Oh Jimmy Jimmy

 

James Michael Anderson, OBE was born in Burnley, Lancashire July 30 1982. Nearly 39 years later "Jimmy" has taken more wickets than any fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.

A veteran of 157 Tests Anderson's International career began in the ODI side aged just 19, he had made only three one day appearances for Lancashire however those few performances where enough to earn him a place on England's academy tour to Australia that winter. When Andy Caddick went down injured the Senior side came calling. His debut would come at The MCG and he returned figures of 6-0-46-1 dismissing Adam Gilchrist for 124, not a bad first international wicket. It was in his 7th ODI that Jimmy made an eye opening performance with figures of 1-12 from 10 overs and 6 maidens as England nearly made a defence of a score of just 152. A place in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa was confirmed.

It was during England's match against Pakistan in Cape Town that Anderson would showcase his talents to a global audience. Anderson ripped through Pakistan's top order removing Inzamam-ul-Haq & Mohammad Yousef for golden ducks before trapping Saeed Anwar LBW and then having keeper Rashid Latif caught behind also for a duck, ending with figures of 4-29 as England won by 112 runs. 

Anderson blows away Pakistan's top order.

(C) Sky Sports 2003.

A Test debut followed later that summer and Anderson soon showed he was equally at home with the red ball as he took a five wicket haul in his first Test innings. Andy Blignaut was the only Zimbabwe batsman who could lay bat on the ball that dismissed them as Anderson blew away the tail having earlier removed opener Mark Vermeulen. An ODI hat-trick against Pakistan followed at the The Oval later in the summer.

Elite sport can be a cruel game and Anderson lost his way as coaches tried to adjust his action with disastrous outcomes as he lost both pace and rhythm and for the next few years he was very much one of those some days he does some days he doesn't types of bowlers. 

His second coming came on the 2007-8 tour of New Zealand, Michael Vaughan's fabled Ashes winning team of 2005 had disintegrated in no time at all, in Wellington England made the masterstroke of pairing Anderson with Stuart Broad. Between them they now have 1123 Test wickets and that decision has been fully vindicated. Anderson took 7 wickets in the match and has never really looked back from that point onwards.

Career best figures of 7-43 to date followed in 2008 as New Zealand again came unstuck against Anderson at Trent Bridge as he established himself as England's premier fast bowler. Test wicket 100 arrived later in the summer as South Africa great Jacques Kallis was trapped leg before by a viscous in swinger.

Anderson's next 100 wickets came in just 14 months, Peter Siddle was his 200th victim at Perth during a brilliant Ashes campaign for England, who won down under for the first time in 24 years, and it was Anderson who lead the England attack with 24 wickets at 26.04, helping Andrew Strauss become just the third England captain to win home and away Ashes contests. Andersons great mate Alastair Cook lead the way with the bat amassing 766 runs at an average of 127.66 including three centuries.

I was lucky enough to witness no 300 on an overcast afternoon at Lords in May 2013 as New Zealand opener Peter Fulton edged to Graeme Swann at 2nd slip as Anderson recorded figures of 5-47. Anderson would surpass Sir Ian Botham as England's all time leading wicket taker in Test cricket in The Caribbean in April 2015 with wicket keeper Dinesh Ramdin becoming victim 384.

Sir Ian Botham Congratulates Anderson after
he beat his England record for Test Wickets.

No 400 followed a few weeks later at Headingley as New Zealand opener Martin Guptill edged to Ian Bell in the slips. As with no 300, no 500 fell at Lords. West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite had his furniture rearranged by a beauty from Anderson that nipped back sharply off the seam. That was just the start of proceedings, by the time West Indies 2nd innings had come to and end for 177, Anderson had claimed Test best figures of 7-42.

It was with the final delivery of the Test summer of 2018 that Anderson wrote his name into the history books taking his 564th Test wicket as Indian tail ender Mohammed Shami was bowled to make our man the most successful fast bowler in the history of the game overtaking Australia legend Glenn McGrath. That ball also signalled the end of the Test Career of former England Captain Sir Alastair Cook who having scored a century in his first test innings against India in Nagpur ended his career with his 33rd Test century against the same opponents in his final innings at The Oval as England completed a 4-1 series victory. It was a highly emotional day for Anderson who struggled to hold back the tears during the post match interviews as he contemplated life in the England side without his great mate.

