Sheldon Marlborough CC Blog

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So we stayed up, just. Despite losing our last two games, enough of the other results went in our favour that Streetly and Marston Green finished below us. Whilst we had bad luck with the weather during the season, on a number of occasions we didn’t bat well and this made our life difficult. When we did bat well, we were always in the game, so this must be our major focus for next season.

Looking back at 2007:
Keith Rondeau cemented his place at the top of the order hitting 502 runs including four half-centuries - several of which could/should easily have been hundreds. His 28 wickets have also been crucial, and he deserved his pre-season label of ‘key player’.

Jack Hemming was our only centurion and was sorely missed in the final three games of the season. His and Ronnie’s partnerships have often got us off to great starts, and he will be looking to improve on his 340 runs next year.

Adam Coppell has made himself a first team regular. Several fine knocks, including his maiden Saturday 1st XI 50, hint at more to come. Committed in the field, and keen to succeed - one to watch.

Jim Shirley remains the foundation of our bowling attack, leading with 33 wickets from 202 overs of effort. His demolition of Rowlands was a high point. Still useful with the bat, often much-needed graft in the lower order this year - we need to relieve him of this duty so he can give his pads some rest.

Viz Parmar continues to improve his control, and 28 wickets shows his progress with the new ball. His spell at Camp Hill was his best, more of the same next year.

Tom Hemming, Warren Millard, Will Hemming, Neal Rughani, Martin Weir all had mixed fortunes with the bat, and this was reflected in our performances. None reached fifty this season, but all played notable innings at times - and will want to improve on this next year.

Pete Westwood, Kamil Munir, Rishi Parmar, Asif Munir, Simon Baxter all had limited appearances but had key moments. Pete and Rishis’ performances against Stockton hint at more to come in the future, whilst the Munir brothers talents are well known when available. Simon Baxter’s spell against Southam was crucial and he is always a ‘big’ presence when in the team.

And so we face the long winter until April 2008, when we’ll take to the field in the cold and start over again. Captaincy changes en masse present the club with the opportunity to reinvigorate itself. Thanks to all who turned out for me on a Saturday afternoon and gave it their best - I look forward to playing under the new skippers, wherever and whoever that may be.

Will

(Written without the scorebook, apologies for errors)

Senior Junior day arrived with the usual last minute selection issues. A 10-a-side match was arranged with Jim Shirley leading the Seniors against Adrian Maguire’s Juniors, the Seniors only had 8 at the start so they batted first on a bright and fresh morning. The Juniors got off to a perfect start when Jim Rasin was bowled behind his legs in the first over by Matt Jenkins before Rick Singh having survived a massive caght behind appeal, fell to Richard Whittle. Guest senior Mark Bambow couldn’t resist trying to turn a straight ball onto the leg side after the Juniors set a 8-0 off side field and when Rishi Pamar tormented Steve Mullard with a succession of full tosses before bowling him with a long hop, the Juniors were well on top. Clive Bishop was run out by some smart fielding from Warren Millard before Neal Rughani and Viz Parmar started to run the Juniors ragged, taking advantage of the spaces available with only 10 men.

They both made 30, before they both fell along with Ian Kimberly to Martin Weir. Jim Shirley looked likely to be stranded but he cleverly kept the strike and added 40ish with Adile Mohammed before finally falling to Martin for 36. The Seniors closed on 173, a pretty competitive score with their bowling line up. Adam Coppell and Aaron Evans opened for the Juniors, but Pete Westwood batting at 3 gave the innings real impetus with a fine 30odd. Martin Weir and Warren Millard kept the board moving but all the time Adam was accumulating and looking determined to play the crucial innings. With constant reminders of previous chokes from the sidelines, (including from people who played a part in them - Ronnie) 14 year old Harvey Dhoofer was trying to resist Jim Shirley, he did well and left the Juniors needing 30 to win with 4 wickets left. Cops completed a fine half century, and when Jim was seen off the Juniors at last felt safe. Appropriately Cops hit the winning runs to finish 61 not out and secure the loo seat award, with the Juniors winning by 4 wickets with 8 overs to spare.

Thanks to all involved, in particular to the Hawkins for their generous sponsorship, Keith Hemming for scoring, Stan and Les for umpiring and to the rest of the Redding family for another amazing array of catering. Thanks also to Steve Mullard for so graciously presenting the trophy and the Ashes. There were no promises of revolutions after the first Junior victory since 2002, particularly as the skipper may well have crossed the divide by next year. Cricket (and the Juniors) were the winners on a fantastic day.

