1xi Season Report

HWRCC 1XI 2011: Promoted. Unbeaten. Job done.

I want to tell you a story. Once upon a time in a Royal Park not far away a cricket team decided to pull their finger out and achieve something they had been threatening to do for 4 long years. Ever since a dark day in Godalming in 2007, when the same team (if not the same personnel) failed miserably to chase down 160 on the flattest track south of the Kennington Oval, the Wick 1xi had been caught in limbo - stuck in a standard of cricket that varies from the sublime to the ridiculous, and in a league designed to frustrate...

Or is it? If there is one lesson that we should take from this season, it's that cricket is even more than ever a game played in your head. It's about pressure and how you handle it. Forget the rules, forget the pitch. Forget the silly dibbly-dobbly who could get you caught at mid on. They don't matter - and this year they didn't as the boys produced a season full of verve and drive that put such pressure on opposition teams that not only did we turn up believing we were going to win, the opposition turned up expecting to lose.

The league season reads P17, W12, D4, A1. Bearing in mind there were two draws in the final two games, you can get a sense of how dominant we were. There are some well worn facts about this team that I will mention here - most of these are reported on a weekly basis so need not be repeated at length:

Nomaan Ali scored 719 league runs this year and over 900 including cup games. His last two scores were 2 and 0. Cricket is a strange game. That is quite a ridiculous return and he will win League batsman of the Year.

We chased large totals (220 against Shepperton off 35 overs for the loss of 3 wickets) and small totals (smiting Ripley away like a pesky fly). We defended large totals (240 against Old Paulines and then bowled them out for 170) and when we'd struggled invariably on difficult tracks we turned up the pressure-ometer and cleaned the opposition up (Wallington for example).

The fact that Zammack often batted number 11 gives a clue as to the strength of our batting - pretty much everyone could bat top 6 in almost all opponents' line ups. Adam O'Mahoney took the most catches in the league (in fact all 4 divisions of the Fullers setup I believe) - probably because we found more edges than anyone else. At times I had seven bowlers to choose from - all of whom were more than capable of cleaning up (and invariably took it in turns to do so - Zamm, Graham Tong, Alex, Nomaan all taking 5 wicket hauls)... and the ever reliable Kamm and Shri complemented by the incoming Iain Tong and Vish made our attack almost ridiculous. In fact it was ridiculous.

But these stats don't tell the story that needs to be told - and that's about cricket more generally. I remember remarking to The Lord (Pete Culham for the uninitiated) once in the bar perhaps 12 years ago after a tough game in the Thames Valley, that to win at cricket you had to be a C*NT. I think he was taken aback by my frankness. To be fair I was probably drunk as most 15 year olds would have been after a lager shandy (oh how lax standards were in those days - Ed), but I stand by this sentiment, even if the term used didn't, and still doesn't, accurately describe what I mean. You have to be ruthless. You can't hide. Forget looking stupid, you have to out yourself out there, but you also need to value your wicket. It's not easy, but winners have to earn the right to be such, and you don't get anything for coming third - not in the Fullers. And most importantly you have to be selfish. A selfish b*stard.

We won loads of games this year and many a turning point can be pointed at, but I'd like to tell a short tale of two contrasting fixtures that arguably gave me more pleasure than any of the fixtures than preceded them. They were the final two games - neither of which were won, but both of which showed everything that is great (and terrible) about cricket and provide a fitting conclusion to a successful season.

Chobham

We were promoted with 2 games to go. Mathematically guaranteed. But we were still in the hunt for the league title. Our arrival at a sunny Chobham was met with total indifference by an opposition who seemed to care more about the Daily Mirror than playing cricket. Not even a "Hello", or even an acknowledgement that it was wet - just total indifference. And I wouldn't have minded if it was indeed wet! It was bloody dry. I had to invade their precious clubhouse and invite them to take their covers off so that the wicket (covered for 2 days) could be viewed and allowed to dry (again... not that it was wet!). There were a few puddles that needed skewering (a 5 minute job that we as the opposing team did) and we should have been off. There were numerous other incidents that I need not go into here - suffice to say there is probably a reason that that club only has 16 registered adult players.

