England Winning One Day Games Shock

With all this football around it had largely escaped Wickman's notice that there is a big one day series on against the Aussies.

Never has a one day series against the best team in the world been so poorly trailed and begun with such poor visibility. Perhaps it was because it didn't kick off at Lords, but who could tell from the papers that there was even cricket to think about?

Without the framing around it of an Ashes Test series, this one day malarky has slipped in under many radars. With people playing 108 game sets of tennis, our boys in South Africa scoring two magnificent free flowing goals and dismissing the mighty (hem hem) Slovenia with one of them, the back pages are thickly layered with other sports.

And the front of the papers are the same. Footballers were allowed a beer on Tuesday night, our tennis players (apart from the Scottish one) all lost (not enough beer) and all the momentum seems to be with them. And quietly England beat Australia in a fifty over game. And Eoin Morgan absolutley destroyed them. And didn't get as much recognition as this achievement deserved.

This begs questions. How much beer is Morgan drinking? And if our footballers have the momentum, is there enough left over for cricket? And have the sports editors of the nationals decided that 50 over cricket is now so unworthy of space that a vicotry against RICKY PONTING'S AUSTRALIA is not worth the work necessary to write it up? Will a century scoring English cricketer make it on to the back or front page of a National paper if it's in a fifty over match again?

Match Report 2xi vs Maori Oxshott

Tough win that. Maori Oxshott were a decent team, a couple of good players, and with a bit of luck, the result could have been very different. But we earned a valuable win in our quest for promotion, and for the second week running, we showed plenty of fight and ticker.

As ever, Fudgey lost the toss and we were stuck into bat. The wicket wasn’t favourable either way, it was a good cricket wicket, with something in it for the bowlers (especially with the new ball), but the bounce was true and it could be trusted.

Coley and Goldy opened up, but neither lasted long. Their opening bowler (Tahir) accounted for both, bowling with pace, control, and moving it both ways. He bowled a very impressive 12 over opening spell, without ever really offering any freebies. Coming in at 4, Matt Killner was also cleaned up by Tahir (11-3), so it was left to Fudgey and AJ to repair the innings.

Fudgey played a true captain’s knock, probably the best I’ve seen from him. With Tahir making life extremely difficult at one end, and Hussain bowling well at the other, it was tough going for a long time out there. The Wick managed to reach drinks at 25 overs without any further loss, reaching 60-3. The innings had been rebuilt, and now the Wick batsmen looked to push on.

Fudgey started to cut loose, pulling the short ball with aplomb, while playing straight to everything else. At the other end, AJ was happy to drop anchor and hold up an end. A change of bowling helped the scoring rate, as Wasim was dispatched for 27 runs from his three wayward overs, while Wheeler was treated with a similar disdain (35 off 6).

The skipper reached his fifty, offering only one chance, but given the quality of their opening spell, it was a fine effort, and a hundred looked a good thing. AJ started to find his form at the other end, driving and cutting with more authority as his innings progressed.

Alas, both batsmen surrendered their wickets to loose shots to Raja’s innocuous seamers, but having put on a partnership of 111, their job had been done. After that, only Del Boy (25) and Breakwell (13 not out) offered anything of substance, as Pinball, Harry and Leggsy all failed to kick on. We were eventually bowled out for 187 in 54.2 overs.

From 11-3 we had posted a competitive total, but once again, our effort was undermined by clusters of wickets falling in quick succession. We need to put a higher value on our wickets and stay more patient if we are to improve as a batting unit.

Fudgey had to dash to a & e at tea, so Webbo took the armband for the second session, with Whinney stepping up to fill the breach in numbers. Webbo bowled a brilliant opening spell, with plenty of pace, movement, bounce and accuracy, making scoring difficult. At the other end, Leggsy was struggling to find his rhythm and line of the previous week, but produced an absolute pearl to account for Wasim, allowing Coley to complete the most nonchalant of one handed catches in the slips. Webbo then cleaned up Malik, inexplicably leaving one of Webbo’s inswingers, much to the delight of the Wick mob “I SAID YOU BUY ONE YOU GET ONE FREE.”

