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ISIS CRICKET CLUB 2012 Ground: Queens College, Abingdon Road, Oxford |
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Last Update: 10/01/2012 © Keith Whiter, April 2003 k.whiter@elsevier.com |
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2011 AGM - CAPTAIN’S report (Olly Walter) |
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General summary Honour to be skipper of Isis. Terrific club who play friendly cricket in the right way: we want to win but at the same time we respect the fact that ultimately, we play because we love the game and we love the club, rather than purely the result. Pleasure to lead the troops, week in, week out, onto the field of play.
Thoroughly enjoyable season – probably my favourite ever season as skipper. Combination of several factors:
Many people contributed to the overall success of the team – great to see. It was not the case of 2-3 people scoring the majority of the runs or taking all the wickets – we had a superb squad of players this season, and it was great fun being part of, and sharing in other people’s success.
New faces added contributed enormously. Gus, Steve Jayna and Ravi added weight to the batting – Divvy, Nadeem were impressive with the ball. In addition, several other new faces joined and offered a great deal throughout the season, who we hope to see more of in the future: Will Green, Mike Thompson, Steve Chown, Mike Ford, Anton, the list goes on. Great to see Adrian Southgate back in Isis colours!
We had a winning season in both forms of the game – very satisfying. We normally win the majority of our 20/20’s but to also win more than we lost in 40 over was a superb achievement. We earned it as well – achieved thanks to a phenomenal run towards the end of the season – won 9 of our last 11 games. Played some really brilliant cricket during this period – exciting to be a part of. Epitomised by the wins over Infosys and FFTMC.
Thanks to: · Vice-captains, Paul, Lester, Keith W and Joe for taking over the reigns when I have been unavailable (or severely hungover!) and their general support and advice. Thanks also for each doing a large proportion of team selection, especially when injured (Lester!). · Keith Ponsford for as always, his humour, support and professionalism as chairman. · Keith Whiter for a superb set of fixtures. As always, Keith has a knack of sourcing a couple of new fixtures every year, which invariably end up being terrific games – such as Infosys and FFTMC. Or reinvigorating old fixtures to great success, like Hanney and Blenheim. · Nick Wyatt – organising and booking Tour, and getting all deposits, confirmations from people, as well as his role as club Secretary throughout the season.
Individual acclaim So many contributions from so many people makes listing everyone impractical for the purposes of a captain’s report, but here are a few people who in my opinion deserve a special mention for their on-field exploits: · Keith Whiter – fine all-round season. Justified his promotion up the batting order with almost 400 runs including a superb unbeaten half century against, fittingly, Wytham. In addition, 40 wickets at just over 20, and well under 4 runs per over. Game after game, the opposition are not allowed to get off to a flyer due to Keith’s tight opening bowling. Ie, Enstone away: 8 -2-13-2. Woe betide anyone who drops a catch off him though! · Joe Walter – stats don’t lie, and Joe’s strike rate of a wicket every 4 overs, and 25 wickets in total, reflect another very good season. Part and parcel of the slower bowler to send down the occasional buffet ball, but when he takes wickets at such regularity, who cares! As always, reliable in the middle, and a good average of just under 20. Most outrageous reverse sweep in the club – always brings a smile to the watching crowd. · Luke– impressive season for Luke, who is getting better and better all the time. Just under 400 runs, 3 x 50’s and an average of 27. Some really terrific innings – the 84 on tour was a joy to watch - and as always, superb in the field, whether behind the stumps or in the outfield. Keep on increasing the length of stay at the crease and a century is just round the corner… · Nick Wyatt – nasty injury mid-way through the season meant that Nick didn’t play his normal amount of games, and we missed him while he was out. Didn’t take as many wickets this season, partly due to injury, partly misfortune (!), but I would argue that Nick’s bowling was as good if not the best I have seen him bowl this season. Slower ball was responsible for some impressive scalps, ie Steve Wilson against Enstone! Was instrumental in the winning streak we had towards the end of the season, with some outstanding performances with the ball. · Jakey – another solid season behind the stumps and with the bat for Jakey. Just over 300 runs, including a gritty 54 against Astons when all around him was going t*ts up – at one stage I think we were about 6 for 5! · Lester Whitby – injury ravaged most of Lester’s season, but an average over 30 and a lovely 50 against FFTMC showed his class. Even opened the bowling against Wytham at Queens – the man knows no boundaries! · Roy – As well as being the consummate gentleman and excellent ambassador for the club, Roy is a mean bowler as well. 15 wickets, including a fantastic 3 for 19 against Charlton, he has an ability to get really key wickets at important times. · Nick Hardy – 20 wickets, average of 19. Bowled a bamboozling and virtually unplayable spell at Queens against Enstone – 4-10 off 6 overs. · Jonners – external commitments mean that we do not see Jonners play as much for Isis as we would like, but he managed 14 games for us this season and played some cracking innings. Brilliant hungover 73 at Enstone on a baking day, and some really terrific bowling performances as well. Gives the team so much strength when he plays. · KP – 22 wickets, average of 25, economy of 4. Season upon season KP wears the opposition down with his metronomic line and length. Managed to bowl out a few adults this year as well!