The game in effect became an absolute damp squib, with yours truly and Kam (under my instruction) opting to block out 15 overs out of principle to secure a draw, rather than gamble and go for a winning draw/win and risk a loss and give Chobham points they didn't deserve. The abuse received in the field (and to a certain extent in the dressing room) was perhaps understandable, but reasons for this approach will be explained shortly.

Battersea Ironsides

Battersea were an absolute pleasure to host. The weather was fine and the track looked a belter. As is tradition, Battersea have a few strong bats up top and then fade away. They also have a few decent bowlers and one who gives it more flight that Delboy. Battersea won the toss and batted. The track was lurvely and despite one eary breakthrough from Graham, the runs were coming freely. In Zamm's absense this necessitated a lengthly spell from Mr Relibale Kam Raza who bowled 15 overs of controlled off spin. The 3rd wicket fell with the score on 190 and Batterseas ended up on 210 off 51 overs. The fact it took so long is testament to the control of all bowlers on the day who kept their discipline. For the record, at the death if Kam had taken a catch at cow Alex would have had a hat trick. Heehee.

In response we were soon in trouble with Noman leaving the third ball of the day that hooped in and bowled him. Neither Alex nor Adam lasted much longer which left some rebuilding work for Raza and Davies. With an attacking brief, both moved things along, putting on about 120 for the 4th wicket. As both tired, the turning point may have actually been their lazy dismissals, bringing as it did some fresh legs to the crease. Iain Tong and JMJ set about the task of going at a run a ball for 12 overs with great gusto - some powerful heaves, intelligent running and classy drives kept the scores moving along beautifully. As the balconies filled and the sun began to set a great finish was in order. Iain fell, as did Matt Cronin, leaving Vish with JMJ. A few smites and he was gone, leaving about 18 off the last two, and 9 off the last, Wick 8 wickets down and all results still possible. 4 to win off the last ball, JMJ on strike - it's heaved to cow and JMJ is run out diving full stretch going for the 3rd. Wick get the winning draw and a fitting end to a great season.

Conclusions and lessons learnt

These last two games tell many stories. Firstly, the Wick had earned the right to play the game how we wanted it to be played. We'd secured promotion with 2 games to go and from a position of comfort we were able to dictate terms. Chobham? Screw them. We didn't lose and ended up being unbeaten for an entire season - they could only dream of winning cricket matches and the fact we were able to prevent them doing so when they had a real chance gives me great satisfaction and is in my view a 'win'. HWRCC were promoted and Chobham ened up relegated - you really do get what you deserve. Kam and I played like c*nts that final 12 overs, but we'd earnt the right to do so. That's cricket. And would it have been fair to the team that fought hard elsewhere to avoid relegation for us to play like idiots? No.

Secondly, in the Battersea game we were able to get within 2 runs of chasing 210 (off 43 overs remember), having been 20-3. Noman didn't get anything, nor Alex who was off the back of 40, 60 and 40 in his last three innings. Yet we still had the strength in character and depth of quality to get within a simdgen of winning, chasing over 200.

Thirdly, the Wick is a glorious place to be. Whilst Chobham is a great tour venue with the attractive spire and the lush english field feeling, it doesnt have the dramatic character of the Wick on a warm summer's evening with two full balconies. And JMJ running himself out off the last ball going for a third run made for a great season finale.

Fouthly Battersea continue to be a great club and we shall miss them next year. At least 8 of them hung around for drinks for a few hours. We shall investigate some pre-season friendlies next year.

Finally - the team went unbeaten for an entire league season. That is a remarkable achievement. To not let your guard down even once to lose, and when the guard was wavering someone propped up the side like a girder. Every team has stars but we've had at least 18, 20 including Keith and Alison, who are as much part of the scene as anyone.

We are now going places.....game on.