Middlesex CCC
kev witnessesThe Full Monty
Full Monty
By Barmy Kev
June 14 2021
Our match at the Oval it was just too cold and depressing. I cannot get excited by 20/20. So Middlesex County League cricket is the way forward for me for now.
I visited Ealing Cricket Club at Crofton Road for their fixture against Twickenham. This was my first cricket experience of the season. From last year, I was impressed the improvements made to the dangerous outfield, I later found out at a cost of £70,000
I arrived at 2pm with game 3 hours old to see Monty Panesar bowling. I found out this was a 66 over timed match. Monty bowled unchanged throughout my presence. He looked like he was going through the motions, but he greeted each wicket with enthusiasm as if this was an Ashes wicket. His analysis was 4-52 from 27 overs. Gurjit Sandhu was also playing for Twickers and looked mainly ineffective.
The amusement moment was when one of the younger more sprightly fielders made a diving stop on the boundary, which was followed by a somersault. It was unclear whether this should be a four or a two. An elder more portly fielder asked the spectators in the area to vote whether it was a four or two. The majority of third umpires voted for two, which was given. When this elder fielder came near us I suggested he tried such acrobatics. His reply was `I couldn`t do that when I was playing`. So you are not now? It was later established he was Scott Newman, who we thought was suspended for an expletive to an umpire.
Rogers and Out was a bit miffed about being told off for resting his elbow on the bar. He did not see the sign leaning not allowed at the bar. I stated that is why Jack Leaning could not play for Ealing. Groans all round and a reminder of what a day at cricket with me is like.
Ealing progressed to 249-6 of their 66 overs. There was the odd glorious cover drive, but it felt rather pedestrian.
Having been out on the field for 5 hours I expected a long break between innings No just 10 minutes. Scott Newman was out first over, some things never change. Another ex player Ollie Wilkin was Ealing`s wicket keeper not his normal job but as a stand in for his injured brother Milo. He stood up to the stumps impressively to rather swift bowlers and took a great catch from there.
First change of bowlers, I did not note his name in his first over took two wickets on the bounce. Waiting for hat trick ball but lunch or was it a long tea now called. We were speculating on this being the longest hat trick ever. The long awaited hat trick ball with everyone surrounding bat did not materialise into anything exciting.
Twickers were struggling against accurate bowling. I was enjoying the cricket, the sun and company. I lost track of time and was running late for a table I booked for our anniversary. I was behind the run rate for that and am grateful I have a forgiving wife.
I found out from Rogers and Out at 7.30pm they are still playing but had to leave for food. I`m guessing they finished approx. 8pm with Twickers 157 all out from 49 overs.
I am thinking what a long day for these players. I know the Ealing Chairman Barnet Walking Football team legend Bob Fisher and he advised these players are not paid. A tremendous commitment of a very full Saturday given up out of the love for the game.
I`m Look forward to, weather permitting watching Shepherds Bush v Ealing next Saturday a grudge game. Meanwhile, at some stage I will try to muster up some enthusiasm for watching Middlesex CCC.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:06:18:10:40:05 by BarmierKev.
I don't want it to sound like I'm on Scott Newman's case, because he's retired from first class cricket, but he seldom makes a score for Twickenham (current average 9.4). Even if he is 40 now I would expect the former county player to produce better returns than he does.
Adam London still turns out for Richmond with mixed results (current average 21.2). Again he doesn't dominate in the way I would expect, but he does make some scores for them.
Ravi Patel continues to lead from the front for Harrow st Mary's as he regularly picks up wickets, and often opens the batting as well (!) with, it has to be said, better results than Scott Newman
But so many names seem to stop playing once they retire, or are released, or leave the academy.
Glad you had a good time.
Averages (for some odd reason it is in order of most runs scored, rather than batting average) Its default is to give you the top 50 players, but I had to click on 'top 100' to get to Mr Newman's stats
[www.middlesexccl.com]#
Edit- You'll also have to click on 'Premier Division' to filter out all the lower tier averages.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:06:15:07:13:15 by chunkyinargyll.
Now where's Yogesh Golwalkar these days??
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:06:15:08:24:01 by hdo.
boy played as well ..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:06:15:13:59:53 by Fozzie.
Quote:chunkyinargyll
http://www.middlesexccl.com/stats.php#
Edit- You'll also have to click on 'Premier Division' to filter out all the lower tier averages.
Gosh - there are certainly some blasts from the past on that site. Josh Knappett, David Burton and David Holt some more names who never quite made it with Middlesex. Charl Malan and Nayan Doshi are still playing too.
