The poor weather that well and truly dampened the end of our season has somewhat clouded one’s memories of the earlier parts of it. Yet there are plenty of positives to reflect upon, after yet another summer that saw Isis grow and develop as a club.
As captain I found it to be a mixed season. There were days when we fielded strong sides, played good aggressive cricket and worked really well as a unit. On other occasions we lacked a touch of application with the bat or a bit of pace with the ball. It was also a summer of ‘other commitments’ for some of our regulars, giving us the opportunity to field 52 different players - nearly 30 of whom were members!!
It is undoubtedly a great honour to captain this club though. I feel that we are a side with the right sort of principles. We play hard, giving it our all. We’ve attracted some strong players from other clubs. We have access to 3 excellent home grounds. Isis players are warm, friendly and have a keen sense of humour. And most importantly of all, we are inclusive. Every member is given plenty of opportunities to play, and the way in which one or two youngsters have grasped this opportunity in recent seasons has been very satisfying.
As ever, there are a number of people who stand out this season for their contributions to the development and running of this club.
Paul Jacobs has once again proved himself to be a fine vice-captain. Jakey is always happy (delighted even, hey mate) to take the dreaded ‘Isis book‘ for a spell of selecting. He is ever-willing to sort out teas, look after the kit or pick people up. He is also a shining light when it comes to keeping calm on the pitch; offering sensible, considered advice between overs. Paul Jacobs is what one of our brethren from London would call a ‘diamond geezer’. Thus I was delighted to see him end the season with a great 50!
Lester Whitby made nearly 500 runs this summer and played in over half our games. He is another who remains calm and collected, both in the field and with the bat. He is a true gent and, like all of us here, is very keen to help the club to keep moving forward - so much so that he was even picking teams and replacing last minute drop-outs whilst on one of his infamous ‘weekend breaks’.
In the absence of Jakey and Lester, Olly is always my go-to man when it comes to captaincy advice. He is another who keeps his thoughts discreet, carefully considered and optional. Seeing his name inked in on the team sheet is always a pleasing sight. He was most unfortunate to miss out on a ton this summer.
Only one person has played more games than Keith Ponsford this season. He is delighted, as am I, that he is now back to full fitness again, and back in the wickets (25, at an economy of well under four). Keith, 37, remains the leading light when it comes to championing the good name of Isis Cricket Club. He is always first to shake the ‘new man’s’ hand and welcome him into the fold; tirelessly volunteering his time to become acquainted over an ale or four. He is also someone who will back you to the hilt when needs be.
I would never have thought it possible, but Keith Whiter was sadly tempted away from the club this summer. Sunshine and bikinis have won Keith’s heart for a year or two, but I am sure you will join me in thanking him for a cracking tour; a great fixture list and the best cricket website around!
What can we say about our absent friend Peter Wiblin? Seriously, can anyone think of anything - pleasant or otherwise? Ok, I’ll go then. Wib is another bloke who sums up why I love being at this club. He is someone who cares deeply about Isis’ past, present and future. He works tirelessly at hounding people for their hard earned (even Harry and Dale this year) cash and is always willing to ‘chew the fat’ over the issues of the moment.
Many thanks also go to Ray Cherry for his presidency of the club this season, and to Jonathan for taking over as fixture secretary through the summer, and making over 250 runs!
Whilst our committee are indeed the cornerstone of what takes place at Isis Cricket Club, we are blessed with the backing, both on and off the pitch, of a number of other dependable faces at Isis.
Roy Blatchford is a stand-out figure in this category. He has willingly prepared teas, looked after the kit, introduced new players and been ever-keen to play, but always happy to give others the chance. Roy has also taken some great catches, turns the ball from leg (really, here at Isis) and makes for a fine batting partner. I would like to thank Roy for his commitment to the club.
Rich Stephenson has again proved himself to be a batsman of a different class this season. Over 600 runs (including two centuries), at an average of nearly 60, eight catches, seven run-outs and a stumping have all come his way, in just 11 appearances!
Joe Walter is a man who has really stood-up with the ball this summer. 29 wickets, at an average and strike rate of less than 20, really speaks for itself. Joe has also bagged ten catches and smashed a six in one of his best innings of the season.
Rich Appleyard, Chris Dixey, Omer Tariq, Michael Shields and Matt Shields have all been fine acquisitions to the club this season. Amazingly all are all-rounders, and all have made fine contributions to the club at one point or other. Chris Tarratt has also increased his availability to the club this year. He too is a great all-rounder and definitely wins the prize for ‘taking full-length diving catches’.
Dale and Azam are two young men I have been grateful to have in our bowling armoury this season. One swings the ball at a teasing pace, the other bowls so slow batsmen lose the will to live and tries to hit sixes in return for sixes, cash and cleavage shots! They are joined in the ‘department of young and lethargic’ by Harry Stonedman. Harry shocked crowds at times this season by geeing up other players and telling ‘them’ to stay focused on their fielding.
