Sam Brand vs Reading

There are rare days in a cricketer’s life where you wake up, drive down to the ground, the traffic signals are all green everywhere and you just know today is going to be fun. This experience never happens to a Mandarin but today was an exception.

A 10-men Mandarin team were due to play a 35 over match at Reading School and as tradition would have it, the traffic was delaying a famous Mandarin from arriving on time. Andy Heard volunteered to captain and smartly arranged for us to bat first on what looked like an under prepared pitch.

David Williams and Arun Sajjan opened to face a barrage of darts from A Herath. From the other end, A Vernone took up the challenge of landing his left arm leg spin on the pitch – he struggled to do that most of the time but did manage to get David stumped of a wide that was so far outside off that it threatened to land on the adjacent strip. The player of the match Sam Brand walked in at 3 took some time to get the measure of those darts and loopy drops and then turned on his T20 avatar. He produced a fine knock of 79 playing some superb shots all around the ground. Him and Arun constructed an 83 run partnership before Arun was stumped for 36. Chris Baker was in next, hit a nice boundary and was out bowled for 5. Jonathan Wilmot scored a breezy 31 and Chris McKeon was unbeaten at 13. The ever reliable Johnny Extras produced a fine 48 on the day and was the second top scorer as we finished with 217 for 5.

After some tea and biscuits we took the field again. Rob Eastaway started proceedings and was right on the money from ball 1. He bowled a superb 7 over spell for 24 runs but was unlucky to not take any wickets. Your correspondent, who shared the new ball with him was lucky and took the first of his 4 scalps caught and bowled low to his right. The second wicket fell quicky thereafter with David Williams taking a low catch at short midwicket. Reading skipper Andy Eagle and A. Herath then struck a 101 run partnership with the latter doing the most damage. Herath scored 64 of 55 balls and peppered the cow corner boundary with continuous boundaries. He was ultimately caught in the deep by Chris Baker off my bowling and with it ending most of the opposition’s hopes of chasing down a stiff total. Reading skipper soon fell after as the pressure of the scoreboard got to him – he was caught by Arun at cover of my bowling. Jonathan Porter, Andy Heard and Arun Sajjan all bowled tidy spells. A final flurry from Reading was ongoing but Andy brought in Sam as our 6th bowler and he finished his day with 3 for 27 producing a wicket in each of his 3 overs – his first wicket was a caught and bowled, second was a plumb LBW and the third was a quick stumping. Reading finished with 192 for 7 in their allotted 35 overs.

Sam took the wind of Reading’s sails with his stand out performances with both the bat and ball. He also surged past 1000 career runs for us!

Mandarins beat Reading University Staff by 25 runs.

Rakesh Ramani

A Tour For All Seasons

A Friday late summer evening in the south of England

Amazingly (given how tough it has been in the past to get 11 people to Oxford on a Friday evening) a full team, two umpires, scorer and a gaggle of supporters gathered in the evening sun at Horspath CC to play FFTMCC, a team we have mostly lost to. Equally amazingly the FFTMMC captain got enough of his team out of the bar to start on time. Capn’ Bob (replacing Paul stuck in traffic) chose to bat. As so always in T20 games we rather crawled to a distinctly average score. Sam Keayes, David W and Gemma made good contributions but it was the late arriving Paul who hopped his way to 34 retired including four consecutive fours and got us to 119 (while adding a thigh injury to the calf and ankle injuries he was already carrying.)

FFTMCC made a good start but once their outstanding bat retired on 38 (apparently he hasn’t been out since June) the rate gradually climbed. All Mandarins bowled well but Alton pro JP showed all his league skills with flawless figures of 4-1-11-1. The final score of 107 suggests it was a bit tighter than it actually was. So a good win followed by a beer or two and for many of us an excellent Thai at the Queen’s Head.

A winter Saturday in Newcastle

The weather had truly changed on Saturday with a bitter North East wind and heavy cloud greeting us at Midsomer, sorry Warborough, to play the Erratics, a team clearly intent on revenge after last year’s shock defeat. Skipper Healey chose to bat first and we found it tough going. At 70-5 off 26 overs it could have gone either way. But partnerships of 29 with Jonathan and 38 with Chris H by your correspondent got us to 149-6 when Chris controversially decided to declare one over before tea as “the Erratics have seen quite enough of our batting”. My Boycottian approach wasn’t to everyone’s tastes (eg Chris Baker ) but some of us have seen too many Mandarin collapses (see Sunday).

