Beach Cricket

So the first attraction was a game of beach cricket for our tour party, which Don Shelley has kindly offered to report on.

“I was honoured to be asked by Barmy Kev at bar night before to be official scorer of Beach Cricket game. This more than compensated for missing out on mega bucks of not scoring for the Stanford games. I was told to be in place 10am, which I duly did and with only 3 players there. I asked Barmy Kev where the others were and he said they were in bar watching Chelsea v Liverpool game. This does not happen at Middx, well not much. I decided to go to bar and asked Barmy Kev to fetch me when match started. He duly did an hour later and was amazed he returned straight back for cricket. I was struggling with boundary edges and working how far into sea is considered 6. This was tested when Barmy Kev was bowling gentle full tosses getting tonked by young Alfie. No what’s that all about?

Kev wanted a fielder at Deep sea off and someone responded something like why don’t you Deep Sea off? Alfie retired on 50. Posh Margaret came in and straight away smacked the ball in direction of Barmy Kev. A reflex catch spared him something to explain to Olivia on his return. Meanwhile they were basic schoolboy errors of dolly catches being dropped, wide balls not been given, players unable to hit it, overstepping when bowling, but enough about England V Middx game. At the end of this game, I handed scorecard to Kev, who offered to frame it if I could wipe the sweat off. He said I was “fired” and I thanked him for best news all day"


Back to Proper Cricket I think

Back to Barmy Kev. Arrived at ground. My first fear having 6 identical tickets for different games, have I got the right ticket? Yes I did and I kept staring at England v Middlesex trying to sink in awesome nature of occasion. My flag and Beefy Keith’s were in position, with the official MCCC handed by Vinny to us. Sadly couldn’t get it up pole.

So we started well restricting runs. I suddenly realised no Hendo. But our bowlers were restricting rate. Finn was pick of bowlers and 3 in his last over excellent. Carter who I initially thought was Hendo also bowled tightly and to restrict them to 121 for loss of only 4 wickets was good and gettable. But pitch was slow.


Back to Beach Cricket.

As TSO (Tends to Step Over) was leaving hotel I actually said to him. “Please no Balls” He didn’t respond. Or maybe he wasn’t happy when I offered his girlfriend to check my wardrobe to borrow something in pink. Regardless 3 no balls an utter disgrace, and possibly the difference.

Four bad drop catches, with Strauss an absolute dolly, one for Xmas DVD. He actually smiled when he dropped and really should have hung his head in shame. We did catch one off free hit. Some of the ground fielding was embarrassingly sloppy

Broad shoulders Needed.

In our response, Carter obviously misunderstood roll of pinch hitter was slow, but our score for 1st half almost in line with England. We fell behind shortly after that really lost it. Broad got away with bowling out of reach and umpires too tired to put arms out for wide. AC and Joyce almost turned it round, but it was just not enough.

All Singing and Dancing

Our area created some atmosphere to the delight of locals. Most of singing was drowned out by loud calypso stuff, perhaps a blessing. However, was caught in SKY and all over screens signing and showing off fancy footwork. I heard Bumble was not impressed.

What was good the locals joined in chanting; they loved shouting out Sex Sex Sex to Middles. When I was subdued watching run chase, the locals spurred us on with starting Middles. They were lots including kids singing “We are Middlesex till we die” Then pointing to person next them “Your Middlesex till you die” They loved it and sure will catch on further. At end of game our chant to England was “Can we play you every week?” Then “can we play here every week? “


Conclusion.

Lots of positives and some bad negatives in defeat. With Hendo up our sleeves I am sure having something in reserve. However, the atmosphere generated overrode anything bad and will live with me forever.