoon fourballs went better for the USA than any previous session, though that isn’t saying a great deal. In the end the day finished with the scores Europe 10.5 USA 5.5, which meant that to retain the cup the USA would have to achieve a record turnaround on the final day. Singles is traditionally the USA’s strongest suit, possibly because the team element is more remote there than in either fourballs or especially foursomes – the day can be viewed as 12 straight head to head contests, whereas team play obtrudes on fourballs and is inescapable in foursomes, when the players play alternate shots – if your partner puts a ball in the water you then have to play the shot from the drop zone, if they dump one into a bunker it is your sand skills that get tested, but even so they were looking straight up a very steep mountainside.

PHOTO GALLERY ONE

Here to break things up a bit are some pictures from yesterday…

DAY THREE – MOMENTUM

Both teams were seeking a fast start in the singles – the USA because they needed to wrench the momentum back from Europe and Europe because the easiest way to prevent a good lead from being overturned is to settle the match quickly, snuffing out any chance of a revival. At Brookline in 1999 when the USA were 6-10 behind at this stage they came out and won the first seven singles matches, completely turning things upside down, and in the end, albeit in bitterly controversial circumstances the USA won (there was some disgraceful USian behaviour on the 17th in the crucial match, when their guy holed a long putt across that green, and premature celebrations involving both spectators and USian players, which distracted Jose Maria Olazabal of Europe, who had a slightly shorter putt on the same line (and was an excellent putter) to halve the hole – he unsurprisingly missed, and the USA were uncatchable). Here, John Rahm and Scottie Scheffler fought out a halved match in which both played some outstanding golf, while Europe in the persons of Hovland and McIlroy dominated matches two and four, with only Patrick Cantlay in match three winning an early point for the USA. Europe were on 13, the USA 7, and although the USA were doing well in a number of the remaining matches it was as good as settled.

THE CLOSING STAGES

Matt Fitzpatrick lost match five on the closing hole, by which time Tyrrell Hatton had banked Europe’s 14th point, winning match six 3&2. The 7th, 8th and 9th matches all went USA’s way, hauling it back to 14-11, but by that point Europe had moved ahead in all three remaining matches, and in quick succession Fleetwood and MacIntyre had made themselves sure of at least half a point a piece, while Shane Lowry and Jordan Spieth were in a contest that would go to the wire. Fleetwood and MacIntyre both made sure of full points, and with the destiny of the cup long settled and the 18th in the Lowry/ Spieth match a carnival scene those two players shook hands on a halved match, making the final score Europe 16.5, USA 11.5, which also meant a single scores of 6-6 meaning Europe had won days 1 and 2 and tied the third.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

Following the news of the act of vandalism against the Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian’s Wall I am making an effort to photograph more trees.

The Closing Stages of the County Championship Season

We are about to go into the final session of play of the County Championship season of 2023. Surrey are already confirmed as champions – although they lost a hard fought match against Hampshire their only rivals Essex had already crumbled to an innings defeat at the hands of already relegated Northamptonshire. Durham and Worcestershire are the promoted sides, which leaves only the question of whether Kent or Middlesex are the other side to go down.

DERBYSHIRE V GLAMORGAN

This match, the one I am currently listening to is between two sides who have both had poor seasons. Derbyshire are winless, and due to their craven cowardice in delaying their declaration today until the target stood at 384 in 70 overs, nowhere near a tempting enough carrot to lure Glamorgan, whose position is already settled, into going for the target, and thus almost certainly guaranteeing the draw. Derbyshire will finish at worst second from bottom, but that is only because Yorkshire were hit with a punitive points deduction, which has been enough to guarantee them last place in the table.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE V MIDDLESEX

Another match involving a declaration on the final day, but Middlesex, knowing that a draw was effectively valueless to them in their quest to stay up did dangle a carrot, and Nottinghamshire are making the chase look quite easy at present. Kent and Lancashire are pretty much certain to draw – Lancashire are still batting in their second innings and are 181 ahead of Kent, which means that unless Middlesex can scramble nine wickets from somewhere in less than a full session they will go down.

