Welcome to Wizzy News – our weekly roundup of news and events at Wisborough Green Cricket Club.

Some somber news to start with …

Sad News

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ken Sadler.

Ken didn’t ever play for Wisborough Green but was a great supporter with his wife Gill and was always at Presidents Day with his son James – our President.

Ken played for Horsham, Henfield and Middleton during a cricket career than was over 50 years.
At his time at Henfield he was recognised having scored a Century of half Centuries.

He had been going to Lords for 35 years with James and loved their summer trips to the home of cricket.

He will be sadly missed by all.

Livestreaming

We are all looking forward to livestreaming the First X1 match against Southwater on Saturday . Please click here for a sneak peak at this week’s player reel.

The stream can be watched on the match centre for the fixture on our Playcricket site https://wisboroughgreen.play-cricket.com/Matches?tab=Fixture or our Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@WisboroughGreenCricketClub . Please don’t forget to subscribe…

Honours Boards

Every week we recognise some noteworthy performances by our players. Congratulations to all the players who appear on the boards this week

Friday night training

Parking 

Parking along the Kirdford road remains an issue for us during Friday night training. Last year an ambulance was unable to get through and had to drive across a section of the green to reach a sick patient in one of the properties in Wyatt Close, we clearly cannot have a repeat of this. We ask you to park at the Village Hall or Songhurst Meadow and walk to the green from there.

Kit

We have lots of information on our ‘Ordering Kit‘ web page including a link to the Gray Nicholls Store online store where kit can be purchased. The web page includes some useful videos on how to choose the right junior bat , how to choose the right bat size and how much you should spend on a junior bat. We have also included details of helmet sizes and a pads size guide.

Hats

Our new hats have arrived – they can be purchased at the BBQ on Friday evening – juniors £10 , ladies £12 and senior men £15

Stem/neck guards

We have recently purchased a number of green helmets with stemguards that are available to use. Can we please appeal to all juniors playing hardball matches to wear stemguards on their helmets. This is now mandatory and will also be rolled out for all those under the age of 18yo within the Adult League. Sussex Cricket have made it very clear – no stem guard – no batting in matches.

Upcoming Fixtures

Many of our teams are in action again this next week and all of our age group fixtures are available on the ECB’s Playcricket website –please click here

• First X1 are at home to Southwater on Saturday afternoon at 1pm
• Second X1 are away to Horley at 1pm on Saturday
• Women’s Softball team are at home to Fernhurst on Sunday morning
• Sunday Supplements X1 are at home to Petworth on Sunday afternoon at 2pm
• Twenty 20 team is at home to Chiddingfold of Thursday evening
• Under 12’s are away to Roffey on Saturday morning
• Under 11 mixed team are at home to Rudgwick on Tuesday evening
• Under 10’s are at home to Southwater on Saturday morning

We are expecting some sunny and hot weather this weekend – please wear suncream and drink lots of water

Team selections

Match reports

First X1 vs Bosham

• WG 1s visited Bosham this week, with the weather looking iffy from 5-6pm ish. The ground looked decent enough but the facilities are probably best described as very basic.
• Vickery lost yet another toss making it 0 for 2 this season and we were yet again inserted
• In stark contrast to the previous weeks explosive start, Bosham bowled very well and Vickery and May struggled to score.
• May weighted patiently for a length he could attack and then duly missed it when standing plumb in front
• Tommy came and quickly went – jogging back to the pav after 1 ball
• Oscar joined Vickery at the crease only for Vickery to be caught behind, a hard fought 9 off 39 that would have had Kleino stuttering more than when he is running up to bowl
• Hunter and Talman barely troubled the scorers leaving WG struggling at 46-6
• Junior and Oscar both batted beautifully and led the recovery
• Callum chipped in with so lower order lusty blows to ensure WG posted 160-9 – a great recovery
• meal deals eaten we set about the Bosham batting line up
• Junior making some early inroads with a played on, a Beamer, a short ball guided to second slip and another wicket to secure probably the worst 4 for I have seen him get
• Dave chipped in with another and Bosham were reeling at 60-5
• Bosham number 6 / 7 looked like they could barely hold a bat with Dave and Oscar both going close to getting them both
• they managed to scramble Bosham to 25 of victory before we made a breakthrough
• Ash and Josh bowled well without much luck
• Dave G came back for a second spell and picked up two more quick wickets (3 for 41 – well bowled Dave), Bosham still required 10 but with only 3 scalps remaining
• Ash removed one, bowled round his legs
• Bosham no. 10 looked terrified as he smashes his bat on the crease trying to get the winning runs
• after blocking some tentatively he managed to get 1 away and scrambled the winning runs
• the toss was likely crucial with light improving throughout the day, that or 20 more runs and we could have been on the other side of a close game
• we go again vs Southwater at home next week

Please click here for the full scorecard

Dan Vickery – Captain

Second X1 vs Bosham

Normal service resumed for the second XI after last week’s drubbing as Bosham seconds were summarily brushed aside by a superior Wisborough Green team who asserted themselves in every department. 