Anderson & Cook embrace at the Oval after Anderson
takes his 564th Test Wicket

During the COVID hit bio secure summer of 2020 Anderson would put himself into the history books once more as he became the first fast bowler and only 4th man ever to hit the landmark of 600 Test wickets, Pakistan Captain Azhar Ali edging to Joe Root at first slip at an empty Rose Bowl as fans had to make do with gathering around the TV or Radio set to witness the historic moment.

Anderson however doesn't just hold a place in the record books for his bowling. In July of 2014 Anderson and Joe Root shared a World Record 10th Wicket Partnership of 198, during which Anderson made his test best score and only Test match 50 with a contribution of 81. England had looked like they might have to follow on when made his way to the crease with the score on 298-9 but Joe and Jimmy had other idea's and eventually lead England to a first innings lead. The test match has also become infamous for another reason, Ishant Sharma became the only man ever to be dismissed by Alastair Cook in Test cricket as he tickled one down the leg side to Matt Prior as the match meandered towards a draw. It would be amiss also not to mention the heroic rear guard action Anderson and Monty Panesar shared during the first Ashes Test of 2009 in Cardiff as the pair batted for over an hour to secure England a draw, in a series they would go on to win 2-1. He also holds an England record of 54 innings without being dismissed for a duck, a fantastic achievement for man who has spent most of his Test career at 11.

Anderson is also a fantastic fielder and is closing in on a century of catches in Test cricket, not bad at all for a fast bowler who is equally adept in the catching positions close to the wicket as he is in the outfield.

Jimmy is now a full master of his art. He has always been good bowler of the away swinger but that has never been enough for him. A student of the game he has always been and still is looking to get better. He now possesses the full arsenal of swing seam cutters coupled with almost relentless accuracy. He said last year that he didn't know if he had yet peaked as a bowler, this at the tender age of 37 and remarkable figures of 6-40 in England's recent Test victory in Sri Lanka proved his point.

In 2017 Lancashire bestowed a great honour upon Anderson as they renamed one end of The Emirates Old Trafford ground after him. It takes a great player or person to have an end or stand named after them and such honours normally arrive well into retirement or posthumously, however Anderson has managed it while still playing the game, although in a slight quirk he has admitted he doesn't particularly enjoy bowling from the end which takes his name.

Anderson currently has 606 Test wickets good enough for 4th on the all time list, Indian spinner Anil Kumble's haul of 619 is next in his sights, although Anderson will insist he just wants to take wickets and help England win cricket matches and series and for now personal milestones are not something he thinks about too much.

England will play 17 possibly 18 Tests by the time the Ashes series in Australia comes to a close next January, Anderson & Broad will doubtless be rotated throughout the year but The Burnley Express still has a way to go before it reaches it's final destination. 

Greg Griffiths

Jan 30 2021

James Anderson - Career Records. 

England's Greatest Yorkshireman

 

As the sun dipped low in the Sky in Galle this evening England Captain Joe Root surpassed Sir Geoffrey Boycott as Yorkshire's highest run scorer for England. and moved into 6rh place in England's all time list.

Root like former Captain Sir Alastair Cook, Root debuted in Nagpur in December 2012 and immediately showed he could handle life on the big stage scoring 73 from 229 balls in his maiden Test match innings. A maiden Test century, 104 vs New Zealand followed in May 2013 at his home ground of Headingley. 

Two months later Root would showcase his talent to the world in the 2nd Ashes Test of the summer at Lords. With England 233 ahead on first innings they needed someone to take the game beyond the reach of the tourists. Opening the innings as he done for most of his career to that point Root made a brilliant 180 and England's baby faced assassin had truly arrived on the world stage.

Root celebrates his maiden Ashes Century
(Lords July 2013)

England it seemed had found a long term partner Cook at the top of the order following the retirement of Sir Andrew Strauss but it transpired fate had other idea's. That winter The Ashes were contested again and as has often happened in the past it was a chastening experience for England. Root began the series at No 6 with Michael Carberry opening with Cook. Following the match Jonathan Trott's battles with his mental health had unfortunately got the better of him and he returned home prompting the selectors to push Root up to 3. He would score 87 in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test at Adelaide but as Australia tightened their grip on the little urn things would get worse and worse for England and Root and come the final Test of the series at Sydney Root found himself out of the side.

His exile from the side would not last for long and Root was determined to make the most of his second coming. The summer of 2014 saw Sri Lanka & India touring England. Batting at 5, Root ended the first day of the Test summer 102 not out and by the time England declared on 575/9 Root had made is first double century. Scores of 154 & 149 against India would follow and on each occasion Root finished unbeaten.