A NOTE ON OVERSEAS PLAYERS

Those who have studied my all time county XIs will have noted that on those occasions on which I named an overseas player (and I never picked more than one) I nearly always opted for a bowler. The use Surrey have made this season of Sean Abbott, Daniel Worrall and Kemar Roach underlines the value of high quality overseas bowlers. On the other side of the scale I would put Sussex, third in division two, in spite of losing only one match all season – they have had 10 draws in 14 matches. Their main overseas star has been Cheteshwar Pujara, a pure batter, and for a few matches, a side that was struggling to take 20 wickets was further skewed in favour of batting when they opted to allow Steve Smith to have some pre-Ashes batting practice. Pujara may have been justifiable, but signing a second overseas pure batter when struggling for wickets was on any reckoning misjudged.

A CLAIM FOR A PLACE ON THE INDIAN TOUR

England’s next test tour is to India, a place where spin bowling is important. The best specialist spinner in England is Jack Leach, and Rehan Ahmed is very promising young cricketer. In addition to these two I would draw attention to the man whose 800 runs and 40 wickets has helped Hampshire to third place in division one, Liam Dawson. If England go on a test tour of India without Dawson in the form he is currently enjoying their selectors will be guilty of dereliction of duty, as they will also be if anyone other than Foakes is named as keeper.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

England v Ireland So Far

A look at developments in the England v Ireland ODI so far and a large photo gallery.

The one-day series between England and Ireland should have started on Wednesday at Headingley, but not a single ball was bowled in that game. Today, officially the first day of autumn in the northern hemisphere, is a much pleasanter day than Wednesday was, and the second scheduled match, at Trent Bridge, is proceeding with no weather related problems.

FOUR ENGLAND DEBUTANTS

England are not using any of their selected world cup players (tournament gets underway in early October, in India, with a replay of the 2019 final – England v New Zealand) in this series. The XI selected for this match includes four debutants, Sam Hain (batter, ridiculous given his domestic white ball record that he has waited this long), Jamie Smith (batter/ keeper, hugely talented youngster), George Scrimshaw (pace bowler, again very talented, though alsob very inexperienced, and the first Derbyshire player since Dominic Cork in 2002 to feature for England) and Tom Hartley (left arm spinner, decent limited overs record, but a surprise for me to see him in the side).

ENGLAND’S INNINGS

Ireland put England in, and Phil Salt and Will Jacks opened up for England. Salt made a rapid 28 before he and stand-in skipper Crawley fell in the space of three balls. Then Jacks and Duckett had an excellent stand before Duckett fell for 48. That brough debutant Sam Hain to the crease, and he and Jacks proceeded to share a superb partnership, ended only when Jacks holed out on the boundary trying to bring up his century with a six. Jacks’ 94 was still the third best ever score for England by someone with first two initials WG behind WG Grace’s two test tons – 152 on debut at The Oval in 1880 and 170 at the same ground six years later. Debutant number two, Smith, managed only nine but a fluent 32 from Carse at number seven maintained the tempo. The closing overs featured a race against the clock for Hain to reach a debut century, but four balls from the end he too holed out with the landmark just about in sight – 89 in his case, off 82 balls. England ended up with 334-8 from their 50 overs.

IRELAND’S REPLY TO DATE

George Scrimshaw was given the new ball, and he had a traumatic start as an international bowler, conceding a number of wides and no-balls. However, with the last ball of his second over he claimed the wicket of Andrew Balbirnie, and then Matt Potts got Stirling with the first ball of the next over. Scrimshaw’s third over was then a massive improvement, going for just a single – 2-0-35-1 becoming 3-0-36-1. Ireland are currently 53-2 in the seventh over, well and truly up with the rate, but already two wickets down.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off, courtesy of an evening walk yesterday and more importantly a long walk on the first autumn morning of the year today…

A ruddy darter at rest (two pics)

While I have been preparing this for publication the game has moved on. Potts has dismissed Campher to make it 69-3 in the ninth over.

All Time XIs – Duplicated Initials

An all time XI of players whose first two initials are identical and a large photo gallery.

In this post I create an XI of players who each have two forenames that begin with the same letter of the alphabet. While CCC ‘Box’ Case (Somerset) did not do enough to qualify there is one completely alliterative player in the team. I have shown due regard for team balance, and as you will see a few serious players missed out.

