Category: News
Thoughts from outside the rope
Are You Ready?
Spectators are vitally important to the atmosphere of MS cricket and the players have been working feverishly to create a welcoming environment for the first Sunday game this week. The grass has been mown and the outfield smells delicious. The rain has been banished over OX25 4JF until after the 17th of September so even if you dislike cricket, you can top up your intake of vitamin D. The benches have been painted and cushions plumped. The BBQ cleaned and sausages ordered. The fridges are groaning with beer, cider and chilled white wine and the finest cricket tea makers in the whole of Oxfordshire have been booked. (although the tea is primarily for players and umpires the club ethos of wasting nothing might mean that you are required to hoover up any lonely sandwiches and/or cake).
So what can we expect this season?
The return to the playing field of our Chairman Peter VdK
More Bazball than Boycott
Our own Ashes match on Friday 28th July
Team and individual triumphs in bowling, batting and fielding
More wins than losses
A chance to catch up with neighbours and friends. Since we last gathered, the country has gone to the dogs so plenty of time to sort it out between overs.
No burnt sausages (except for the one for George Lamb)
How have pre-season preparations gone?
The players are fit (ish) and raring to go. They wintered well and began their strict training regime in the dark cold months by watching the televised tests against Pakistan and New Zealand. This involved late nights and early mornings so stamina shouldn’t be a problem. Using a bat and ball started in earnest last week but unfortunately nets were cancelled due to inclement weather. No problem for some who are natural athletes or who play at school or university. For others visualisation and crossed fingers is the next best. This should make for an interesting season.
Just a reminder.
The first game is Sunday 16th April against Bampton in the Bush.
Start time 1.30pm with tea taken at 4.00pm.
The weather cloudy 15 degrees.
April 2023
Our new website is here
Welcome to our new website. We’ve kept the best features of the old site including all of our match reports, photos and important news events. A huge thanks to Tim R, Tim H and Andrew for helping Mark to move the content from the old site, no easy task with over 200 match reports to copy and paste!
We will inevitably have missed something whilst building and checking the new site so if you spot an error, please contact our website designer, Mark at [email protected] who will be able to put it right.
If you need a new website or someone to help with your digital marketing, Mark would be delighted to hear from you. Just send him an email or have a chat on a Sunday afternoon at Middleton Stoney where he’s a regular player.
The Michael Martin photography award winner 2022
Congratulations to Sam Norley who has one this year’s Michael Martin photography award with an excellent photograph of Tim and Asif working hard preparing the pitch.
2022 Awards Dinner
Thank you to Tim House for arranging a splendid evening including top class food from chef Mark Apsey and his team from my’lkd.
After dinner we presented a series of well-deserved awards to the stars of 2022. In no particular order, the winners were:
President’s cup: Andrew Hickman,
Captain’s cup: Rona Hickman
Best batter: Harry Way
Best bowling: Tim Riley
Fielding performance: Matt Carpenter
Inspired performance in one game: M Simpson v Invalids
Best catch: Sam Norley
Best family team performance in one game: the Williams Family,
MVP 20/20 games: George Williams
Most loyal supporter: David Moorman
The Michael Martin Photography Award 2022
As we approach the end of our 2022 season, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the ‘Michael Martin Award’ which is awarded annually at the end of season dinner.
Michael was a great supported of our club and an avid photographer, you can see some of his photographs hanging inside the pavilion. In memory of Michael we have this annual photograph competition ( previous winners on display below the honours boards),
If you would like to enter this year’s competition please forward your entries ( max 3) to me at [email protected] by the 20/09/2022.
Jeannie Martin is looking forward to judging these ready for the presentation at our annual dinner on Saturday 24/09/2022.
Peter vdK
Club Chairman
MSCC award winners 2021
Congratulations to the winners of our various 2021 awards. They are:
President’s cup – Tim Riley
Captains award– Paul Wordsworth
Fielder of the year – Squiff Wordsworth
Catch of the season – Seril Shah
Most wickets – Mike Simpson
Most runs – Tim Riley
Most improved – Ben Breaker
Champagne moment – Simmo, Howard & Jamie recover from 47 for 8 to chase 137 and win by one wicket v Islip.
Crocheyed egg cup award for being the runner up in everything – George Williams
Michael Martin Photography Award – Seril Shah
If you were unable to attend the presentation then please contact Pete to arrange collection.
Well done everyone, a fabulous season and we look forward to doing it all again next year.
