Strollers Of The 21st Century claim the spoils in Silver Jubilee celebrations
posted: July 18, 2014

Truly, it was a glorious day, when Strollers old, new and those now, regrettably, mainly absent, gathered to celebrate 25 years of merry-making and laughable cricket on July 6 at NLCC. Among the latter were to be found cheery Guy Barker, thankfully trousered, the much lamented Kieron Smith, now excellent casting for Pinter’s The Caretaker, the much-loved Count Indigo, the founder of all this mess, Chris Deavin, the driest of wits and most shambolic of bowlers -  and even Simon Popsy Poole, he of the Ranji-esque late cut and the comically incompetent fielding, who put in a late appearance.

Many more were missed: Andy Moorhouse, the Masters brothers, Clive Horwood, David Haines, Julian Marshall, Toby Fildes, Jeremy Gillies, Graeme Holmes, Harsh Joshi, Chris Lucas, Mikey Ward and many many others were not in attendance, but were, in our flowing cups, freshly remembered… (that’s ‘remembered’ in iambic pentameter by the way, with four unstressed and stressed syllables. Just so you know — Ed).

The teams were divided into 21st Century and 20th Century Strollers. This was a division of convenience with no real regard for accuracy. This much is proved by the presence of Gav (whose debut was in 2003) among the 20th Century Strollers, while Simon B, comfortably the oldest Stroller on display, could be found in the ranks of the 21st Century Strollers.

The afternoon began with many fond reunions, at which tearful hugs and generally unkind things about one’s appearance – particularly from that doyen of kindness Kieron Smith – were exchanged. Indeed, the witty repartee between Kieron and large Andy behind the bar, at the end of the day, must have had Wilde and Johnson calling out from their graves in admiration.

Tom, captaining the 21st Century Strollers, won the toss and elected to field. To any casual observer, the game that then began was played in a very jocular vein. However, on the field, it was all business. No batting Stroller wanted to be out to another Stroller, while no bowling Stroller wanted to go round the park either. So it was with exaggerated care that Gav opened against Simon, emulating Sir Geoffrey B, though not without two crashing square cuts, over one of which Tim contrived to dive.

In the third over of the day, Simon bowled George with a beauty, swinging in, yorker length, hitting leg. The celebrations from the bowler were duly muted, much in the manner of a recently transferred footballer who refuses to cartwheel around the pitch after scoring against his old club, but instead trots back to the centre circle, head bowed, palms held aloft, in a risible pantomime of circumspection.

Gav got to 14 in fine style before seeing young Jamie Morgan come on, and the big guy’s eyes opened as wide as saucers and he went for the big heave-ho (this sounds familiar — Ed) and was bowled. This brought Matt to join Deavs at the crease, and for the next 40 minutes or so this evergreen partnership, once as familiar to our viewers as Morecambe and Wise and of similar vintage, held the 21st Century Strollers at bay with an increasingly expansive range of shots.

Matt eventually fell to a good one from Tom for 33, which brought Kieron to the crease to join a now supremely confident Deavs, who was rolling back the years. He offered only three chances: one a cut to point which landed close to Boughey, who didn’t fancy diving, or indeed moving much, for it; a skier behind to third man dropped by Daniel (off Simon’s bowling, naturally) and once when he was run out by about four feet but Matt, umpiring, was afflicted with temporary sun blindness.

The sight of Kieron at the crease again in Strollers colours did the old heart of this Stroller good. What happened next was even better. Kieron, the author of so many run outs in his time, so much so that his antics were celebrated in The 12 Days of Strolling, was run out by Deavs without scoring a run and departed to the pavilion to wild applause. Dickie knocked off a bright and breezy 22 before he was run out as well, the youthful athleticism of the Young Strollers, particularly debutant John, proving an unpleasant shock to the Old Strollers. Jamie Morgan bowled to his dad, and Daniel Betts bowled to his dad as well, and both fathers took this very seriously indeed. Finally, the 20th Century were all out for 182, which owed a lot to an unbeaten 69 from Deavs.

There then followed an extensive tea break, which took the form of an excellent barbecue, presided over by Matt and Dickie. Contributions were supplied and gratefully received by all, apart from Simon’s oven-baked baguettes, which were roundly derided by all.

The 21st Century Strollers got off to a very solid start with Gideon and Davey at the crease. The 20th Century bowling looked a little threadbare and when Gideon was out for 27, the opening pair had put on 60 runs.  Davey batted beautifully again, cherubic and sweaty underneath a helmet, and went on to make 80 before succumbing to George (oooer, Mrs).

Tom continued the good work, retired on 37 and at the point the result was never really in doubt. Kieron bowled Gideon for 26, and used his whole lexicon of tricks to incommode and distract the batsmen, but to no avail. Tim hit the winning run with a massive six past the pavilion and only just in time before the heavens opened and North London CC was consumed by thunder, lightning and rain – a suitably Wagnerian conclusion to a grand day of cricket, fun, frivolity and recollection.

Simon Boughey
17.07.14

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