It was with much anticipation and even more WhatsApp pings, that the Clapham In Cricket Club (CICC) tour of Bordeaux got underway on Friday 9th May 2025.
In true cricket tour style, the dramas began long before the first ball was bowled. At 6:27am, new dad Sam Dooley, sleep-deprived and disoriented, declared en route to the airport:
“No passport… fuck sake.”
Later that day, Steve Smith chimed in:
“Shit! I forgot my debit card and cash.”
(No explanation offered. None accepted.)
Bordeaux welcomed a motley crew arriving by every mode of transport known to man. DBB earned himself an early fine for choosing to fly, despite being the only player who actually lives in France. Joel had completed an epic 11-hour solo drive from Zurich the day before, while the UK contingent came via planes, trains, and car hire, trickling into the city for French wine, fine food… or fish and chips, if you’re DBB.
Joel, Jon, and Sammy wisely dodged the grocery run (cheers to Matt “Tour Dad” Goodman and Leon), and Airbnb check-in duties fell to DBB, who promptly got lost and accidentally turned up at the actual Château Giscours. Fortunately, a very lovely Emma pointed him in the right direction. By the time the shopping /Airbnb squad rejoined the gang three hours later, the wine bottles were stacking up and Joel, Jon, and Sammy were already deep into Bordeaux oblivion.
Soon, the rest of the crew rolled in, minus Freckers, who was still wining and dining in Paree, enjoying Eurostar delays and romance before his early Saturday train. Bage and Whaley arrived late and were found loitering outside the château in the dark, presumably wondering if they’d joined a cricket tour or a murder mystery.
Friday night descended into joyful chaos. Highlights included:
- Joel ordering the worst Piña Coladas ever made
- Joel eating a stranger’s dinner (Matt’s local mate)
- Joel falling asleep at the table
- Joel being walked home like a toddler by DBB
The rest of the team Ubered back to our seven-bed château near Giscours, one driver even letting us DJ. So, naturally, AC/DC blasted into the moonlit vineyards.
Saturday – Cricket Begins
Freckers arrived looking fresher than the croissants after catching the TGV, and we hit the road for a 1.5-hour drive south to Damazan, a picturesque cricket ground run by the legendary John, aged 90, who’s been running the club for 40 years.
While Joel was still locking the dog into the shed, the first ball of the tour was bowled by Bage with the opened lobbing a mild loosener to Whaley who took the catch. The batter, shocked, had just earned himself a platinum duck (first ball of the season), and CICC were stunned to have taken a wicket before even all of us were on the field; Joel ran over mid-chaos asking, “Have we started?”
Matt then matched the feat with a wicket first ball his over, leaving Damazan two down for none. The carnage continued. CICC, breaking tradition, held onto their catches, highlighted by a Ben Stokes-esque one-handed leaping screamer from Sam Dooley.
The bowling was clinical. Matt took 3-26, Whaley bagged 2-16, and Joel, making his first CICC appearance in five years since being sacked by Sir Jimmy Anderson on Tailenders, nabbed a wicket. Damazan crumbled to 91 all out. Confidence was high.
But this is CICC. As Geoffrey Boycott might say, “No score is a good score until both teams have batted.”
Our openers, Steve Smith and DBB, contributed a combined two runs. Joel smashed a glorious six to cow corner, his first ever, before promptly getting out. With Sammy retiring hurt, and Leon and Jon Stern departing cheaply, we were 26/5.
Enter Sam Dooley and club president James Frecknall, who built a gritty 50 partnership before Freckers was bowled for 17. Whaley fell soon after, and when Dooley was trapped in front for 22, we still needed 10 runs with the last pair at the crease. Fortunately, Matt and Tom “always-cheerful-about-having-to-bat” Bage held their nerve and steered us home. Phew.
Post-match, John’s wife laid on a wonderful tea. We shared beers with the opposition, received a magnum of wine, and left our club crest behind to join the Damazan shed wall of fame. Then we legged it, just in time to navigate lightning, torrential downpour and flash floods on the motorway.
