Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Of special interst to prep schools are matches with other schools. School teams are formed for these matches at different age levels. The senior team is called the "1st 11". The junior team is called the "colts". Some schools even arrange matches for younger boys, such a "Under-Nine" teams. School magazines include detailed accounts of these inter-school matches. The various schools are very interested in showing parents successful sports teams, but there are variatins on the emohasis here. Players who do well earn their colors. While school caps were no longer widely worn, boys playing cricket in school matches, often do wear caps.
With two new all-weather nets, we were able to concentrate on basic bowling and batting skills right from the start of the season. Even at this early stage it was clear that our bowling was going to prove stronger than our batting, and throughout the season our batsmen found it difficult to make sufficient runs. The side, though, was a young one, so hopefully some valuable lessons have been learned. Pugh and Pridgeon 1 opened the bowling, backed up by Hopper's off spin. Sutton, Geoghegan and Malik also bowled quite effectively on occassios. Francis made an efficient wicket-keeper, while Clary, who deservedly took the Fielding Cup, set the standard in the field. Hooper, our most successfil bowler, won the Bowling Cup. Akintola, Sutton, Francis, and Hooper were the pick of the batsmen, but generally speaking we lacked patience and confidence in this department and few large scores were made.
N.D. The Aquileon, Belmont School, Feldemore, 1986-87
At the end of the season the side was understandably a little dispondent, although it actually won more matches than last yer's side and two of the draws were in its favour. The batting was usually competent, with Tress scoring 290 runs at an average of over 40, the soundest performer, and Moorehouse the next ablest, but most of the side made at least one valuable contribution. The side only crumbled when the opposition possessed a bowler who moved the ball in the air or off the pitch. In matches ours bowlers strove, but speed was not married to control and lateral movement; perhaps more intelligent application in practices was needed. (It took Clarrie Grimmet, the great Australian leg-spinner, eight years to pefect the flipper). Bungey developed into a mobile wicket-keeper and the ground-fielding, although lacking lustre, was usually adequate. Tress was awarded the batting cup, Gerrard-Wright the bowling cup, whilst the fielding cup went to Moorhouse. Gerrard-Wright was added to last year's colours.
Lambrook Chronicle, 1980.
With six members of the squad who had played (in the unbeaten season of 7 wins out of 7 matches). Colts had every incentive to try to repeat such a record. Although the weather restricted the fixtures to only four, these were won most convincingly, so giving Colts two consecutive summers with 100%.
The last match lost by Colts was on 5th July 1978. Also worthy of note is that for the first time the open single wicket competition was won by a Colts player --Nicholas Cartwright, the Unders Captain. The annual 2nd XI fixture against Terra Nova saw a Pownall team which contained eight players from the Colts side and against the older opponents they acquitted themselves very well indeed.
Cartwright captained the side excellently. We shall miss him and wish him well in his move south. He was well assisted by Montgomery and both of these led by example with fine batting and bowling performances. ....
GS, The Wheasheaf (Pownall Hall), 1980.
An innovation this year was an under-nine cricket VIII, playing under NCA rules. The form of the game encourages all round ability; batsmen bat in pairs, each pair occupying the crease for two full overs, but losing eight runs each time a batsman is dismissed, a heavy penalty. Apart from the wicketkeeper, all the players must bowl, in strict rotation. Accurate bowling is, therefore, at a premium. The search was on, then, for eight boys who could bowl reliably (under-arm bowling is permitted), and who, as batsmen, could learn to defend sensibly against the straight ball, yet hit out against the loose deliveries.
The selected 'squad' put in a lot of hard practice in the nets and we watched them with interest as they opened their season against Exeter Cathedral School. This was never a close game--we lost fifteen wickets (-120 runs) against their ten (-80), a margin we were unable to overcome. The highlight of our innings was an undefeated 24 from Sebastian Britten. Robert Tait scoted 23 runs in two overs, but was out four times, ending with a minus quantity! He went a long way to put this right by taking four wickets for four runs when his turn came to bowl. It was very obvious, though, that, as a team, we had a lot to put right before our next game.
When Wolborough Hill came over, we were, sadly without both Sebastian Britten and Mark Fulton. It was most encouraging, therefore, that such had been the improvement wrought in every department of the game, that we were able to achieve a convincing victory. Our bowling was straight, and this, combined with alert, attacking fielding, kept the Wolborough Hill batsmen pinnd in the crease. Our batting showed much more patience and discrimination, and we lost only four wickets. Our calling and running was much more business-like, enabling us to take many quick singles and turn one run into two, despite some really good fielding by our visitors, whose bowling, it must be said, was rather wayward.
Well done, the under-nines! You worked hard and did well. Good luck as you move up to mre senior teams. Catches: 3 Fulton, Grant-Sturgis; 2 Friend, Ball, Gibbs; 1 Hurst*, Mackenzie, Hensman, Inman, Williams, Ridland. * Hurst also claimed 1 stumping.
David Cowgill, Fanfare Mount House School, Autumn 1988
When I first came here I didn't even know how many balls in an over. The first match I scored the other scorer knew what to do better than I did. I still cannot score perfectly but once I did everything right.
Rupert Eckhardt, 10.1, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
