Today was a first of many, attended an AGM via Zoom for New Ash Green cricket and was shocked at the language that was used. I’ve attended many AGM and never heard anything like it before. I decided to stay quiet, as saying something on a call like this would have been madness. It put things in motion for me.
Tag: New Ash Green
-
Week 45 – January 4th – Week 1 of lockdown 3 restrictions
I found out today, that someone that I had played cricket with at New Ash Green passed away suddenly – Jon Harding. He was a lovely person, a very good batsman and wicket-keeper. RIP.
-
Week 30 – September 21st 2020 – Week 27 of lockdown
Friendly XI v Ash (Away)
The final game of a very unusual season. For the second week I arrived late, due to reasons mentioned in other posts. This time, the match had already started and James had won the toss and we were batting.
Now I have been playing for over 40 years, even one match where snow was laying on the ground and it snowed during the game, but this is the coldest I have felt on a cricket pitch ever.
We were given an excellent start by Luke Shaw and Matt Scanlan, putting on 93 for the first wicket, the boundary was reached often with 12 fours and 4 sixes between them. After losing three wickets for 18 runs, Dean Freeman continued his form from the previous week and with the promoted Mick Sumner put on 129 for the 4th wicket, Dean was in amazing batting form, hitting 10 fours and 5 sixes in his 86.
I then went in and Mick brought up his own 50 and we even put on 22, before my batting season was summed up, with a golden duck, where the ball pitched and then just shot along the ground to be bowled!
Once time team mate David Harley son Ryan was the pick of the bowlers with 3-52
New Ash Green 273-7 from 40 overs – Luke Shaw 34, Matt Scanlan 69, Mick Sumner 55, Dean Freeman 86, Ryan Harley 8-0-52-3, Alex Piller 8-0-55-2, Carl Graham 3-0-32-2
In reply Ash Village were never in hunt, with a fiery opening spell by Felix Quantrill, backed up by some pretty sharp fielding which I have to say I led the way.
Ryan completed a fine game with 32, and then Graeme Moir with the returning injured Kieran Clements to hold out for a draw, it was a shame that a joke piece of fielding, happened more than once, which spoil the game for me.
Ted Quantrill completed a fine spell picking up 3 wickets to end the season in style
Ash Village 140-8 from 40 overs – Graeme Moir 40*, Ryan Harley 32, Felix Quantrill 6-3-9-3, Edward Quantrill 8-1-37-3 – match drawn.
After the match, Rob Bristow had turned up, which was impressive in this cold weather and we had a good chat, before we went off to see John Harley grave.
-
Week 29 – September 14th 2020 – Week 26 of lockdown
Saturday September 19th:
Friendly XI v Faversham (Away)-
Due to the estate agent visit and then a change in start time and of course a fair distance drive, I knew I would be late and I hate being late for stuff, especially if i’m playing.
Of course never played here before either, so I actually make it to Faversham in good time, the actual ground is well hidden behind a farm and needed the help of Bushy to guide me in, at least because of Covid19 i was ready. Though I had missed a text from skipper James Nash, asking if I would be happy to bat up the order.
Faversham won the toss and elected to bat, it was a team mainly made up of young future players. It was lovely day for this time of year and a very fast outfield, we got a lucky break when James got an LBW on the opener Chris James for 33.
Definitely a player for the future, Rishi Milward-Bose made a fine 53, before being bowled by Felix Quantrill in good pace bowling spell.
It was a pretty good bowling and fielding performance that we got them all out for 170.
Faversham 1st – 170 of 31.5 overs Chris James 33, Vince Taylor 20, Rishi Milward-Bose 53, James Nash 5-0-25-2, Ian Mellor 6-1-32-3, Mick Sumner 4-0-34-2
In reply, we were led to victory by a fine knock by Dean Freeman, who seemed to have all the time to play his shots in an excellent knock of 93*.
I was in at 3 and fell for 1, again caught in close in front of the wicket, I need to keep the ball down.
New Ash Green 1st – 172-7 of 30.3 overs, Dean Freeman 93*, Rishi Milward-Bose 4-0-13-2 won by 3 wickets.
-
Week 27 – August 31st 2020 – Week 24 of lockdown
1st XI v Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill (Home)
As we entered the final month of the season, the weather was still holding good, which is useful as we can’t use the pavilion.
James won the toss and decided to field and for the most part we bowled and fielded well, with the ball following the skipper around to hold on to three good catches and Luke Shaw taking a good running catch in the deep, which allowed Ted Quantrill to pick up four wickets.
Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill 153 of 36.3 overs – A Bunker 33, I Hayward 60, T Quantrill 8-0-43-4
In reply we struggled all the way down, with just 4 players managing to reach double figures and were bowled out for 60. I managed just 1 before being caught close in.
New Ash Green 60 of 23 overs – L Short 6-0-11-3, S Negus 4-1-23-2, R Baldwin 5-2-11-2 lost by 93 runs.
New Ash Green batting. -
Week 22 –July 27th 2020 – Week 19 of lockdown
So first game back at Manor Field, hopefully this Saturday’s weather will be much better. Well it couldn’t be worse 🙂
Fixture – 2nd XI v Sheppey II (Home)
Thankfully the weather was much pleasant. 🙂
Sheppey won the toss and decided to bat. Despite steady opening spells by Glen Freeman and Kieran Poole no breakthrough was made. The Sheppey openers gradually took the game away from us and it was only when 2nd and 3rd change bowlers Munhib Syed and Christopher Payne came on, that we finally took a wicket at 130-1.
