The early start did nothing to dampen the boys’ enthusiasm for the trip, and it was about two hours in before we heard “Are we there yet?”
Alas! Not, despite the half five start and collecting Kingsway Primary by 6, we had still encountered a bit of traffic slowing us down by the time we had got to our first stop by 07:30. I think the driver just wanted his bacon butty really. “What are all these people doing up at this time?” was one question off one lad.
The lads kept themselves amused on the way though, plenty of changing of seats and talking to each other which was nice. The view of the Wembley arch they were looking forward too was shrouded in fog though disappointing some.
Tour guide, Indish, gave us a run-down of the journey in, after all, he was returning back home (ish!). Got to the ground about 10:30, 45 minutes late and first game was due at 10. But most of the teams were late due to traffic and the organisers had to do a quick re-shuffle of opponents and rules dropping each game from 8 to 5 overs. The main rule for the boys to remember was if you’re out you’re out, and if you’re not, well, you’re not! No rotation of batsmen unless there was a wicket. More like U11 rules. Shots and over-throws hitting the side net also scored.
After a quick warm up with Martin and Indi, the lads were ready for their first game verses Mount Carmel, a Roman Catholic all-girl school from Islington) that provided us with differing levels of opponent. We batted first and scored 64 runs, some good batting picking shots to run too and some poor fielding helped our total. The running between wickets was new as well, just 1 yard short of a full length wicket, so 3 more than usual, had some lads scampering the last few steps. Our five bowlers did very well and kept the score for Mount Carmel down and we won this game by about 40 runs.
We were off on a tour round Lords next for about 30 minutes. It’s a massive ground with so much going on and it was probably a quiet day for them. Must be a buzz on a Test match day. The tour guide was good, pitched his level at the kids and took us to the original ashes urn in the museum, the long room, bar and home dressing room.
Back to the Indoor centre for our next game. The schedule as now well out the window and we played Kingsway Park, our coach sharing opponents who gave us a good game. Four lads from the first game with the remaining four batted first and got the score up. Their batsmen looked like they meant business when they strode on, but one was out first ball which geed us up. We went on to win this game too but it was quite tight. Bit of confusion this game as we knew our last over had to include 6 good balls, but had also been told it would be to a maximum of 10 balls, so we felt obliged to check with the umpire at around ball 12 which rule he was playing…..
Third game against a team from Beeston St Anthony’s Leeds. Our team was the 4 new lads from game 2 and the first 4 “dropped” from the first game. A tough game but one that should be remembered for Nate, “carrying his bat” and helping our score on to 44 whilst a few wickets went down around him. It was nice for his grand-dad who had made all the way from Birmingham. By now it was hot in the indoor arena and am not sure if this affected the lads as a few dropped catches helped St Anthony’s out. Going into the last over, they needed 5 off our last over. It started off 1 run, wide, 1 run, wide and we couldn’t prevent them getting the winning runs.
Bit of a break for lunch, about 2 o’clock now and some hungry kids!
Fourth game was a team picked from earlier performances. We needed to win this one to be in with any chance of the final. We fielded first and some great bowling kept the opponents down to 12 runs. It then just took us two overs to see off that total and a wait to see if we had made the final.
Head judge came over. It was close and needed a bowl off. Two bowlers bowl two bowls each at an empty wicket and whoever hits most wins. Simple. If level after 4 it went to sudden death, the rest of the team would have a bowl each.
After a coaches huddle, Fraser and Archie were picked to bowl our 2×2. They had impressed so far with their bowling. Just to confuse the kids the wicket length was then reduced to U9 length. We were facing St Anthony’s who had beaten us in the third game. Their first guy up got a hit with his second ball. As did ours, well done Fraser. Their second guy missed all as did ours, but oh how we were close. Sudden death.
Went to four bowlers each and every one of ours was so close whilst most of theirs were quite wide. Still on the fourth bowler they got a hit with a delivery that might have questioned the legal limit of 15 degrees of permissible straightening of the elbow joint and certainly wouldn’t have got past Jim the U9’s coach at Didsbury. Tense now. We just missed again and well done to St Anthony’s, especially as they went on to win the tournament.
Really pleased with the lads’ behaviour and application to the games they were involved in. They looked like they enjoyed it.
A quick trip round the shop before the return journey home again. Luckily, the fog had lifted and they got their glimpse of Wembley.
As I sit here thinking about it, it’s the cricket that’s my memories and the numbness of the journey is long forgotten.
Massive thanks to Andrew Batty and his team at Pinsents and to all at “Chance to Shine” for this fantastic opportunity.
Huge thanks to Indish and Martin too, two excellent coaches that benefit Brooklands.
@@@@ Nidhi Minocha