Cricket

Cricket is a game which reflects the character of the player. The timid the bold, the thoughtful, the daft, the selfish may all be good cricketers but we all reveal ourselves in the way we approach the game. When the bowling is difficult or the batting gets on top it takes determination and courage to get back into the game. Frequently this season when in difficulties sides have capitulated instead of fighting, if there is a general term to describe our School cricket it is "fair-weather". When things go our way we can play very well but if luck seems against us we can give in too easily. This does not imply that there is any lack of ability in any of our sides. This season was spoilt by the fact that almost no cricket could be played in what must have been the wettest June I can remember in nine years of school cricket. In fact credit is due to all those who turned up to games and nets in weather that would have made the footballers think twice about it.

Outstanding achievements of the season were the U. 15's winning the Harrow Cup, the 1st. and U15's Xl's reaching the last eight of the county cup and the U13's reaching the Harrow semi-final. Individual achievements include Sutherland playing for Schools C.A. of Middlesex, Matthews winning the single wicket competition (this is the fifth time in seven years that a wicket keeper has won), Wilson being both top of both batting and bowling averages (including a magnificent innings of 72) and Miles taking over 50 wickets for the U13's. Success of school cricket cannot only be judged by the number of games won and lost. A glance at the Harrow Observer this week mentions A.Ferry (Stanmore) taking wickets, D.Dury (Harrow) scoring 125, C. Hocking (Northolt) taking wickets. Bushey, Bessborough, Kenton, Abbots Langley, Harefield, Eastcote are all clubs that have got some of our old players. This is the sign of lasting success.

1st. Xl
5 won 3 lost 5 drawn Captain C. Clubbe.
A mixed season which ranged from the bad defeat by Vyners when we were bowled out by Roberts, the county opening bowler for only 32 to the last game of the season, when in a game against Finchley we won by one wicket.

2nd. Xl
4 won 1 lost ? Drawn Captain J. Flanagan.
A season notable for the enthusiasm of the team and the skipper. One of the problems of the 2nd. team cricket is that it has to be used for reserves for the last Xl but whenever this has happened someone has always come in so that the teams always carried on.

Under 15's
10 won 1 lost 5 drawn Captain M. Clubbe.
A team with talented players - a well balanced team in which everyone plays his specific part. Unfortunately this season has been marred by difficult situations caused by thoughtlessness on the part of some players.

Under 14's
Won 1 lost 6 drawn 1 Captain M. Blamey.
Not a successful season as far as results went but the enthusiasm kept the team going.

Under 13's
8 won 4 lost 1 drawn Captain M. Lankaster.
This team played some of the best cricket of the season. They have a well balanced attack and a batsman who hit the ball well. The best game was that at Harrow County, where they chased a total and failed to reach it in the last over of the game by one run. This is the sort of adventurous cricket that should be played.

Under 12's
2 won 3 lost 2 drawn Captain J. Gibbons.
A promising start.


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