HQ CRICKET CLUB: STROLLERS' 2001 SEASON - Phil Connell
Avid followers of Strollers' cricket will be aware that, whilst not exactly "carrying all before them" in recent years, the team has certainly carried most and it was with this in mind that the AGM last year sanctioned a radical revision of the fixture list in an attempt to provide more competitive opposition. This was duly done, but as the schedule of results below demonstrates, it made very little difference. The team suffered just one defeat in the season and that to a strong Alderley Edge XI on the last day of the annual tour. Apart from a couple of frustrating draws and the inevitable rain-affected game, the remainder were won and invariably in comprehensive fashion.
Rajesh Sharma had an outstanding season with the bat, amassing an astonishing 763 runs from just 18 innings, including two centuries and four half-centuries. Meanwhile, his brother-in-law, Sunil Mohan, led the bowling statistics with 25 wickets at an average of 13.16 and a batting average of 40, including a century and two half-centuries. Mick Matthews had an impressive first season behind the stumps and "chipped in" with plenty of runs. There were also numerous other solid performances with bat and ball by a myriad of players including newcomer, Fayaz Aziz. The season's averages are outlined in detail below
Not only is the playing strength of the Club considerable, but the off field administration is superbly organised by the Chairman, Paul Lees and his Committee. The club web, managed by Nick Clark, continues to flourish and Nick Clark and Paul Lees must take much of the credit for organising the annual tour to Cheshire and North Manchester, which was once again a great success, both on and off the field.
All this seems a far cry from the early days of the club in the late 70's and early 80's and as I depart from the Strollers scene after 20 years, I trust the Editor will indulge me in a spot of reflection.
At the risk of sounding rather like the archetypal Hovis advert, Strollers were then very much an adjunct to the HQ team and, with borrowed kit, plied their trade in just a handful of games of season. Usually played in the window of opportunity after work but before the pubs got too full. Costas Charalambides (whatever happened to him) first recruited me in the middle of a game of snooker in the Hannibal House Snooker Room - whatever happened to that? Without the luxury of e-mail, instructions for games usually consisted of a page and reference number on a London A -Z; you just had to hope you had the same edition as the Secretary. There weren't too many cars in those days so at the end of each game, the kit was divided up because it was too much for one person to carry. I always worked on the basis that if you offered to take a couple of stumps you were virtually guaranteed a game the following week.
Of course, a number of famous people have played for the Club over the years including Nick Matthews, aide-de-camp to successive Prime Ministers, Goderic Smith, Alistair Campbell's deputy, David Walden, David Clark and John James, who on the basis that he was an Assistant Secretary when I joined the Department in 1976, must at least be in the Cabinet by now.
Certainly a great deal has changed, probably for the better, but as I walk slowly towards the setting sun, can I just say, " it were more fun in the old days".
Statto's stat-attack for the season as follows:-
Raj Sharma won the batting and Player's player awards and Sunil Mohan won the bowling award.
We played 18 games - won 14, drew 3 (including one abandoned because of rain) and lost 1.
Most
runs in a season - Raj Sharma 763, previous record 527 (P Connell, 1995)
Highest score by a Stroller - 173, R.Sharma v Haud Magnum, 12 August 2001 (previous
record 152* N.Clark, 2000)
Most 6s in a season - 23, R.Sharma (previous record 19, S.Lawton-Smith 1979)
Most 4s in a season - 97, R Sharma (previous record 64, P Connell 1995)
Most 4s in an innings - 23, R Sharma v Haud Magnum, 12 August 2001 (previous
record 19, N Clark v Putney Punters, 67/7/00)
In fact, about the only batting record Raj hasn't beaten is Mike Yates' 10 6s in an innings v Atlanteans 8/8/93 - this is now officially the Holy Grail of Stroller batting records
Raj also equalled the records for most 100s in a season with 2 (held by N Clark, 2000) and most 50s in a season with 4 (held jointly by N Clark 1995 & S Lawton-Smith, 1980).
The new partnership records are for the 5th wicket - M Matthews & F Aziz with 145 v London Marshes Select on 2 Sept 2001 (previous record 117* McLean & Connell v W London Wanderers 25/5/93) and the 9th wicket 59* F Aziz & P Lupton v Crane on 17 June 2001 (previous record 45* Duignan & Reidy v WRECC 3/7/94).
Raj's 173 has beaten the highest score by a No 1 batsman (previous record D.Kullman with 138 v D.P.B 12/6/90) and Sunil now holds the record for the highest score by a No 6 batsman with 87* v Crane on 17 June 2001 (previous record 81* N Clark v John Lewis 30/7/95).
The team also scored the most runs it has ever done in a season with 3,350 from 18 games (previous record 3,338 from 20 games in 1995) and has beaten the previous average score per game (171.50 in 2000) with 186.11 runs.