Wheeler and Raja chanced their arm to put on 50 odd for the third wicket, lofting shots to all parts, intended or not. Killner, replacing Webbo, was bowling with plenty of hostility, broke the partnership, Raja pulling to the grateful hands of Unsworth.

Breakwell replaced Leggsy to instil some control to the attack. Having found a decent rhythm, JB then ripped through Maori’s middle order, taking the next 5 wickets to fall. It was a brilliant effort on a pitch that became more benign as the day went on, removing Khokhar with one of the balls of the season, heading to leg before coming back to hit the top of off.

Del had to go off after splitting open his finger dropping the most horrible of high balls, but returned to take a similar chance within an over of his return. It was a brilliant catch, and allowed Del to silence the heckling Wick mafia of Sisso, Mooray and Bartle-Wilson, who had berated the Cockney Sparra’ for his previous drop. EH!

The Maori lower order changed tack, from swinging from the hip, to blocking patiently. It was left to Killner to remove Baron with a well disguised slower ball. After 6 overs of stubborn resistance, Killner then accounted for Hussain, trying to release the pressure, but hitting straight to Pinball at silly mid off. A brilliant catch and a brilliant win.

This really was an excellent win, a tremendous team effort, with some fine individual performances. Fudgey’s knock was as important as for the context as it was the way he played, while Webbo, Breakwell (5-29) and Killner (3-26)were all near unplayable with the ball.

Stoke D’Ab up next on Saturday. It will be a close game, and we’ll need to be at our very best to complete a league double over them. But we can do it, if our bowlers bowl as they have all season, and our batsmen dig in, and bat with a bit more nous and patience.

Men of the match; Fudgey and Breakwell.

Guildford City v HWRCC 1xi

HWRCC 18-2, 3.2 overs. Game abandoned - pitch deemed unsafe.

Hmmm....
OK - where to start. Urm.........ah.......ooo......um....well, I may as well give you a ball by ball account. I can't remember each ball exactly, but I almost can.

The track

I've played on some bad wickets in my time. Ive been racking my brains over the years for stories but none come to mind. Probably because invariably bad wickets make for an interesting game. Also, rain often plays a factor in this, with a certain degree of acceptance by players when a greasy wet top becomes a lethal tennis ball bounce track. 130ao is chaased 132-8 off 45 overs - that type of thing. Not a sign of it here though. It may have drizzled a little Friday, but it's essentailly been a dry few weeks. The track was mossy, patchy, uneven and crumbly. It looked like my face when I was at Esher College.

Charlie's pitch inspection comprised making one of those faces that suggested it was going to be 'lively'. He always does that though. That didn't put me off. Kam however did ask me what he thought we should do. I said bowl first because they've never played on it before so they can set the standard. Kam normally tells me what he thinks and then listens to others. Here I think he was as unsure as the rest of us. Surely it wouldn't be as bad as it looked - and it would probably get worse through breaking up. GC 1XI had never used this ground before today. GC won the toss and Wick would bat.

The oppo

GC have some good players. One opener in particular is know to be a top class seamer. He looks like Ravi Shastri with a defined pencil tache and he has a steely look in his eye that suggests he knows what hes doing. He also never says a word, and prefers to do his talking with a ball - a top performer.

The match

Over 1.
MattyD on strike.
Ball 1 - just short of a length. Leaps. Golved down to first slip.
Ball 2 - a bit fuller. Jumps a bit. Played off the splice towards cover.
Ball 3 - Genuine half tracker. In the slot. Spanked over square leg for a grand maximum.
Ball 4 - Full and on the legs. LB down the fine leg. Single
Immy on strike
Ball 5 - good ball on off stump. Regulation nick. Caught 2nd slip. Nomaan
Ball 6 - Good legth. Leaps. Shoulder of the bat, onto glove. Drops short of slip.

Interesting start
'Nommy - you're gonna get one eventually on this track so lets get after them.'. This contradicted advice from Kamaroon who felt it was a grinders track. Either way, it was going to be a lottery.

Over 2.
MattyD on strike
Largely an over of full balls - either half volleys or full tosses. One half tracker was again dispatched onto the on side by Davies, whilst one of the full tosses was driven through extra cover for four by Nommy.

