2nd Test Review - Frenetic Hours to Decide Series?

Much has been spoken of the power of momentum recently. It seems that in 2009 no team is complete without it. But Wickman's latest theory is that momentum is a side show. It's all about who handles the frenetic moments in Test cricket best.

Test cricket is mostly played now on decks designed to make sure results don't occur before day four at the earliest and preferably after lunch on the fifth. Bowlers who know this work hard to limit the runs on offer and learn to sit in on off stump and wait for the stultifying pressure of time and match situation to earn them breakthroughs. When those periods occur, the team that handles the situation better wins the Test match. The West Indies did it to England in one cruel session in the first test of the Winter. The Aussies almost did it to us in Cardiff but Collingwood and the tail responded just quickly enough to rescue a slide. At the Oval we did it to Australia. At Centurion South Africa almost did it to us.

Since the heady days of 2004 and 2005 not a whole lot has gone right for England. The complete distruction of perhaps England's most fearsome bowling line up since Willis and Botham opened for England - Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones - has left recent English captains wondering where 20 wickets are going to come from.

There have been flashes of brilliance from Flintoff. And James Anderson keeps being talked about as the finished article. But Tests in the last few years have been sometimes painful to watch as a group of developing right arm fast medium merchants have tried and failed to plug away at the top of off while the Pontings, Chaderpauls and Tendulkers of the world stage have milked them for morale sapping Test series losses. Things got so bad that Ryan Sidebottom became an automatic pick for us despite the fact that he's about as threatening as Wickmutt Junior - the latest addition to Wickman's Wick Road menagerie.

Something though began to happen on the runways of the Carribbean earlier this year. Anderson, Broad and Swann learned how to bowl in the most unforgiving of environments against a West Indies team dead set on avoiding defeat for the first time since the late 1990s. Sure at Cardiff as four Australian centurions put them to the sword it looked like the lessons hadn't been learned, but, later in the Summer each of them began to show that they had picked up a thing or two about how to bowl at good batsmen when there's not much help on the ground or in the air.

In the first Test at Centurion the South Africans in that final session showed what scoreboard pressure and tight lines can do when a match situation builds against the batting side and there's nothing to do but bat out time. England held on to force a draw every bit as important as the one they fashioned in Cardiff in July.

Yesterday the lessons of the Caribbean and of the Oval in particular were there for all to see. Swann - extraordinarily potent on the same strip that Harris had toiled away on for the best part of two days - suddenly - with flight and ripping turn - destroyed Prince's nascent career as a Test opener and defeated a man in Amla who scored 100 in the last test and played him like a dream with one every bit as good as the Ponting ball of the Summer.

At the other end Broad - who looked as ineffectual as any England bowler of the last twenty years for much of 2008 / 2009 - suddenly pulled out an Oval matching devastating spell of swing and seam to nip out Kallis and De Villiers. Both of these technically excellent bats were undone by West Indian deliveries - flat pitch, not much overhedd assistance - but both beaten by perfectly pitched in ducking / reverse swinging peaches that were hitting an inch below the top of off stump. On another day Kallis would have been back and across to both of them flat batting them back down the track. But that dicipline, picked up in 18 months of hard test cricket around the world, served Broad well as the scoreboard pressure built.

There was little else to see this morning. Boucher and Morkel would not be able to reprise Atherton and Russell and so it proved. Swann took five for and Broad added another and the game - totally changed in one frenetic hour yesterday - reached its conclusion with a quite stunning victory for England.

Even Smith - who, backed by the excitable Mickey Arthur, has been spouting some awful old tosh about this England side of late - was forced to gracefully admit that his side had been totally outplayed for most - if not all - of this Test. But particularly yesterday. Now England find themselves in the driving seat for this series. One of the best batting line ups in Test cricket has failed twice here (only Steyn's biffing in the first innings made the first innings score look respectable) and with Kallis, Ntini and Harris terribly ordinary with the ball, South Africa will go to Cape Town wondering where it has all gone wrong but hoping the next time one of those sessions comes around, they aren't on the losing end of it.

A fresh perspective, but the same old jargon

Wickman Junior is current taking, what many are calling, a "time out" from the hustle and bustle of the working world. Visiting all sorts of new and wonderful places with hordes of large british backpackers - save the occasional beauty from Brazil - has really helped develop a "fresh perspective" on life.

