The Agony and the Ecstasy
Posted by wellsy on October 26 2009 15:38:20
It all started so promisingly and then, as usual, things went downhill until, once again as usual, it ended on a goodly high. So much so that there is again a certain amount of optimism for next season.
It started off with us trying to create a cooperative alliance with the ABC (Akademie Bourgogne de Cricket made up mostly by Sri Lankans based in Paris for those who still don’t know). We had a joint practice which although starting late, went very well and we agreed to let them use our ground for their fixtures which would be mostly part of a sub-section of a league of the French Cricket Association. Somewhat vague, I know, but this seems to be the story with these guys at all times.
Extended News
As all who click onto our site know, the first match of the season was against Lyon CC on Thursday, May 21. The report of that particular game is still on the site so I feel no need to go into any details here except to say that even with Nitin putting in an appearance, we couldn’t raise a full team. A disappointment even though this was rare win for the MCC and as such should have been celebrated in style.
Our inability to raise full strength teams continued with the Strasbourg Strollers game played on June 6. Even with Kannan from the ABC and Karl from the UK Exiles joining us we were still only 9 whereas Strasbourg turned out with 11. This continual poor attendance has been the cause of much frustration and has resulted in part of the title above – you can guess at which part! It reached its nadir with the next fixture (away to Lyon CC) when only 2 (two!!) were happy to play. The result of this was the cancellation of the game and the incurred anger of the good folks from Lyon. They were so pissed off that, at the last minute, they in turn cancelled their participation in our six-a-side tournament. Our lack of motivation to make an away game was clearly not a good way to win friends.
Back to the Strasbourg match for which I was unable to write a report. They batted first and in 25 overs of mayhem made 206 for the loss of 6 wickets. Top scorers for Strasbourg were Nomi (82), Chris (63) and Sultan (28). George P was by far the best of our bowlers taking 3 for 27 in 4 overs. Well done him. In reply, we couldn’t get past the 100 mark being all out for 95 in 22.3 overs. Spencer got most of these with a fighting 41 but no one was able to stay with him. Not one of our better games against opponents with whom we’ve shared many a closer encounter. The two teams did however enjoy a superb evening together in a beautiful village not too far away from the ground. Our good relations hence continue and, once again, we find ourselves waiting on our first victory against the ‘Alsations’.
Then it was the turn of the fourth edition of the Montbard Sixes Tournament. Many folk initially expressed interest in this – so much so that we (I?) were hoping to field 6 teams (including 2 from the MCC) over the two days. But it didn’t quite turn out like that. First the Adastrians cancelled, then Lyon and to top things of Ormes CC turned up with 3 players and the ABC only rolled in after proceedings for the Saturday were already completed. We were forced to shuffle and re-shuffle to make something of it and there was a general “less then content” air about it all. The ABC duly thrashed their way to Steve Plant’s beautiful trophy on the Sunday. Later, two teams were picked from those still present to play out a friendly knock-about but even here the slightly bitter taste persisted with the way that some of our visitors tried to dominate proceedings. Our prize giving reflected this curious state of affairs:
Some great catching – Ibrahim
Some great batting – Nitin
For being the only French player – Guillaume (Ormes)
For hitting the ball into Steve’s van – Prakesh
For coming the furthest – Ashok
For great catering – Steve and Dee – and it truly was great. Our very many thanks.
Honourable mentions went to the ABC for being better late then never and to the few Ormes folk who did make it for their time and commitment.
As said, Steve and Dee did a magnificent job with the catering and, thanks to them, the club is 49.50 euros the richer. This is not a lot when one considers that they actually took 372 euros altogether but the running expenses, prizes and the cost of the beer equipment added their toll. Ashok did bring us two good bats at cost price from India which, I suppose, is also a form of the club getting ahead. Our thanks to him as, I assure you, his bags weren’t light!!!!
Another good thing to come out of the weekend was our getting to know Ashish, Ibrahim Liaquat and Jameel from Dijon. More of them later.
Despite these positives though, I don’t think there are many around who will be up for another sixes tournament in the near future.
Our next outing was set for July 18 when the Exiles from the UK were due to visit. Again this didn’t turn out as expected as only four – if I’m not mistaken – opponents made it over the channel. Fortunately the turn out our side was much better then previously thanks to the afore mentioned Ashish, Jameel, Liaquat and Ibrahim. All told 19 of us were on the field, enough to have a knock-about with two mixed sides. Serious it wasn’t.
Worse was to follow with the planned matches for September. First Lille CC called off their visit and then the Bacchus Club (also from the UK) dropped off the map. Maybe they’ve been over-imbibing recently but their failure to respond to any mails was not only mystifying but also frustrating and, if truth prevails, bloody impolite.
And so, in desperation, your correspondent turned once more to the ABC for a final match of what has been a irritatingly weird season. The initial response from our players was once again very positive with no less then 14 (fourteen!!) wanting to turn out. But time took its usual toll and on the day we were just eleven who took the field against the very strong representation from the ABC. Because they were somewhat late – again – the game was restricted to just a 25 over affair.
Andy and Ashish opened and although the former went quickly, Nitin and Ashish commenced to put on over 90 for the second wicket. Once Nitin departed for 36, Abhishek continued the good work and our 25 overs yielded the eminently defendable total of 177 for 3 – Ashish being caught just before the end for 61 and Abhi carrying his bat for 40.
Our bowling was just as good with the first wicket falling in the first over and a regular procession of ABC batsmen ensured. Only their numbers 9 and 10 got into double figures which postponed but did not stop the inevitable – a rather crushing victory of 83 runs (ABC totalled 94 all out). Unfortunately the scorers didn’t record who got the wickets but I do remember Andy, Liaquat, Nitin, Abhi and Ashish all bowling exceptional line and length, beating the bat time and time again. I also remember Andrew S taking two fine catches in the deep long off position with especially the second being very special.
So, a fine end to the season after all. All in all we played just three proper matches (Lyon, Strasbourg, ABC) and won two of them. Not bad for a bunch who very rarely can find a way to all turn out at the same time!!!! The cancellation of opponents was obviously a less then genial state of affairs but the on-going failure to raise full-strength sides was, as said earlier, a much greater source of frustration. However, our new four friends from Dijon seem to have decided that they would much rather play for us then the ABC and so the numbers game next season might be less of a problem. We’ll see.
Finally, your President and myself have jointly decided that the AGM of the MCC shall take place on November 14 starting at 12 noon at the L’Oree du Bois in Châteauneuf-en-Auxois.
Please let me know asap if you’re going to be present as Steve needs to prepare a lunch.
Greetings one and all
Francois