It’s late April and occasional pre-season nets have been completed… Or frequent nets if you’re Zed and/or Skandy. Most of us have just had a solid 15-20 minutes batting practice (probably pissed) before heading into the first match of the season against Goodrich, where we’ll undoubtedly be surprised when we get caught at mid wicket for a paltry 7 runs after getting through the shot approximately five minutes early.
The Goodrich match is one of the highlights of the season… a two day test match near Ross-on-Wye, played on a beautifully picturesque extremity of England looking out towards Wales. There’s a pub quiz after the first day’s play, and that usually results in great disappointment and a drunken walk from the pub to Mr and Mrs Frecknall’s house which is up a small hill which (at the time of inebriated walking) often feels like it’s the size of Mt Snowdon.
Day two is always a challenge due to the aforementioned evening… but there’s a BBQ to be eaten once we’ve lost (which is grimly predictable).
Goodrich are a wonderful team, and cricket aside it’s a highlight of the season to go and spend the weekend in their neck of the woods. In fact some years we’d rather be rained off and just go to the pub with them to play Subbuteo Cricket.