It is with that in mind that we read the thoughts of Jonathan Trott, the South African -born focal point (?) in the England team. Wickman Junior has always longed for the name Trott to get a guernsey in test cricket, and his first foray with the bat during the Ashes was "off the wall", according to Chris Broad. Chris is usually sullen at the best of times, but this was a moment of clarity from the big man. I think a lot of us would have agreed with him at the time.

But....as with every fresh face, the influence of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss - i.e. talking in management speak and baffling everyone - has come to the fore again.

Following England's draw against SA, Trott was heard to have said:

"....this is Test match cricket, something you've always strived to do and want to do to the best of your ability. So whenever you cross that line, it's back to business, trying to gain any advantage you can and win every game you can for England."

Hmm. "Test match cricket is something YOU'VE always tried to do? Quite who Trott who is referring to as "you" is unclear. The interviewee perhaps? Wickman Junior feels it may be something that Trott has always strived to do. Can you imagine being in his classroom as a kid, and the teacher asking him: "Jonathan (think heavy Saffa accent too by the way)...what do you want to do when you're older?" JT: "I strive to do test match cricket". It's certainly eye opening stuff....but surely this kind of answer would result in the kiddie being put in a straight jacket and sent off to a padded cell for a few weeks? Maybe it did.

Wickman Junior really likes the comment: "whenever you cross that line, it's back to business". Can we assume he is referring to the boundary line here? And what does "back to business" mean? Is he saying that batting for England is akin to managing a high street retailer perhaps? Wickman Junior would like some clarity JT.

Wickman Junior

Engalnd vs South Africa 1st Test Preview

Wickman loves cricket in the winter. Sat snivelling at his desk, swallowing sinutab like a ketamine freak in a night club, he is buoyed by the idea that someone, somewhere is having fun with cricket gear.

Tomorrow sees the start of a really exciting series. The South Africans, recently the first world number one not called Australia, are shaping into a very good Test Side. Good enough to draw in India last year which is saying something.

That batting line up. Smith, Prince, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers and Duminy looks like one of the best in South African post Mandela history. There's runs there. The bowling looks a little less frightening Steyn apart. But it's still a pretty effective attack even if Ntini is not a 10 wicket a match merchant any longer. Harris is a bit crap but then no doubt he will get KP five times in eight innings because the great man will want to tonk him out of the park on the left handed switch hit every time he comes on.

England too look like they will score runs in SA. There seems to be a new steel about them gained from the morale boosting marmalisation of the Aussies at The Oval.

So it looks like the series will be decided by the bowling attacks. Wickman is hoping that the stale Carribean pitches followed by the Cardiff massacre by Australia will have toughened up Anderson and Broad - and Swanny, if he plays, is showing signs of maturing into the sort of spinner Tim May was for Australia. A partnership breaker and someone to work around if things aren't happening between overs 40 and 80.

For the South Africans, with Kallis injured, an immense burden falls on Steyn's shoulders. Long talked about as the finished article he has looked unthreatening mostly with the white ball. Ntini is clearly a good bowler but his line of attack can be easily dealt with on all but the spiciest pitches where he is able to hold his line to bring the slips into play. Morkel looks nifty but lacks a real threat and throat ball. So it's down to Steyn. It's difficult to see with Paul Harris, the clown without makeup, bowling his slow non-spinners where 20 wickets are going to come from if Steyn can't make the ball talk in his first and second spells.

Wickman is bravely predicting a 2-1 series win for England with one rain affected game. We need to get out there from tomorrow and put pressure on them in their own country. As the plucky corporal Jones of Dad's Army was often heard to observe... "they don't like it up them".

Life and Vice Presidents

For those of you who missed the 2009 Dinner you won't know that Bobby and Keith have inducted three new members into the league of Vice Presidents of the Wick and have created two new Life Members.

So what's a VP? According to Chairman Mao it's someone who played a leading role within the club during their playing days and continues to support the club either financially or by volunteering for a number of years after stopping playing. Yoiu'll see them at functions and on the balcony mostly these days. They bring valuable contacts and experience to the club.

Life Presidents continue to play a active role in the club for a number of years after stopping playing. When that stops the active role continues in supporting the club in others ways - often as a link between the past and the present. They really have made an outstanding contribution to the club over 20 years.

It's worth having a read of Bob's notes about some of these venerable names. When you see them around you'll be wondering who they are and why they grace the balcony like they are to the Wick born. Well - they all are. Read on...