After winning the toss and batting, Alex Martin showed what a classy batsman he is when he hasn’t been triggered early on and compiled a chanceless 79, partnering with Wolfie (56) and a cameo from George Nics (23) to help WGCC to 229 for 9 off their allotted 40 overs.

Bosham never really looked like getting close. A brisk, miserly spell from new signing Will Millard set at the tone at the top off the innings (6-1-16-3), Joshy bowled as well as I have seen him (9-2-27-0) but was unlucky to get a wicket, Archie Gray and Phil chipped in with tight spells, but Wolfie made it a day to remember for 4-35 to add to his batting performance. A tidy fielding display closed a throughly pleasing performance all round, and beers were taken with 30 points in the bang and confidence restored. Bosham were a delightful bunch, played in the right spirit and evidently appreciated Izzy’s hospitality and “vibes”. We look forward to returning the compliments later on in the summer.

Away to Horley this week. A chance to piece together a brace of wins with a gun team full of skills.

Please click here for the full scorecard

Tim Palmer Captain

Many thanks to club photographer Chris Marshall for the great pics

Alex Martin in fine form with the bat getting the team off to a great start

Good day for Wolfie Finger after bagging 4 scalps and notching up his first half century of the season

Textbook setup from George Nicholls as always

Skipper Tim Palmer in familiar pose …

Great new signing for the club this season – Will Millard in action with the ball

Great determination from Josh Dixon – deserved more for his efforts

Excellent technique by Harry Maggs focussing on his target

Sunday X1 vs Follies Farm Old Spots

Follies Farm – not the worst place in the world to have a game of cricket …

Match report by Chris Marshall – captain

The Sunday Supplements are an eclectic bunch of cricketers. A mix of the talented youth, the double weekend pros, and those past their sell by date like me. Rarely do we have even half the same team as the week before, but give me a nice tea, good company and a beautiful cricket ground, and I’m in cricketing heaven. Which is why Sunday Supplement fixtures are almost always on the hallowed turf of the green.

Crawley away the previous week was a non-starter. To be fair even Crawley didn’t want to be in Crawley – they wanted to come to us, but a clash on the Green resulted in a failed attempt at an away fixture. This week was different. An opportunity to play at the famous Follies Farm, a picturesque privately owned cricket ground just outside Chiddingfold. Their Sunday side – Follies Farm Old Spots are friendly XI with old school caps, blazers and jumpers with a pig on the crest. Just up our street. They are also the “other team” of our 2nd XI skipper and all-round good egg Tim Palmer. He would be representing the opposition.

The ground didn’t disappoint. A wooden pavilion akin to a Scandinavian ski lodge, the focal point to a well-maintained outfield nestled between fields. Tim and I donned our blazers (the first official outing for the new bespoke, gloriously hideous WGCC masterpiece). The toss was largely ceremonial as we agreed that Wisborough would bat regardless.

Nick Reed and I opened the batting. Follies were a mature looking outfit, with their opening bowler and wicket keeper both in their 60s. Fitness wasn’t an issue though, and barring the odd loose cannon well out of reach, they bowled good line and length. The wicket was lively. Some kept low, some ballooned over our heads. Nothing dangerous, but it certainly wasn’t an easy track to score runs on. I played my usual Boycott innings (possibly paint dryingly dull to watch), while Nick was more flamboyant. My 55-ball innings of 9 ended with a diving catch in the outfield from a gentleman who had no right to leap like a salmon at his age. Nick fell soon after for 33, and our middle order found that the track was trickier up close than from the boundary. Josh May (who had spent the night sleeping at 45 degrees on Anne’s stairs) showed promise with 17, while James Rainford was ever dependable for his 24. Tim Palmer took advantage of not wearing the gloves to bowl a few overs at his clubmates. The Sunday Supplement finished on 111 after 35 overs.