They were actually our only two successful bowlers, as again poor fielding led to several drop catches and runs that shouldn’t have been scored, with 3 of the Sheppey players reaching half centuries, plus extras helping out, with 47 runs too.
Sheppey II 262-4 in 40 overs – Oliver Hill 59, Daniel Whiting 55, Alex Patt 71*, Munhib Syed 7-0-43-2, Christopher Payne 6-1-35-2
In reply only three batsman made double figures, Glen Freeman 14, Munhib Syed 13 and the best New Ash Green knock of the day Kieran Poole 40.
I batted down at number 10 and felt really comfortable, until I decided to go for a mad run and was sent back, but too late I was run out for 6 to end the match.
New Ash Green 99 in 30.1 overs – Kieran Poole 40, Tony Bond 10-3-12-5 – lost by 163 runs. – Things could only get better surely 🙂
-
Week 21 –July 20th 2020 – Week 18 of lockdown
Well after my last game in August 2018, it was time to find the kit bag and get ready again to play. Of course you just knew that the weather was going to play apart, especially after how nice it had been so far.
The game was – 2nd XI v Orpington Ocelots II at a ground that had bad history for me. Back in the 90’s on the hottest day of year so far in June, I was coming on to bowl my second spell to try and restrict the team score. It might have been partly my fault as I didn’t warm up that much as I had already bowled 10 overs that day in my first spell and had been in the field for over 2 hours.
The 3rd ball of the over as I run in, I just collapsed in a heap, my hamstring went, and it was like someone had shot me in my leg. Little did I know that was the last time I would be a bowler of high quality. 🙁
Saturday arrived and the weather app (though I don’t trust it), had been showing rain from around 11am on. Now I’ve played for over 40 years and have seen many people injured because of playing in the rain. For me cricket is to be played in the sun with a cool breeze, (you can dream lol especially in England, how did we invent the game).
I was waiting for the call to say it would be called off, but no, the journey had to be made, of course within 5 minutes of setting of, it started to rain.
Now in COVID19 time, the changing rooms are closed, so it best you turn up in your whites.
It was good to see the team again, but not this weather and I spoke with the skipper Glen and made my feelings known.
Due to COVID19, there were no points at state, no promotion or relegation which made the decision to play even crazier. It was decided to be a 26 overs match.
Glen won the toss and elected to field, for the most part it was steady drizzle, but definitely not enjoyable. Our bowling was average and our fielding very poor.
Orpington Ocelots 198-4 from 26 overs – Pankaj Singh 55* , Deepak Krishnegowda 68* , Glen Freeman 6-0-36-2 , Felix Quantrill 4-0-21-2
At tea, which was bring your own tea, the rain started to get heavier, so I went to my car for my food and shelter. I thought this has to be called off, looking at the direction of the cloud coming from, it was just thick cloud.
Someone came down and said we were going out to bat, I said seriously. Putting my umbrella up, I walked back up and sure enough we were out batting. On the fall of Martyn Greene wicket, it really started to pour and they came off. I said to Glen, this needs to be called off, and I was going any way, I heard the home team say, were give it 15 minutes.
I thought NO NO, I found there skipper and said why are we giving it 15 minutes, you can see there is no break in the cloud, the weather app is showing rain for the rest of the day, do you want someone hurt and anyway I’m going.
Would I feel bad if they waited and went back out, NO, my health and safety comes first, not just for me, but the rest of the team, obviously there grown up and can make their own decision, but often a group of men just stand around and no one can.
The rain did continue for the rest of the day and I was glad to get home, unchanged and showered to get warm again.
New Ash Green 2-1 from 2 overs Match abandoned as a draw.
-
Week 18 –June 29th 2020 – Week 15 of lockdown
This was the news I had been waiting for. I was in a good place now and with the weather being so good, I had already made myself available to play for New Ash Green.
Dear all,
We are delighted that the UK Government has given the green light for recreational cricket in England* to return from Saturday July 11.
The latest update from the UK Government signals progression from Step 3 to Step 4 of ECB’s roadmap to return for the recreational game, meaning competitive cricket matches in England with adjustments to respect hygiene and social distancing would be permitted.
ECB has maintained a constant dialogue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) throughout this process and the UK Government have stated that COVID-secure guidance will be published in the coming days.
Guidelines are already prepared for the return of recreational cricket and following the Prime Minister’s comments, will now be finalised and published early next week.
-
Week 15 –June 8th 2020 – Week 12 of lockdown
People that know me, know cricket is a big part of my life, when I was 10, myself and a group of friends, from April right through to October, virtually every weekend day and school holidays, we would go off to this piece of land and play cricket. We would take food and drink and just play.
I even had a trial for Kent, but only public school children were taken on.
I played adult cricket from 13 and have met some lovely people over the years, the Chelsfield Exiles Saturday was a blast, on the field and off, thankfully Claire understood what cricket meant to me and the Saturday team welcomed her.
I have been captain and chairman of the club.
In my later life, I have played league cricket for New Ash Green and even won a medal for winning a league, I just wished the players would believe in themselves in the second team, there are some quality players that would easily walk into other teams!!.
Obviously COVID19 had stopped cricket, but as you see from the ECB roadmap, they wanted people playing, with my depression lifted, I wanted to play again, so made myself available again for New Ash Green.
ECB roadmap to get cricket playing again.