VPs

Andy Moore aka Amooray [Only person currently to have his own club song - FACT]

Amooray joined the Wick when he moved to London from Norwich in the mid 1990s. A glutton for punishment, he was an old team mate of Sisso and The Lord and decided to re-unite himself with them in Bushy Park. Amongst his many achievements:

Second eleven captain for a couple of seasons prededing Fudgey when it was difficult to get 9 out each week, never mind 11. 500 2xi runs in league last two seasons before retirement. First eleven wicket keeper for seven years and very useful middle order batsman. Highest score in excess of 150 v Teddington Town. Regular Saturday, Sunday, midweek player who when not playing would be entrenched at bar! Now a regular bar attendee and occasional midweek player...

Ian Geddes aka Gedds. [Good job not a current player or would be Geddsey - Ed]

Joined Wick from Southampton university in early 1990s through Mark Webster. Medium quick opening bowler for first eleven with late inswing in prime. Very useful lower middle order batsman when employed as all-rounder, capable of 50s from 8/9 when club very strong.

When bad knees curtailed bowling good enough to open batting in 1xi and score league hundred at South Hampstead. Successfully captained 1xi for five season to 2004, where club achieved highest ever league placing in TVL premier league.

Extremely competitive to point of even getting Sisso to run around the ground before games! [Of course everyone else would have done three laps to Bobby's two but you can't have everything - Ed]. Also happy to buy an overseeas professional to bolster his team!

Pete Culham aka The Lord [Culhamsy sounds a bit like clumsy - Ed]

Joined Wick in 1980 when moved to London from Norwich. Spearhead of first eleven attack from 1980 - 2004. 1xi captain 1981, then for a few more seasons in mid 80s/early 90s.

Always in top half dozen first eleven bowlers Lee 75 league, Thames Valley league and Middlesex league. Very useful lower/middle order 1xi batsman. Regularly acieved double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in season. Scored four centuries at Sidmouth alone (Devon tour fixture). Excellent first slip, although did drop five in a match once [So Culhamsy it is - Ed]!

Aimed to do Wick double of 500 pints and 50 curries in a season. [There's a tradition it would be hard to match today - the curries that is - Ed] Still turns out Wednesdays and averaged more than 50 in 2008.

LIFE MEMBERS

Richard Jell aka Jelly

Joined Wick in mid 70s

Extremely sociable and friendly fellow who always welcomed new members with pint and good story. Club treasurer for many years and not many played without paying in his era.

Strokeplaying middle order batsman who could make a difference towards middle/end of an innings with preference for midwicket and cover point areas. Useful off - spin bowler and very good slip fielder. Played regularly in very successful sunday second eleven side batting at six and bowling spin 1987 - mid 1990s.

Regular tourist and wednesday player, still playing and contributing up to 2008. Often captained Wick sides and even got out a 4xi in early 80s! Always on balcony supporting beloved wick when not in France

Provided Wick with useful son (Stuart) who could bat, bowl and drink like his father!... still can when wife lets him…

Neville Marshall aka Nev [Or "Oh shit it's hit the pad - nooooooo he's given me again!" - Ed]

1970's vintage and wick man true and fair in the mould of Tilly and the like.

Partners always had to be able to do teas, make chilli/curry in evenings and even do the scoring… not surprising he changed lady partners regularly! Of an era when looking after bar, playing, tidying up bar and general sociability were the norm. Very useful first eleven wicket keeper and middle order batsman. Also off spin bowler who could break a partnership when not keeping in latter years.

Still playing in first eleven in 1980s, fielding first slip (where he was good) and getting a few runs at seven and the odd wicket. Very able drinker, tourist, wednesday player, captain of sides and sociable fellow.

President of Hampton Wick Club 1980s to mid 2000s. Regular umpire during 1990s and still does Wednesdays (or despatches Fudgey or AJ on Presidents day!)…. NB they should buy him a beer!

So these are your new Vice Presidents and Life Members. Hope this little delve back into the archives will help you next Summer when you bump into them on their bench on thier balcony...

A Tour Going Well?

There's a strange feeling to this South African tour. We're three or more weeks into it and so far the wheels are well and truly in place. Stunning performances from Owen Morgan (so much easier to spell it this way Eoin), Jimmy Anderson, Colly (he just will not lie down), our new Jaapie and others have neutralised the home Saffas. They have only managed two performances of note to our three and frankly rain or no rain we've edged the first half of the tour quite nicely.

