The Cricket Week, once a highlight of the summer, continued its slow decline, another victim of the pressures on people’s time and the increasing demand of Saturday league games. Whereas as recently as a decade ago we could relatively easily field a side every day now that has become a struggle not only for us but also our opposition.
Of the seven planned games this year only three took place. Eton Ramblers, who first appeared in the Week in the 1980s, again cried off early on the first Sunday and Monday’s match fell victim to cry offs almost certainly connected to England’s 2am World Cup match against Mexico the evening before. The Wednesday (Lancing) and second Sunday (Frogs) as well as the Flashmen fixture the following week all succumbed to our failing to arise a side. It is hard not to conclude that if people don’t want to play and those trying to get teams out are increasingly having to beg, steal, or borrow to do so then something has to change.
The three games we did play all took place in the fierce heat of the long July heatwave which had already led to the authorities to cancel both the men’s and ladies’ fixtures against the School. The former survived two World Wars but not, it seems, climate change and sensitive parents.
The first visitors were Abinger who faced an OC side deep on experience if not mobility. Winning the toss, given the heat Abinger wisely batted in the 35-over game and after a good start against some generous bowling increasingly lost their way. Ed Henderson was the pick of the attack with 4 for 35 while Henry Watkinson bowled a series of moon balls that batsmen did exceptionally well to reach. In reply we opened with Zan Copleston is his first match for the OCs since setting a new record for the aggregate in a season for the 1st XI. Great things were expected. He played all round the second ball he faced and departed for 0. His father, Simon, looked good until he took missed a straight one, and when Max Bell (37) and Sam Bugler (31) fell in quick succession we were wobbling at 71 for 4. But Ed Carson (57*) and Tom Selby (55*) eased us home with just over four overs to spare.
The second game against Wimbledon was won easily and the final match against the Nomads, a fixture not seen for close to four decades, was played on the hottest day of the three and again we ended up in the field. Ethan Stiles sent down one of the more idiosyncratic opening spells (4-0-53-2). His first ball went for six (and a big one at that) his second for four and his third claimed a wicket. After an eight-ball second over, his third went for four fours but contained another wicket; his fourth went for 20 and the weary fielders called time on him. At 116 for 3 from 12 overs it seemed a post 300 score from 40 overs was on the cards, but the support bowling restored some order, notably Selby with 2 for 27 from seven. Nonetheless, a target of 281 was stiff even with a lightning fast outfield. But against some decent bowling the charge was led by Luca La Costa (135) who hit strongly down the ground, and with support from all the top six we won with over 10 overs in hand.
The season finale at Blackheath was another game cancelled, but for once not because of a lack of players. Our opposition reached the National Village final at Lord’s on the same day and understandably decided that was their priority.