'Looks like this end is a litle easier, although he didn't really use the track at all - most didnt bounce'

Over 3.
Nommy on strike.
Ball 1 - Length outside off stump. Left, but ball leaps and almost catches the underside of the gloves.
Ball 2 - Length. Leaps. Gloved down. Single.
Ball 3 - Full. Single to cover.
MattyD on strike
Ball 4 - Length ball on leg stump. Jumps a bit, single taken to midwicket.
Nommy on strike
Ball 5 - Short of a good length. Leaps . Nicked. Caught behind.
Raza on strike
Ball 6 - Just short of a length. Jags back and hits Kam in the goolies. red cherry to prove.

Over 4.
MattyD on strike.
Ball 1 - Short of a length. Leaps. MattyD pulls out of a slap to the on-side as the ball whistles past his face.
Ball 2 - Length ball. MattyD plays forward. Ball takes off. Cloncks him on the lid (misses the grill - straight for the helmut).

Kam approached Umpire and decision taken not to continue.

As I say, I can't remember every ball exactly, but of the 10 or so balls pitched in or a round a good area, over half of them misbehaved, and dangerously so. This was not a 1XI standard pitch and player safety was at risk.

Poor old Cronin. He drove around Guildford for an hour and a half trying to find the ground. Relaised it was in Burpham. Arrived a few overs in, quickly had to get his pads on, and then an over later the game was abandoned.

Poor Ali. She had managed to get away with not having to go to Guildford City's ohter ground (a pet hate), but has only managed to see 3.2 overs of cricket. I think she enjoyed the 2XI banter on the Wick balcony instead though.

Poor Nicholls. Facing the prospect of calling a game off on grounds of safety.

Poor oppo umpire. Despite personal issues, he'd had to try and make a pitch playable for his side, only to find his efforts had gone unrewarded. He did say we had a disappointing attitude - not wanting to play cricket. He was clearly annoyed - we'll let that slide. Everyone at the Wick knows if you give up your Saturday to play cricket, the last thing you want to do is not play cricket!

Poor MattyD. Seeing it like a beachball, yet game abandoned.

Iv'e got no idea what will happen now. It is clear that the pitch was not 1XI standard and with the bowlers on show was a danger to everyone. I think common sense prevailed - you never know until it's too late with these things.

Wish you were here....

Walton on Thames - all out for 96 (Tommy D - 6/59, Paddy - 2/1)

lost to

Hampton Wick - 97 for 2 (Singh 47)

It's hard to believe that almost a year has passed since the legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson dropped off the twig. The coroner - in whom we can confidently place complete trust - said the death was a result of "acute propofol intoxication". I laymans terms - the pills he was taking were a little stronger than the tic tacs he developed a penchant for. It killed him. Rest in peace Michael.

As we come to the anniversary - June 25th if it's not already in your diaries - let us take a moment to pause for reflection. "Did we ever see the best of Michael?" might be one question raised, or perhaps, "what would he think of the world today, one year on?".

These questions and others got Wickman Junior thinking as the 3s took on Walton on Thames (WOT) on Saturday. Two of the side's key players were missing: Risman and Ewan. What would it be like to play without them there? What were they doing to take them away from the cricket? And would the 3s perform and win without them?

The answer was: 1) it felt like cheating 2) Rizzo was off doing something and Dick was injured, and 3) Yes - bloody oath.

On a cold overcast day, the Wick won the toss and decided to bowl on a dry and dusty track. The outfield was typical for Kingsfield: bumpy, bare in patches....but bloody beautiful all the same. WOT only had 10 players, so the 3s already had one less wicket to get. And that helped. Opening with Tommy D and lownsy, the boys got off to a good start. Runs were hard to come by for their openers as Lowns bowled with rapid pace and bouce, while tommy D had unnerving accuracy.

After 14 overs Lownsy was taken off and Paddy McMullen brought into the attack. WOT were on 30 odd for no loss, before their opener tried to hoik one across midwicket from Tommy D, where Paddy (read: Simon Anstell) took a great catch. 1/20. After Paddy's great first over down the hill, Tommy D officially ended the match as a contest. Jimmy C took a catch at cover, and TD took another three wickets - all bowled - to put WOT out of the game. Two from Paddy down the hill and they were 7/56.

