27 March 2013
The 2012 season was to be, in terms of the number of fixtures, the busiest season in the Conference’s history. Like all cricket last summer though, the fixture list was dealt a heavy and cruel blow by the weather throughout the season.
Despite the meteorological frustrations, the 2012 campaign did demonstrate some significant development of CCC’s cricket programme, with tours pre and post season to Oman and Jersey, over 40 new players brought onto the active roster and an extra fixture for our Women’s team. Evidence of the growing value of our cricket to players from our member clubs was demonstrated by the healthy playing roster itself, by the fact that one of our players was selected by Kent CCC following his performance against their 2nd XI team for the Conference, and also by the very strong response of availability for the Senior and Under 21 tours that were undertaken.
- CCC Full Representative Team
CCC v Kent 2: Lost by 8 Wickets.
CCC v Sydney University: Match abandoned.
CCC v Essex 2: Cancelled.
CCC v MCC: Match abandoned.
CCC v Jersey: Lost by 51 runs.
CCC v Midland CCC: CCC won by 5 wickets.
CCC v League Cricket Conference: Match abandoned.
CCC v Combined Services: CCC won by 8 wickets.
With half our fixtures falling foul of the weather, the senior programme was hugely frustrated by a lack of telling cricket. A very strong Kent 2nd XI team, led with the bat by Daniel Bell-Drummond and Fabian Cowdrey, chased down CCC’s total of 184 with relative ease on a dreary day at Beckenham. Fahim Quareshi of Tring Park CC had led the way for the Conference with a beautifully constructed half century but CCC was always short of setting a competitive total against a powerful side laden with 1st class experience.
Our other defeat in the season, against Jersey, was on a slow, rain effected pitch at Watford. Jersey posted 165-6 off 40 overs which proved too many for CCC who managed a poor 114 all out in response. Tahir Afridi of Henley CC put in a decent all round shift with 2 wickets and 29 runs in what was a disappointing performance by the Conference.
Less than 2 overs were bowled before the match against Sydney University was abandoned whilst the fixture against Essex 2 was cancelled without the team even travelling. Against MCC at Horsham, again on a rain-effected surface, the game was very much in the balance as two strong bowling attacks dominated affairs. In response to CCC’s 153 all out, MCC were tottering at 92-5 when rain eventually forced an abandonment to a tense and finely balanced encounter. Perhaps the greatest frustration of the summer though, was the abandonment of the match against League Cricket Conference, played at Nantwich CC. Having taken a side up, stayed overnight, started play on time and with the prospect of two strong sides fighting it out on a good wicket, the weather once again put paid to play well before lunch, with only 11 overs being bowled on the day.
CCC’s two victories came in the matches against Midlands CCC and Combined Services. Batting first at Barnt Green CC, Midlands were never able to accelerate their innings against tight bowling, led by Glen Carlton of Aston Rowant and their innings closed at 222-8 after 50 overs. The Conference’s reply was built around a fine 84 not out from Tom Cullen of Stanmore CC, resulting in a fine win with 2.5 overs still remaining.
Against Combined Services, a devastating batting performance resulted in a comprehensive win for CCC at Gerards Cross. Combined Services recovered well from being 16-3 batting first to post a score of 223-9 after 50 overs. However, an opening stand of 142 by Waqas Hussain (Harrow CC) and Aaron West (Brentwood CC) in quick time ensured that the run chase was completed with 17 overs still to be bowled. Highlight of the day was a superb century by Aaron, the only one for CCC in a wet and nasty summer.
- Under 21 Team
CCC v Herts Academy: Lost by 4 wickets.
CCC v 3 Rivers and Watford District X1: Lost by 2 wickets.
CCC v Bucks Academy: Lost by 3 wickets.
CCC v Jersey: Won by 36 runs.
CCC v Jersey: Won by 63 runs.
Amazingly, the Under 21 side managed to play all its scheduled matches, albeit often on weather affected pitches. In a programme that enabled the Conference to assess and select many players new to it for the first time, a season containing three losses and two wins might appear on paper at least, to be nothing more than average. It has to be said however, that when playing Herts and Bucks, the Conference was pitted against Under 25 opposition and in both matches, a lack of on the field savvy and cricketing experience was at times apparent. Come the short trip to Jersey at the end of the season, we were beginning to see the benefit of time spent with Head Coach Min Patel and two convincing wins ensued.
