Review of the Bletchley Town CC U14 & U15 2010 Season
I think it would be prudent for me to start this review by thanking Dave Shepherd for the immense amount of hard work he has put in during the 2010 junior season. Notification of fixtures and team selection has taken place without a hitch and it is due to his organisational skills that it has run like clockwork – again.
It has been a fabulous season for Bletchley Town. The highlight came on 18 July when the U14’s narrowly lost the county cup final at Stowe School against Chesham who included at least 10 county players in their line up. But it was the fashion in which Bletchley reached that final that was so impressive. The side was placed in the Bucks Cricket Board Division One North and went through the entire league fixture list unbeaten. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, they then demolished High Wycombe in the semi final at Manor Fields on 4 July in style. Set a tough 115 to win Bletchley coasted home by nine wickets with 4.5 overs to spare.
The U14’s also played in the Shires Youth League which is more Northants county orientated. Victories against Overstone (twice), Wellingborough at home, Northampton Saints at home and Old Grammarians at home put Bletchley into the league semi final where they came unstuck against Wellingborough.
In all there were just five U15 fixtures and it should be noted that nearly all of the U15 squad were playing one and two years up. The U15’s won against Milton Keynes City, Olney Town and Great Brickhill but were beaten by a strong Stony Stratford side and narrowly at Osborne Street by Wolverton.
During the season one hears many comments from opposition parents and players and it is best to take most with a pinch of salt. However, the comment of one opposition parent after Matt had hit another glorious hundred really narked. I quote – “They are a one player side”. Oh the joy of parent politics!
Yes, Matt did have a fantastic season. He is such a talent. For the U14’s he hit a staggering 709 runs with a top score of 101. In his five innings for the U15’s Matt hit 274 runs with a top score of 122. It came as just reward that he was called into the Bucks squad this summer and has held his own for the county. It is credit to both Matt and his parents that he remains his usual level headed self. But, like the rest of us, Matt is human and when he has failed others have stepped up. Ben Talbot on many occasions, Michael Houpe, Satchi Mahendran, Kieran Forrest (a maiden fifty) and Martin Jones have all hit big scores when they were desperately needed.
And of course games are not won just by batsmen. Perhaps the biggest improvement this season has been in the bowling department. If this group of young bowlers continue to come on like they have done in the last few months then Bletchley Town will have a tremendously dangerous attack in the years ahead. There have been many highlights. On 6 June against Olney U15’s at Manor Fields, Michael Houpe took a hat-trick and ended up with figures of 4-0-6-4. Not only was Michael leading wicket taker for the U15’s but he was the second highest wicket taker for the U14’s with 18 wickets. When bowling well, Michael is a real handful.
The leading wicket taker for the U14’s was Martin Jones. Playing a year up, Martin ended the season with 21 victims. After a quiet start to the season Martin suddenly hit form against High Wycombe in the Bucks semi and then against Chesham in the final where he took 4-21 removing the top four. He finished the season taking numerous wickets with a mixture of away and in swingers.
Another bowler to improve beyond recognition has been Jamie Galvin. He ended up with 10 U14 wickets but what has been so impressive with Jamie is his miserly economy rate. Jamie is far from express pace but his accuracy is consistent and he builds pressure. It should also be noted that towards the end of the season Ben Talbot hit form with the ball which included a four wicket haul against Old Grammarians. Next season will be really interesting on the bowling front with Euan Copeland, Ben Parker and Jack Linthwaite all impressing.
It is critically important for cricket clubs to have a strong youth set up and Bletchley certainly have one. During the 2010 season several of the junior players have played in the senior sides. Matt Shepherd, Ben Talbot, Jamie Galvin, Satchi Mahendran, Martin Jones, Jack Linthwaite and Michael Houpe have all represented their club either in the Saturday 3rd XI or Sunday league side. After hitting 112 for the 3rd XI in May Matt has regularly been selected for the 2nd XI in the Cherwell League ever since – quite an achievement. Another remarkable achievement took place at Southill Park in a 2nd XI friendly fixture where captain Des Kane opened the bowling with Jamie Galvin and Martin Jones. Jamie proceeded to take a five wicket haul. If this wasn’t enough then in the 3rd XI fixture away at North Crawley Ben Talbot hit 73 not out after being asked to open the batting and Martin Jones took a 3 wicket haul. For those of us who have watched Ben bat this season one thing stands out about him. He has suddenly started to hit the ball really hard. He has terrific potential as an all round cricketer.
The club must be congratulated on their youth policy. Thank you Des Kane, Jason Heenan, Kevin Gladwin and Abs Premnath on having the courage to select these young players. In the Sunday league fixture against North Bucks Ambulance, Abs selected a side where only two players were over the age of eighteen. He was rewarded with a Bletchley victory.
In the final against Chesham all eleven players were superb in the field. Kieran Forrest, John Waite and Ben Parker were fantastic that day. But this is perhaps the one area that needs to be improved in 2011. If the players want to get to another league title and cup final then they will have to raise their game in the field. There is a big difference between U14 and U15 cricket.
I will finish this review of the season by congratulating the players on their friendship and commitment as a cricket team and on the way they have conducted themselves on and off the field.