Golden boys

It wasn't just England who were engaged in a thrilling battle to see out time for a draw this weekend. Look at this fine collection of athletes (click the picture to see them in more detail). Have you ever seen a more impressive body of sportsmen? This is the inaugural, and possibly final, team photograph of the Kirby Strollers, a team that I created for the purpose of playing a charity match yesterday at the beautiful Audley End ground in Essex against the PG Wodehouse Society team, also known as the Gold Bats, who have been mentioned on this blog before.

History was made as my crew of overweight, untalented but generally happy cricketers fell an agonising three balls short of saving the match, giving the Gold Bats a rare victory. In our mitigation, we were a scratch side that consisted of a couple of club cricketers, players like myself (second from left, front row) who have three or four games a year, and some outright novices. Julian Rees (back row, fourth from left) last played a competitive match in 1954, when Churchill was still PM. Our wicketkeeper was asked to field behind the stumps in borrowed kit, largely because his name was G Jones (Gareth, not Geraint) rather than any previous keeping experience. All the team excelled themselves, however, in terms of enthusiasm and post-match drinking, but a few rather let the side down by being quite good. Fortunately the rest of us compensated.

Out of respect to the Gold Bats, however, I should point out that even with septuagenarian Julian in our side, the Strollers were about 15 years younger per man than our opponents. Well, at least we made a bunch of 50 and 60-year-olds feel young again. The Gold Bats made 188 for seven (I think) and we were bowled out for 110. Your blogger batted badly and bowled worse, although at least the bowling figures recovered after conceding a six off my first ball. I was out for 4 when batting, having mistimed a pull into the hands of slip. Fortunately, a friend was able to capture the moment of my departure should anyone be producing a coaching manual.

The important thing is that the match was played for charity and more than £1800 was donated via our Just Giving website (anyone who wishes to donate can still do so) and £500 was raised on the day from players and guests.

Comments

[growltiger]

How did your left foot get to that position? Did you start left handed and attempt a reverse sweep-slog?

[Peter McGuinness]

Ummmm...

Excuse me Patrick, but one 'mis-times' a pull shot to mid-wicket.

A pull shot that ends in the hands of slip is 'fucked up', not 'mis-timed'.

The maroon helmet looks good though.

[Matt]

Paddy - it looks like your chopping wood.