Season highlights As always, a completely subjective choice and everyone will cherish different games, but here I’ve decided to pick my favourite 20 over and 40 over game of the season:
23rd June 2011 – RT Harris away – 20/20 A terrific bowling display saw us restrict the dangerous RT Harris to 107 from 20 overs. The Ponsfords bowled brilliantly, with Ponsford senior taking 2-9 off 4 overs, and Ponsford junior 1 for 13 off 4 overs. There were also wickets for Easty, Nick H, KW, and Joe, though it has to be said that Joe’s wicket was testament not to the quality of delivery, but the quality of the catch from Will Green. I have been playing for Isis for 10 years and I’ve never seen a better catch, arguably in all forms of cricket! Our run chase saw us lose Lester to a calf injury in the 1st over, tragically on his return to the middle following his other calf injury. Me and Luke put on a few, but when we both fell fairly cheaply, RT Harris were looking like the victors. Enter Ged Barker and Keith Whiter, who put on a terrific partnership to draw us close, and when KW departed, we had got to needing 6 runs from the last 4 balls. This came down to 4 needed from 2 balls, and then, cool as a cucumber, Ged played the most magnificent cover drive for 4. Isis won with 1 ball to spare!
3rd Sept 2011 – Infosys (at Islip) –40 over Isis bowled first, and our bowlers went about their work with great discipline. After an early wicket for KP, Nick Wyatt came on and bowled a terrific spell, taking 2 for 17 in 7 overs. With KW proving impossible to get away at the other end, 1 for 21 off 8 overs, and Joe bowling a super 4 overs (2 for 12), Isis began to turn the screw. Wickets from Dale, Nadeem and Roy ensured that Infosys manage only 103. Given the early finish of their innings, the decision was taken for Isis to start their innings before tea. Immediately I got out, to a terrific catch, and Isis were suddenly on the back foot going into the tea break. (Can’t say I enjoyed my tea much that day). Luke and Steve Jayna followed after tea, and suddenly, chasing 103, we were 15-3 and in desperate trouble. Cue a wonderful innings from Jakey, his 31 being a terrific example of how to dig in and battle on a very sticky wicket, showing great determination not to give his wicket away. Ably supported by Keith Whiter and Joe, we appeared to be coasting to victory, only for a flurry of wickets to fall, some to good balls, some through bad shot selection. With the light fading, the run rate dropping to below zero, fielders tails up and the pressure becoming intolerable for those back in the hutch, suddenly Infosys were clear favourites. But experience is crucial in cricket, and the wise heads of Wyatt and Blatchford senior combined to dig in and somehow churn out the last 10 runs, to great relief and celebrations on the sideline. Isis were victors by 2 wickets, again in the final over!!
To sum up, it has been a challenging, though thoroughly enjoyable season in which to captain. We really did get better as the season progressed, and by the end we were playing some very good cricket indeed. We should aim to take that momentum forward to the beginning of next season and continue where we left off. And let’s beat Kingston Bagpuize next year!!
Thank you for your time and I hereby submit my captain’s report for 2011.
Olly Walter |