We have also been blessed by numerous appearances from experienced players like Richie Ramps and Nick Hardy, and by new faces such as Luke Blatchford and Dominic Henry.
To everyone who has umpired, scored, looked after the kit, reeled in mates, made teas, prepared pitches, given lifts and picked teams my most heartfelt thanks to all of you. Isis Cricket Club is, was and always will be a great institution with gentleman like yourselves amongst its ranks.
I’d like to finish off with a few ponderings on the seasons highs and lows…
Reflections on the summer of 2008…
· Simon Wallace’s 46 in the first game of the season - a batsman in the making?
· 20.4.08 First win of the season - 50 for Rich, 4-23 for Joe!
· Michael’s glorious 63 and 3-21 at Hanney. A fine debut!
· Chasing down 92 at Stanton St John. At 43-7 we were in a world of trouble. Roy and myself made 25 and 24 not out respectively to guide us home. With the ball, six of us had taken wickets and Dominic Henry took three catches!
· Beating Quokkas by one wicket - Azam and Dale steered us home. Azam also took four wickets, whilst Richie Ramps top-scored.
· Brendan’s 3-7 against OUP.
· The tour match at Dunvant. Olly’s 50; Keith Whiter’s 5 wickets; Brendan, Simon (vomit), Keith and Jakey tucking away several pints each - 3 of them were a little drunk, whilst one has hollow legs; “Catch the f**king ball Joe Hughes!”
· Stumpy and Jimmy winning the game at Enstone.
· Thumping Hospitals, at their place, in a Twenty20. Well batted Jonners - very sixy!
· Dorchester - getting out of jail with the last delivery! Rich and Matt batted well, whilst Michael took 3 wickets.
· OCC at Witney Mills. Conversation with Rich and Olly pre-match where we agreed it was too breezy to bat first! They inserted us and a century for Rich followed. Aside of my atrocious catching this season the game saw my other comedy low moment. My first two balls were no-balls (one a six, the other a four) - I’d conceded 12 off zero balls!!
· Defeats in the ensuing games saw individual highs as Brendan made 44 and Azam took 4-27!
· We got back to winning ways in a new (20-20) fixture against Aston Village. Omer Tariq made his debut, hitting an impressive 66no!
· The first weekend of July saw a very pleasing game, as Isis took to winning in the rain. Five catchers and four wicket takers saw Appleton restricted to 172 off their 40 overs. Lester, Olly, Wib and in particular Michael, saw Isis cruise to a seven-wicket win.
· The Isis six-a-side was once again a huge success, with Cairns Fudge proving that youth and clean hitting are the key to winning our prestigious event.
· Wayfarers are one of the stronger sides that we tussle with. Joe and Dale bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets each, to save us from a more daunting target than the 213 that was posted. Rich Stephenson top scored with a ‘boundary every over’ 112, but Isis were sadly bowled out for 159, with no-one else managing double figures!
· Mid-July saw us blow away Holton. Five wickets for myself, and an all-round tidy display in the field and with the ball, meant Holton were restricted to 117 on a bowlers’ wicket. Omer made short-work of their attack though, hitting just over half the runs in our successful reply.
· Olly’s top score of the season, 90*, came in a pleasing win over Pacific. As we were only chasing 159, his century was denied him, but a fine opening partnership with Richard Appleyard saw us cruise home by 8 wickets.
· July finished with a warm day, an extremely strong batting line-up and a pancake wicket. Losing the toss was heartbreaking…until the opposition captain invited us to go first - phew!! All of the top-seven made double figures (a rarity for us), with Olly and Rich hitting 49 and 65 respectively. We were always in relative control defending our 230, although injuries, great batting and Isis employing their ‘11 captains’ policy, saw new opponents Armadillos make a respectable 197. 4-28, on a lovely batting pitch, was a pleasing hall for myself.
· Isis then lost five-in-a-row through the first half of August, with the team not once passing 100 runs.
· A 45 from Lester and 3 wickets from Joe saw us return to winning ways against Blackwells.
· August 24th saw our last victory of the season - a pleasant working over of Islip. On a predictably damp, uneven wicket Isis batted well to manoeuvre their way to 165 off 40 overs - with the highlight being a lovely cow-corner six from Joe ‘Yuvraj’ Walter. 3-17 (KP) and 3-7 (Joe) highlighted the strength of the visitors’ score, as the hosts were restricted to 121.
· Heavy defeats against Moreton (great 50 Jonners) and Ipsden (cracking 65 from Jakey) summed up our all-round ‘damp’ end to the season, and saw us finish with two more defeats than the 20 victories we had gained. However, Ipsden obliged, as ever, by providing beer and a glorious sunset, as another fine Isis season came to pass.