In previous week's, the 3s have left promising positions like this go to waste. But not today. Despite the 8 and 9 batsmen blocking out the next 20 overs for just 20 runs, the last two wickets finally came. TD took his sixth wicket - crashing into the stumps - and David Bendall hit the timber too. WOT had basilled themselves to 96 all out off 42 overs. Thank god that was over.

The run chase, despite only having four batsmen in the team (including Sam Kemp) cruised to victory. Again, Nathan and Joe Hirsh were the standouts. Nathan battered 47 and Hirshy 28 not out, as the 3s ran down the score in just 18 overs. These two are finally showing what they are capable of and batting well together. With Zohakk coming back into the side next week, and perhaps an elusive Adam Crane, and Finbar Murray, things are looking up for the 3s now. Time to get on a winning run.

Excellent win. Comfortable and professional. Perhaps the England team could look at this a learn something?

MOM Tommy D - 6/59.

Wickman Junior

Wednesday xi vs Worcester Park

Wednesday xi vs Worcester Park

Scorecard

Who Stitched Who Up?

Kennedy, Hirsch, Norm, Kammy, Dutchy, Amooray, The Lord Culhem, Marfleet, Clarky, Il Presidente.

Those of you who enjoy the gentle rhythms of Wednesday cricket missed a special sunset yesterday.

The Lord told an amusing tale as we watched it. I’ll cut out some of the detail to save space but essentially Sisso used to run a book on The National. The Lord instructed Mrs Lord to get a tenner on a horse called Seagram. It won. But the Lord made an error. He called Sisso to enquire not how much he had won, but whether Mrs Lord had got the bet on. Sisso said she hadn’t and told him that she’d placed an each way bet on the horse in third place. Sisso produced a tenner with a flourish and the conversation was closed. A week or ten days passed. The Lord was not able to leave the subject alone and made further enquiries of the part-time bookie. Sisso told him that The Lord had seemed like a person that wanted to be stitched up, and he, Sisso, had a policy of never letting an opportunity to do so pass up. Snigger.

Not so much later Sisso, The Lord, Smudger and others were in a country pub just before Smudge’s wedding. It was April and snowing. Horizontally. The pub was a mile from the church. Sisso’s lift left without him. The Lord asked Sisso how Sisso was going to get to the church. Sisso intimated that he was rather hoping to get a lift with the Lord. The Lord replied “Ah yes. I thought so. But you looked like a person that wanted to be stitched up, and I have a policy…”

Wickman brings this up because yesterday felt like a giant stitch up and he couldn’t quite tell who was doing it to whom. Firstly the opposition skipper (who is a true character of the game) dithered over whether or not to bat. Seeing as he always bats when he wins the toss this seemed unnecessary. Sisso stitched us up shortly afterwards because he only provided us with nine players, two of the xi claiming they couldn’t make it and had never been intending to. The Lord was late. ATS.

So the game was started with eight of us in the field. Clarky began by grassing a regulation first slip chance by diving in front of Kam and flapping a glove at it off the deserving Norm first ball of the match. Norm then bowled six or so overs of fast medium away swingers without much reward. Not much else happened as the openers decided us only having six outfielders was a licence to make runs. They picked gaps and made us run a lot. Kammy bowled some respectable offspin. They hit it up in the air occasionally but into helpful gaps.

The Lord arrived and blow this correspondent down if he didn’t first open the boot of his car and bring out two comfortable looking camping chairs as much as if to say “I’ll put one at long leg and the other at third man, and I will be fine thank you”. Having had a crafty look at numbers in the outfield he then spent a light year getting changed. At one point as he walked back to his car for the third or fourth time Wickman thinks that light may have bent round the carpark and time travel forwards may have happened as it seemed to take him a good five overs to lock his car and trundle out to the middle.

The Lord’s services were called upon soon after and he managed to supply the breakthrough pinning their No1 in front. Marfleet bowled some lovely loopy offspin (and some nasty full bungers too) and eventually cramped the other opener for room and bowled him. A South African with a very unfashionable mullet came to the wicket and hit the ball hard and ran at twice the speed of Mackie (or 2.5 Soppitts) and began to make us pay for only having nine in intense heat.