Chris’ team talk as we took to the field was clear “we are going to lose so don’t worry”. Was this a master stroke of reverse-psychology? Well, nearly. The Erratics never got away and kept losing wickets. Credit to Andy who bowled beautifully until asked by the skipper how he was doing it which caused him to move from Dr Jekyll to Mr Heard mode and lose the plot in an agony of self-analysis. Raki was as classy as ever. Watched by his frozen wife he took 2-26 off 11. Sam B took a stunning one handed catch and Harry nearly took the catch of this and many seasons. But while the final score looked close with the Erratics 8 down and in the penultimate over when they passed our total, the truth is Chris Cook seemed to have it all under control from well out. A group of Texan cosy crime fans watching from one corner of the green weren’t obviously impressed. To the pub for beer, barbecue and banter. The Erratics legendary Secretary Annie Chave doling out the fines rightly fined all those Mandarins who had abused the Chairman and Tour Manager for his steady batting. Chris Baker knew what was coming and had crept away early to escape his punishment.

Summer again, this time Singapore style

Sunday bizarrely dawned hot and humid. Luckily we dodged the thunder showers. Indeed Harwell was looking good but the boundaries seemed bigger than ever (a tactical move by the opposition given most of us were over 60 and many were by now nursing injuries?) Skipper Drew playing his first match of the season chose to bat and again we headed inexorably for that mystical number, 149. More looked probable as we hit 134-2 with Tim the star with 50. But the late introduction of their top league bowler, Ettin George, saw a rapid collapse to the inevitable 149 without us using all of our 35 overs.

For much of their reply we kept them in check, even though about half our fielders were down to walking pace at best in the heat with Adam speeding in all directions putting us to shame. Especial mention for the double Eastaway opening attack and another fine spell from JP. After 28 overs Harwell were only on 97 and down to their last recognised batsmen. But if ever a game turned on one moment it was this: Tim to big hitter Ettin a possible/probable/certain bottom edge depending on your viewpoint. Bob celebrated the catch. The umpire was unmoved. The batsman said he’d heard a noise but didn’t know what it was. Ettin then rode his luck and took Harwell to victory. Grudges were not held (apart possibly from by Bob who had to work hard on his diplomatic skills) and we enjoyed beers and awards with the opposition who were clearly pleased to have beaten us for the first time.) The two Mandarin nominations for the coveted Dick of the Day award were Nikhil K for using a bat with a mysterious sharp bottom edge that caused him to stop dead six inches out of the crease and be run out and Drew, who was told by Chris H as he came out to bat, that the bowler was sending down sharp off-cutters and promptly shouldered arms to one just outside of off causing the inevitable to happen.

Anyway thanks to all who played, especially David who got himself injured again playing all three matches. It was also great to see a few of the Oxford area irregulars. Three great fixtures against top opposition in rural Oxfordshire – what’s not to like?

John Hawkins

Murphy’s Last Stand

Mandarins (192-8) defeated Elstead (167 ao) by 25 runs

Bank Holiday Monday brought both the familiar trip to Elstead and the end of an era for a Mandarins great as Pat Murphy took to the field for the final time. A miserly bowler as a Mandarin, he became a major thorn in the club’s side as captain of Elstead, where the Mandarins had not won for 13 years.

Monday, however, saw Pete Lincoln in the driving seat who generously arranged the toss with Mandarins skipper Baxter, allowing us to bat first given Wilmot was stuck somewhere on the M25 and Williams had been forced to switch to a backup car after his Aston Martin failed him.

The Mandarins started well, Baxter and “T20 Sam” Brand racing to 45 off the first 10 and eventually an unbeaten 101 before Sam was retired on 53. Baxter fell shortly afterwards for 47, felled by young quick Warren, while Murphy delivered his final spell from the other end.

Murphy's record is fearsome. Surviving records covering 1978-1994 show that, over the course of 85 games for the Mandarins, he took 138 wickets at an average of 13.39 and an economy rate of just 2.04. For Elstead, the figures are no less impressive. Some 482 wickets, 15 five-wicket hauls and an average of 18.64. But Monday brought no final wicket for him, with your correspondent seeing out his final over for a maiden on the way to a difficult 10 as Mills at the other end raced to 38, exacerbating a leg injury in the process.