So what next? Welllll. Two completely meaningless two day games. One has already started today and the big question of the tour remains unanswered. Will KP be able to play himself back into form physically and mentally? So far on the tour he has looked like a batsman that has lost his way. He has tried to muscle runs, dominate attacks and get back some of the his pre-sacking swagger but it's just not happening.

Even his media pronouncements so far have been bland. Some minor whingeing about being cooped up and not getting enough cricket are worryingly reminiscent of his attempt to bail out and fly back to his wife on the last tour. Is the man's head in the right place? One dominant knock in the West Indies aside when he self destructed in reach of a ton this has not been a good year for him on or off the field. With Strauss firmly in charge of the team and Flower seemingly better positioned in the dressing room than the previous coach is there enough room for him?

Wickman wonders whether this series will be about KP at all. He's the South African that the South Africans fear you would think... but will his role be more one of drawing the fire away and letting Strauss and Trott wear down the recently ex World No 1 Test side?

2009 Chairman's Award

The Chairman's Award is special. While the cricketing awards are always hotly contested, The Chairman's (aka Wick Man of the Year) Award is given for outstanding contribution to the club in other ways.

Previous winners on the trophy read like a who's who of quiet, behind the scenes all round Wickness. The last two, Fudgey and Lownsy, picked up the coveted trophy for astounding donation of personal time to the cause - Fudgey for dragging the twos up into the top division while organising club day, tours, socials and working with the Colts, Lownsy for running the social side of the club and bringing the Dinner back to the club and into profit after years of slumming it in various souless hotels and conference venues.

This year there were any number of nominees. So many people have contributed to the running of the club this year that Wick Man will struggle to remember the Chairman's nominations - apologies if he has missed you out - Kirky for continuing to run the website; Charlie, Sam, Tim Rolls and the Colts Coaches for their work on Clubmark; Fudgey for Club Day; Steve Vaid for fundraising; Lownsy for the Club Dinner etc etc.

This year the winner was someone who could eclipse even them. Starting the year as Sunday Skipper, Greg "Leggsy" Unsworth finished it as a contributing member of the 2xi and took over the running of the bar and socials from Keith. That in the interim he also fought through the sort of adversity that would have sent many of us into a tailspin with dignity while continuing to support the club from the balcony and getting into the running of the club behind the scenes so quickly was, frankly, motivating, inspiring and humbling all at the same time.

Leggsy is too modest to realise, but his stoicism, good grace and courage has set a high bar for us all and should inspire us to greater things. That's the thing about Wick Man of the Year. It kind of does that...

Joey - Grip and Grins

Wickman has noticed a striking similarity between the photos in the last three posts. Joey Ewen is a pro at award giving and the old "Grip and Grin" photo. Textbook.

2009 Player of the Year

The three nominations for Player of the Year were Kammy, Richard Cole and Dominic Lown. In a year when Kamran scored more than 600 runs and Dom Lown outbowled Saqqy it was going to take an extra special season from one player to knock them off the top perch.

Richard Cole's stats for the year are seriously impressive. Five fifties a five for and a four for (someone dropped his five for on this occasion behind the stumps. Who is Wickman?) were highlights, but this correspodent was more impressed this year with the manner of Richard's performances. At Old Paulines in mid season he scored 44 out of 50 on the board chasing an awkward total. His 90 not out against the same oppo at home belittled a slightly more taxing chase. This was really dominant, fluent batting which broke opposition hearts. Well done Rich. Well deserved. Vintage stuff.

[This photo's a bit blurred. Tongy was obviously emotional - Ed]

2009 Batsman of the Year

The winner:

Kamran Raza

630 runs at an average of 45 meant that once again, Kammy was one of the most feared batsman in Division 1 of the Surrey Fuller’s League. Seemingly able to be amongst the runs every week, his six league 50s were eclipsed by a memorable 102 not out off just 80 balls to help the 1st XI chase down 250 against Godalming. Kammy capped a memorable year by being elected as the new captain of the 1st XI for 2010 season.

The nominees:

Richard Cole

Richard has led from the front this year opening the batting on every one of his 14 league appearances, amassing a huge 553 runs in the process. Not even having all his kit stolen halfway through the year managed to halt his pursuit of league honours and an impressive 42.5 proudly sits him at the top of the Division 5 averages.

Imran Rashid

Imran’s maiden league season was one to remember. Described as the most consistent player in the club, 3 excellent league 50s didn’t tell the whole story as he made 9 other scores between, 25 & 40. Imran “The Wall” Rashid will look to build on those impressive starts and kick on in 2010.