THE XI IN BATTING ORDER

  1. Tamsin Tilley Beaumont (England Women, right handed opening batter). Tammy Beaumont as she is better known is an outstanding opening batter. Her double century in this year’s Women’s Ashes saw her join the club of players to have scored centuries in all three international formats. Also as a result of that innings she has 40+ averages in both Tests and ODIs.
  2. Conrad Cleophas Hunte (West Indies, right handed opening batter). His impressive test record looks better still when considered in light of the fact that he was never part of a settled opening pair.
  3. Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan (West Indies, right handed batter). Averaged 40 in test cricket at a time when WI as a whole were struggling.
  4. Walter William Read (England, right handed batter). An aggressive stroke maker, and good enough to be only the second English batter after WG Grace to score a first class triple century. He also had a test century, a remarkable 117, scored from number 10 in the order, with William Scotton stonewalling at the other end.
  5. *Warwick Windridge Armstrong (Australia, right handed batter, leg spinner, captain). In test cricket he scored 2,863 runs at 38.68 and took 87 wickets at 33.59, while at first class level his figures were 16,158 runs at 46.83 and 832 wickets at 19.71. He also averaged a catch a match in the field in spite of his considerable bulk. Added to this he was a shrewd and ruthless skipper, the first ever to lead a side to victory in every match of a five match series (the 1920-1 Ashes).
  6. Robert Richard Relf (Sussex, right handed batter, right arm fast medium bowler). He was originally picked for his bowling, but an innings of 210* (he would add two further FC double centuries to that before the end of his career) as nightwatch earned him a permanent move up the order and his bowling took second place thereafter. His best innings bowling was 8-79. He never earned an England call up, but he did once score 73 for the Players against the Gentlemen.
  7. +Cyril Clairmonte Depeiaza (wicket keeper, right handed batter). He preferred his middle name Clairmonte to his first name Cyril. He had one of cricket’s more interesting nicknames, based on that surname “Leaning Tower”. His career was very brief, but his only FC century came in a test match (as part of a seventh wicket stand of 347 with Denis Atkinson, who made 219), and he averaged over two dismissal per game at that level (7 catches and four stumpings in five appearances), while he made 40 dismissals in his total FC career of 16 matches.
  8. George Gibson Macaulay (England, off spinner, right handed batter). Only eight test appearances, which yielded him 24 wickets at 27.58, and 112 runs at 18.66 with an HS of 76. In FC cricket he took 1,837 wickets at 17.65 with a best of 8-21 and scored 6,055 runs at 18.07 with an HS of 125* (one of three FC centuries). When he first came to the Yorkshire nets he bowled fast but he acted on advice from George Hirst to slow his pace and develop spin instead.
  9. Wesley Winfield Hall (West Indies, right arm fast bowler, right handed lower order batter). A great and lion hearted fast bowler.
  10. John James Ferris (Australia, England, left arm swing bowler, left handed lower order batter). Nine tests, one of them a game on a privately organized tour of South Africa elevated to test status in retrospect (his “England” appearance) yielded him 61 wickets at 12.70 each, while his 198 FC matches, including a spell at Gloucestershire, yielded 812 wickets at 17.54.
  11. Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah (right arm fast bowler, right handed lower order batter. One of the best contemporary pacers in the game, currently coming back from an injury layoff. He has already done enough to secure his place, including claiming membership in the select club of visiting pacers to have terrorized the Aussies on their own pitches (his test best came there, 6-27 at the MCG in 2018).

This side has a well equipped though not sensational batting line up, and a wonderful bowling attack. Bumrah, Hall and Ferris to bowl pace, swing and seam, with Relf as fourth seamer if needed, and a spin pairing of Macaulay and Armstrong, with the latter to captain them amounts to serious riches in that department. In other words this side is a bit like 1930s Yorkshire or 1950s Surrey – the batters will more than likely score enough for the bowling unit to capture 20 wickets.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

