Anza Magazine Article - Green shoots and Englishman

Green shoots and Englishman

One could argue that ANZACC’s 2009 season thus far bears a resemblance to the fortunes of both financial markets and the Australian cricket team over the last few months. Now that the “learned” individuals (aka Economists and the Board of selectors) have begun talk of “green shoots” of recovery in these two areas, it is hoped that this too will be the case for ANZACC. All the signs are present: gut-wrenchingly narrow defeats, excellent individual performances, superb team efforts and an all-important hard fought win.

Captain Kev and the 1’s are still in search of their maiden win in the first division for 2009, with opening bowler Tim May the early runaway leader for unluckiest bowler in the club. Tim’s style of outswing bowling, nurtured on the pitches of the South Island and South Korea, has often proved too much for the opposition. Unfortunately, the opportunities his bowling has created have hit grass more often than hand so far this season, much to his and the team’s chagrin. On the batting side, there have been some positives, with Corbon Loughnan and Raghav Thuraisingham (Rags for short) putting in handy contributions that have thus far been in vain. Both have also been more than useful with the ball in hand.

ANZA 2s continue to be the most affected by the weather but have put in good performances where the weather has permitted. Meanwhile the 3s have been largely “on hiatus” thanks to match scheduling but we are assured this has only made the players hungrier for runs, wickets and catches. This hunger was evident when they opened their account in May thanks to a good all-round performance and a 50 by captain Phil “Now the elder” Davies. As for the one game they played in April, while ending in defeat did manage to highlight a few things. 1) Calling is a vital part of running between the wickets; 2) Adam “Clyde” Seabright, after ‘intensive’ winter training at the University of Aberdeen, showed that while Scotland has some decent bowling coaches, the batting coaches are overrated; and 3) the drainage on Turf City A pitch is now nothing short of phenomenal!

The Champs in the 4th division have been the most successful side in the Club, even garnering some local media coverage (scores appeared in the local tabloid magazine “Tabla!”). After breaking 200 in consecutive 30-over games, the next game was somewhat of a disappointment, achieving a modest score of 132. This, as well as the circumstances of his dismissal, left Captain Steve “Slim” Limbrick grasping for words at the innings break. Fortunately, the bowlers came to his aide and, with the opposition needing 15 runs with 4 wickets in hand in the last 10 overs, delivered the club’s first win by the emphatic margin of 1 run! The “Lord” Ian Gibb (5-40), so known for his debonair and aristocratic demeanor (and because we have so few Englishmen) reaped the Champs first 5-for in the team’s illustrious 4-year history. He was ably supported by Andrew “el hombre enojado” Spain (0-16), who kept the pressure on at the other end. Unfortunately he quickly earned the batsman’s respect and went wicketless from his 6 overs. Dave “Rev” Goodwin was the other star of the bowling effort (4-40) and, thanks to a superb effort in the field, ensured the Champs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, getting the last batsman stumped off a wide, much to the elation of both the team and myself (who would have been bowling the next over!).

While reluctant to publicize the success of an English cricketer in an Ashes year (especially one with such affection for Douglas Jardine), we cannot go past “Lord” Gibb’s sterling bowling effort and have made him our SunSense Man of the Month. With the season having only just started, we hope this “green shoot” will be the vanguard of greater success for ANZACC in 2009!

ANZACC is always on the lookout for new blood (especially after the rash of injuries, relocations and pregnancies that have plagued the start of 2009), so any cricketer cut off in their prime and looking to resume their illustrious career (top order batsmen in particular), make your way to training on Thursday’s at the Ceylon Sports Club (write to us at join@anzacc.org.sg for details), opportunity knocks.
Phil McNicholas