The initial party of a dozen people travelled to Shanghai and all were thoroughly
pleased they included this part in their itinerary. Shanghai makes London look like a village in comparison. Wall to
wall, horizon to horizon sky scrapers, of architecture not seen in the West (very often). The boat trip to the
South China Sea took 1½ hours to get there and sky scrapers were still evident half way there! One cannot
comprehend the cleanliness of the place, not a drop of litter anywhere, very cheap, brilliant food for £3 - £5 and very cheap taxis (ours was £6 for a 15 mile journey from the apartments). The hop on, hop off
bus was used to good effect and 7 Rolex copies (as purchased by a certain someone) were haggled/beaten down to a
total of £12 for the lot. And the weather was very hot, but not unpleasant. So Shanghai recommended.
On arrival at Sydney at lunchtime Monday, we met up with the 40+ people from London who had arrived early and of course, as any seasoned traveller knows, couldn't get into their rooms until approximately 2pm!! So there were a few problems, especially as one Hotel had got the bookings/bedrooms wrong…. Lots of married couples in twins and twins in doubles…
On arrival at Sydney at lunchtime Monday, we met up with the 40+ people from London who had arrived early and of course, as any seasoned traveller knows, couldn't get into their rooms until approximately 2pm!! So there were a few problems, especially as one Hotel had got the bookings/bedrooms wrong…. Lots of married couples in twins and twins in doubles…
Based in Chinatown it was easy with the tram system to see the beauty of Sydney . However, the 2 Test Matches were played at Manly, an hour away by ferry and tram and the friendlies/social matches even further (another half hour). And Australia is ferociously expensive. Unless you drive a gas guzzler, in which case you will love it because petrol is 40% cheaper than England and France . The quality of steaks, and eating out, were miles better on a general basis than the average English ‘gastro pub'. Downside, that to celebrate your 50 or 5 wickets, pints were up to £7 each……
After Sydney we travelled (and travelled) on the train – stopping at every station and one for 4 hours due to acid on the track – to Armidale, 11 hours. And then found the ‘Breakfast' was a one mile walk. So 2 miles there and back.
The Carnival Cricket will be covered elsewhere, but the Test Match at the Armidale Sports Club was a well watched affair – interviews with Foxtel TV - with luminaries such as John Gleeson and Geoff Dymock in attendance. The latter played in the Carnival but wasn't selected for their Test side. After the match the official dinner, an amusing speech by Peter Fitzsimons and a non-speech by the missing Martin Couch. We then found rain, and more rain – it rained solidly for 2 days, flooding Armidale. So we hired a car and saw the many lovely falls. And what a spectacle, (Dangar Falls especially) as with the torrents of rain the rivers rushing to the falls were the highest they have ever been in the last sixty years according to the locals.
Another day on the train back to Sydney and then the Saturday taken up by travelling to Melbourne 1½ hours away. Sydney is a beautiful city and well worth a few days, especially if you find a Hotel overlooking the harbour areas.
On arrival in Melbourne , the rain had followed us and cricket was in danger all week as proved when 2 Test Matches were washed out. However, one was rearranged and –played at one of the prestigious private schools grounds. The Spitfire O70 representative X1 played Australia 70 twice, however, and won one and lost one. Congratulations to Roger Maynard on his 100!!
The cricketing facilities in Victoria for the Test side were by far and away the best and the outfields resembled English grounds in the shortness of the grass.
After Australia , it was 2 days in Singapore and the heat/hot weather finally arrived. Singapore in 90% heat and with unbelievable Christmas decorations up in Orchard Road , where we stayed. Wall to wall shopping arcades - all brands - including top designer ones, massage parlours, bars, pubs, money changers, tailors, restaurants – it is a city that never sleeps. So, as you will see on the photo section when it is published, that the gin slings in Raffles cost 26 Shanghai dollars and that Singapore Cricket Club is rather genteel. Sorry I didn't take my camera or I could have taken the pictures of the long room at the MCG, a very sophisticated section overlooking the Test Arena, with a restaurant and bar, for MCC Members only.