Sajjan hit a quick-fire 15 while his partners fell in rapid succession before he too succumbed to teenage opener Faulkner-Wybrott. The final over began with Matt Brown stumped off Lincoln’s bowling, at which point some suggested declaring. But Baxter would hear none of it, sending in Ramani to be caught two balls later. Again, the chorus suggested declaring, but in went Eastaway who, another two balls later, called for the run and made it most of the way down the track before being sent back by Williams. The return journey proved too much, and the Beast was run out, finally heralding the declaration.

A total of 192 seemed eminently defendable, but with a line-up short on bowling - and the weight of history heavily in Elstead’s favour - it would be by no means simple. Still, the Mandarins made a strong start, Porter removing opener Warren in the third over before Eastaway and Ramani struck to leave Elstead 44-3 in the 14th.

Left-handed J Warren looked useful before retiring hurt, but the runs continued to flow as Baxter turned to the more part-time members of the bowling attack.

A 53-run partnership off six overs set Mandarin nerves on edge, but the return of Baxter and Ramani reasserted control and two quick wickets saw Elstead 156-7 and brought Murphy to the crease, welcomed by a guard of honour.

He faced a difficult challenge. With only three wickets in hand - and one of the remaining batters injured - but only 37 to win, the stage was set of another heroic rearguard action. The question was, would it be Rourke’s Drift, or the Alamo.

With the sun dipping behind the pavilion, Murphy made a good start, but an attempt to sweep Baxter behind square saw the ball balloon up and into the hands of Porter. The Alamo, then, and Murphy walked off into the sunset to hang up his bat for good having managed one more than Bradman on his final appearance.

The end came quickly, Ramani remembering that if you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself and taking three wickets - two bowled, one caught and bowled - in his final over to leave him with figures of 5-37.

A first victory at Elstead since 2011 followed a first victory over the Quilibets since 2012 - one Mandarin was heard to liken the twin achievements to the ravens leaving the Tower - means we head to Oxford one game up and with the Chairman’s goal still within reach.

Chris McKeon

The Rakesh and Arvind (not that one) Show

Rakesh’s excellent form since returning from India was on display again at Mickleham, one of the nicest fixtures on the calendar against one of the most Mandarin of oppositions.

The Chairman did the only thing required off him which was to win the toss and bat on a hot day. Jonathan and his new bat and Rakesh, given the chance to build an innings, were on excellent form after Superstar Arun was bowled by a good one from the legendary Cameroonian international opening bowler. Jonathan, the Clive Lloyd of Mandarin cricket, as elegant and languid as ever was retired after reaching 50. Raki’s hunt for a Mandarin 50 goes on after he fell for 45, but it will come. Sam Brand said he was unleashing his alter-ego “T20 Sam” not previously seen by the Mandarins but apparently familiar to Heber Casuals. The crowd was very impressed and we were soon 160 for 2. The inevitable late collapse against the 10th and 11th Mickleham bowlers and some fine catching by some very young fielders saw us end up on 194 off our 35 overs.

After an excellent tea, the two Mickleham openers put on 59 in good time for the opening wicket. Sportingly the best of the two was retired on 50 and we began to “take back control” otherwise known as “we turned to Raki and he bowled beautifully”. A string of younger and older Mickleham players came and went. Baker and Baxter bowled well (with the former having to be cautioned for giving a death stare to a ten year old who dared to halt him in his run-up). Our third leg spinner, Heber guest Arvind, was accurate and threatening. The Archivist will need to decipher the scorebook which while very neat was somewhat less accurate and listed various bowlers as “Marvin”, “Akesh” and “64” but I am pretty sure that Rakesh took six and Arvind 3 or possibly 4. But we definitely took the 11 wickets required and won by 71.  A big shout out to Arvind for his four catches on debut (a record for a Mandarin outfielder?)

Off to the Running Horses for beer, banter and the Malibu challenge for those deemed worthy, in our case Arvind for breaking with Mandarin Arvind tradition and taking too many catches and Sam for dropping their skipper when we were desperate to take that 11th wicket and get down to the pub.

 All in all about as good as Mandarin Sundays get.

John Hawkins

Repeating Remarkable Runouts at S&M

A match of repeating remarkable runouts.