I have already mentioned the overall grand champion of alliterative initials, CCC ‘Box’ Case, and the fact that his record falls just short. Two early Aussie openers, HH Massie and JJ Lyons might have had Beaumont’s slot, though in each case the sample size is small. Both had one things going for them – they were very attacking in approach, which would make them a good contrast to Hunte. A side picked for limited overs would feature Moeen Munir Ali (England), attacking batter and useful off spinner, but his long form record does not justify selecting him, especially with Macaulay, a far superior off spinner, inked in for a slot. At least three classy pace options had to be overlooked – WW Davis and WW Daniel (both WI) and JJ Bridges (Somerset, 685 wickets at 25.71 in FC cricket). Readers may well have their own suggestions.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off – it has been unpleasant for much of today, but I got out early enough that I caught only the warning signs of unpleasantness to come, in the form of an ominously stiffening wind…

I am reasonably confident that this (two pics – next one a little closer up) is a Ruddy Darter.

A County Championship 2023 XI

With the penultimate round of fixtures in the 2023 County Championship starting tomorrow I have selected County Championship 2023 composite XI. Plus as usual, a photo gallery.

The penultimate round of fixtures in this year’s county championship gets underway tomorrow. In this post I pick a composite XI from this season’s competition.

THE GROUND RULES

I have focussed my attentions on division one. I have restricted myself to one overseas player, and the person concerned is an absolutely integral part of his county set up and has been such for many years.

THE XI IN BATTING ORDER

  1. Dom Sibley (Surrey, right handed opening batter). He has had a very good season for the team who are heavy favourites to claim this season’s title, including anchoring a successful chase of 500 (against Kent, and he was there unbeaten when Surrey secured the win).
  2. Sir Alastair Cook (Essex, left handed opening batter). His England days are well behind him, but at county level there is little sign of either the will or the ability failing just yet.
  3. Josh Bohannon (Lancashire, right handed batter, occasional right arm medium pacer). The Lancashire number three continues to impress in that role, and with his average in FC cricket close to 47 after 65 matches one would expect that an England call up could be on the agenda.
  4. Jamie Smith (Surrey, right handed batter, occasional wicket keeper). A phenomenally talented batter, it was his stroke play that began to turn the tide Surrey’s way in the 500 chase mentioned earlier.
  5. +Ben Foakes (Surrey, right handed batter, wicket keeper). For those asking why the wicket keeper is due to come in after only four specialist batters the answer is very simple – the team who are very likely to be champions have been taking this approach all season, and it has been Foakes coming in at number five. The best keeper in the competition, he has also been batting superbly, and his continued absence from the England set up can only be down to wilful blindness on the part of the England selectors (“There are none so blind as those who will not see”).
  6. James Rew (Somerset, right handed batter, occasional wicket keeper). When I posted my all time Rs XI I mentioned a then 18 year old who already had centuries to his name in both FC and list A cricket as a likely candidate a few years down the line. James Rew, for he it was, has made that line look like the words of a soothsayer, as he is currently the leading run scorer in the competition, with 1077 at 59.83 (Bohannon is number two, only a few runs in aggregate, but 3.5 per innings behind), a haul that includes a sensational 221, and he is still only 19 years old. I fully expect to see him playing test cricket in the not too distant future.
  7. Matt Critchley (Essex, right handed batter, leg spinner). Essex are Surrey’s last remaining challengers for the title and Critchley’s contributions, especially with the bat (over 700 runs including two centuries) , are a significant part of why Essex are doing so well this season.
  8. *Simon Harmer (South Africa, Essex, off spinner, right handed batter). The best spinner on the county circuit and a decent skipper. Currently on 51 wickets for the season, third leading wicket taker in the competition.
  9. Gus Atkinson (Surrey, right arm fast bowler, right handed batter). A combination of factors means that he has not played a championship game since July, but his FC record is good (averages 28 with the bat and 26 with the ball) and he has done splendidly for England in limited overs cricket since being given the opportunity. His ability to produce the 90mph+ ball gets him – neither of my other seam/ pace options have that in their locker, fine bowlers though they both are.
  10. Brett Hutton (Northamptonshire, right arm medium fast bowler, right handed batter). His county are almost certain to be relegated, but he is the competition’s leading wicket taker with 54 wickets at 21.27 each.
  11. Jamie Porter (Essex, right arm medium fast bowler, right handed batter). The second leading wicket taker in this year’s competition so far, with 53 scalps at a miserly 17.39 each.