2009 Bowler of the Year

The Winner:

Dominic Lown

Taking the new ball and leading from the front Lownsy sent down 122.3 overs in the 2009 league season returning 28 wickets at miserly average of just 13.6. However the highlight of a fantastic year had to be his 8/15 when he almost single handedly dismissed a more than capable Caterham 3rd XI back to the hutch before 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon. This was unsurprisingly the best return for the division, the third best for any Surrey Champ division and also saw him outbowl one Saqlain Mushtaq!

The nominees:

Richard Cole

What an amazing all-round season from Richard Cole as he added the title of being leading wicket taker, to leading run scorer for the 2nd XI in 2009. 28 wickets at an average of 16.36 showed great control and skill in what was for him, a season never to forget.

Phil Linter

The most improved performer in the 2009 season, Phil Linter is another success of the Hampton Wick Colts & Consolidated PR production line. Adding more control to an extra yard of pace, Phil Linter “away swung” his way to 23 league wickets.

2009 Fielder of the Year

The Winner:

Marc Holland

The most high profile of all the summer transfers, Ol' Soft Gloves re-re-joined the Wick in 2009 after arriving on a “Bosman” from near neighbors, Old Paulines. Taking the gloves for the 1xi was a challenge he relished and glowing reports of textbook glove work and nimble feet were backed up with 14 dismissals in 13 league starts. A great comeback year, from the comeback king!

The nominees:

Derek Soppitt

A fantastic fielder who always seems to be in the running for club honors at the end of any season. Ol' old hands has made the position of Mid-Off his own and is a captain’s dream due to his excellent availability and constant encouragement for the bowlers. Delboy managed to grab 9 dismissals this season with 8 catches and 1 run-out showing the youngsters the way and proving that age “ain’t, nothing but a number”

James Cameron

11 catches were plucked by the paws of Cimmy G this season making him a fielder for all opposition batsmen to avoid. Witnesses claim they saw him grab rasping drives and powerful cuts hit so hard that they had no idea how they stuck! Two words… jelly beans! Unfortunately Ol' sticky fingers is presently plucking his way around Asia. But fear not the newly elected 3xi skipper will be back in time for the start of the 2010 season and sends this message in his absence… Believe!

HWRCC 2009 Club Dinner

It's that time of year again. The dust has settled in DBW's kitchen. There's a winter tour on somehwere where the Sun shines every day. Contact with Wick members is limited to early morning grunting at unshaven hollow-eyed worker drones heading up to town to earn some shillings to spend in the bar next Summer.

Out of the gloom of a December so wet that even golf seems a chore, suddenly there was a bright light. Yes - the Wick end of season dinner happened on Saturday. Long enough after the season to allow rancour at poor umpiring decisions on club day to pass aside and soon enough before Christmas for it to be the first big seasonal engagement for most, the Dinner kicked off December in fine style.

Dom Lown and David Fudge organised a fine Wick evening which has gone down already as one of Matty G's favourite Wick nights - which is praise indeed as Matty G has had many legendary Wick nights. The Wick herself looked fabulous. Many, many thanks to Dom's mum who tirelessly worked at all the little things to make the place look special. Dom's catering folk turned up three courses of very edible food, attractively priced and tasty wine washed it down and Harry Copeland's "Let Get Science" entertained us until the early hours. For some the hours were earlier than others...

The evening is in part to celebrate achievements on the field (of which more later) and to recall deeds of derring do (and some not quite so derring) and partly to swell the coffers of the club after a Summer of expense. Dom and David - with kind assistance from Mickey McMahon, the brothers Webster, Coley and others including Golby who provided prizes, managed to make an excellent return on the evening, clearing four figures in the silent auction and bar profits alike. Well done to Cranesy for securing the much competed for Wentworth Golf Day with the Websters for an eye-watering sum.

This important evening really makes a difference to our club - and what better way to spend an evening's fund raising than in the company of friends. Thanks Dom and Dave for a great evening. Wickman's levels of Wickness, dangerously low after an Autumn away, have been recharged... along with Club funds...

[A sobering moment as Cranesy realises his Wentworth dream will come true - Ed]

Cobwebs

Ooo. Blimey. Not been here in a while. Hmmm. Spring clean. Must try harder etc.

Expect a flurry of posts soon...

Where's Wickman Junior? And who is Wickman?