As in 2006, the Sunday 2’s finished in 3rd place in the ASL. The loss of Steve Reynolds to Saturday cricket was always going to pose a challenge, so we should be satisfied with our efforts. We have been able to blood many more young cricketers (7 under 15’s played 34 games between them) and they all had the opportunity to contribute. With the weather reducing the season to just 9 fixtures, two of which were abandoned, it was difficult to get any momentum going. We finished with 3 wins, 2 winning draws and 3 defeats.

 With the bat, we struggled with a young line up. Only 4 regular players managed to average more than 20 and our leading run scorer only manager 152 runs. The fact that this is an under 15, Mark Benbow should be applauded. He was one of three half centurians, in the fixture at Solihull Municipal along with Steve Mullard and Jim Rasin, a milestone that no-one else breached, apart from Jack Hemming’s century at Pickwick. Aman Singh was consistant and his battling 44 in atrocious conditions at Bablake was probably teh best innings of the year. Harvey Dhoofer also showed promise along with Jay Singh at Five Ways OE, he should make hay in Under 15 cricket next year. Overall, teh fact we were dismissed for less than 100 on three occassions probably cost us the title.

With the ball we were much better, Steve Mullard led the way with 13 wickets including our only 5-for against 5 Ways, Adile Mohmmed managed to bowl 30 overs at fractionally over 2 runs each, whilst Richard Whittle, Jim Rasin and Alex McDonald picked up 6 wickets apeice. Our fielding was generally quite steady, if a little unathletic (amongst both the juniors and seniors); this is certainly an error where our under 18 lag behind some of our opponants and one where work is required if they wish to progress to a higher standard.

Most importantly of all, I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. It has not been an easy year for skippers everywhere with the poor weather and I have decided not to continue next season. There is an opportunity for someone to take on a side that can only improve.

One final point relates to the challenge facing the league, on multiple occassions we have come up against 1st team cricketers in the 2nd XI, sometimes 3 or 4 within the same side. How other sides use the league is up to them, but it has caused difficulties for ourselves. It is difficult to ask 15 year olds, to bowl against aggresive 1st team batsmen, and approaching dangerous to ask under equipped players to face a high quality quick bowler. In these situations there is a danger of doing more harm than good to their development. Whilst we have shied away from this approach,we felt obliged to play Jack at Pickwick who fielded 4 of the side who played in the Saturday 1st team fixture, without him we may well have been rolled over again, would the juniors have learnt anything, I doubt it. Senior experienced players have a key role to play in developing young cricketers and we have seen the beneift of having Jim and the 2 Steve’s doing this role. However when they are bowling first change and opening the batting, at teh expense of capable juniors something isn’t quite right. This is impossible to police through punative rules, it is up to the clubs to play within the spirit of the league, and I am proud of our stance on this issue.

Meet 11.15 at SMCC for 12.30 start at Ansley.

K Rondeau
A Coppell
M Weir
W Hemming
W Millard
T Hemming
K Munir
N Rughani
J Shirley
R Parmar
V Parmar

After the euphoria of winning three on the bounce, including a fantastic win at Camp Hill, being rained off against Pickwick was quite annoying, and that loss of momentum combined with a poor batting day at Warwick brought us back down to earth with a bump. However, a bank holiday demolition of Marston Green restored confidence for last Saturday’s visit to league leaders Handsworth, where we took 10 points home but were left wondering what might have been, after a couple of fielding errors and some unlucky umpiring put us on the back foot.

With two weeks to go there is still plenty to play for, not least to avoid being in the bottom three on September 15th. Potentially only two will go down, but that depends on Olton & West Warwicks securing Birmingham League survival. Streetly and Ansley (Saturday’s opposition) both won on Saturday and can still survive, whilst Marston Green are only in the relegation fight due to penalty points. Pickwick have also slipped in recent weeks and Camp Hill are not safe yet - so there are six teams with survival to play for.

Of the top six, all mathematically safe barring penalties, Handsworth must be odds-on to get promoted, especially if they come out on top against 4th-placed Stockton on Saturday - but then if Stockton win they may well finish in the top two. Warwick (2nd) and Southam (3rd) also play on Saturday with the winner of that fixture likely to be playing Premier Division cricket next season.

Poor weather has been a big factor in keeping the division wide open this year, but also it would seem sides have been very evenly matched. Streetly have been dead last for most of the season yet scored 300+ at Camp Hill on Saturday. We got the better of Southam twice but are 46 points behind them (we have had 3 more abandoned than them). Ansley beat Handsworth twice yet are second-last. It’s been one of those seasons. Two big games to go everybody.