This side has a strong batting line up, with major performers in that department down to Critchley at seven and only the number 11 Porter a genuine bunny. The bowling is excellent, with Porter, Hutton, Atkinson and Harmer a seriously good front four, Critchley a genuine fifth option and Bohannon capable of rolling an arm over if needed. All 11 players have been in good form this season, though I acknowledge that Atkinson could be seen as a controversial pick in a county championship XI, I have explained the reason for that choice.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

I would have liked to be able to accommodate Will Jacks, but with Harmer having an ironclad case for selection I wanted my batter who bowls spin not to be an off spinner. The alternative to Atkinson would have been Jamie Overton, but the latter has had his injury woes this season. Feel free to suggest your own alternatives, though bear in mind that a) I chose to exclude division two players and b) the presence of Sir Alastair not withstanding this exercise is mainly about 2023, so I want players who have done big things this season.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Leicestershire Win Nail Biting One Day Cup Final

A look back at Leicestershire’s amazing ODI Cup triumph yesterday and a photo gallery.

This post looks at the amazing denouement to the One Day Cup final between Leicestershire and Hampshire which took place at Trent Bridge yesterday. I covered the Leicestershire innings yesterday, so today’s post looks at Hampshire’s response.

HAMPSHIRE SEEMINGLY IN CONTROL

Although Leicestershire took regular wickets, and Hampshire were always behind the required rate the southerners seemed to be in control of the chase for much of its duration, with Prest, Weatherley and Dawson all making major contributions. With three overs to go the pendulum seemed to be swinging a little Leicestershire’s way, with Hampshire needing 25, and the last pair of batters who could be expected to do anything in that department together…

THREE OVERS OF SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

These final three overs formed a story in their own right. The match seemed to have swung decisively back Hampshire’s way when Joshua Hull leaked 14 from the 48th over, meaning that Hampshire needed 11 off the last two overs, a walk in the park by modern limited overs standards. Chris Wright bowled the 49th over of the innings, and in it was a superb one. All Hampshire were able to accrue from it was three singles, leaving them eight to get off the last over. It has become something of an axiom of modern limited overs cricket that one wants to settle the issue before the final over, and what happened in the 50th over of this innings went some way to showing why this is so. Hull had been very expensive to this point, and Hampshire may still have fancied their chances at the start of the over, but things soon got very tight – the first three balls yielded singles meaning that the ask was now five off three balls. The fourth ball of the final over virtually settled the contest, Liam Dawson being caught by Wright off Hull to bring Scott Currie, a specialist bowler, in at the strikers end, with suddenly five needed off two balls. Currie scored a single, which did at least get Keith Barker, a genuinely competent batter, on strike, with four needed from the final ball. Hull kept his head, and Barker could do no better than a single giving Leicestershire victory by two runs, after the latter had been 19-4 and then 90-6 in their innings. Not quite “BY THE BAREST OF ALL MARGINS!!”, but an epic contest, which was alive right down to the 600th ball out of 600. Harry Swindells, whose extraordinary maiden list A century (117* off 96) had given Leicestershire a total that they could seriously think about defending was deservedly named Player of the Match. Leicestershire last won an equivalent of this trophy as long ago as 1985, and have largely been struggling on all fronts in recent years. Hampshire were possibly over casual in their handling of the chase, allowing the required rate to climb up over eight per over, clearly thinking “one big over will do it”. They got that big over in the 48th, but it did not do the job for them – Wright’s salvage operation in the 49th gave Hull something to defend in the 50th, and my impression listening in was Hampshire didn’t really try to do more than score singles off the first three balls of the final over, at which point Dawson panicked and got himself out, which virtually sealed things. All of Hampshire’s major scorers struck at well below 100 – Dawson 57 off 64, Prest 51 off 62, Weatherley 40 off 52 and Brown 33 off 43, while only Holland (16 off 13) and Barker (12* off 11) managed to score at over a run a ball. Full credit though to Leicestershire for hanging on at the death, even if Hampshire can be said to have contributed to their own downfall. A full scorecard can be viewed here.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

The red admirals were out in force this morning – there are at least four in this shot.