2015 was a golden year for Root as he finished the calendar year with 1385 Test runs, two more ashes 100's (134 at Cardiff & 130 at Trent Bridge) and a second Ashes winners medal and his place in the team well and truly secured.

The main criticism that has been thrown in Root's direction is his conversion of 50's into 100's and it was late in 2015 as England lost to Pakistan in UAE and into 2016 when this pattern became most noticeable. Following is 130 at Trent Bridge Root would pass 50 on five occasions before registering another century in the 2nd Test against South Africa at Johannesburg. His next visit to the honours board came in the home series against Pakistan as Root made a career best 254 at Old Trafford.

Root leaves the field having made 254 vs Pakistan
(Old Trafford July 2016)

The Sumer of 2017 saw Root appointed as England captain, and he got off to the perfect start with a match winning 190 against South Africa at Lords. The conversion issue would rear it's ugly head once again though as only 2 of the next 16 50+ scores for Root would end up as 100's. Root was at least not short of runs. in 2017 he ended just 5 runs behind Michael Vaughan's England record for Test runs in a calendar year which his fellow Sheffield Collegiate attendee had set back in 2002.

In 2018 Root would make two further centuries and another in 2019 (226 v New Zealand) but non were to follow in the COVID hit summer of 2020 although England did beat both West Indies and Pakistan.

A further 5 50's would come before Root scored his 18th Test Century, a magnificent 228 against Sri Lanka in Galle. Root admitted after the match he had spent a lot of his time in COVID isolation studying his game and as much analysis as possible in an effort to be able to go big more often and that his 4th double century was just a start in that particular story.

Root celebrates reaching 200 in Galle (Jan 2021)

One area where Root has no such conversion issues is 100's into daddy hundreds. He has passed 150 on 8 of 18 occasions, with four of those turned into scores of 200+. A place in England's top 5 Test Run scorers is now just 63 runs away for England's captain and by the time you read this he may be above Kevin Pietersen in that list and Test 100 no 19 may well be in the bag too.

Root is still relatively young at 30 and whenever retirement beckons it is certain Root will be at either 1 or 2 in England's all time list. Only he will know if he has the inner drive to surpass Sir Alastair Cook (12472) at the top of that list, but whatever the final outcome Root is one of the finest batsman of his era and one of England's very best.

There are no obvious flaws in Root's game, he is equally prolific against the quicks and spinners and scores freely on both the off and leg sides off front or back foot, and it's almost impossible to stop him scoring due to his nimble footwork and ability to score in all area's.

Root will lead his nation in his 100th Test in Chennai in February and he will want to lead from the front with plenty of runs, and the current series in Sri Lanka is perfect preparation for that tour. However Root will want a series win in Sri Lanka first and with England 1-0 up and himself well set on 69* the prospects of that look good as do the prospects of many more runs to come.

*Update - Root finished with 186 his 19th Test century, overtaking not only Sir Geoffrey Boycott but also Kevin Pietersen and David Gower to go 4th on England's all time Test runs scorers list.

Greg Griffiths

Jan 24 2021

Joe Root Career Records

 

  

India's Embarrassment of Riches

 

When India left home for their tour of Australia  even Nostradamus wouldn't of been able to predict the chain of events that were to eventually lead to India claiming a 2-1 win in The Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

What we did know was that the two teams were pretty evenly matched but Australia would be favourites due to being at home, and that India Captain Virat Kohli would return home for the birth of his first child following the opening day-night Test in Adelaide. Ishant Sharma who had suffered an abdominal tear during The Dream IPL would not make the tour.

In my previous article I wrote about two of India's up and coming's stars Rishabh Pant & Shubman Gill and their performances in the last Test of the series. However in Adelaide things went less well for another of their protégées, Prithvi Shaw. Before the opening Test Shaw had played 4 Tests, registering two 50's and a maiden Test 100. Things didn't go according to plan for Shaw or India in Adelaide as he bagged a pair, bowled in both in innings, by Starc & Cummins. India were humiliated as Australia bowled them out for just 36 in their 2nd Innings with not a single batsman making double figures. The last ball of the match saw Mohammed Shami take a thunderous blow to the arm from a Pat Cummins delivery and retire hurt. Like Kohli and Shami, Shaw would not play again in the series, but he is just 19 years old and his time will undoubtedly come again.

