1st team by captain Andrew Kirkwood
Last season was one of the most successful in UYCC’s history for the 1st team. A 100% record in the league was followed by a run to the conference cup final where we unfortunately blew our chance of a 3rd piece of silverware for the campaign. The current campaign has yet to get under-way due to the biblical levels of rain which have befallen the 22 acres. With fixtures scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday’s Roses encounter concludes what hopefully will be a busy cricketing week for the 1st XI.
The first team go into this Rosesfixture on the back of wins in the two previous years so for those of superstitious predisposition, form is on the side of the white rose. Last year’s Roses match was certainly the highlight of my cricketing career to date as I was able to contribute heavily to a fantastic victory. The game was a match of ebbs and flows with York starting the stronger, Lancaster dragged it back into their favour with early wickets but we eventually managed a reasonably comfortable 5 wicket win. The 2010 game was a more nerve-racking affair with a single wicket victory secured in the final few overs, graduates Sean Martinand and Richard Hoggart showing excellent application to see us over the line.
This year we head west and to Morecambe (Lancaster didn’t give their cricket teams a pitch) with the strongest squad in my 3 years playing for UYCC. We have experience in myself and all-rounder Joel Hughes coupled with real star quality in 2nd year Zimbabwean opening bat, Fraser Crawford. We have also been lucky to have a number of talented freshers come in this year, 7 of the 1st team to face Lancaster are likely to be first years. Two new faces to look out forin particular are scouse top order batsmen Sam ‘Illzy’ Illingworth, a delightfully clean striker of the ball and Rohit Maini, a leg spinner with lovely flight and genuine turn.
Lancaster will be tough opposition but I have every confidence that the 1st team can go away and bring back 4 points for York’s roses total. I’d also like to wishgood luck to Ben Cooke’s 2nd team who travel to Morecambe on Thursday and have every chance of giving the firsts an opportunity to complete a cricketing Roses double. Here’s hoping for 6 points from UYCC.
Being a legspinner of decent quality, i am particularly excited to see Rohit Maini perform.
I have watched him play since he started playing for Uxbridge and wanting to play Cricket – age 11. He has steadliy progressed. I remember one year the 1st game that season started opening the match with a six and throughout the season he played exceptionally well hitting quite a few sixes and was given the trophy best batsman of the year. The following year he was given the chance to bowl and is now showing his skills. He is a good opening batsman and getting to be a great bowler! Hope he will impress!!
Interesting article Andy. You certainly have some real quality in your team but I’d suggest it’s not in the form of your leg-spinner. Going 4-6-Wide against number 11 demonstrates that. Get some more bowling to match your batting strength, oh and also see if your guys can get some sportsmanship thrown into the bargain. Your team’s conduct yesterday was absolutely p*ss poor.
Now, I know I’m slightly better than your average number 11 – or at least significantly better than York’s number 11 – but that leggy was significantly poor. Low full toss put over the top for 4, a half volley deposited into a house on the extremities of the ground and then he completely bottles it and bowls a wide. Further more, he was happy for us to win with another wide.
Consistency is key when bowling spin. And the ability to not bottle it.
Very sad you guys didn’t hang around for a beer, especially after the good banter after last year. Perhaps York are just bad losers.
Bad losers and bad cricketers is an awful combination.
Why is everyone hating on the leggy? I thought he actually bowled quite well and it seems people are judging him based on those three balls. If they were at any other time of the innings these balls would not be mentioned at all. I actually recall him beating the bat several times and taking a few edges, he was quite unlucky he didn’t take a wicket! I would actually like to know his economy rate for his spell as I have a hunch it would tell a different tale. Fine he wasn’t able to win the match for York but calling the bowler ‘significantly poor’ is certainly an overstatement!!
I am quite disappointed with these remarks given that the game was incredibly exciting and competitive and it could have gone either way!
‘A Roses Spectator’ is so obviously the bowler in question. Got to love that.
Admittedly, the comments may have been harsh, he may have had a bad day, such is the nature of leg spin and I’ve seen much worse bowlers. However, he did bowl poorly; you can’t bowl short and outside off stump if you’re turning it away from the batsman at such a slow pace. And the point about the economy is somewhat redundant in such a low scoring match. However, it definitely wasn’t a solo effort at losing the match.
Now the game is over, if the York players are still following this, I would like to know: a) did the keeper take the bails with the ball in his hands or not? And b) why did none of you stay around for a drink after the match? It was a brilliant, hard fought match and there’s very little point in playing cricket at this level if you’re not going to enjoy the social side.