The massed ranks of Smallwoods set up a ring of steel either side of the keeper, with Jasper at slip, two gullies, Al and Matt, and Benny at short fine leg. Not a ball would pass. As the game progressed, however, it became clear that some of the more complex juggling...
At 70 for 5, Jasper having removed two key batsmen, the new bat launched his first ball straight back, high over the Jasper's head. The Chairman, slightly concerned about the risk of potential engagement by Nigel at mid off, reached the ball only for it to slip...
Archie Hammond has been raised to the level of DRS for the Stragglers, as he looked down on the action from the deep cover boundary at Goodnestone, the ultimate arbiter on a number of rowdy Straggler appeals. He seemed to be able to correctly call the onward...
In spite of a brisk start to the Straggler innings, with Archie and Simon smacking a few early boundaries, progress had slowed as the pace was taken off the ball. The total was meandering towards a very modest total, although meander is probably not how Graham and...
Nigel eschews traditional tattoos in favour of having the imprint of the ball manufacturers name impressed on his shin, with seam mark as an extra bonus, putting everything on the line at Egerton. This new fixture was characterised by high quality fielding and quality...
Potential champagne moments a plenty in the now regular inter-Straggler fixture, even if the tight finish was not achieved. Benny Smallwood, bowling at the death, demonstrated all the competitive aplomb of the Smallwoods, inducing a massive heave from Billy to notch...
The Stragglers finally came up short in two successive games after a remarkable run of success - some 10 victories and 3 draws since the last defeat against Nonington in early July 2012. The Babes produced some more resilient batting than has been seen in recent...
It is postulated that a tree falling in a forest without a witness makes no sound...no such silence with Stragglers falling in disarray. Firstly in the field, two mighty Kentish oaks - Will and the Master Brewer - placed to perfection by Eliot for his double gully...
Much as the invading Turkish armies, encamped before the walls of Vienna in 1683, felt confident of their ultimate victory, so the cricketing Turks at Belmont set out to chase down the modest Straggler total of 184 with an air of supreme confidence. However, it was...
Summer turned up just on time to bathe the victorious, beer swilling Stragglers in a wonderful evening glow in the Elham Valley. Summer had been notably absent for much of the game, as the cold northerly wind blew down the valley and through the slips, while Ralph...