Culhem removed an excitable Number 4 bowled and Norman did the same to Mullet Boy. This brought to the wicket McFarlane who scored an unflustered 30 odd in good time before perishing to a good catch by Kennedy. There was enough time for Marfleet to catch one off his own bowling to end an impressive second spell. It also brought to the wicket an extraordinary bat who used his feet badly to every ball he faced and was lucky he had a good eye. A very decent bat, Hill, who is averaging 60 in Division II First xi of the Surrey Champ then smashed a quick 20 odd. They had amassed 242 from 45 at almost 5.4 an over.

Tea. 9. Dave had provided us with mini-hotdogs, buns and cooked onion (with that weak assed American yellow mustard that is so essential) plus most of the usual stuff. Tempted to give it more but the bread wasn’t quite there and it needed something like meringues, strawberries and cream to bring another half or full point. But certainly the finest tea Wickman has seen from Dave. He claimed it was always better on a Wednesday. Hmmmm.

So it was up to us to bat. Hirschy had turned up right at the end of their innings and now opened the batting so that he could open the bar. A typical brisk innings with some lovely shots followed before he was castled by an excitable dwarf. The same dwarf then removed Normy who snicked one after having looked like a million Pakistani Rupees (about £7,987.01 in case you ask). Kammy was caught behind too off the impressive Marshall and Kennedy in his first hit for five years was just beginning to look good before also offering a catch. It was clear at this point that we had taken over the role of stitching ourselves up from Bobby. To confirm the feeling Dutchy then waited until the ball before drinks to fire one to Mullet Boy at cover who hung on.

After drinks Amooray played increasingly brightly and reached 20some before smashing one back to the bowler. The Lord looked Lord like and biffed and cudgelled away the bowling with a look of wrinkled disdain. Marfleet used the long handle and made 17 from seven balls. With Clark and The Lord at the wicket we needed 100 of 13 overs. It was an unlikely equation which the oppo skipper had no intention of trying to get us to solve. And then we realised who was really being stitched up. It was Worcester Park, by their skipper.

This most strange individual had brought himself on with the asking rate at 11s and 12s before bowling absolute filthy filth so filthy that if it was in a porn film it would be double penetration with bondage thrown in. And it was slow filth too. He then set a field with 7 on the boundary, four of them fanned out from square leg to long on via midwicket and cow. What a waste of time. The challenge was this: you need more than 10. You need to hit boundaries. I am going to toss this stuff up because I don’t believe you can hit it over the boundary on the full. You will try though because I am bowling this terrible left arm filth. Jack perished accepting the bait. The Lord almost stranded Clarky with the old Yessssssss. Er no. Er… Clarky was not amused but the weird skippery fellow bungled collecting the fielder’s throw and allowed the original single to be taken.

The Lord and Clarky put on some together but Clark was not in fine form and was unable after his earlier keeping exertions to hit the ball the necessary distance. In fact he was finding it rather difficult to time and fully deserved to be in at 9. Eventually the Lord propped forward to one of the filthy dobbers and was stumped when he fell asleep waiting for it to arrive. There were a few scares as the President and Clarky navigated the last few overs but seeing as the skipper insisted on continuing to bowl the shite Wickman mentioned earlier the biggest threat was the ball arriving so slowly that it crept under horizontal bat shots.

The President declared himself not bothered by the result after having been adjudged not out to a ball that would have hit middle and delegated the decision to Clarky to decide whether we lost or not. But with Filthy McNasty on Clarky could not bring himself to be out and milked a few runs as the balls ticked away. With no sign of the openers returning to break the partnership the game fizzled out into a draw as the Worcester Park fielders too became less and less interested in the spectacle and the antics of their skipper in not mopping us up.

Those assembled retired to the balcony to discuss other games with more positive outcomes, to drink beer and to assess bruising and muscular aches and pains. Another fine day in Wick Wednesday cricket. Unfortunately 8 in the field is a not a great recipe for winning cricket and nor is it advisable to lose all your best bats before you have made 70. But what a tea…

1xi Match Report by Matty D

vs Oxted and Limpsfield

Saturday was an interesting sporting day, was it not? Everything seemed to be going so well, and then, almost with the flick of a switch, everything changed. Doubts creep in, the opposition have a sniff, and they pounce. Im not talking England football, Im talking Wick cricket - a team similarly bedevilled by sporting dramas. Although by the end we resembled an episode of Eldorado, rather than the season climax of 24. Incidentally Ive not seen an episode of either, but Im confident in my assumptions.