Sunday cricket is slightly more flexible for those who like a beer mid game. Josh May had a “hair of the dog” pint before going out to bat, and it seemed to do the trick. Tea therefore, was very much a social occasion. A fine BBQ and cake was provided, while glasses of rose and lager seemed perfectly appropriate for the setting and situation.

Defending 111 was not going to be easy, but knowing the track was going to be as ambiguous for Follies as it was for us, gave us hope. Will Millard bowled superbly from the top end, causing the batsmen all sorts of havoc, while Wolfie Finger nagged away consistently at the other. Both were rewarded with 2 wickets a piece. In the field, the ball followed Dave McCullagh around wherever he went and made for some comedy gold. Mick Hollands (or Mich Holland according to the team sheet and shall forever be known), chased the ball like a relentless Springer Spaniel. Josh May whirled his arms around, bamboozling all before him. Meanwhile Jonny Farmer bowled the spell of the season so far – proving that practice isn’t necessarily what makes perfect. His first ball thundered into the pad. No response from the umpire. His second ball didn’t need a confirmation as all 3 stumps splayed like a fan. Farms raised his arm Alan Shearer style, as if this was all part of the script. He continued to nip the ball around, unsettling all before him. The best I’ve seen Farms bowl and he deserved more than his 2 wickets.

Sadly, for all our efforts, 111 wasn’t quite enough, and the Old Spots cruised to victory with 7 overs to spare. Which we thought was the end of the story. However……

…..When the two teams lines up for a whole group photo after the game, the Old Spots had to come clean. Unwittingly they had fielded 12 players for the entire game and nobody noticed! I did think the covers seemed crowded!

As we know – Sunday cricket is so much more than the result. We all had such a great day, and were privileged to play at such a beautiful ground. Josh May – welcome to village cricket,

Please click here for the full scorecard

Chris Marshall – Captain

Many thanks to club photographer Chris Marshall for the great pics

Two skippers having a worst dressed competition at the toss

Josh May enjoying a pre innings sharpener

Josh May finding good form with the bat

Mick Hollands practicing his smile for the moment Arsenal win the Premier League after 22 long years …🏆

Will Millard chilling before going in to bat

Nick Reed getting the team off to a good start

Rare Sunday outing for Johnny Farmer

Under 14’s vs Horsham Trinity

Match report by Captain Tristan Whiteside

It was a gorgeous morning for cricket, never played the team before and the boys were looking forward to it. Home game against a strong side but it was quite wet, so I was surprised to see that after they won the toss, they decided to bat.

First few came out and they struggled to get runs in the first few as I decide to really vary our bowling. A few catches were dropped but also a lot were taken, very memorable catch was one that was nicked and caught by the keeper, and it was amazing to watch. The drinks break was quite needed as it had been a miserable wet morning, and the chocolate digestives were to die for. They hit us hard when we went out to bat with very strong opening bowlers and got the openers out within a few overs. Some amazing boundaries were hit but eventually we were bowled out nowhere near the target we wanted.

Horsham Trinity ended up winning the game after setting an amazing and very difficult score to chase. They didn’t nominate a player of the match but I think Jaden and Leo deserve a shout. Overall captaining was very fun and I did have experience since I captain for school. I think some of the challenges were that we need to listen more to each other in the field but they did a terrific job out there so it was no big deal. The advice I would give would be that you have to be patient and identify their weaknesses early. Thank you.

Tristan Whiteside
U14 Captain vs Horsham Trinity

Under 12 vs Lingfield

Match Report by Captain Leo Roberts

The weather was perfect for a game of cricket against Lingfield. They had some good players, so we knew it would be a tough match. I won the toss and elected to field first. We had a strong open to the bowling with me and Jack. Then James and Seb put in a good bit of work with Seb not giving away many runs, and James took our first wicket! We then had some lovely bowling from Ethan, Freddie, Ben, and Oliver. Theuns then had a nice over in his first match of the season. In the last 2 overs of the innings, James and Jack came back on and took 3 wickets! A beautiful catch from Ben for 1 of them! I also want to mention the great keeping from Bobby!

During the break, the opposition had prepared some food and drinks. I loved the cakes!

