Tring - County Game 1

The first match in the Australian Overs 70 cricket tour of England was a county game against Hertfordshire at Tring.

Tring Cricket Club was established in 1836 and has been playing at its current ground since 1873.

It had rained the previous day so while the groundsmen continued getting the ground ready for play the Australians warmed up for the game.

The umpires supervised the toss which was won by Australia who decided to bowl on a damp pitch.

The Australian team photo was then taken.

There was also a photograph taken of both teams.

Hertfordshire, batting twelve, was all out for 101.

Australian bowling: Tim Spear 1 for 10 off 4, Colin Cooke 2 for 10 off 9, Robin Court 2 for 18 off 7, Stirling Hamman 1 for 11 off 5, Roger Edmunds 0 for 7 off 6, Alan Reid 1 for 34 off 6 and Tom Wood 4 for 9 off 7. Catches to Wavell McPherson, Alan Reid, John Terrell and Tim Spear (2), plus a stumping to John Terrell.

The Australian batsmen scored 3 for 104 in 20.4 overs. Australian batting: Tom Wood 52 retired, Stirling Hamman 17 no, Roger Edmunds 15 no, John Stackpoole 8 and Ian Petherick 4.

During the afternoon I decided to explore Tring.

As the sign states, Tring has been a market town since 1315.

The Memorial Garden is a pleasant, quiet place to relax.

Buildings of character line the main street.

The church of St Peter and St Paul is a prominent building in the town. This building dates back to the 15th century however there has been a parish church in Tring since 1214.

The archway to Sutton Court is an impressive structure built in 1825.

I also passed this narrow building but have not been able to locate any information about it. I am sure that there is a story to tell.

Back at the cricket ground the players had time to relax after the game.

After a meal at the ground the Australian contingent returned to the hotel after a successful day.

Maldon - County Game 2

The second County Game for the tour was against Essex at Maldon.

The game was played at Maldon Cricket Club, Drapers Farm, Heybridge.

The clubrooms were formerly an old barn which has plenty of character.

Drapers Farm dates back to the 1500s.

The interior of the barn was quite impressive.

The Australian players had their warm up session before the game.

The players then posed for the team photo.

Australia batted first and at the end of the innings were 5 for 226. Ian A Gibson 51 retired, John Terrell 50 retired, Harry Solomons 33, Roger Edmunds 16, Ian Petherick 15, John Costello 15 (retired hurt), Ron Kasputtis 15 not out, Alan Reid 13 and Robin Court 10 not out.

In their 45 overs Essex managed a score of 9 for 120 - Robin Court 2 for 7 off 4; Ron Kasputtis 2 for 10 off 5; Bruce Pooley 2 for 19 off 5; John Terrell 1 for 13 off 4; Phil Smith 1 for 22 off 9; Alan Reid 1 for 28 off 8. Colin Cooke took two catches while Phil Smith and Ian Petherick each took one.

It was a comfortable win for the Australian team however two of our players were injured - John with a hamstring injury and Harry with a shoulder injury.

A member of the Maldon Cricket Club arranged for the ladies to be taken into Maldon to have a look around.

We were left at Promenade Park on the Blackwater Estuary. A number of Thames barges are moored at Hythe Quay.

These barges are a reminder of the past when they were a regular sight on the Thames in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

These were just some of the variety of boats to be seen on the mud flats.

I then wandered into the town.

The church of St Mary the Virgin at the Hythe. A Saxon church was originally on this site to be replaced by a Norman church in 1130. It served as an important church for seafarers.

There were many interesting buildings and streetscapes.

The Moot Hall dates back to1420 when it was built as a tower attached to a timber manor house.

We found taxis to return us to the cricket ground and arrived back to watch the second half of the game.

After the match there was a spread of salads and cold meats to enjoy.

Fakenham - County Game 3

Friday 3 August saw us travel to the Fakenham Cricket Club.

The driveway to the clubrooms is lined with flowers making a bright welcome.

In this match Australia was to play a combined Norfolk and Suffolk team.

Australia won the toss and batted. Tom Wood (50 retired), John Stackpoole (33), Ian B Gibson (50 retired), Stirling Hamman (48), John Terrell (27) and Ian A Gibson (26 not out) all contributed to Australia's innings of 4 for 245.

After tea Norfolk/Suffolk made 6 for 127 off 45 overs. Tim Spear (2 for 24 off 7) and Ron Kasputtis (1 for 16 off 7) opened the bowling. Wickets were also taken by Tom Wood, Phil Smith and Stirling Hamman. An excellent day’s cricket at this pretty ground.

During the afternoon the seagulls arrived and strutted around the ground.

Banbury - County Game 4

Monday 6 August we set off in the coach to Banbury.

The players and WAGs gathered in front of the hotel as the coach was packed with cricket bags.

The day's match was at the Banbury Twenty Cricket Club where Australia was to play the Chairman's Eleven.

In 1932 twenty men had founded the cricket Club hence the name Banbury Twenty.

For this game the scorers watched the game from the scorers' shed.

The players checked the pitch before the game.

One of the players took the opportunity to dry his washing.

The Australian team for this game posed for a pre-match photograph.

Australian captain, Ian Petherick, lost the toss and the Chairman’s Eleven chose to bat on a flat wicket and quick ground. Although the Australian bowlers bowled tightly it was difficult yo break the opening partnership. Eventually, Robin Court broke through and Alan Reid took a wicket, and an Ian Petherick throw to Wavell McPherson effected a run out. The Chairman's Eleven made 3 for 222 off its allocated 45 overs.

Australia's innings ended at the end of the 42nd over when they were all out for 221, one run short of the Chairman's Eleven total. John Stackpoole (43) and Wavell McPherson (26) opened the batting while Ian Petherick (41) and Alan Reid (24) continued the good work in the top order. A middle-order collapse was followed by a bright 43 from Tim Spear.

We had special visitors at the game when James, Melissa, Zoe and Eliza came to watch Robin play cricket.

The girls entertained the spectators and players from both teams at the game.

Ron and Eliza doing high fives.

When they tired of watching cricket the girls entertained themselves with their colouring and sticker books.

Although the Australian team narrowly lost the match it was a good, tight game - good preparation for the first ODI  against England which was the next match.