Cowden Sunday 2009: Cowden - Capers, Controversy and Croquet
Once again, the annual exhibition of cricket did not fail to disappoint.
The facts first.
Two strong victories.
On the Saturday we set the Fountain a competitive 186, with Hollers and the returning Bolton leading the runscorers. The Fletchers both chipped in, as did debutant Buston, whose swashbuckling knock included a near six off his first ball.
The Fountain set about the Strollers bowling with their usual relish. Carey was unlucky not to get wickets from his firey opening spell, but Rick and T Fletcher bagged a couple each, the skipper's both coming in one decisive over. He'd have had a third if not rugby tackled by J Allen while taking a dolly. But it was Fountain nemesis McGuirk who was the standout bowler, with the first five-for in club history. The Fountain fell short, despite the usual high quality and aggressive batting. The Strollers fielded with zest, audacity and hope, qualities exhibited in abundance later that night.
Losing the toss on Sunday looked a calamity, as the Laodecians took advantage of a slow pitch and weary Strollers to amass 40/0 in the first three hours. Tired legs, extras, sunstroke and poor field placings restrained the Strollers fightback, but Guy and Olly fed runs expertly to ensure an earlier declaration, though for only four wickets down.
So the Strollers chased 180ish in 30ish overs. Paddy and T Fletcher opened confidently, with Paddy managing to face down his demons and avoid a king pair. Tubby looked good for his 4. But it was new recruit, 12 year old Josh Shillingford, who put the opposition to the sword, with a destructive 26 from 15 balls. Hollers kept the other end up, chipping in a handy if disappointing 91, including five sixes in a single over. Following his foolhardy dismissal, Maurice and Buston saw the Strollers home with four overs to spare.
Naturally, the reality is far more complex than stats alone can convey. Some standout Stroller characteristics:
- maturity. As shown by Paddy, who edged 12th man Tubby to man of the match on the Saturday, despite a golden duck. A return to form in Cowden, despite the fears of clubmates and opposition that his former demons (and several local vigilantes) would haunt him. Showed admirable restraint and a newfound maturity off the field. May yet redeem himself in these parts of Kent. Partly as a result, the Strollers could hold heads high as the most sporting side of the weekend. Youngy in particular did some great p/r, shaking everyone's hands several times.
- enthusiasm (and raw talent in Josh's case) of new Strollers recruits Ollie and Josh. Matched only by the sheer rapture of returning original team members Guy and Giles. Top Strollers marks to Tubby for becoming the first Stroller to come to Cowden even with no guarantee of a game on the Saturday. Tinline did the opposite on Sunday, but brought the drinks out in style.
- bravery of those wounded in the fray. Alex broke a finger scooping a four for six. Carey broke one dodging a drive. And Rick Bristoe (with an E) volunteered to field in front of a hostile pavilion even while facing a barage of abuse and paper cups. Hollers kept a calm exterior even while having a ball hurled at his groin from three feet. Guido agreed to bowl a second over.
- flexibility. More creative fielding positions (eg four at point at one stage). Also shown by Strollers on the pole at Whitehall Bar (Jonny A's Feeble replacement for Jumping Jacks, possibly taking him out of running for Player's Player). And by the team in introducing, with only partial success, silence as the New Sledging.
- consideration. The mentoring programme continues well, with Hollers showing particular improvements. Perhaps as a result of his assertiveness coaching with Luke, Carey volunteered to bat above 12 on the Sunday (though injury prevented him in the end). Rick was able to initiate several conversations with Len without his lip trembling.
- competitive spirit. Between the two wickies. After a disappointing day for Youngy (and his early departure with sore nipples), Maurice was tugging at his apron strings as the Strollers' answer to Jack Russell. If he can master the art of standing up, could make the gloves his own. Perhaps symbolically, Youngy left them behind on Saturday, along with an array of personal effects.
So once again, we showed why we all need the Strollers more than the Strollers need us. Why the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. How somehow eleven players putting self before club can add up to a selfless club. How fear of nemeses can be channelled to failure and success. And why nightclubs are right to set a maximum age.