All Time XIs – The Game’s Old Testament

An XI picked from cricket’s early history and a huge photo gallery.

This exercise looks as the title suggests at cricket’s early history. I have allowed myself one cricketer who played test cricket but otherwise these players are all of pre-test vintage.

THE XI IN BATTING ORDER

  1. *WG Grace (right handed batter, right arm bowler of various types, excellent close catcher, captain). The sole test cricketer in the XI, but although he played test cricket over a period spanning almost 19 years he was past his absolute prime by the time he debuted in that format in the first test on English soil in 1880.
  2. John Small (right handed batter). John Nyren in his book about Hambledon (his father Richard was closely involved with the club) waxes lyrical about Small. Small’s most remarkable effort was a 138* that was spread over three days play.
  3. James Aylward (left handed batter). Only eight years after John Minshull scored the first recorded century in any cricket match this man set the Hambledon all time record with an innings of 167.
  4. Nicholas Wanostrocht aka Felix (right handed batter). He played his cricket (for Kent among others) under the assumed name ‘Felix’ because he worked as a schoolmaster and felt it would damage his professional reputation to play under his own name. He was also author of ‘Felix on the Bat’.
  5. Fuller Pilch (right handed batter). Recognized as the best batter of the 1830s and 1840s. He used a bat with a long blade and a comparatively short handle.
  6. Vyell Walker (right handed batter, slow bowler). One of seven brothers from Southgate – the cricket ground there is still known as Walker’s Ground. A Middlesex regular, and along with Grace one of only two players to have scored a century and taken all ten wickets in an innings in the same first class match.
  7. +Tom Box (wicket keeper, right handed batter). He played every Sussex game from 1832 to 1856 inclusive, a remarkable achievement. He often batted in the top half of the order for them, and was clearly an excellent keeper.
  8. William Clarke (right arm leg spin bowler, right handed batter). An extraordinary wicket taker, and not the worst batter. He also created the All England XI, a professional touring XI who played all round the country. Over the next 30 years a number of other such teams were created, but in the end a potential schism was averted when WG Grace threw his lot in with the MCC. ‘Old Clarke’ has left the modern game one great legacy – it was he who bought the Trent Bridge Inn, enclosed some adjoining fields and turned them into a cricket ground.
  9. James Broadbridge (right arm fast bowler, right handed batter). One half of cricket’s first acknowledged great bowling partnership, along with…
  10. William Lillywhite (right arm fast bowler, right handed batter). ‘The Nonpareil’, regular bowling partner of Broadbridge.
  11. David Harris (right arm fast bowler, right handed batter). The first authentically great bowler, his method is splendidly described by Nyren in his book.

This XI has a good batting line up and a strong, varied bowling attack – three great pacers, two great and contrasting spinners and Grace as sixth bowling option. It also has an excellent captain and a great keeper.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

The nearest overseas player to making the cut was Gideon Elliott, the Victoria fast bowler whose handful of first class matches yielded 48 wickets at less than five a piece. I picked Walker for the all rounders slot over Alfred Mynn, ‘the Lion of Kent’ for reasons of balance, which also ruled out either Osbaldeston or Lambert. I regretted not being able to find a place for John Wisden, the diminutive fast bowler who created Wisden’s Almanac. Julius Caesar, the remarkably named Surrey batter who toured Australia in 1863-4 deserves a mention, and also Heathfield Harman Stephenson, performer of the original hat trick, in a match at Hyde Park, Sheffield – the name coming about because someone in the crowd passed their hat around to collect money which was presented to Stephenson in honour of his feat. Two early Yorkshire greats, Ephraim Lockwood and Louis Hall might have their advocates. Three fast bowlers who I have not yet mentioned who had fine achievements to their credit were Sam Redgate, John Jackson and George Tarrant. George Freeman of Yorkshire was also close to selection.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

The sun was exactly in the wrong position for this shot, and it took a lot of editing to render it usable.
A closer up edit of the dragon fly shot.

Middlesex in the Mire

A look at the mess Middlesex are currently in – facing relegation and in trouble with the ECB.