The Future
It is likely, in the future, Australia Test Squad will come to us every 4 years and we will reciprocate likewise. There will be only a Test Squad and any Social cricket organized will be a separate Tour. However, the Spitfire Committee will concentrate ‘Social Tours' in Europe only for the time being, as it is considered far too dear and non cost effective any further afield. For the ‘Test Squad' the only Countries that match up to our standards are, at present, Australia and South Africa .
In thanks
We must thank the following for all their efforts and hospitality. We made lots of friends and all the Australian players we met are welcome in England any time, and we would hope to get them cricket in the area they choose to reside in, temporarily.
In Sydney – Bill Sadler and Stirling Hamman
In Armidale – Kevin Pike, John Bell, Brian Breakspear
In Melbourne – Rob Wilson, Rob Agg, Warwick Hatfield, Neville Crane, David Barnes, Ross Hibbens, Gary McFee
Plus, all the helpers, Ladies that kept our stomachs full, Groundsmen and Coach Drivers. And big thanks to Alan Jones for his immaculate scoring
sheets - everything in different colours and very neat.
Finally the Cricket
Well, we kept our record. Australia nearly beat us in the first, a big wake up call, as our running between the wickets and general batting lethargy left a bit to be desired.
The scores seem very low, but in the first three matches, the outfields were incredibly long and the wickets slow, so a score of 100 was probably 150-175 in England , 150 being 225-250 etc.
Star of the show was undoubtedly Keith Daniels, as he can bat (98*), bowl (5-0-11-5) and he can field into the bargain (2 catches). Ray Swann underpinned the middle order with unbeaten knock of 40 and 73, but the fact we fielded first in every single game meant the very strong batting had little or no chance, so Daniels 98* showed every opportunity was vital.
We also compartmentalised the fielders and the maximum fielding time taken in any of the five Tests played was 2hours 40 minutes—for 50 overs.
The fielding was extremely good with lots of diving stops, Stuart Lott's in the first Test running out Bell setting the tone, and bowling was very good, Jim Smallbone the star, with Alan Cook, Daniels, Stuart Lott Chris Lees, Mark Shimmons, Alan Hitchmough, Ray Swann, Kevin Pratt, all having their moments. Unfortunately both Lott and Lees were injured early with knee ligament damage, so their Tours were over. Lees, however, became our bus driver and did a phenomenal amount of, probably, unthanked extra work collecting buses half an hour away and having to drive them through the interminable Melbourne traffic. Never again will we organise buses or coaches as this element added a lot of confusion and vast expense to the Tour. For the players involved, however, even if the majority by dint of age and newcomers coming in, are not involved in the next Tour, they all have their memories of being part of the first English Test Squad to travel to Australia and remain unbeaten.
England returns victorious
Norfolk O50 and O60 opening bat and England O60 Captain Martin Pearse has returned from the first England O60 Cricket Tour to Australia victorious as England remained unbeaten in five Tests.
‘With Australia having travelled to England twice, we felt we should accept their invitation to play over there. We picked the strongest side we could, from all 33 Counties, from the leading run scorers and wickets taken, with fielding a vital component. Only a couple of original selections were unavailable and we had a squad of 16, with two of the leading bowlers injured virtually immediately.
We played the first two Tests at Manly Oval, Sydney and, amazingly, the wicket was awful with great chunks coming out in the first innings and from inch grass in the outfield. The first Test was a tie, 145 each and the second we won chasing 96, getting them for 4, Pearse top scoring with 29. In the main Ashes test at Armidale, Northern NSW on Australia Foxtel TV, Australia totalled 109 in their 50 overs, England were cruising at 28-0 until Pearse was unnecessarily run out for 10 and England collapsed to 58-5. However, eventually the visitors won by 3 wickets with 2 overs left.
In the final 2 matches, in Victoria , Melbourne , England won both easily and here the wickets were superb and so were the outfields.