The evening was spent back at the château with Dad Goodman BBQing heroically in the rain, and wine flowing at all levels of quality. There were Piña Coladas, Whaley’s whisky and coke concoctions, and endless laughter around the dinner table. Stragglers drifted off around 3am.
Sunday morning arrived too soon with the scent of Sammy’s scrambled eggs and DBB belting out La Marseillaise at full volume—his own take on a wake-up call. Especially appreciated by Freckers; we were due out by 10:30am and heading to our second match: a game against the Château Giscours cricket team.
Sunday – Sheep, Stumps & Second Win
Upon arrival, we discovered the pitch had been invaded overnight by dozens of sheep, who’d left plenty of “presents” behind. Rupert, the Giscours club captain and long-time Bordeaux local, did his best to clear the field with one of his team, but most of the day was spent dancing around sheep shit. Giscours team gradually arrived and we were finally underway by around midday.
Rupert, ever the host, served a spectacular lunch of Bordeaux wine, charcuterie, cheese, and all the French delights. He also kept us entertained, the perimeter fence ran around around the edge of the field, supposedely to keep out sheep and wild boar, but had much more success in tripping up Rupert not just once but 5 times throughout the day, each time falling like a sack of potatoes much to everyone’s delight and concern but he always came up smiling.
Cricket-wise, we bowled first again. Bage struck early, removing Rupert in the fifth over. The fielding stayed sharp, with DBB redeeming himself from an earlier drop by holding on to a vital catch to dismiss top-scorer Dale (40).
The real star, though, was Leon Crowley. Back from injury and firing on all cylinders, he tore through the Giscours line-up with a sublime spell of 5-12 off five overs. Joel also turned back the clock with his vintage leg spin, picking up 2-11. Giscours were all out for 118.
After the aforementioned feast, CICC began their chase with Joel and Steve opening. Joel’s goal: score quick, get out, and drive back to Zurich. Job done in the fourth over with 15 on the board. In the trend of this low scoring tour, we were soon in trouble at 49/6.
But again, Sam Dooley stood firm. Supported by a dogged Steve Smith (18) and a breezy 16 from Whaley (including a six), the chase was revived. Leon tried his best to create drama with a second-ball reverse sweep/ramp attempt that failed miserably, but Dooley calmly guided us home with a majestic 37* (2x6s, 1×4).
Two wins from two. An unbeaten tour. CICC history.
Tour Close
And just like that, it was over. From Bordeaux to Zurich, Nice, London and beyond, the crew began their return journeys, sore but smiling.
Huge thanks to everyone who made the time and financial commitment to be part of this special trip, bringing the top-tier CICC banter, camaraderie, and the true spirit of club cricket. Special shout-outs to Sammy for his stellar match organisation, and to Matt for booking the top-notch accommodation.
Match 1 – 10th May 2025
Damazan vs CICC
Damazan: 91 all out (Aryen 19, Hizbul 16; Goodman 3-26, Whaley 2-16)
CICC: 92/8 (Dooley 22, Frecknall 17; Gagan 4-14)
CICC won by 2 wickets
🏆 Champagne Moment: Sam Dooley’s flying one-hander
💀 Headband Moment: DBB nutmegged by the ball
Match 2 – 11th May 2025
Giscours vs CICC
Giscours: 117 all out (Dale 40, Tanu 16; Crowley 5-12, Plaja 2-11, Whaley 2-23)
CICC: 118/8 (Dooley 37*, S. Smith 18, Whaley 16; Ajmal 3-18)
CICC won by 2 wickets
🏆 Champagne Moment: Leon’s top-of-off-stump thunderbolt
💀 Headband Moment: DBB’s wave in the air, miss the ball moment
About the author: DB habite à Nice. Dans le week-end, DB aime jouer au cricket avec ses amis et boire de la bière.
