It is not often that we get to the mid-point in the season and have a pretty clear idea of those likely to win both batting and bowling awards for the season. Hugo and George each laid down a pretty strong marker on tour (although George needed a second attempt after a first ball duck on the Saturday fixture in Menorca). George went on to score a century on Sunday (126*), and has since scored two more, 140 against Standard Athletic Club and 151* against the Band of Brothers. He now sits in 3rd, 5th and 10th place on the all-time list of individual scores, and is only the second Straggler to have scored more than 5 centuries (Jasper passed that milestone in 2017). George now has 444 runs in 2019 at a healthy average of 111, well ahead of the chasing pack (Jasper and Ben sit on averages of 61.67 and 40.83 respectively, both of which would normally be considered very respectable). However, an average of 111 is still not quite enough to top the list for a season; in 2000 Toby Cox scored 580 runs at an average of 116; George still has work to do.
Hugo made the most of his ambidextrous bowling on tour to begin the season with 5 for 27 in Menorca (3 left arm spin, 2 right arm bullets), and has not eased up yet. With 16 wickets for 96, he sits well ahead of the rest, with an average of 6.00; Al is a distant second with 17 for 233 (average of 13.71). Single figure averages for the season are a rarity in modern Straggler cricket, only achieved twice in the last two decades, by Theo (7.77 in 2013) and the Master Brewer (7.92 in 2010). However, back in the days when the ball ruled the bat, THD Neve managed a remarkable 15 for 80 from 55 overs in 1968 to end the season with an average of 5.33 (he went on to average 6.36 for the 1969 season). Hugo also has a target at which to aim.