India pulled off one of the great bounce back wins in the 2nd Test at the MCG. Lead brilliantly by stand in Captain Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a magnificent 112 in their 1st Innings. The win came at a cost for India though as Umesh Yadav limped off with a calf problem, three balls into his fourth over of Australia's 2nd innings. Shubman Gill however was starting to make a name for himself to those who don't follow the IPL with scores of 45 & 35* on Test debut as India took the match by 8 wickets and levelled the series.

Worse was to follow before the 3rd Test had even begun as India lost opening batsman KL Rahul when he suffered a broken hand whilst batting in the nets. Rahul had not featured in the opening two Tests and would now not feature in the last two either. 

India went on to produce one of the great rear-guard actions at the SCG, batting out 131 overs to secure a draw. An unlikely win had been on the cards until Hanuma Vihari pulled a hamstring whilst on 12, but unable to run he blocked like his life depended on it finishing 23* from 161 balls as he and Ravi Ashwin put on 62 to defy the Aussies. Ravi Jadeja suffered a broken and dislocated thumb in India's 1st Innings after being hit bit a short ball from Mitchell Starc and would only of batted 2nd time around if the match depended on it. Rishabh Pant had also taken a nasty blow to the forearm batting in the 1st Innings and although he carried on and made a fine 97 he was unable to keep wicket 2nd time around with Wriddhiman Saha taking the gloves.

Before the deciding Test at Australia's fortress The Gabba, Jasprit Bumrah the spearhead of India's pace attack was ruled out with an abdominal strain, and Ravi Ashwin also went down with a back problem. You now started to wonder in India had taken enough players on tour to field a side for the last test given their injury problems.

They had, just. Mohammed Siraj would lead the fast bowling attack in the just his 3rd Test, and his new ball partner would be Thangarusu Natajaran who had been taken on tour as a net bowler. They would be backed up by Navdeep Saini who had debuted in the 3rd Test at Sydney & Shardul Thakur who had one previous test to his name back in 2018. Washington Sundar would lead the spin attack on debut whilst Mayank Agarwal normally an opening batsman would bat at 5, although Pant would move up to 5 in their 2nd Innings.

Siraj would end the match with a maiden 5 wicket haul, Thakur picked up 4 in the 2nd innings to go with 3 in the first. Sundar took 3 in the first innings including Steve Smith for his maiden Test match wicket. With India 186-6 in their 1st innings in reply to Australia's 369, the tourists were in trouble. However Sundar and Thakur picked of course for their bowling went on the attack scoring 62 & 67 respectively and leading India to a score of 336 just 33 behind. Australia made 294 second time around to set India an improbable 328 to win on a pitch offering plenty of variable bounce.

Shubman Gill who had made a maiden test 50 at the SCG went on the attack despite the early loss of Rohit Sharma, making a Test best 91. Che Pujara did his thing making 56 from 211 deliveries before the other young star Rishabh Pant finished the game and the series with 89* to add to the 97 he made at the SCG. Sundar chipped in with a handy 22 as well.

The whole point of this is of course that India boast an embarrassment of riches when it comes to cricketing talent. Whilst India have always had great Batsman I grew up watching the likes of Mohammed Azhararuddin, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and of course Sachin Tendulkar and latterly Virat Kohli. 

In the spin department it was Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh and now Ravi Ashwin & Ravi Jadeja. Washington Sundar has now firmly thrown his hat into the ring too. India now also have a successor to the great MS Dhoni in Rishabh Pant.

Where this Indian Team differs with teams of the past is with the fast bowlers, as a young man I watched Indian touring teams turn up in England with Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad and would call for another seamer if one of those went down injured and Ganguly would back them up with some medium pace you would be more accustomed to facing in club cricket. Nowadays they seem to have a conveyer belt of fast bowlers, and these guys are genuinely quick compared to the likes of Srinath and Prasad.

Credit must go to the BCCI for the creation of the IPL. When India's young stars are pushed into the Test or ODI arena there is no fear of facing or bowling to the best in the world. These young men have already smacked the best in the world to all corners or knocked over the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner.

Whilst the Australian selector's face some tricky selection dilemma's ahead of their tour to South Africa, India's selectors have the the more enviable task of picking from the plethora of riches at their disposal, and for every Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant there is a Sanju Samson or a Ishan Kishan waiting in the wings. Prithvi Shaw may count himself unlucky to have been left out of India's 18 man squad for the first 2 Tests against England, but his time will come and he won't be the only one. The future of Indian cricket has in my opinion never looked brighter.