The Mandarins batted first, with Dan Taylor and Jeremy Jarvis opening the innings. Thanks to some good bowling and Streatham and Marlborough’s complete lockdown of the field with their smart fielding positions, we only gained runs at a slow rate. 33 runs in and Dan Taylor fell victim to the first of four run outs by a sniped throw from a fielder. To the dismay of the Mandarins on the sideline Jarvis, Baker and Paul fell in quick succession making the score 35 off 4. Baxter and Hawkins got things moving again adding 22 to the score before Baxter was caught. Then Hawkins called an optimistic single and was run out.

Adam’s spectacular 3 runs must have reinstated hope in those yet to bat as Graeme and Rakesh had the most successful partnership of 36, only to be cut short by the third run out of the innings (Graeme out for 21). Rakesh scored 22 before being bowled by Sami Taraki.  Last batsman Dan Forman got kitted up and walked on only to find himself not facing a single ball as Andrew Shackelford was the fourth run out, finishing the Mandarins' innings at 119 all out.

We took our fielding positions knowing we had to prevent as many runs as possible to have a chance at victory, but soon found our necks angled upwards to watch the ball that Sami (a Streatham & Marlborough batsman chosen by Dan.F to play against and not with us) sent far beyond the boundary for 6.

Sami continued to find the boundary although some were stopped by great fielding from Dan Taylor. We could have used some of the luck that their second batsman had as he managed to survive multiple edges that found their way between Paul (keeping) and Chris Baker. Rakesh put an end to Sami’s scoring by bowling him and taking the first and only wicket of the innings. This was not the only merit to Rakesh’s bowling however, having a spell of 7 overs where only 9 runs were scored against him with 4 maiden overs. Despite all the singles prevented by Jarvis and boundaries prevented by others Streatham and Marlborough were scoring too many runs and ended the day by surpassing our score of 119 with a final boundary after a taunting ‘At least win with style’ from Mr Tunbridge.

Although we faced defeat at the hands of S+M, I was happy we made it through the game without losing all the cricket balls we had available, though two and nearly three balls were lost to the shrubbery.

Adam Eastaway

60th Anniversary Game, Kings School Rochester, 14 July 2024

Originals 192 for 9 off 37 overs (Baxter 32 ret., Mills 30 ret., Charles Snr 27, S Forman-Wilshaw 2 for 20).

Young Generation 191 for 8 off 39 overs (Tunbridge Snr 30 ret., Tunbridge Jnr 25, H Forman-Wilshaw 29, Jackson 25.)

Match Drawn.

Once again we were blessed with a near perfect cricketing day in the lovely surroundings of the Kings School paddock for the anniversary game. Once again the Mandarins gathered, originals (Butler, Roberts, Wiggins), near originals, stalwarts of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, veterans, seniors, some still in their cricketing prime (discuss), and, crucially, some newly minted. The teams were carefully chosen for balance, and (I quote the selector) to symbolise inheritance and regeneration. Both generations of Formans and Tunbridges played for the Young Generation, as did Balraj. Eastaways, Charleses (Ben is Headmaster of Kings School)  and Porters played father vs son, with Sam Charles, aged 9 youngest on the field, dismissing his father caught and bowled to claim the bragging rights.

The bespoke team strip arranged by Helen seemed to be an opportunity for the seniors to proclaim their ages in the squad numbers. Andy chose 168 (how old he feels?). Pat Murphy was the senior player on the day, just pipping David Lowen, with a big crowd of late 60s Saga holidays hopefuls pressing them hard. Average age? Hard to say, but easily 60 plus. No injuries were sustained. Bespoke shirts aside, a special sartorial prize for Jeremy Crump who wore what would be the Mandarins blazer if we had one – actually a 19th Century Royal Engineers blazer in orange and navy blue.

The oldies batted first, and were shown no mercy by Young Gun skipper Chris McKeon, who opened with Jackson and Stan, and followed up with Harry and Raki. Wily fox Baxter was equal to this assault, and his pads (who else?) opened the scoring, although it has to be said that they are now well and truly exploded, making Jack Russel’s look pristine. Stan, no sentimentalist, nailed Lowen and Jarvis in two balls, for two zeroes, Jeremy’s first golden of a 60 year career. But it was catch of the day  diving in the gully by Harry, so fair cop. Although Healey and Williams made modest scores they helped see off the tricky opening period, paving the way for Paul Mills, the ultimate Mandarins festival cricketer, who outshone his 50th anniversary exploits with 30 retired off 9 balls (no dots). Ben Charles hit the ball to all corners of his domain, and there were useful contributions all the way down to number 13. Chris M contrived to use 12 bowlers (certainly a record) including a sporting last over from himself, which ended with an absurd 8 bounce delivery (a record) which Andy missed, at least twice, to be bowled, both bowler and batsman flat on the ground at the end. The “Spirit of Cricket” was forced to adjudicate on this one, eventually deeming that the rule of law was so fundamental to the fabric of the nation that no-ball was called (possibly by the scorer) and Andy ended not out.  