There was constant rain in Australia , for seven consecutive days, so 2 Tests were washed out.As Captain it was a great honour to be part of the inaugural Test side, leaving these shores. All details of the Tour are on this Spitfire National O60 County Championship's Website – see "Internationals and Tours"
The squad comprised Martin Pearse (Norfolk Captain), Bob Eames (Devon), Keith Daniels (Glos), Ray Swann (Northants), Mark Shimmons (Sussex), Ian Brown (Cheshire), Chris Lees (Cheshire), Steve Lynch (Bucks), Stuart Lott (Devon), Kevan Pratt (Essex), Richard Owen (Derby), Jim Smallbone (Hants), Alan Cook (Leics), Alan Hitchmough (Cheshire), Martin Hall Hants) Ted Levey (Herts).
Our fielding and running between the wickets was vastly superior, as was our batting. Their bowling was very good – even Geoff Dymock and John Gleeson couldn't get in the Test squad – both were at Armidale, as was Evan Chatfield for New Zealand.
As in a lot of ‘Masters' sports, England reigned supreme and only South Africa would be on a par with Australia. There is no facility for Over 50/60 cricket in India , Sri Lanka , Pakistan or West Indies , so there is no chance of playing them. However, we have played Australia now 8 times, winning 7 and one match tied.
Of great interest to Australian TV was the presence of Ray Swann, father of Graham, and rated once as the best cricketer never to play County cricket.'
1st Test Match (Manly, 15th November, Australia won the toss): Australia 145-7, 50 ovs (Alan Hitchmough 3-21); England 145-8, 50 ovs (Ray Swann 43*); Match Tied.
2nd Test Match (Manly, 16th November, Australia won the toss): Australia 96, 46.3 ovs(Chris Lees 4-21, Jim Smallbone 3-17); England 98-4, 29.5 ovs (Martin Pearse 29); England won by 6 wkts.
3rd Test Match (Armidale, 22nd November, Australia won the toss): Australia 109, 48.3 (Jim Smallbone 3-15); England 110-7, 43.5 ovs; England won by 3 wkts.
4th Test Match (Melbourne, 27th November, Australia won the toss): Australia 167-6 (Mark Shimmons 3-21); England 169-3 (Keith Daniels 98no); England won by 7 wkts.
5th Test Match (Geelong, 29th November, Australia won the toss): Australia 172 (Ian Fraser 80, Keith Daniels 5-11); England 175-3 (Ray Swann 73no, Ted Levey 47no); England won by 7 wkts.
6th Test Match (Casey Park) 1st December: Rained off; England won the series 4-0 with one match tied.
OUR NEW PRESIDENT - DAVID LLOYD
Chairman Martin Pearse announced to all the 33 participating Counties at the annual AGM in Leicester on
4th November, that the new President of the Spitfire National O60 Inter County Competition is former England
International and Sky Sports Commentator, David Lloyd. Chairman Martin Pearse said, ‘We are very honoured to have
David on board and he has intimated he might be able to fit a couple of games in for Lancashire next season, work
commitments permitting. With Senior participation at all major sports rapidly increasing, and the Television
companies taking an interest, it is fantastic for the 1,000+ O60 players playing in the competition to have such
a famous person as their figurehead.'
2011 Finals
Spitfire 60+ Championship Final at Oakham CC: (Essex won the toss) Cheshire 253-4, 45 ovs ( Alan Hitchmough 64, Nick Sharp 65); Essex 229-8, 45 ovs (Malcolm Wright 104, Chris Lees 3-28). Cheshire won by 29 runs.
Spitfire 60+ Plate at Dunstable Town CC: (Sussex won the toss) Northamptonshire 151-5, 30 ovs (ray Swann 60); Sussex 150-5, 30 ovs (Peter Gray 72*). Northamptonshire won by 1 run.
2nd XI Championship Final: (Sussex won the toss) Suffolk 192-6, 45 ovs; Sussex 179-7, 45 ovs (Andy Meads 50, Mark Sargeant 3-29). Suffolk won by 13 runs.
2nd XI Championship Plate: (Hertfordshire won the toss) Hertfordshire 187-3, 45 ovs (Chris Wright 90); Norfolk 191-1, 42.3 ovs (Terry Blundell 132*). Norfolk won by 9 wkts.