Saturday - hot day. Lurvely.

Wick batted first on a belter. Flat like my bike tyre at the moment. Rashid and Davies started confidently, finding the middle of the bat with ease. No swing, no seam. Innocuous (what a great word that is. Just trying to spell it is a tongue twister). At 32-0 off 8 overs we were laughing. But then disaster struck. The ball started to do a little bit - just enough. The oppo found their areas and things became very difficult all of a sudden. Rashid caugt slip. Ali, caught at point. Davies caught at slip. Raza caught at slip. 36-4 off 18 overs. Ive known some collapses in my time, but even this one was a classic. Cronin and Kilner looked to repair some damage by not letting the 4 become 5. There was alsmot no action, rather than leaves and a few misses for 45 minutes. The 1 brings 2. 60-6. High hit some straight ones, but he didnt last. Tong and Ewen played a lovely little cameo with expert running and a few hits to move the score along to 141 all out off 51 overs.

Quite how we managed to find ourselves in this position can be laregly attributed to the opening bowlers of Oxted. From the 8t over onwards they found an immaculate spot on which they rarely deviated from. The ridge played havoc one end, whist the low bounce the other meant as soon as the shine has gone most things were hard to get away. The catching was very good from Oxted and whilst the banter was tedious at times - 141 all out is a fair reflection of what happened out in the middle.

Teas - standard.

We were surprisingly buoyant at half time. The pitch seemed to be doing things if we could find the right areas. In reality the pitch did little and the areas we found were not sufficient. Joey has an off day, Ali didn't find the zip he needs and Tongy, whilst the best of the 3 strike bowlers was unable to repeat the heroics of 8-32 (see Chobham 2009). Raza bowled well, although the gane was up at this point. James Milner, I mean Val Kilner, I mean Matt Kilner bowled one over and got one wicket lbw. Theres a lesson if Ive ever heard one...

In reality we were taught a lesson on Saturday. We were made to look decidedly average by a team who whilst clearly were no mugs, were hardly a bunch of superheroes as the stats would suggest. As last week Im left wondering if its not going to be our season, or if we'll get that break to set us on our way. We're still only 30 points off the top, so if we can get on a run we are back in the hunt. However if we're not quick the hunt may have already killed the fox by the time we join in....

WORLD CUP @ THE WICK

WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN STYLE @ HWRCC

The WICK is the only place to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup as we present themed nights with authentic food, drinks promotions, live music, fancy dress and much, much more!

WORLD CUP – ALGERIAN NIGHT

On Fri 18th June, cheer on the three lions as we provide the perfect Friday Night!!

Bar Open: 17:30

Kick Off: 20:30

Entry: FREE

Food: The Football will be followed by a trip to our Sponsor, The Hampton Wick Tandoori – for a team Curry!!

Support your club,

WICK

TEAM NEWS - SAT 19TH JUNE

HWRCC 1ST XI V Guildford City

1) Ali
2) Davies
3) Rashid
4) Raza ©
5) Cronin
6) Mackie +
7) High
8) Whinny
9) Tughral Zam
10) Tong
11) Ewen J

Umpire: K. Nicholls
Scorer: A. Whicher

Meet: 11:15
Start: 13:30

HWRCC 2ND XI V Maori Oxshott

1) Cole
2) Goulborn
3) Fudge ©
4) Kilner
5) Jackson
6) Crowther
7) Soppitt
8) Copeland H +
9) Breakwell
10) Unsworth
11) Webster

Umpire: S. Riley
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 12:00
Start: 13:00

HWRCC 3RD XI V Walton on Thames

1) Singh
2) Hirsch
3) Lloyd +
4) Kemp +
5) McMullan
6) Cameron ©
7) Bendall
8) Selves
9) Donnelly
10) Lown
11) Charlton

Umpire: N/A
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 12:00
Start: 13:00

Good Luck to everyone involved...

