2023 Season Review

Normality finally returned after the virtual curtailment of 2020 and the artificial limitations of the socially distanced 2021. Although two early-season matches fell victim to positive Covid tests affecting our opposition, we were able to enjoy an unaffected week.

For the second year we reached the quarter-final of the Cricketer Cup but once more we were affected by unreliable availability, something all our opponents suffered from as well. The increasing demands of league cricket are undoubtedly causing younger cricketers to pass on playing both days of the weekend. Our first round game was deeply unsatisfactory in that we spent more time travelling to and from Devon that we did actually playing. A woefully poor Downside side were bowled out for 53 and we knocked off the runs in four overs. The second round match against Uppingham ebbed and flowed and we seemed to be cruising before a dramatic collapse but the visitors in the box seat. But Will Howard, answering a late SOS while at Glastonbury, steered us to a two-wicket win in his own idiosyncratic style. Injuries meant we were always a bowler light at Wellington in the quarter-final but we still managed to take the game into the final overs as we went down by two wickets. It was particularly heartening to see the return of some old faces for this game, especially the Crumps and Stuart Meaker.

The Cricket Week was a triumph of organisation which owes an immense debt to the Draconian organisation and tireless energy of Eds Copleston. The sun shone throughout and despite the now usual cry-offs and inability of some to manage their lives we managed five wins, one draw and one loss. In all 38 players appeared, ranging from 13 years old through to 49. The cricket week batting award went to Chris Pyle, who fell 60 short of Iain Wilkie’s famous cricket week run record of 433 set in 1990. The bowling award went to Zan Copleston, who took 6 for 50 on debut against a strong Hurst batting line up at the ripe old age of 13. The all rounder award went to our new social sec, Hugo Puddle, who was effervescent both on and off the field.

In the other matches we had mixed fortunes. For the second year running a young OCCC side was well beaten by the School. Once again our bowling lacked a cutting edge while our batting was unable to cope with the usual spin onslaught.

The final games of the season were the best. The always fun Abinger match went down to the wire as we edged home by two runs. And then chasing 193, Blackheath were reduced to 38 for 5 by their former player Archie Freeth who took all five, but they recovered well and needed two to win with three wickets in hand. Two wickets in three balls set up a thrilling finale which saw Blackheath’s No.11 run out going for the winning run.

What has become apparent in recent years is that the kind of cricket OCs, especially the younger ones, want is changing. A century of all-day declaration matches has less appeal and so we have started canvassing all members about the formats, especially in the cricket week, going forward. It may well be that soon the fixture card is a mix of 30 and 40 over-a-side games, T20s and all dayers. We might even stage some evening games. To survive and continue to appeal we have to adapt.

As always, the club relies on dedicated volunteers to function and we thank them all, but especially Eds Copleston who at times almost single handedly ensured we had full sides, teas and scorers, and Brad Scriven who had to cope with late cry-offs in Cricketer Cup matches. And not forgetting Michael Chetwode who on hanging up his boots a few years back said he was looking forward to a life on the boundary sipping wine and moaning how it was better in his day. He then became president and so has instead spent his time filling any number of voids off the pitch. To see him marooned for eight hours at the top of a pavilion next to a fellow scorer with verbal diarrhoea and extreme views on everything was one of the highlights of the summer.