India like most cricketing nations have tried the foreign coach idea, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Gary Kirsten & Duncan Fletcher all had spells in charge with varying degrees of success. Come 2015 they decided to look closer to home and Ravi Shastri took charge although he only stayed in charge for around a year. They then turned to legendary former leg spinner Anil Kumble but like Shastri before him he came and went in around 12 months. In July 2017 they re-appointed Shastri as Coach, not only is he getting performances from the established senior players in the squad, the young guns are now firing too. And as this series down under has shown you right off this Indian team at your peril. This lot do not just give in and fold when the chips are down, Shastri has instilled a real fighting spirit into his charges. His contract is due to finish after the 2021 T20 World Cup but I wouldn't bet against it being extended again.

India is of course a cricket mad country with a population of around 1.5BN that they should have so much talent should be of little surprise. However they also now seem to have a system that produces and will keep producing real talent, I believe they are destined to dominate the rankings for some time to come and it will need some team to knock them from their perch!

The Victorious Indian Squad

Greg Griffiths
Jan 24 2021

Big Trouble Down Under

 

As an Englishman who grew up in the 1980's there is only one thing better than seeing Australia lose a game of cricket, and that is seeing Australia lose a test series especially on home soil.

Overnight India became the first away side to win a test match at The Gabba since 1988 and in doing so won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1. 

India chased down a target of 328 with 3 wickets in hand and 3 overs to spare, with young wicket keeper batsman and rising superstar of Indian Cricket Rishabh Pant finishing unbeaten on 89. Earlier in the day their other rising star Shubman Gill scored 91 opening the innings to lay the platform for Pant's heroics, and it would be unfair not to mention Che Pujara doing what Che Pujara does, as he soaked up 211 deliveries as he made a typically obdurate 56.

It would also be massively unfair not to mention that India achieved this without the services of Captain and Talisman Virat Kohli who returned to India for the birth of his child after India had been bowled out for just 36 in the day-night test at Adelaide. They were also without the services of front line spin duo Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, along with fast bowlers, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Buveneshwar Kumar. Also missing were batsman Hanuma Vihari and KL Rahul. 

Going into a test match at Australia's fortress you could easily be forgiven for thinking that an Australia side only missing Will Puckovski (yes he with 1 test cap to his name) would simply be far too good for an Indian team whose bowling attack was led by Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini & Shardul Thakur who had 4 test caps between them along with debutants Washington Sundar & Thangarusu Natarajan but somehow India pulled off the seemingly impossible and for that they deserve all the plaudits coming their way and more.

However I want to look at Australia, a few weeks ago they were top of the ICC Test Rankings and seemingly sleep walking into The World Test Championship Final at Lords later this year. On the back of their defeat overnight not only have New Zealand gone above Australia, India have now leapfrogged them as well in both the ICC Test Rankings and the standings for The World Test Championship.

Trouble at the top

Starting at the top of the batting order Australia have problems. David Warner is out of form however he is head and shoulders above anyone else Australia have and his place is not under any threat. Warner now reminds me of Sir Alastair Cook such is the number of opening partners he has had. His latest new partner Will Puckovski who debuted in Sydney made 50 in his first innings and should be on the plane to South Africa if he overcomes the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Gabba test. He was replaced by Marcus Harris who has now played 10 Tests but passed 50 only twice and averages just 23. Joe Burns who replaced Warner when he was injured at the start of the series averages a touch under 37 but scores of 8, 51*, 0 & 4 saw him lose his place once Warner returned despite obviously not being fully fit.

Middle order solidity

Numbers 3 & 4 are set in concrete with both Marnus Labuschagne & Steve Smith averaging in excess of 60.

Big Problems @5

Travis head started the series but was discarded after Melbourne having made scores of  7, 38 & 17 in the opening two tests and Matthew Wade who was demoted from opener to number 5 but he has an even worse record than Head who at least averages nearly 40. Wade has had a shocking series failing to pass 50 in 8 innings and gave his wicket away several times. He ended the series with a duck, strangled down the leg side and now averages less than 30 in test cricket. As reserve wicket keeper Wade will probably make the squad for South Africa but a place in the starting XI is less assured.

Can Cameron Green become a genuine allrounder?