WICK WASH

Fantasy cricket up to week 5

SHOUT: LET IT ALL OUT

SMCC - all out for 187 off 49 overs. Selves 6/60 off 21 overs. Dick Ewan 4 wickets

drew with

Hampton Wick - 162 for 9. Hirsh 62.

"Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without Come on, I'm talking to you, come on" was what 80s super group Tears For Fears said many years ago in their seminal classic "Shout", from the album "Songs from the big Chair". It's one hell of an record, with many commentators at the time describing it as "the freshest piece of music" since Phil Collins and Genesis released their first record.

The song, of course, has incredible meaning and depth. It is about political protest for sure, but it also about expressing yourself and telling others what you think. It was something that dawned on me, perhaps hauntingly, as i watched the 3s go toe-to-toe with Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club on Saturday. This is a team that has talent and quality, and now needs to start shouting about it and breaking free from a nervousness that is costing points.

After Jimmy C won the toss, he decided to send S&M (see what i did there?) into bat. It was a crazy start. Adam Selves opened the bowling alongside Eddie Charlton and took two wickets in the third over - a cheeky caught behind and then a caught and bowled. 2/10. It looked like the Wick were about to skittle these boys in just a few overs.

It was not to be. The match probably turned on a dropped catch which was easy to take, much less actually attempt to catch. Their left hander popped one up in the air between square leg and the keeper. As Lloydy and Tim looked at each other and waited for something to happen, the ball fell embarrassingly to the ground. It was a precurser to Robert Green's howler that evening against the US. The lefty, with support from the skipper, then went on to make 60-odd. Damn!!

At 130-odd for two off 35 overs, S&M were heading for a big total, before Dick Ewan and Adam Selves ran riot. Selves took two more wickets, while Dick Ewan took four wickets in just a handful of overs. 130-2 then became 138-8. It was looking like they would be out for 150, a score that could be happily chased down.

Sadly, their last two batsmen proved a bit of a handful, and managed to put on a 50 run partnership from the last 14 overs. Dick Ewan in the process managed to do his hamstring while attempting to reach a skied catch. It was 50 runs and an injury that probably cost the 3s winning the match.

With Dick sitting on the sidelines, Jimmy opted to send in Lloydy to open with Risso. Opening with the old ball, S&M gave it to a slow pie chucker to do some damage. It was clear that Lloydy's eyes would light up with these deliveries and not last too long out in the middle. Just too tempting, and he skied one to the keeper. Gone. With Joe Hirsch coming to the middle, Risso and he looked to tick the scoring over. However, a lack of shouting from young Joey on a quick single left Risso exposed, and then run out. Skipper Jimmy C was overheard to have remarked - "why does no one call anymore?! Just shout either yes, no or waiting....those are the three calls!!"

Nathan then joined Joey at the crease, and they batted superbly. Hirshy has matured into a fantastic young cricketer, and drove all over the ground to reach an inspired 50. His first league 50 for the club. Top work son. At the other end, Nathan finally began to show some of his potential - belting balls to the boundary with ease, and showing his true power for one. The wick were now on 130-odd for two, needing 58 off the last 18 overs.

However, the 3s again conspired to collapse in the middle order again. After Joey and Nathan had gone, only Jimmy and Selves would follow to try and keep the chase on target. Jimmy looked completely out of sorts with the bat and ball, and will need to get in a session with Kam Raza at nets this week to change his fortunes. Selves, exhausted from bowling nearly half the 3s overs, couldn't replicate his heroics with the bat. Both were removed cheaply, and left Dick Ewan and Eddie Charlton to get the remaining runs.

Sadly, there wasn't enough batting to finish off the chase, and the side held out (thanks to Charles Edmunds....who faced the task of blocking out the last 5 balls) for a losing draw. It was such a disappointing way to end the match. Another team who the 3s should have beaten, and it seems like playing well in patches may haunt the side come the end of the season. The games agaitnst Old Tiffs, Old Eman and now Streatham have followed a similar pattern - the 3s have had the game by the thruff of the scroat (so to speak) and have let sides back into the matches.