Mention has been made of a minor controversy over room bills. The real crime is of course the leaking of such sensitive data into the public domain. But I can confirm that there has been a rigorous and impartial private inquiry into why Strollers were charged a fiver extra for their rooms at the White Horse. Its recommendations will be implemented in full:
- full time Finance Director (Youngy) to pay greater attention to club accounts;
- skipper to be excused from booking rooms for future fixtures;
- skipper to retain full pension and bonus rights;
- extra revenue to be used to pay for Strollers breakfasts;
- veil to be drawn over affair, to ensure full transparency and credibility.
I do not wish to name names or point fingers. But as club founder I do take ultimate responsibility for this affair. I have therefore suspended myself for one match, and asked Big Ed to take the reins for Mells.
A glorious weekend, bring on Cowden 2010.
TF
Player ratings
Sat:urday
Giles - A triumphant return for ex-stroller Bolton. 43 composed runs got strollers off to a steady start. 7/10
Maurice - Without the burden of the gloves which were delegated to second team keeper Simon Young, Maurice was promoted to open the innings, where he failed spectacularly. Generally regarded as the fastest stroller, but looked sluggish in the field. 3/10
Luke - Was hoping to make up for disappointment of getting out the 90s yet again in 2008, but only managed a scratchy 22. Bowled tightly, although wicketless. 4/10
Hollers - Let the side down by getting out while looking well set on 61. Out bowled by McGuirke, but did pick up one crucial wicket.. 5/10
Tom - Back in charge of his team, and put in a decent display as bits and pieces all rounder and captain. 5/10
Ollie Buston - Announced his arrival to the crease by smashing his first ever ball for the strollers for a one bounce four. Made 10 in total, and fitted in well to the side. 6.5/10
Paddy McGuirke - Out first ball, although no one has ever taken him seriously as a batsmen. Has given up leg spin bowling in favour of bowling slow and straight (although elements of the frog in the blender are still evident) and this proved the difference as he took the first ever strollers 5 for. Man of the match. 7/10
Youngy - Duck, dropped catch, missed stumping. A bad day for Youngy. 2.5/10
Finlow - 3 runs, no wickets, and broke his finger while dropping a catch over the boundary. 3/10
Jonny A - A breezy 10 runs, but showed why he is still the strollers premiere spin bowler with 1-28. 6/10.
Carey - Last seasons player of the season showed glimpses of his best with the ball with a fiery spell. Chipped in with 10 runs. 6/10
Rick - Picked up a couple of wickets, but went to peices at the sight of nemesis Len Wort, showing that deamons of 2003 have yet to be banished. Pelted on the boundary from the hostile Cowden supporters, much to the amusement of team-mates. 6/10.
Tubby - 12th man for the today (due to hangover) but was lively when called into action as a substitute for the injured Finlow. 7/10.
Sunday
Paddy - Another failure with the bat in what is surely his final chance in the top 9 of the batting line up. Slow non-spinning off-breaks effective again. 5/10
Tom - Typical performance with both bat and ball (18 runs, couple of cheap wickets), and strong captaincy despite allegations of embezzlement.. 5/10
Tubby - Good in the field, and a dogged 6 runs batting set the platform for Hollers assault later on in the day. 5/10
Hollers - A spectacular innings of 91 from 41 balls was fundamental to strollers victory. Fell short in his attempt to hit 6 sixes in an over by only getting one from the last ball. 6/10
Luke - One run, and no wickets despite some tight bowling. Still not over missing out on the 2008 player of the season award. 4/10
Josh - Smashed his way to 26 off 12 balls, making Hollers look pedestrian. Quickest bowler of the day. 10/10
Ollie - 24 not out, although nearly managed to concede as many in one over with the ball. 6/10
Maurice - Picked up the gloves again and showed Youngy how it should be done. Hit the winning runs. 6/10
Rick - Looked tired, and perhaps this was one sporting activity too far in a very active weekend. Still, bowled tightly (if very slowly) and picked up a wicket. 5/10
Guido - Brought on to give the opposition a few runs, but we'd forgotten how expensive he can be and was quickly removed from the attack. Great to have him back. 6/10
Carey - More question marks about his fitness as he wasn't able to bowl or bat. Disappointing end to the season for the big man. 3.5
Tinline (12th man) - Arrived late, and left early, but administered the drinks effectively. 1/10