Cameron Green debuted at Adelaide and there is much to like about him. He has a solid defensive technique and seems to be growing in confidence with each match with the bat at least. The Australian commentators have made much of his meteoric rise through Grade and Shield cricket into the Test Team. His bowling is economical (2.68 rpo) to do date but after 4 tests he is yet to take a wicket so there are going to be those who question whether or not he can genuinely fulfil to the role of all rounder. Green is still only 21 so is one worth sticking with for now.

All is well that spins well

Nathan Lyon had a poor series statistically claiming just 9 wickets in 4 tests at a little over 55 a piece although 5 dropped catches off his bowling didn't help his cause, but "Garry" is undoubtedly Australia's no 1 spinner and one of the worlds best with 399 test wickets and 100 caps to his name.

The should be opening bowlers!

Pat Cummins cemented his spot as the worlds no1 bowler with 21 wickets at 20 and Josh Hazlewood did his thing with 17 wickets at 19.35.

The Big Left Armer

Mitch Starc continues to be a slight headache for me, 11 wickets at 42 a piece is not a great return and he seems to have lost the ability to swing the ball new or old, and being a left arm bowler myself I know that if you are not moving the ball you are going to struggle to get good players out, and if I was Tim Paine I would not be giving him the new ball any longer.

The Captain

And just then I mentioned a huge problem for Australia, Tim Paine, his batting is ok nothing better than that. An average of just 32 would see him struggle to keep his place in most sides. Add to that the three dropped catches in the Sydney test that could well of swung the series Australia's way. However the biggest problem for me is his captaincy. The great Richie Benaud once said captaincy is 90% luck and 10% skill but don't try it without that 10%. There is nothing inspirational about Paine's leadership and nor is he the Allan Border type who would make you perform for fear of him tearing you off a strip. There have been several times Australia have been well ahead of the game in the last two tests but Paine doesn't seem to be able to get his troops to hammer home the advantage, He also seems unwilling or unable to come up with something a bit different in order to try and get a wicket, his field placings all feel a bit standard. And lets not forget Headingly 2019 where England needed 70 to win with Ben Stokes and last man Jack Leach at the crease, he completely lost the plot allowing Stokes far too much of the strike, the wasted review against Leach which obviously pitched a foot outside leg, which an over later cost Australia the match when Stokes was given not out by Umpire Joel you can overturn your decision now Wilson, with ball tracker showing the ball to be clattering into leg stump. 

Should Australia replace Paine as skipper the alternatives are not glaringly obvious. Steve Smith still has a way to go on that front according the those inside the Australian camp, David Warner is not in the running and never will be for obvious reasons and bowlers never seem to be given the job by any side. As I mentioned earlier the 2nd opening spot is up for grabs and Wade may well be out of the side come South Africa. Cameron Green has only 4 tests caps which only leaves Marnus Labuschagne who is still relatively inexperienced at Test Level.

So in summary although Australia are far from a poor side, they are facing some difficult questions and for many of them there appears to be no obvious answer. 

Greg Griffiths
Jan 19 2021

 

Would you Adam and Eve it a tie!

These results don't come around often and thank the lord that they don't because it isn't good for one's nerves! Batting first the 1's started brightly with the new opening partnership of Crompton and son setting a great platform with a fifty plus stand. Grompton was joined at the crease by Dawson. Between them they set us up for a great score, Grompton finally fell caught at long off for a fine 94. By this time Dawson had started to open up, timing the ball sweetly to all corners. Jawson stroked a quick 12 before driving to cover and Dawson finally fell in the penultimate over for a classy 68. Ambrose and Keats took us to a good total of 228 and four bonus points.

Great Waltham started steadily with the bat, however neither Jawson or myself could find a breakthrough. Dawson continued his fine match when he finally bowled D Bloom for 36 knocking back his leg stump. Elgar followed him in similar fashion as Waltham finally tried to up the run rate. Dawson struck for a third time following some great work behind the timbers from Barnsey, stumping the dangerous Patel for a well made 84. With wickets in hand Waltham were still favourites although the run rate was still rising. Inspired captaincy from Jawson followed as he reintroduced myself and himself to the bowling attack in the closing overs. First G Bloom slapped one from me to Jawson in the gully, then M Elgar, skied a chance to Jawson in the gully again and although this one was taken less cleanly, Jawson hung on. The game was still in the balance. Jamie then had Waltham skipper Swan caught behind for 8. Two overs to go, 22 needed, my first ball disappeared over the fence for 6, then 4.  Oh no I thought I have to leave Jamie something to defend in the last over. A couple of singles followed and a two, then more drama, O Fitzwalter bowled attempting one big hit too many. So the last over. Jamie to bowl, 7 runs needed. Much scrambling off the first 4 balls and they need 1 off 2. Back of a length from Jamie play and miss. 1 off 1 to win. Back of a length again from Jamie, missed again, taken cleanly by Barnsey who runs two yards forward and throws down the stumps. All eyes  were on the umpire, then the finger went up, and there was jubilation all round and despair for the hosts, game tied and 18 valuable points in the bag.