The side now needs to regroup for next week's game. It needs to start shouting louder and being more confident in the field, and with bowling and batting. It needs a bit more of the Fabio Capello school of leadership and discipline now to start getting these victories. Otherwise, one can see a "Falling Down" moment when the skipper, and some of his angry mob, might just lose the plot entirely. Buck up boys. Shout it out. NOW!

League Smashes it Out of the Park

Wickman does not presume to think that The League reads this blog, but it does seem that they have listened to feedback from member clubs and done the right thing with respect to this weekend's fixtures, allowing games to start as early as Midday to allow football spectation and the consumption of grilled food. Here's their statement allowing clubs to agree changed start times and well done to them!

"The Executive has considered the reaction of Member Clubs to the issue of start times on those Saturdays where an England World Cup match in South Africa is scheduled to start at 7.30pm (Saturday 12 June and perhaps Saturday 26 June).

Taking into account those views, if clubs BELOW first team level can agree an advanced start time of between 30-60 minutes ahead of the scheduled norm, then they will not be subject to any of the normal sanctions that might otherwise apply were this to happen at any other time.

This is an exceptional move and is put forward in response to a groundswell of opinion at Member Clubs from playing members, particularly in the lower sides.

This allows sides within Member Clubs BELOW first team level to agree matters between themselves, and grants them the flexibility and choice to vary start times within the above guidelines."

It is important to stress that should there not be full agreement between two clubs then the normal League rules will apply.”

Be good to see a full 3xi out for our away fixture and maybe some of the niggling injuries suffered by football fans in the xi will now clear up.

Some much happier cricketers from The Wick say "thank you".

League Inflexible Over World Cup

Wickman was passed the following communication this morning from the Surrey Championship.

Dear Club Representatives [That's Keith to you and me - Ed]

We have received a number of requests [loads probably - Ed] for matches to be allowed to start earlier on Saturday 12 June because of the England v USA football match being played in South Africa. [It's not just a match. It's the World Cup me old Chinas - Ed]

Members of the Executive have discussed this and the answer is that all matches must start at the official scheduled time [Booooooo - Ed]. We play standard hours and these must be adhered to. The main reason for this decision is that clubs starting their matches earlier could have an advantage over clubs starting at the scheduled time if there is bad weather later in the day.

Please ensure this message is passed onto all within your clubs who need to know this information.

Please note that action will be taken against any clubs that disregard this instruction.

Now Wickman can see the logic of this argument and Wickman likes nothing more than logic. However, that the executive committee has only JUST met to discuss this in response to enquiries from clubs looks at best myopic.

Traditionalists amongst you may well argue that this is after all a cricket league and big national events like a World Cup in another sport should not derail the playing of our game. Wickman is sympathetic to this argument.

But those of us who organise stuff in the real world appreciate that sometimes you have to plan ahead. Anyone knowing this was a World Cup year should have been able to plan this into the schedule over the Winter. Being inflexible now is a shame, being inflexible (or myopic) in advance is something else.

During the last WC Wickman donned the gloves against Merstham in a 1s game. It was done and dusted by 5pm. This was because the oppo were three short on the day as their boys didn't want to miss whatever game was on that afternoon. They won the toss and batted (the decent thing in the conditions - set small total rather than run around all day in the baking heat trying to prevent a boundary fest). Here's the scorecard.

It's tougher, obviously, on the side travelling. Wickman hopes sincerely that this lack of foresight doesn't create an average weekend of cricket where playing numbers are not so depleted that the games are rendered almost meaningless and the quality of cricket for those that put club before country is not poorer as a result. While Wickman remembers this game with some fondness for a juggling catch off Zam and some, for once, effective Matrix skills off Coley, it was a lame duck. Although Hibby will be pleased with 61... Good luck to all the clubs in this position this weekend.

The Wick will put out three strong but largely pissed off sides this weekend as we have good spirit in the club and the atmosphere at HQ with our World Cup themed evening will still be excellent. Eventually. But with a 12pm start the revenue raising opportunity would have been bigger and better (let's face it, no club can chuck away income at the moment) and there was an opportunity there to make things easier for the amateur cricketers who play week in week out. This one looks like a free hit missed by the League.