This year’s team has been great fun to be with but their knowledge of cricket at the start of the season was extremely limited – even putting on pads was beyond some players.  To their credit, they have listened carefully and worked hard so they have made good progress and looked more like cricketers in their last few matches.

Cross-batted slogs and suicidal running between the wickets slowly gave way to playing straighter, choosing the right ball to hit and better judgement of quick singles. We managed a total of 34 runs in our first match with only 6 scored off the bat – three scoring shots! In our last we reached 120, so I hope that progress will be maintained next year.

Our bowling was horribly erratic at first (except for Alex Rattan who was soon stolen by the ‘A’ team) but Sidharth Sagar, Toby Sylvester and Duncan Capaldi developed into a very effective attack at this level keenly supported by others in the team who all had some success. The fielding started pretty well and kept on improving with some great catches being taken. Two catches by Lewis Elliott against St Albans and three by Toby Sylvester, who has hands like buckets, against Habs stick in the mind.

Andrew Yee was a very conscientious, hard-working and enthusiastic captain who led by example and he also played some promising innings. My thanks to all the team for their wholehearted approach and I hope that they build on this season’s progress.

Team: Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Bond, Samuel Brabazon, Duncan Capaldi, Lewis Elliott, Guy Fountaine, Alexander Goodridge, Charles Noakes, Michael Pain, Harry Phillips, Alexander Rattan, Sidharth Sagar, Jonathan Shell, Toby Shevlane, Jonathan Simblett, Toby Sylvester, Edward Whateley-Smith and Andrew Yee.

RJ McIlwaine