The Eleven
This has been a tremendous season for the 1st XI – individuals have excelled and the team’s spirit has contributed significantly to match winning situations. Of the draws, 2 were winning. Of the losses, 2 were to adult teams, the M.C.C.C. and the Headmaster’s XI. And these results do not even take into account the successful, inaugural 20/20 fixtures played out in the early stages of the season. Truly, this has been a summer to be proud of: the boys will certainly remember it for some time.
But, as is something of a tradition now, we lost the first game to Wolverhampton. As is tradition, we performed well in stages and had them on the racks; as is tradition, we softened and one of their men stepped up to the mark. It’s a tradition that it was the same chap as last year. It’s a tough lesson but a useful one. But even at this early stage, the signs were good: Will Mottram scoring 79 in his first innings of the term and James Proudman taking 3 wickets for an economical 24.
This team has been growing over the last 3 years and there was considerable hope that this year the combined talents of Sam Reddish and James Ord as our opening batsmen would bring plentiful harvest. And so it proved. Similarly, the experience and competitive spirit of Will Mottram and the height and bounce of the ever growing Matt Williamson would offer our bowling attack a cutting edge. And then behind the stumps would be the figure of Richard Johnson, recently returned from his tour of South Africa with the England U16 side. It’s the kind of initial profile that a coach relishes. But these weren’t the only players of note: James Proudman, stronger and more steely than last year, offered composure and purpose with bat and ball; Marc Webb, a new Sixth Form student brought with him the batting expertise of the Worcestershire County scene; George Tucker offered hands and an eye for the ball which would make any captain proud; so too Tom Barber, who returning from injury proved a valuable all rounder. Tom Lee stepped up from the UV, his ever improving spin ensuring that he regularly broke established partnerships and finished off the tail, whilst with the bat showed a gutsiness and determination that one might not think was there in his smiling and slightly bemused manner. Paul Stevens also made his mark, not only being patiently moved around the batting order, but also in his dependable fielding and regular contributions to the team’s fines collections.
Mark James proved a vital team member particularly in the latter part of the season; not only would he step in to sub for Johnson behind the stumps, his left-handed batting and sharp eye for the ball meant that teams who thought they were through us would be confronted with the ball sailing over the boundary lines for a number of perfectly executed sixes. Mark would often put us in a winning position. And others were called upon: Alex Gay, Gordon Sloan, Sam Smith, Matthew Proudman and Stuart Scanlan have at various stages contributed to the success.
Whilst there was the early win against Warwick, it was the 20/20 competition that fired the season and saw a number of the players responding positively to this new form of the game. Our pool contained Warwick School, Wolverhampton Grammar and Ellesmere College, all strong competitors and with Wolverhampton already having the psychological edge. But the inaugural match against Warwick set the standard. Having agreed earlier in the day that 120 / 130 would be a good score, Warwick, batting first and getting 158 for 7 certainly suggested that this would be a battle. Will Mottram had bowled exceptionally well, taking 2 wickets for 12 in his 4 overs.Fielding had been dynamic and George Tucker had taken a great catch on the boundary. And so, at the change of innings, the team knew that we needed to be scoring at 7s an over; not an easy task. However, Reddish and Ord came out fighting and quickly silenced the opposition: 27 off the first 3 overs. Both of these boys hit hard and straight: Ord’s 6 in the 3rd over could not have been better timed nor more effortless. He was run out in the 6th over, having scored 46 and the total on 60. In many ways the dynamic nature of the 20/20 brings out the best in Ord: it demands him to be energetic and purposeful and to get on with the job. Sam Reddish and Marc Webb continued the momentum, their running between the wickets being particularly good. The team reached the target in the 19th over, with only 3 wickets lost. It was a wonderful game and each player brought their talents to bear.
Against Wolverhampton and Ellesmere, success was repeated.Wolverhampton crumbled to 108, James Proudman taking 4 for 12 off his 4 overs. Our reply was clinical: again our openers put us in that winning position and the target was reached in the 16th over. Ellesmere was a less comfortable win: we scored 129, thanks to a lively innings from George Tucker who scored a quick 14 at the end. Ellesmere came close: 123 in the 20th. But we were through to the Quarter Finals, against Trent. A cold wind blew that Friday evening, the boys having left the exam halls that afternoon to get on the bus. It was 3 weeks since our last game and it showed. Our bowling was abysmal and we gave the opposition 62 extras. They scored 114 themselves with the bat. And our batting was equally rusty, the combined total of 7 of the players amassing just 33 runs. So how did we get to 167, just 9 runs off our target? Sam Reddish.
This really has been Sam’s season. Having already scored 111 against King’s Worcester and 139 against Aylesbury, he took to 20/20 like the proverbial duck to water. An unfortunate good for years to come. But the runs have not stopped there: 113 against KES, Birmingham; 141 against Newcastle; 137 against the Old Boys; 89 against Nottingham; 30s and 50s all over the place. On the back of this it came as no surprise when the call came from Warwickshire 2XI. Nor indeed when Sam was notified of his selection for the ECB U18 Schools, to play a two day game with the chance of selection to play the Sri Lankan U19 touring team later in the season. Sam was indeed selected to play against Sri Lanka. A fantastic achievement! Well he deserves these accolades. As captain he has brought the team together and encouraged them to aim high. He has been wonderfully supported by Will Mottram, whose knowledge and passion of the game has entertained and dazzled. Will has set a wonderful tone and the highest standards. I wish them both and indeed all those leaving the very best in their cricket. They leave school cricket in good form.
It has been a real pleasure and privilege to coach this side and the signs for next year are good. We will be ready for Wolverhampton: it’s time to break with tradition.
Mrs L C Pearson