Half way through our 25th season and CICC is not to be distracted with the fervour for Bazzball, we’re doing it our own way, which means played 9, won 3, drawn 1 (and a long distant 2nd in 2 others) – not bad for us. The three wins have been against Paddington Rabbits, Plastics and a T20 vs Barely Blueis, while we were looking good for the win vs Whalers (ignore the fact that we were 8 down, we only needed another 14 runs) only for the rain to bring a premature end to the match.
Taking advantage of the glorious English summer, runs have flowed for CICC this season. Whereas last year, CICC’s batting was held together – Atlas-esque – by Riaan Ferreira, who was over 200 runs ahead of anyone else in 2021, this year he has competition for most runs scored with Callum Taylor coming up on the rail following a faultless century vs Plastics. Refusing to let his Dorset residence hinder his chances, Callum is ‘so determined to beat him’ this season and has contacted the club’s statistician to ensure scores are correct and up to date (probably not, but I do my best). Riaan, meanwhile has not let another looming milestone affect his form, now less than 100 runs shy of the all time highest runs scored for CICC, ‘the Island’ has racked up his own century this season, putting Paddington Rabbits to the sword.
But it’s not just these two batting colossi / colossuses (delete as to individual preference) contributing vital runs. Matt Williams raised the bat for his CICC maiden 50 in a century partnership with Riaan. Steve Smith continues to be the hero that we need, if not the hero that we deserve at the top of the order (have I used this reference before? Probably, but I’m doing it again) in the unglamorous but very necessary ‘take the shine off the new ball’ role. And those in attendance at South Norwood Lakes last Sunday were treated to a glorious James Smith cameo (yes Callum also got a 100 in that game) including a ‘textbook cover drive’, his words not mine (there is actually some dispute as to whether it was even a cover drive).
But fear not CICC purists, amongst all this batting excellence, there has also been plenty of opportunity to keep the ducksuit’s vitamin D levels up. The fixture v Suffolk Sunrisers resulted in 4 different owners of the suit in one game. And the ever competitive Lords Travellers, combined with Belair Park playing like Sabina Park ala 1998, prompted 3 consecutive ducks. All this activity means it is sometimes hard to keep up with who the current owner is. If in doubt, it’s safe to assume it is Leon Crowley, a tremendously talented cricketer with a West Indian flair to his technique, there is no doubt the runs will come soon, but thank goodness he was in possession of it for Paddington Rabbits, who challenged us to a race vs their rabbit mascot. Leon, one of the youngest and fittest members of the team strode to a comfortable victory in what was no doubt the highlight of his CICC career.
Similarly, there also been the usual fielding mediocrity that comes with zero practice, hungover / half-cut fielders and limited attention spans. In the nine games so far the headband has been shared around the team and the standard is unlikely to improve with Jon Stern on the physio’s table for the foreseeable, a victim of the Belair Park pitch. Yet Steve Smith continues to lead the way with 9 catches, including a startling 5 catches behind the stumps against Whalers (that’s just not village cricket). Run outs have been lesser spotted but Leon’s vs Plastics was a fine example of the dismissal, his throw from long leg beating the batter’s acrobatic dive (edit: Steve Smith had a part to play in it as well, apparently!).
And to the bowling, where the team have had to rally together to make up for the absence of last year’s leading wicket taker, St James Frecknall, who has selfishly decided to put his family and new child first! So far, we’ve had no Michelle’s, and just the one 3 for (Salman Hasan vs Whalers). In Frecks’ absence, new member Jaymin Pandya has shot to the top of the wickets taken ranks, consistently taking wickets in each game to rack up a tally of 10. He is followed by Leon and Ben Gilllard both on 6. Delving back into the all time stats, Captain Matt Goodman and part-time finesmaster Ed Gregory are locked in a battle to 100 wickets. Ed has 91, but can Matt (87) take advantage of a Gregs injury to nip in front.
But for all this talk of batting and bowling averages, the only stat we really care about is the fines. For the last couple of years, James Smith has climbed to the top of the fines charts with the ease of Tadej Pogačar coasting up an Alp in recent Tours de France (this reference won’t age badly, right?). This year might he be under threat (James Smith, I mean, not Pogačar), as others push him for his crown? New comers, Leon and Brad James quickly made themselves known to the fines committee with some eye-catching performances but come the end of season the smart money appears to still be on Smithy.
This leaves us with 7 games to go, starting with Marlow this weekend, where we hope to follow up last weekend’s victory. And off the field, CICC is continuing its support of Chance to Shine, please do donate to this excellent cause if you can.
*You can tell I’m a batter – 3 paragraphs on the batting, and 1 on the bowling. Sorry bowlers, I’ll try harder next time!
