After a 2-year absence, it was my absolute delight to be back playing with the Woodpeckers once more. Now residing in the 7th best/worst tax haven in the world I was reading an interview with Joe Root on my flight over to the UK. It struck me that this was quite often how a Woodpecker game would transpire. “As a team, one thing we took away from Lords is we have to be the best version of our team. We do things our way, we don’t get sucked in to playing anyone else’s game and we go about things in our own manner”.
Can a classic Pecker middle order collapse be characterised as going about things in our own manner? Well off to Brook we went to do things our own way. All went according to script; arriving in dribs and drabs, getting confused by the change in dressing rooms, and expecting Patrick to put us in the field. Only two of those happened. After settling on 40 overs and to everyone bowling at least one over Pobs then subsequently lost the toss. We were surprisingly put into bat. The top order of Karl with a K, Garreth “Pirate” Dorree, and Muttley at 3 were the only peckers currently there and so we had our top 3.
Gemotty, Harry and Maggie survey the glorious Brook view
Having read all the match reports in my absence I was looking forward to scoring and watching the sublime stroke play of Karl. But alas after a glorious cut for 4 on the 3rd ball, he didn’t quite time the 4th with such aplomb and toe’d it straight to their man at point. I feel it pertinent to mention how good Brook CC all looked in the outfield with their matching purple caps
So, onto a partnership that had a combined batting average of 4.5 this year. After a somewhat shaky start they seemed to both grow in confidence. When Pirate got to 10, he smiled at me an d said ‘my 1st time in double figures for the Peckers’ The partnership really kicked on after Muttley got a lifeline. He pulled a full toss to deep square leg that was superbly caught with a one-handed diving catch. However, the fielder’s momentum took him over the boundary. 6 runs in the scorebook. Some more driving, prodding, quick singles, and really just sensible batting led to a game changing partnership of 83. The first to fall was Muttley after 20 overs for a useful 33. Woodpeckers 87-2
Having left his Cocker Maggie (on debut) in the able hands of Gemotty & Motty, in strode a confident Cyoungy. Despite Brook bringing on their two best bowlers, it was nothing he couldn’t handle and began to build a partnership with the now settled Pirate. A further 49 runs were amassed before the pirate eventually fell for his highest score for the Woodpeckers of 58. Not only that but his first 50 since 1998, so he’d definitely been the best version of himself! Woodpeckers 136-3
Pirate doffs his bat for an excellent 58
Next up was Groundskeeper Willie and myself to play a supporting role for Cyoungy and we both put on quickfire 16’s before falling in our desire to up the scoring rate. By the time I had left with around 2-3 overs remaining I think we were on around 209 -5 (I’m no professional scorer but it does help with writing the match report if we try and a least record the fall of the wickets!)
As we neared the end of our innings Pobsy came in to support Cyoungy who unfortunately was run out for a match high score of 68 with a couple of balls remaining. In strode Snax, who was run out on the last ball after an overthrow and Pobs calling him back for a second. It might not have helped that he ran about 10 yards past his crease for the first single! Woodpeckers 223-6 after 40 overs. Had we been the best version of our team?
Big Merv’s delicious Sausage and Black Pudding Rolls
Tea was unfortunately BYO, but I like to think my biggest contribution of the day was my ample sausage rolls with black pudding. I made 25 for the game (I ate two for breakfast as quality control) Having stayed with Patrick, he reliably said he now knows how to make them so make sure to pester him to whip up a batch for the Peckers Peckers.Surprisingly considering Big Merve, Muttley and Snax were in the 11 no herbal breaks were taken and after a 25-minute break we were back out on the field. The new cherry was tossed to Motty and Groundskeeper Willie. Watching the svelte Motty run in bowling beautiful outswingers was another element of the game I was hoping to see. And he didn’t disappoint, a really tight first 6 overs for a measly 10 runs, with a dropped catch thrown in.
At the other end Groundskeeper was working on his rhythm and promptly found it from about his 3rd over. The first 3 went for 13 runs and his next 4 went for 8-1. This first scalp of the innings was a regulation catch from me at backwards point. Brook CC 37-1 after 12 overs. I hear we haven’t been the best in the field recently. Were we being sucked into playing like Brook and finally being tight in the field?
After his first 6 overs, Motty was given a blow and on came Snax. Despite spending most of the afternoon rolling around stopping the ball with any part of his body except his hands, he stood up and bowled an exceptionally tight spell of 4 overs for 10 runs with a wicket in his 3rd over. This was an even rarer occurrence of a sharp catch by the Pirate in slips. Karl with a K couldn’t hide his exuberance at seeing the peckers finally take a slip catch. Having already seen an unlikely partnership with Muttley and the Pirate we were now seeing an extremely unlikely attack of Snax at one end and Potty at the other. After going for 4 off his first ball Potty ably recovered to bowl a tight line and length to end up with figures of 7 runs from 3 overs. Well done Pottythat was easily the best I’ve seen you bowl. Brook CC 57-2 after 20 overs.
Darling Runky came on at the bottom end and I bowled an over of tripe from the top after drinks. Runky had a stumping in his first over and then had a superb catch taken by Cyoungy at cow corner in his 3rd. This resulted in Brook skipper and dangerman Ward to arrive at the crease with them on 91-4 after 25 overs. For the remaining 5 balls Ward plundered 19 runs from the over, but with the exception of one ridiculously long hit, it was not chanceless hitting.
L-R from Back -Groundskeeper and Myrtle, Pobsy, Otto, Muttley, Merv, Karl with a K, Pirate, Beearon, Potty, Snax, Cyoungy+ Maggie
Pobsy was now bowling from the top and I caught a large hit from Ward at long on. A brilliant and vital catch by Merv -2 catches and a run out to add to 16 runs and 25 delicious Sausage Rolls Brook CC 114-5 after 27 overs. The dangerman was gone and we breathed an audible sigh of relief. Motty came back on at the bottom end (I always think you bowl better up the hill) and Cyoungy was on from the top end. Tight pressure resulted in a couple of run outs a wicket for Cyoungy and a couple of well-deserved wickets for Motty. Brook CC all out for 174 after 35 overs.Off to the Dog and Pheasant for jugs of Ale (Hogsback TEA and Langham Hip Hop Pale) with the oppo. I’d somehow forgotten this lovely gem of a pub but it was a great warm up to a curry wonderfully hosted by Potter and Paula to round off a great bank holiday weekend.
When reflecting on the days play it really was a case of individuals being the best version of themselves. Heroes of the day for me were the partnerships of Pirate and Muttley, and Snax and Potty. With an honorable mention for Cyoungy who top scored, gave away nothing in the field, took a great catch and got a wicket! Thanks for another top Sunday of playing for the Woodpeckers and I’ll hopefully be able to make a few more games next year.
Cheers Big Merve
Beearon shows great skill on Potty’s Pool table