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Introduction – On the occasion of reaching 66*

Exactly 66 years ago today as I begin this blog (28/1/2021) I was born at 4am in the morning during the tea interval in the 4th Ashes test at Adelaide with Australia on 119-3 in 100 degree heat. England went on to win the match by 5 wickets and take a 3-1 lead in the series to retain the Ashes, which was nice. That city went on to hold fond memories for me as I went there 36 years later on the Washington CC World Tour also in 100 degree heat and recorded my ‘career’ best score there against Pulteney Old Scholars.

I remember a conversation with Tom Rowse a former fast bowler for Truro CC and now umpire for Stithians CC about knowing when to retire from the game you’ve enjoyed and played most of your adult life. He described attempting to deliver a ball as he would have done in his prime only to pull several muscles that he hadn’t used in earnest for a good while and collapsing in a heap. Fortunately as a slow bowler my run up and action remained the same as it was at 9 when I was 64 so afforded a longevity greater than some did in the game. My moment came in what transpired to be my last ‘proper’ game of cricket playing for Cornwall Over 60s v Sussex Over 60s at Ferndown Wayfarers CC in Dorset.

I was fielding at slip being one of the only fielding positions left open to me being unable to run or throw to any great extent. A delivery from our opening bowler Mark Everett one of our permitted ‘youngsters’ at 59 was edged by their dominant opening batsman in my direction. The ball actually hit me on the fingers and hand drawing blood before I had time to react to it and of course that batsman went on to hit a match winning innings in a game that Sussex won by just 6 runs. Although Mark was one of our ‘quicks’ he was bowling at what could only be described as military medium (not sure where that expression comes from). At that moment I thought it was probably time to retire from playing the game as most of my on field activity was no longer an ‘avenue of pleasure’ so I decided to close it off after that experience. I played one more game that season in an end of season club match between Perranporth Over 40s and Under 40s and although I hadn’t fully decided to retire at the time the subsequent year of non-activity on the cricket field ensured that it would be the last time I donned the whites.

This blog is intended for those that have joined me on the journey that finally ended in that match. Over those 55 years of playing from school house matches at 9 years old to full internationals for Cornwall Over 60s v Wales I have made many friends and hopefully quite a few will read this blog and hopefully add any memories of their own from our playing and touring together.

A final appearance in an Over 40s v Under 40s match at Perranporth after a fine 1 not out.