Middlesex, winner of more county championships than anyone else bar Yorkshire and Surrey, are in terrible state right now, facing relegation to the second division and in deep financial trouble. This post explores their situation.

FINANCIAL MALPRACTICE

Middlesex have been adjudged by the ECB to have become overly financially dependent on that organization. The following punishments have been meted out:

“The ECB will henceforth reduce payments to Middlesex by £150,000, of which £100,000 will be suspended until 31 October 2025. The points deduction, equivalent to the maximum points for one win in each of the County Championship, the One Day Cup and the T20 Blast, is also suspended until 31 October 2025.”

The above quote comes from an espn story about the situation which can be read here.

Middlesex have been treated rather more kindly than were Durham a few years back when that county was guilty of offences of a similar nature.

ON FIELD WOES

Middlesex are facing relegation, which with their very limited capacity for attracting new players given the punishments hanging over them will be hard to come back from. They are struggling with both bat and ball – their two former test match openers Stoneman and Robson have both had poor seasons with the bat, and the middle order is inexperienced, while their bowling attack is toothless – they barely even have an 80mph bowler in their ranks, never mind a 90mph one. Josh de Caires, the off spinner, has had two good matches with the ball recently, but Middlesex lost both times, as the opponents had a better spinner available to them – Liam Dawson and Simon Harmer respectively. Indian leg spinner Kuldeep Yadav is there for the tail end of the season, but at the moment the only question in their current match is whether the Manchester weather has done enough to save them from defeat. Kent, currently just behind Middlesex and in the second relegation slot (Northamptonshire are pretty much beyond redemption at the bottom of the table) are going to get at least a draw from their game against Nottinghamshire, fourth from bottom, and may well manage to win it, which would put Middlesex in real jeopardy, not only in the R zone, but adrift of third bottom by a double figure points margin.

How have Middlesex, with the advantage of having a base at the most famous ground in England, got themselves into such a horrendous mess?

PHOTOGRAPHS

I have lots of photos to share…

Nearly full grown cygnet doing a cormorant impression.
The butterfly, a woodland species that seems to be faring well this year, is a pleasant sight, its chosen resting spot less so!

England v Sri Lanka Mismatch

A brief account of today’s very brief ODI between the England and Sri Lanka women’s teams, and a photo gallery.

The first ODI of the England v Sri Lanka women’s series has come to a very premature end, with England winning by seven wickets with 32 overs (of a possible 50) unused in their innings. This post looks back at the match.

A DAY OF THREES

England fielded three ODI debutants, Mahika Gaur, Lauren Filer and Maia Bouchier. In Sri Lanka’s beggarly 106 all out three bowlers each took three wickets – Gaur, Filer and Sarah Glenn. England lost three wickets in their successful run chase, and the third debutant, Maia Boucher was on 17* (17) at the end, meaning that all three debutants had reasons to be proud of their performances.

AMY JONES SETS NEW RECORD

England induced a number of edges, meaning that wicket keeper Amy Jones was often in action. She held five catches, the first England keeper to do so in a Women’s ODI.

SPLITTING THREE-FORS

Mahika Gaur was named Player of the Match for her 3-26. Her three-for was more significant than those of Filer and Glenn (though Filer was particularly impressive) because it included both openers, one of whom, Chamari Athapaththu, is unquestionably the prize wicket whenever Sri Lanka women are batting. Gaur’s new ball burst, the first by an England woman on debut since Isa Guha in 2001 (before Guha, Sue Redfern, involved in this match as on-field umpire, also took the new ball on England ODI debut).

BATTING HIGHLIGHTS

In such a low scoring affair there were naturally few batting highlights. Only two players in the match managed as many as 30 – Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 35 for Sri Lanka, offering the only real resistance on show during their innings and Tammy Beaumont, back at the top of the order for England after not being selected for the T20I series, scored a punchy 32, being the only player on either side to have an SR above 100. Emma Lamb with 27 and Heather Knight with 22 also made useful contributions for England, and Nat Sciver-Brunt was batting alongside Bouchier at the end.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

This is a new butterfly sighting for me…
…a closer up view here. Though the wings are partially closed I can see enough to see that when open they are orange with black markings, and this species is small in size for a butterfly.