Next, we were in to bat with me and Jack to open. We managed to get 47 runs off of just 6 overs, unlucky not to get the 50! Jack got 18 before making way for James, where me and him kept a good run rate until I retired 25 not out. Our next few batters were unlucky to get out early to some good bowling and James finished on 17. Next in was Seb, who hit a good 19 runs and after him came Ben in the last few overs of the match, who had no choice but to run to get the total, unfortunately, he was run out on the second to last ball, which meant Oliver had to come on for the final ball, finishing on a dot ball.

Congrats to Lingfield for winning against us, but I do believe we had an outstanding match with great efforts from everyone on the team.

Leo Roberts – U12 Captain vs Lingfield

Please click here for the full scorecard

Another Captain’s knock by skipper Leo Roberts

Great team effort by the Under 12’s

Under 11 girls vs Southwater

Match report by Captain Izzy Kain

The Wisborough Green Under-11 girls started their cricket season with an action-packed match against Southwater CC, filled with excitement from start to finish! 🏏 ☀️

Match Highlights
• The Toss: Southwater CC won the toss and chose to bat first.
• Defense: Wisborough Green worked hard fielding, showing amazing teamwork and brilliant bowling.
• All-Round Star: Alice played well, doing some great batting and bowling.
• Fielding: Darcey was a star in the field, working hard to stop runs and back up her teammates.
• Wicket: Izzy got a wicket on her very first ball!

Awards given by Southwater CC:
• Bowler of the Match: Elodie
• Batter of the Match: Izzy

Team Spirit
While Southwater CC took the victory this time, every single Wisborough Green player can be incredibly proud of how they played and worked together as a team.
A huge thank you goes to our Coach and Umpire, Hannah, for all of her help and encouragement during the game! 🌟

Izzy Kain
U11 Girls Captain vs Southwater

Fantastic first game of the season for the girls

Southwater selecting the Wisborough Green players of the match

Under 10 vs Balcombe

Match report by Captain Ted Hurst

We had a game on Saturday at home against Balcombe, our first time playing them. It was a nice sunny morning.

I won the toss and chose to field first so we knew what we needed to try and win the game. Balcombe chose to not wear pads, but we decided we would even if it meant we might be at a slight disadvantage when it came to runs.

We all did really well with our bowling, Archie had some great bowls on target and Charlie, Tom and I got wickets. Out on the field we did well with some good fielding from Finn and Alfred. Jack and Monty hit the stumps from precise, hard throws to run two of the Balcombe players out. Edward and I got some great catches too – catches win matches!

We had some lovely lemon drizzle cake from Alfie’s mum during the break and some oranges from Charlie’s mum – the cake went down really well with both teams and we decided we need lots more for our next match!
While we were batting our communication was great to help us to get in some runs. Tom and Jack had a great innings with both getting 4’s.

The opposition didn’t have as many players as us and we were very good at volunteering to field with them
We had a few funny moments during our batting – Ed B had the ball bounce up and onto his helmet which then rolled to the stumps but luckily the bails didn’t fall off! Also, just before Zac went on to bat a bird pooed on him – turns out it is lucky as the first ball he faced he got a 4, as well as his partner Edward!

We won the game by 29 runs with the final score being 237-6 to Balcombe and 266-3 to us.
Balcombe chose Charlie as their man of the match – well done Charlie!

I enjoyed being captain, especially organising the team when fielding.

Ted Hurst – Captain

Great team performance by the players

Can you help in any way ?

We have over 200 juniors enjoying playing cricket this year which is in itself a major undertaking. There is an increasingly smaller group of volunteers who put a lot of effort to keep the show on the road and we would welcome support from parents – particularly scorers , umpires , tea makers etc etc . If you are able to help in any way please do let us know. We could do with a lot more help – even if its on an occasional basis

How it started …how its going

Last week we featured an article welcoming Josh May, our Australian overseas player, who has joined us for the season. Josh is settling in well to Wisborough life – sampling the refreshments on offer, and using his Aussie charm on the locals.

Readers would no doubt have spotted Josh sporting a rather cheeky T shirt. Whilst we welcome his natural Aussie ruggedness, we see an opportunity for some polish and refinement as part of Josh’s integration into English life. Ideally we want to send him back down under as a true English gent. A makeover (albeit digital) demonstrates the possibilities that a few months in Wisborough could achieve. This is of course only the start of the journey, and we look forward to watching his English progression during his time with us…

And finally – spotted out and about …

(nothing to do with cricket usually – any excuse to have a little chuckle ..)

Helpful advice

That’s it for this week.

If there is anything we need to know you know where to find us

Have a great cricketing week 🏏😊

Cheers

Wizzy