A delicious tea was capped by Helen’s spectacular 60th anniversary chocolate cake. Speeches by Host- in-Chief Jonathan, President Robin and Chairman John had in common two themes, the unreliability of still vivid Mandarins’ memories as exploits on and off the field fade into history and morph into tribal myth; and the unifying thread from 1964 to today that everyone who played and plays for the club simply enjoyed doing so and making their contribution to the enterprise. Robin opined, to update the quote on our webpage, that not only were the Mandarins the only thing he kicked off in government that were still going strong, they were the only thing still going at all!

The second half (football did intrude itself just a little into our day) began with probably the oldest new ball pairing ever seen in grey and orange (c. 145 years?) as Oldies skipper Jonathan trusted two men who have not bowled for the Mandarins for a cumulative 52 years (Murphy admittedly with more recent form at Elstead, but Jarvis a genuine left field left arm wrist spin choice). The age gap between Pat and Sam Charles facing him exceeded the lifespan of the club. Tunbridge Senior and Charles Junior were unperturbed and progressed to 28 before Sam fell victim to an implausible direct hit diving run out from mid-wicket by No 168.  

Heard and Rob Eastaway then upped the pace, but Graeme, Harry and Stan were equal to it and played many festival shots of their own. Sam Tunbridge (aged 11) then took up the challenge and, on the evidence of today, will be far too good to play for us when he is a teenager. But although runs flowed wickets were falling. The last 20 overs began with 104 needed and 3 wickets down. Healey exerted a modicum of control, then it was time for super-slow leg spin from both ends, Mills and Baxter twirling away to tempt. Jackson was duly tempted and hit 4 boundaries in 25, before falling to that wiliest of bowling foxes, J Porter Senior.

Regular readers will know that I have previously commented on skipper Jonathan’s ability to magic up classic finishes, and today was no exception. 6 overs left, 48 needed, six wickets down. All results possible. Jonathan shares the last 6 overs between 5 bowlers. Masterstroke is bringing back Jarvis. “Why Jarvis?” shouts Mrs Jarvis from the boundary. Because he tempts. Sam Tunbridge vigil is ended by a straight one. But skipper McKeon plunders the rest of the over for a dozen. 18 needed off 3. Rakesh is dropped off Porter. Is it curtains for the Old Guard? 13 required off 2, but Healey replaces Jarvis and concedes only 4. 9 needed off the last. Jonathan, who also has not bowled for the Mandarins since 1994, steps up. Skipper v skipper, McKeon v Wilmot, Hector v Achilles. Deathly hush. 7 are scored off the first 4 balls. McKeon to face the fifth. Dot. Two to win one to draw with scores level (it has only happened 4 times in Mandarin history folks, not since 1994). And Wilmot delivers, Chris swings for victory and is bowled. And to the bafflement of the inventors of The Hundred, the collective endeavour of 26 players over an entire afternoon is – a draw!

A fantastic day ends with drinks and hospitality at the incomparable setting of Restoration House – as ever our grateful thanks to Jonathan and Robert for hosting us there. Jonathan also to be thanked for negotiating use of the Kings School ground, and arranging the tea; Ben Charles for letting us play there; Mark Snoswell of Kings School for his help with the facilities; Helen Porter for shirts, cake and coloured pens, various veteran umpires, especially for their lbws – no fear, no favour; John Hawkins for being a superb Chairman and master organiser, Andy Heard for hosting the database which allowed us to reach out to so many Mandarins, and Dan Forman for being on top of absolutely everything before and on the day. But most of all, thanks to everyone who made the trek to Rochester to make the day the celebration it was. Looking forward to 70!

Chris Baker
Master of Records

Ps. This tasted tasted every bit as good as it looks - thanks, Helen.[Ed.]