Herts, fielding 5 players from their senior Minor County squad, managed to sneak past CCC’s total of 193 with 4 balls of the match remaining, played at West Herts CC. Waqas Hussain (Harrow CC) top scored for the Conference with 63, an innings that indicated a player of high talent who played regularly for the full Representative side as the season progressed. Herts lost 3 wickets to run outs in their response, 2 of them courtesy of Hussain, but fell across the line at the end to win by 4 wickets.
Against 3 Rivers and Watford District X1, CCC never got to grips with a slow damp surface at Watford Town CC. Batting first, their innings was indebted to a lower middle order stand between M Patel (Bexley CC) and F Wilson (Bromley CC) to reach anything like a competitive score. In response, 3 Rivers also struggled against the turning ball but led by captain Laws, they overtook their target 8 wickets down. ^ wickets fell to spinners in each innings.
The following day on the same ground, CCC hosted Bucks Academy and once again batting first, the Conference were undone by spin. Despite being 49 without loss, the team capitulated to 102 all out, 7 wickets falling to slow bowlers. CCC performed well in the field against a strong batting line up but couldn’t avoid a defeat by 3 wickets in the end, a further 6 wickets courtesy of spin.
The 2 match trip to Jersey in September proved highly successful, both on and off the field. Supported as the side was, by many grandees of the Bucks Cavaliers, veteran tourists to the island over very many years, CCC played some very fine cricket in both matches to secure 2 comfortable wins against the national side. Andy Laws (Saffron Walden CC) proved to be the star of the trip, scoring 78 and 95 at the top of each innings.
- President’s X1 Team
CCC v British Police: Lost by 80 runs.
CCC v South East Sunday Cricket League: Cancelled.
CCC v Beddington CC: Match Drawn.
CCC v Stanford-le-Hope CC: Won by 54 runs.
CCC v Sawbridgeworth CC: Lost by 2 wickets.
CCC v Colchester and East Essex CC: Match Drawn.
With the committed support of Simon Routh (Tunbridge Wells CC) as its manager, the President’s X1 programme continued to offer CCC an opportunity to see some new players from our member clubs perform for the first time in Conference colours. Predominantly played against clubs celebrating anniversaries, this programme is an important initial step for cricketers who may wish to represent the Conference at the senior or Under 21 level and on that basis, it proved most successful.
- Women’s Cricket Team
CCC v Combined Services: Won by 94 runs.
CCC v MCC: Lost by 318 runs.
The two fixtures that were played within the Conference’s Women’s programme, highlighted the complexities of the fledgling venture. A big win against Combined Services at Aldershot was somewhat overshadowed by a huge loss at the hands of MCC at Hayes CC later in the summer. In mitigation, a star studded MCC featuring a number of the current England national squad players was always likely to be too strong for a very young Conference team. Sarah Taylor hit an unbelievable 151 in a score of 411 on a day that all present, both on and off the field, will remember for a very long time.
CCC were hampered by the unavailability of Alice Richards who against Combined Services had scored a brilliant 92, followed by 3 wickets, to lead the Conference to a classy win. For both matches, we were indebted to Sue Benson for taking on the captain’s mantle and to Ian Wright, who helped us unearth some talented new players.
To enable us to put on representative cricket across 4 programmes whilst expanding our fixture list and fulfilling our commitment to offer tours to players, we rely heavily on the support and help of many. Thank you to all our players, host clubs, host destinations, scorers, umpires, match and tour managers, administrators, and our cricket office without whom our ever strengthening cricket footprint could never happen.
2013 will see further growth in the fixture card, with more fixtures for all 4 sections and a further 2 tours, to Italy and Jersey scheduled for September. A new County 2 fixture against Middlesex will be added to a busy campaign that is likely to see the Conference in action against at least 3 national sides plus 2 touring sides from India and 1 from Australia. Come to watch and support CCC at some stage during the summer. You will see some outstanding amateur talent on display, that honours our member clubs and reflects well on the quality of cricket played within the many leagues of the Home Counties and southern England.
Simon Prodger
Chairman, CCC Tours & Representative Cricket Committee
March 2013