The 2s got their promotion chase back on track against a strong Danbury side. Batting first Graeme Webster with 60 and Callum 87 set up a good total of 238. Danbury should have chased the total down but some selfish batting from Richards who was more interested in getting a century than winning the game cost them dearly, and they came up 5 runs short.

For the 3s it was another tough day. Up against Rainham 2s who will win Division 9 without breaking a sweat. Rainham won the toss and batted first piling up 258-3 with Alex Sullivan carrying his bat for 123 not out. The chase never really got going Chips top scoring with a good 40 but 258 was always going to be too  much for them as they finally folded for 150.

Results 03/08/2013

Great Waltham CC 1st XI 228-8 (16pts) tied with RFCC 1st XI 228-4 (18pts)
RFCC 2nd XI 238-6 (23pts) beat Danbury CC 1st XI 233-6 (7pts) by 5 runs.
RFCC 3rd XI 150-10 (2pts) lost to Rainham CC (Essex) 2nd XI (26pts) by 108 runs.

Fixtures 10/08/2013

RFCC 1st XI v East Hanningfield & Great Burstead 1st XI
Navestock Ardleigh Green 1st XI v RFCC 2nd XI
RFCC 3rd XI v Broomfield 2nd XI

                                        

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way.

Shocking weekend as we all get beaten!

This one was a shocker, from top to bottom we all got beaten and pretty soundly at that. In the 1s we just didn't get the basics right, two run outs, five dropped catches, wides and no-balls we gave Rankins 1s the lot. 

Jamie won the toss and elected to bat, and things were going well as Grompton and Skinner put 46 on the board. Dawson and Skinner where then involved in a calamitous run out poor Skinner sent packing. It sent a shock wave through the middle order and from 46-0 we were suddenly 62-5 in no time. Barnsey and Josh Crompton added a valuable stand of 63 but the tail failed to support Barnsey and he ended unbeaten in a classy knock of 47 with us all out for 146. 

With the weather looking threatening the Rankins batsmen set off with intent. Neither Tom or Jamie could find the breakthrough, although Alec put down a chance in the gully off the in form Lees who was also reprieved by Skinner in the deep and by Tom from his own stuff. Alec then put him down again off his own bowling as the lefty lead a charmed life. After Matt Smith smashed his nose in and winded himself attempting a forward diving catch, Skinner finally made the breakthrough with a smart catch off his own bowling to remove Greenfield for 58, ending an opening partnership of 119. The big hitting Sutherby then came and went spooning a catch to Grompton at mid off, attempting to repeat a six over my head earlier in the over. Lees was then put down again by Alec off my bowling doing some damage to his thumb in the process, which lead to some hilarious banter in the field that ultimately lead to the demise of Bolton who was still giggling when Skinner turned one in sharply bowl him just 5 runs short of victory. Lees took them home unbeaten with 66 and 27 overs to spare. A poor performance which leaves us looking perilously over our shoulders in the league table.

The 2s suffered a shock defeat which seriously harms their promotion hopes in Division 6. Rettendon 2s running up 246-7 in their 45 overs. Dot ball Dave Ashby who has cemented his place in the 2s now, lead the attack again picking up 2-52.  With the bat it was all about the returning Richard Casey who crafted a beautiful 108 in just his second game of the year. Other than the G Man with 24 nobody offered much support to Casey though and Sean Butler struck regular blows with to end with figures of 5-45, as the 2s closed 209 all out. They will need to bounce back next week against Danbury if they are to stay in the hunt for promotion. 

Visitors Willow Herbs 2s batted first at the Memorial Ground. There we steady performances from all the home bowlers. Phil Turner leading the way with 3-28. Youngsters George Nichols and James Hedges supported Phil well with two scalps a piece. Andy Rowe's 79 failed to inspire the rest of the batsmen however, unfortunately other than Cuddles nobody else made a score of more than 5 as the side quickly crumbled for 130. Points are needed soon for the 3s or they could be heading for Division 10 next year.

