Cricket  Reports (1972)

Played 12: Won 1: Tied 1: Drawn 4: Lost 6.

This was a very disappointing season. A young, inexperienced side played very inconsistently, and the situation was worsened by illness and injury to key players. There were some quite outstanding performances but these were far too rare to bring better results.

The batting was generally very weak. It depended greatly on Rowe and Haynes, who between them scored over half the side's runs. The remainder played with little determination, and, with the exception of Warwick, seemed loath to put bat to ball. This was typified in the game against Wallington G.S. when a score of 24 for 1 quickly became 30 for 9. There were, however, two splendid exceptions. Against Richard Hale a total of 166 for 5 was amassed in 105 minutes, and in the game with Harrow County a record partnership of 114 between Rowe and Lowe provided the basis of a score of 178 for 3, achieved in two hours. 

The bowling was very ordinary, and rarely looked likely to bowl sides out. Only Hale bowled with any pace and he wasted his efforts through lack of accuracy. The rest, with the exception of Thomas, suffered from the same fault. Until they learn to bowl a good line and length they will not take wickets. Thomas bowled a consistently good length and when his direction improves he will be a useful bowler.

Nine of this year's team will be returning next year. If they apply themselves a little more seriously at practice, and learn to concentrate in the middle there is no reason why the results should not be very much better.

I. Clarkson.

Played 5: Won 1: Drawn 2: Lost 2:

Rain severely reduced the number of fixtures. Out of nine games we actually managed to start five. Of these, one was played in continuous rain and another had to be abandoned owing to a sudden downpour.

What can one say about the team's performance in the games that were played? Moore-Stanley and Johnstone bowled well at times, and the single victory was mainly due to their efforts. Warwick played in two matches and scored many runs, after which he was promoted to the 1st XI. Robinson batted well in the first match which was played, but his form was sadly lacking in others. The fielding can only be described as abysmal. Not a single player distinguished himself. It was as though the ball had some contagious disease and therefore should be avoided at all cost. Numerous catches were dropped and the ball went through fielders' legs with monotonous regularity.

Whilst some boys showed enthusiasm, this was not shared by the whole team. If we are going to improve our performance next season there must be more enthusiasm on the part of players.

J. Loutan.

Played 8: Won 3: Lost 5: Drawn O.

This was, on the whole, a disappointing season. Several fairly talented players opted for Athletics and were rarely available for cricket matches. Consequently a weakened side was fielded for the majority of games.

Despite this poor record some encouragement is derived from the performances of P. Devenish, the captain, and I.Wise, who were mainly responsible for the three victories gained over Dr. Challoner's, Copland and Roxeth Manor. Devenish averaged 21 runs with the bat and played an outstanding innings against R.G.S. High Wycombe when he scored 52 runs against hostile bowling on a fast wicket. Wise had a batting average of 22 and his innings of 66 not out against Copland contained many fine shots. The latter also bowled well throughout the season, his best performance being 8 wickets for 27 runs when he routed the batsmen of Dr. Challoner's.

Unfortunately the side relied too heavily upon the performances of Wise and Devenish who received barely adequate support from the other players. These have ability but lack basic technique and the required mental application.

P.13 W.6 D.3 L.4

Captained with increasing skill by N. Round, the Under 14 XI enjoyed a fair season. Against poor teams they looked good, but against good teams only moderate. The batsmen still tend to want to play back to nearly every delivery, regardless of length - a habit bred from playing on wickets which are heavily grassed, inadequately rolled and often weed-infested. Nevertheless, in the last weeks of the season most of the batsmen scored well. Dane, Stevens and Thom had scores of forty or more; and Bath, Round, White and Entwistle often made good contributions.

With six bowlers in the side there was no lack of variety. Church was always the tidiest bowler and finished the season with 29 wickets, but the other bowlers, especially Doorbar, were capable of turning a match on their own. Playing on poor wickets often flattered the bowlers as they found to their cost at R.G.S. High Wycombe when the home side, on a beautiful batting wicket, amassed 161 for 4 declared.

The quality of the fielding fluctuated wildly. Round and Dane took some good catches in the deep, and Church's ground fielding and throwing were usually outstanding. Too many of the side, however, forgot that fielding on bumpy out-fields requires concentration and sound technique.

Given good weather and improved wickets much more can be expected from this team next season.

R. G. Birch

Played 7: Won 3: Drew 0: Lost 4.

This was a disappointing set of results after a good start to the season. The team relied too heavily on three or four players, and the absence of one or more of these in any game was sorely noticed.

The batting depended on Rice and Tinsley to obtain high scores, with Baker and Kirby also showing promise without, as yet, fulfilling it. Most of the other batsmen were too keen on trying to hit the bowling out of sight and were not prepared to play themselves in.

The brunt of the bowling was taken by Pendred, Tinsley, Rice and Baker. Of these Pendred shows the most promise, but must obtain a steady line and length, and make full use of the bowling crease.

The ground fielding was below par but there were some very good catches taken close to the wicket, particularly by Strudwick and Ellis.

In conclusion there is a lot of latent talent and this team should do much better in the future.

M. Fountain.

Played 8: Won 2: Drew 1: Lost 5.

The First Year XI did not have a very successful season, losing five of their eight games. It was always an uphill struggle to instill basic technique, for most of the team had been taught little of the game at primary school. Progress was not aided by the biting wind that almost invariably blew on games days and the limited choice of playing surface, either a rubber mat that converted donkey drops into bouncers or a "strip" that was a veritable paradise for aspiring botany students.

However, the season was rescued by the enthusiasm of the team and by some excellent individual performances. T.  Blakey, K. Hale, and N. Hicks were three very promising all-rounders who shared nearly all the bowling and scored most of the runs, apart from some useful scores by J. Laxton and M. Penny. Against Salvatorian College T. Blakey produced the best bowling analysis ever recorded at the school: O14.5, M8, R7, W10. He continued to be the most successful bowler, showing a surprising degree of accuracy for a first year boy. K. Hale could have learnt from his example as he tried to bowl too fast; still, he took 7 for 30 against a strong Dr. Challoner's side and batted aggressively, being especially strong on the leg side. N. Hicks also showed a real willingness to play shots, especially on the off, and he bowled his left arm slows with some cunning. As a captain he showed intelligence and authority.

E. A. Cox.