Uxbridge Festival from behind the lawn mower.

Fresh from the Festival Vic gives us his thoughts on events of the last three weeks or so. Thanks for everything you and the guys and gals did for MCCC to get as much cricket on as you could Vic and thanks for the article too.

The curtain falls on another Uxbridge Festival and this time, it is to the delight of all. The reason for this is simple; everyone is exhausted because of the extra work that this awful weather has brought. 2012 will not be remembered as a long hot summer, that is for sure. Yet in the fullness of time, we will look back on the festival with huge pride, for it was a job well done in very difficult circumstances and the cricket was of the highest calibre.

July 8. T/20 v Kent. The build up had been difficult; we were so wet that I had to inform MCCC than no vehicle access would be allowed around the ground. This may seem trivial, but when marquees, perimeter boards, toilets, barriers, chairs etc all need to be brought in and erected, you can start to imagine the problems when such people are told that they will have to carry everything from the car park.

The morning of the game started no better, grey overcast and wet skies all leading to an early start for the groundstaff. At 10am, there appeared little chance of play, yet as I always say to Ram “we must give a visible presence to all, even if we are achieving little”. So on we went with the Blotter in constant use for 8 hrs, without even a coffee break. Suddenly the sun appeared and the umpires proclaimed “start on time”. As for the game, all I remember is that Neil Dexter looked good and Middx lost.

T/20 cricket is so important to small clubs, as they are a great cash cow. That we were able to get the game on made so much of a difference to Uxbridge CC and their finances.

July 11 – 15 LVCC v Notts. Preparation for the match was going as well as could be expected until around 4:30 pm on the day before the game, when we copped a huge downpour. I can now admit that some water got onto the pitch, yet luckily it was quickly mopped up and no one noticed. Angus Fraser, Richard Scott & Mike Newell all visited and saw the ground under water. That we were able to start only 45 minutes late on day 1 was a miracle and a great credit to the umpires, who were brilliant throughout the game.

Middx were inserted and bowled out for 98 – yes on an Uxbridge wicket – Andre Adams took 6 wkts for not many and I hasten to add that he was not bowling to the end that the water got onto the pitch. Notts were then made to work hard, but did get a good 1^st innings lead. Both of the first two days had been curtailed at tea. Day 3 was interesting to say the least. Firstly the Head Groundsman was told off for arriving at the ground before the sun came up; with even the Notts staff asking “didn’t the groundsman get the email?” My reply was “I am here to put cricket on and anyway I want to see you bat and Strauss score another ton”. A few hours later, both had been achieved to my great satisfaction.

So hard had been the work that I told the boys I would take them down the town at night for a meal. We met in the bar at 7:15 and set off. By the time we had got to the top of Gatting Way, the rain had returned, we hid under a tree until the water started running out of my jeans and the road was like a river. At which point we went hungry.

Despite our best efforts, there was to be no play on the Saturday and also the Sunday CB40 was called off without a ball being bowled.

By the half way point of the festival, the ground was a quagmire and my staff had pulled so many cars, an AA van and a certain Ice Cream Van (4 times) out of positions where they had become stuck, one wondered if we would ever see cricket again.

August 1 – 4 LVCC v Warwickshire. The week leading into the game had been quite good weather-wise, until the day preceding the game. Middx lost another toss and were inserted, but there was to be no repeat of the 98 all out, in fact at 285-3 all looked rosy in the garden despite cries of “up and down bounce” and “2 paced pitch.”

How pleasing it was to watch Malan fight so hard and play so well for a century and on day 2 the last wicket partnership between Murtagh & Crook was a delight. Playing like the genuine tail enders, that neither are, they flayed the ball to all parts. Warwks were cautious in reply and Middx bowled extremely well with Murts and TRJ to the fore.

When day 4 arrived, it promised to be a very interesting day, and so it started as Middx Aussie batting coach introduced a novel fielding routine which backfired on one senior pro, before back came the rain to spoil all chance of a good finish. So the game petered out into another draw.

August 5 CB40 v Worcs. Finally the last day, with everyone jaded and what a treat was in store for the few people who bothered to turn up. Middx lost the toss and found themselves batting on what appeared to be a slow surface until Davey joined Morgan and the pair carved out a record 5 wicket partnership in 1 day cricket for the Middle. Davey played a fine supportive role in making a 50, whilst at the other end Morgan was simply superb. At one stage with only a few overs left in the innings, I though he would struggle to make a hundred, yet he finished on 120. Sitting next to us was the Worcs coach and it is fair to say that his mood changed quickly as his bowlers appeared not to know where to bowl next. In fact little did it matter as they all seemed to go for 6.

Eoin has received a great deal of stick from people claiming to be Middle fans and he answered them all in the best possible way. When he reached the hundred Seaxe-Man was heard to make a comment which was so apt, and many agreed with his sentiment.

The Worcs reply was all about the last 6 balls and a certain ex Middle wicket keeper. With 24 needed off the last over, the game was tied.

A great deal has been written and spoken about the 2012 Uxb Festival, most of which has been unfounded. I went in print saying that I hoped the pitches would provide entertaining cricket, this was turned into Middx asking for seaming pitches, when all Middx ever ask for is “the best possible cricket pitch”. We’ve heard about inconsistent bounce and pace, yet no game has finished in little over 2 days with neither side scoring more than 200. The cricket has been extremely entertaining, even against Warwks, results were possible on the last day.

For the statistical junkies who prefer to watch their games by figures, a total of 2,359 runs were scored for the loss of 76 wickets. We witnessed 5 centuries and saw one bowler take a 5 fer.

There is no better team to work with than Middx, from the top down, we had Vinny, Fletch, Loz and Dex helping with a mopping up session, Angus, Richard S, Mark, Richard J and all the coaching staff all getting involved with the groundstaff and of course the players who were all fantastic despite being bombarded to sign this that and everything. Special mention must be made of one tall gentleman with large hands, who suffered one day, yet still went out of his way to come and apologise for not hanging around at the curry night, he had wanted “to support, yet felt like sh1t”

As for the curry night, another £3,500 was raised for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, I hope that people enjoyed the evening; we were thrilled to have present the Middx Chairman, committee members, coaching staff, players and supporters.

For me the festival never really took off this year, but I will remember it with fondness, for hard quality cricket, for a brilliant staff who worked their WET socks off, but most of all, for the friendships.

Roll on 2013.

Vic Demain.