AGM: Wednesday 29 February
The 2012 AGM will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 29 February.
All members should make every effort to attend - key decisions about the future of your club will be made, and if you’re not there, then you can’t have yoursay!
Glambusters - and new downstairs bar opening
Saturday 4th February sees Glambusters playing at Trowbridge Cricket Club - a blast of 70s nostalgia!
Roll up for 7.30pm - entry is free! - and we’ll also be christening the newly refurbished downstairs bar.
End-of-season league placings
1st XI
The 1st XI finished 6th in the Glos/Wilts Division, meaning they remain there next year. The provisional teams for next year will be:
- Biddestone
- Cheltenham
- Chipping Sodbury (promoted from Bristol/N Somerset Division)
- Painswick (promoted from Gloucester Division)
- Potterne
- Rockhampton
- Stroud
- Swindon
- Trowbridge
- Winsley (promoted from Wiltshire Division)
2nd XI
The 2nd XI finished last in the league, and so will play in the Wiltshire Division next year; confirmed teams are:
- Burbage & Easton Royal (promoted from Wiltshire League)
- Devizes
- Great Bedwyn
- Malmesbury
- Marlborough
- Marshfield (relegated from Glos/Wilts Division)
- Nationwide House
- Spye Park
- Trowbridge (relegated from Glos/Wilts Division)
- Winsley
3rd XI
The 3rd XI finished 8th in the league, avoiding relegation by the narrowest margins - level on points with Wilcot, but having won more matches. They will therefore remain in Division 4 next season; teams should be:
- All Cannings
- Bathford
- Bradford Town 2
- Buscot Park (relegated from Division 3)
- Chippenham 3 (relegated from Division 3)
- Corsham 4
- Keevil
- Trowbridge A
- Warminster 4 (promoted from Division 5)
- Westinghouse 2 (promoted from Division 5)
4th XI
The 4th XI will re-apply to the league for next season, and with any luck will be allowed to play in Division 7.
Lashings World XI conquer the Trowbridge XI
After a very wet morning which threatened to derail the day completely, a very enjoyable day’s cricket and entertainment ended with a win by 25 runs for the Lashings XI.
Congratulations especially to Ashur Morrison for his unbeaten 60, and to man-of-the-match Mikey Reynolds who finished on 33 not out. There were impressive contributions too from Alex Hart (35) and Shaun Liebisch (30), and from Tom Weaver behind the stumps.
Scorecard and photos are now online; a full match report will follow soon...
Weaver rewarded with trip to home of cricket
Story and picture from the Bath Chronicle, Thursday 9 June.
Beechen Cliff School pupil Thomas Weaver received a commemorative plaque from MCC president Christopher Martin-Jenkins during the third day of the Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Sunday.
The Year 12 pupil was one of 21 schoolboys who earned an invitation to the home of cricket after either scoring a century or taking five wickets against the MCC in the 2010 season.
?Weaver secured his by hitting an unbeaten 106 in a seven-wicket success for Beechen last summer.
“It is an honour and an absolute privilege to receive this award from MCC,” said Weaver after collecting his plaque on the famous Lord’s outfield.
“I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the match last summer and it was a very proud moment when I reached the magic three figures.
“The fixture against MCC is the highlight of our season each year. Last summer was the first time that the school had beaten MCC and it was really special that I scored my first hundred at the same time. I can’t wait to take guard against them again this season.
“I had a fantastic day at the home of cricket and would love to become a MCC member in the future.”
Beechen Cliff will be looking to follow up their excellent performance in last year’s fixture when they play the MCC again on Wednesday, July 13.
“Congratulations to Thomas for his impressive performance against MCC last summer,” said Martin-Jenkins.
“I hope that he enjoyed his day at Lord’s and that he continues to enjoy playing the game for many years to come.”
Fire In Babylon - out on 6 June
Hot on the heels of From The Ashes comes another cricketing documentary looking back to a similar era.
“Fire In Babylon is the breathtaking tale of how the oppressed people of the West Indies fought back and triumphed over its colonial masters, through the remarkable achievements of one of sports most iconic teams. In a turbulent era of apartheid in South Africa; race riots in England and civil unrest in the Carribean, the West Indian cricketers, led by the enigmatic Viv Richards, struck a wonderfully defiant blow at the forces of white prejudice worldwide. Their undisputed skill, combined with a fearless spirit, allowed them to dominate the game at the highest level, replaying it on their own, terrifying, terms. This is their story.”
Already getting rave reviews from those who have seen it, you can see Fire In Babylon in some cinemas (Little Theatre in Bath; Showcase Cinema de Lux in Bristol) from 20 May, and it is released to buy on 6 June; pre-order it now on DVD or Blu-ray...
From The Ashes - out on 30 May
From The Ashes is the uplifting and remarkable tale of a summer that changed England forever. July 1981, rioting and discontent rule the streets of Britain. Meanwhile, on the playing fields, England are 1-0 down after two tests against the old enemy, Australia; and Ian Botham, their iconic all-rounder, has resigned as English captain, moments before being pushed.
With English cricket on the brink, bookmakers offer odds of 500-1 against an English win in the 3rd Test. Yet, a reinvigorated Ian Botham refuses to lie down and rediscovers his cavalier flair in a series of matchwinning performances that enthrall a nation and see the Ashes retained.
Judging by the trailer, if should be a good watch – it’s released on 30 May, but you can pre-order it now on DVD or Blu-ray...
Former Trowbridge player’s book up for award
If you’re looking for a little light reading over the Easter break, you might try Now I’m 62: The Diary of an Ageing Cricketer, written by former Trowbridge player Stephen Chalke.
Stephen moved on from Trowbridge a couple of years ago to captain the fledgling Winsley 3rd XI, and the book is a (slightly fictionalised) account of a year in the life of an ageing cricketer, along with reminiscences (sometimes rather melancholy) from a lifetime heavily influenced by the sport. The names have all been changed, but a number of the people and places will be easily recognisable to many at Trowbridge.
The book has been shortlisted for the Cricket Society’s Book of the Year for 2011; the winner will be announced at Lord’s on the evening of April 19 – so good luck to Stephen.
The book is a very enjoyable read, and will strike a lot of chords with anyone who has played club or village cricket. I am currently halfway through it, and can highly recommend it!
Buy Now I'm 62: The Diary of an Ageing Cricketer from Amazon
Update (20 Apr): unfortunately, Stephen’s book didn’t win the award – the title went to Slipless in Settle: A Slow Turn Around Northern Cricket