Dawson secured his first win as Sunday captain hitting a match winning 32 not out to lead his men home against Navestock with a senior best 19 from the improving Stef King. The home side had scored 151 batting first and despite taking regular wickets couldn't remove Dan to prevent the defeat.

Results 27/07/2013

RFCC  1st XI 146-10 (1pt) by 7 wickets lost to Rankins CC 1st XI 150-3 (23pts) 

Rettendon CC 2nd XI 246-7 (25pts) beat RFCC 2nd XI 209-10 (5pts) by 37 runs.

RFCC 3rd XI 130-10 (5pts) lost to Willow Herbs 2nd XI 224-10 (24pts) by 94 runs

28/07/2013

Navestock Ardleigh Green 151-10 lost to RFCC Sunday XI 152-8 by 2 wickets.

Fixtures

03/08/2013

Great Waltham CC 1st XI v RFCC 1st XI

RFCC 2nd XI v Danbury CC 1st XI

RFCC 3rd XI v Rainham (Essex) CC 2nd XI

* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way

Some things never change!

It was a familiar tale of woe for the 1s again this week against Havering Atte-Bower 1s. Our perennial bogey team walking away with their usual victory once more. The home pitch played its part as we came up 30-40 runs short, but fought well with the ball to take the game to the Havering batsmen.

Batting first under blue skies for the first time in weeks, it didn't take long for matters to take their usual course. The scoring was painfully slow and the top order folded. Ames, Nigel, Jamie and Grompton all went for single figure scores, fortunately Keating played well to keep the innings together, making a well crafted if not fortunate 69 (dropped three times lucky boy!) and we finally stuttered to 137 all out in 43.3 overs handing Havering an over they were never in real danger of needing.

Spenney unfortunately was the only bowler to have any success, striking three times, although his LBW was a tad lucky. The rest of the bowlers toiled hard but Havering cruised home by 7 wickets.

The 2s blew open the promotion race in Division 6 with a fine win over leaders St Johns Billericay 1s following last weeks win at home to second placed Rayleigh 3s. With Aythorpe Roding 2s beating Danbury 1s any 2 of the top 5 could now feature at the top end of the table come the end of August. Fairview batted first and lost Jellett early doors. Graeme Webster (39) and Callum (47) laid the platform for the innings, then the returning Matt Smith (49) and Richard Skinner (41) paved the way for Wayward Hayward and Big Ash Faires to hit some lusty blows, taking the 2s to 260 all out.

Rich Skinner again opened the bowling and accounted for St John's skipper while Big Ash Faires also collected a wicket in a good opening salvo. Dot Ball Dave Ashby collected best figures for the 2s with 4-54 in a fine 11 over spell that swung the game firmly in the 2s favour. Matt Smith's good day continued as he collected his first scalp of the season. Wayward Hayward (3-20) then mopped up the tail as St Johns ended 34 short on 226.

The 3s slipped into the drop zone in Division 9 as they lost again despite having reasonably strong team. Navestock batted first and it was a tough ask for the young bowling attack but they battled hard as the hosts scored 247-5. James Hedges was impressive with 2-48 and the occasional (and that's being polite) Mr Chips 2-57. Father and son also did well as George Nichols featured in the wicket column, with the proud Father taking a smart catch. There was a less fortunate father and son incident whilst batting though as some shocking calling from Dave Webster (yes that one!) ran out his son Paul before later being run out himself, and I dare say a few words were exchanged!


Results 26/03/2013

RFCC 1st XI 137-10 (1pt) lost to Havering Atte-Bower CC 1st XI 142-3 (23pts) by 7 wickets
St Johns Billericay 1st XI 226-10 (9pts) lost to RFCC 2nd XI 260-10 (26pts) by 34 runs
Navestock Ardleigh Green CC 2nd XI 247-5 (25pts) beat RFCC 3rd XI 167-10 (3pts) by 80 runs.

27/06/2013

Leigh on Sea Sunday XI v RF CC Sunday XI - cancelled.

Fixtures 06/07/2013

RFCC 1st XI v Bentley CC 2nd XI
Aythorpe Roding 2nd XI v RFCC 2nd XI
Canvey Island CC 2nd XI V RFCC 3rd XI

07/07/2013

RFCC Sunday XI v Rettendon CC Sunday XI



* The views expressed within this blog are expressly my own and are not in anyway attributable to Rayleigh Fairview Cricket Club or any person connected to it in any way.