All Teeth and a Winning Record Intact

Mandarins 165-6 beat North Enfield CC 164-7 by four wickets

https://mandarins.play-cricket.com/website/results/6416471

North Enfield has been the scene of many memorable Mandarins moments in recent years. Tim’s first (and as yet only) ton for the club in 2018. Rob becoming the team’s all-time leading (recorded) wicket taker in 2023. Arvind having his mouth smashed open during that over in 2017.

This year’s renewal contained nothing that iconic. But it is remarkable enough that the Mandarins have now won four games in a row and, with this victory, are now back in the black on the season’s win-loss ratio.

 

Match manager Healey was talked into a rare recent outing as skipper with only the gentlest of arm twisting from your correspondent. Needless to say, he did as fine a job with it as you would expect, there really being little end to his talents, including getting Wilmot to the furthest reaches of north London in time for the start and persuading Shahrukh back from Canada in time to play as well (although Wilmot’s alarmingly early arrival ruined my pre-planned joke about Jonathan taking longer to get there from Kent than Shahrukh took to cross the Atlantic – but why waste it eh?). The captain erred only in one respect, a failure to predict on which side a coin would land on the dry but still slower than usual Strayfield Road track, leading us to field first on what must have been the sweatiest Sunday of the season so far.

 

Debutant Jubril Sonmonu opened up from the pavilion end and was unlucky to go wicketless with his all action pace. From up the hill came Wahaj Siddique, his newly awarded club shirt billowing almost as beautifully as the ball was swinging. Then came the masterly control of Rakesh Ramani before the sage-like skipper switched Siddique to the other end from which he was even more threatening. Between them the rate was kept under control although wickets were harder to come by as the Enfield openers dug in (including Keiran Jones who we knew could accelerate later as he’d done exactly that batting as a guest for us last year). But eventually Wahaj found the perfect inswinging line to dismiss DB, shortly before your correspondent made his one contribution with a catch above his head on the boundary to get Jones (almost in the exact same spot at the bottom of the slope where a pool of Manian blood must somewhere still reside).

 

Healey and Rakesh then put their foot on the Enfield throat for a while with wickets and tight overs and we threatened to keep them to no more than 120. But a fine 6th wicket partnership of 70 between youngsters Pearson and Munt, full of good running and well-judged intent rescued the innings and set up a perfect four an over target of 165 to win at tea. A mention too for Wilmot’s energetic wicket-keeping on a very warm day, and two excellent run outs executed by Raki and Jubril.

 

After sampling all four of the cakes on offer (purely for the purpose of researching this piece*) at what must be the best ‘we won’t be supplying tea sorry’ tea on the circuit, your correspondent settled in to the scorebox with no intention of coming out of it with any pads on. And that was when the fun really started. Arun, all-conquering scourge of the All Stars, bowled. Baxter, returning the scene of his triumph, bowled. Debutant Dom Martin, bowled. Nikhil, looking good in his own new club shirt, yeah, you guessed it, bowled.

 

At four down for 31 your diligent researcher had barely digested the first of the cakes, let alone the fourth. Then Shahrukh’s brutal 52 did a lot to restore us to the required run rate but little to restore me to my resting heart rate. Wilmot (56* and spending 70 of the 80 overs in the field) was more becalmed, anchoring the innings in his inimitable way, scoring only in fours and ones, until Rakesh arrived and decided what he really needed was to start pushing twos and threes.

 

Wahaj was no less restless as the game tipped in the balance and it was all going off. A huge hit that was a six on any other ground in the world managed to hit the heights of the North Enfield tree and score only a single (no local rule is to play on from the tree, rather than consider it a part of the boundary). A huge LBW shout turned down forthrightly by Umpire Baxter briefly threatened diplomatic relations. Nikhil went over-by-over on the WhatsApp updates (you know it’s a good game when that happens). The opening bowlers who had done all the damage came back. The scorer had to start wondering where his pads were, if not quite resort to strapping them on.

 

But he needn’t have worried. Wahaj and Wilmot saw it home with an over to spare. Skipper Healey (pads on but never panicked) not even required, let alone himself (pads off but always anxious). It may not have had landmarks or records, or left us with any broken mouths. But it did have drama, good cricket , good cakes, and left us with smiles on our faces.

Dan Forman

 

*Lemon drizzle 1, cheesecakey thing 2, Victoria-ish sponge 3, I can’t remember what the fourth one was in case you’re wondering