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And it was at Romford where I met another hero
of the recreational game, John Stuck, who has 209 hundreds in his career, but was umpiring that day. It was a straight 40-over contest rather than the kind of declaration game Stucky will have seen so many of. But I happen to think there is certainly still tactical (and diplomatic) value in the timed games which are the club’s stock-in-trade.
I played a friendly at the tail-end of last season for my club, Flitwick CC, in a glorious setting at Great Gaddesden in the Chilterns, with a pub perfectly positioned at square leg and a macaw ying across from the neighbouring farm.
We’d taken with us a decent XI including some rst- teamers, and the occasion was crying out for us to bat rst to a declaration, leaving their older (but still decent) side enough overs to have a go... But their young captain wanted the clarity of 40 overs a side. We’re very happy to be playing them again this year, so let’s see.
As for how recreational cricket emerges out of these past 12 months, there is one factor which I hope will work in the Forty Club’s advantage. For those members still in employment, it could well be that the move towards home working, assuming it remains to some degree after the pandemic,
will make it easier for some to slope o for an afternoon’s cricket.
Where time allows I hope to discover more of
the grounds in East Anglia. I know a xture at Old Buckenham CC in Norfolk has been on the Eastern Counties’ radar.
I have just written an article for The Cricketer with Jack Russell, the great wicketkeeper, now-painter, about him recreating on canvas the match between a virtual England Test XI and Warwick Armstrong’s Australian tourists at Old Buckenham Hall, 100 years ago this May. The inspiration for the painting was that Jack Hobbs played what he considered his most uent innings in that game.
Against the might of Australia’s pace pair Ted McDonald and Jack Gregory, Hobbs said he never timed the ball better. It was perfect preparation for facing the Aussies in the ve-match Ashes series to follow. And then, on 85, he twanged his thigh running a quick single... his batting partner Vallance Jupp heard it pop as he ran past him.
From Jack Hobbs to Last Man Jack in the Forty Club, twanging a muscle in one of the opening games of the season...
That’s something many of us can all relate to, and we certainly all wish to avoid in 2021.
I
n his days as a pupil at King’s College Taunton, Roger played a couple of times against the Forty Club. Former DC of WE John Williams recalls sixes being hit over the pavilion roof.
After he left Taunton College, he played for Warwickshire CCC when he realised that he
would struggle to ever get into an England side. He migrated to New Zealand in 1991/92 to pursue his cricket ambitions and was rewarded with a rst cap for New Zealand in 1995.
During an XL tour of New Zealand in 2001, Williams invited Twose to an XL drinks party, and he accepted, bringing Scott Styris with him.
Kings College has produced a crop of wonderful 1st class cricketers - Richard Harden, Roger Twose, Jos Buttler and Tom Banton to name a few.
Twose has replaced Greg Barclay as NZC Director after the latter had to step down after being nominated as the chairman of the International- Cricket Council (ICC).
The Forty Club 2021 Yearbook
19
ROGER TOWSE APPOINTED DIRECTOR
OF NEW ZEALAND CRICKET.
Greg Bowkker
NEWS