Well, we have to start with a mention of global warming! We have just come through a showery June and early July to now hit temperatures approaching 30 degrees, almost too hot for cricket. And just when we thought we would never get the hay made, its drying as soon as we can turn it. Good news for the cattle for next winter.
After winning the first 13 games of the season, a record to be proud of even though I do hold some bias, game number 14 was The Millers undoing. On a dull and dreary evening our visitors from Cider country defended a modest total of 104 without ever really being under threat (for younger readers the village
of Whimple was back in the day home to Whiteways Cider – in fact the whole village revolved around Whiteways Cider, so much so that the cricket team was called “Whimple and Whiteways“). Recent fixtures have seen a slow wicket and an equally slow outfield – hence a run of low scoring matches. We
ought to note that there has been a cost attached to the unbeaten run; the body of the village cricketer is a temple, of course, but injuries have been all too frequent.
Injuries can be split into those of the “Kittow” type – someone like Sue Holmes is far better equipped than I to comment but generally these are lifestyle injuries where the injured party thinks his body is 21 
and struggles to understand that undertaking a triple somersault with three small children on his
shoulders, off the back of a speed boat travelling at a fair lick (nautical types can fill in their own nottage) might just lead to fitness issues for the upcoming game. At present we have one Kittow flat on his back for the season and another who somehow sustains a level of fitness, despite trying every weekend to break himself.
Then there are the “Hammett” type injuries, generally sustained during a match and resulting from over commitment to the cause, an admirable trait of course. Imagine a cricket ball coming flying past you at 100mph and having to make a split-second decision as to whether to stick out your hand for the greater good or keep your fingers intact. The answer for most village cricketers is that the hand is far more likely to whip out if said fielder is also the bowler, as was the case with the Hammett broken finger. Having never suffered from such over commitment along with a body that is generally worn and not very bendy, I am unfamiliar with either type of injury.
I can’t locate the score book at the minute, so we shan’t worry about that for this edition, but a couple of points to note. Firstly, we have been very fortunate to see our very own “Chef Eduardo” return this summer to provide everyone with some cracking after match hospitality, it’s great to have him back so
thankyou Ed. Secondly, congratulations to Neil Chambers on returning Millers best figures of 5-5 during the win over the Fullsy Allstars – the first wicket coming with the first ball of the innings!
The matches continue thick and fast, see you on the pitch.
Jon, Tale Millers CC
