Terry Crump

HAVE BADGE WILL TRAVEL - A DYING BREED

By Terry Crump

The tradition of Committee Members of County Cricket Clubs  visiting and being hosted by the home sides’ Committee in County Championship matches, was very long established before I was elevated to the Position of Chairman of Hampshire Cricket Members’ Committee. In fact I was visiting County Clubs with my Hampshire Cricket Members’ Committee badge firmly in place on my blazer lapel before 2010. However, by the time I resigned the position of Chairman in 2016, the tradition was faltering and now, Hampshire no longer has a Members’ Committee. I was privileged to host guests of every County Cricket Club and even more privileged to be hosted by all but one County Cricket Club (I never managed to visit Durham CCC). The pleasure of visiting County Cricket Committee Facilities was always heightened by the anecdotes shared by long serving Committee men and the plethora of Professional Cricketers that populated them.

I’ve included the expression “A Dying Breed’” in the Title of this column because so many of the interesting people and cricketing legends I had the honour to share time with between 2010 and 2016 watching cricket have passed away. In addition, the make-up of the bodies that govern County Clubs had changed so radically that by 2019 fewer visitors made it to Hampshire as Committee Guests. Hampshire do still host visiting dignitaries but it is a role now fulfilled by Hampshire Cricket Vice Presidents.

To begin with, in the following pages, I recall some of the away fixtures I attended as Hampshire’s representative and the guest of the home side’s Committee.

The other part of the Column Title, “Have Badge will Travel”, is not surprising because it was the done thing to wear your County Committee Badge as a kind of entry prerequisite. The traditional fixed points in all County Club hosting is maintained to this day and are:

coffee and a welcome at the start of the morning, a ‘drink’ at Noon, a meal taken at the Lunch break in innings, a light snack at the Tea break in innings and then a ‘drink’ at 1700 in the final session of the day.

So here we go with “Have Badge Will Travel - A Dying Breed”. 

I’m going to start by writing an article once a month, with some interesting away wins for Hampshire, which you might find interesting. Some of you reading the articles may well have been at the grounds with me; your memories may be a little different but maybe that is because I was plied with wine and  sumptuous Lunches (although I never dozed off during play, honest!).

I’m going to begin at the beginning with a game that I very much enjoyed.

 17,18,19, 20 May 2010

Nottinghamshire v Hampshire at Trent Bridge

Going to Trent Bridge has always been a guilty pleasure. I love the Pavilion with its arched doorway, topped by a sun ray window; the NCCC inscription split by a red cricket ball and the steps that lead from that door to the green of the grass below. The iconic balcony on top of balcony frontage, the history the building represents and the fine players that have graced the playing area. 

I have many happy memories of times spent in the Committee Rooms with viewing balcony off to the left as you look at the Main Pavilion. Hours spent in the company of Stuart Foster, (the one time Chairman of Cricket), Bill Taylor and Basharat (Basher) Hassan, (past Nottingham professionals) and the incomparable historian and true gentleman Peter Wynne-Thomas; such happy times.

As I arrived in the Committee Room on May 17th, Stuart, Bill and Basher were waiting with coffee, handshakes and smiles. They were, as usual, confident of a win, not least because Hampshire had failed to get a victory yet, while Notts were going well, having won their last four.

Hampshire elected to put Notts in first, on a wicket that I was told was dry, already showing a few cracks and looked like it might be a bit lively. It proved exactly that,  as Hampshire took early wickets, Cork and Tomlinson taking two each, reducing Nottinghamshire to a miserly 29 runs. Notably ‘Tommo’ bowled a snorter that hit Hales’ pad plumb in front to send him back to the hut with a duck!

Lunch was fun for me that day with Notts five down, only one hundred and eight on the scoreboard and basking in the fact that the first session went to Hampshire without question. As was generally the case the Notts Committee were gracious but reminded me that there was a long way to go! After Lunch, Brown and Read gave good accounts of themselves in partnerships with Mullaney, who was finally dismissed, three short of a century when he edged one from Balcombe to Pothas. Franks batted solidly to a half-century and was still there when in the eighty fifth over Pattinson (lbw) and Shreck (caught Pothas) both fell to Tomlinson to give him a magnificent ‘fivefer’.  Good aggressive bowling by Cork and Balcombe was rewarded by two wickets each, Ervine got the wicket of the dangerous Brown (42) and  little ‘Harry’ Herath was magic, bowling fifteen overs, five maidens for only 19 runs in a Notts innings of 270.

Then it was Hampshire’s turn and our two openers Adams and Dawson walked out to the middle. Unfortunately Liam after finding the boundary only managed to face eight balls before edging one to Read off a good ball by Pattinson.

At the end of the day, Hampshire were 23 for 1 with James Tomlinson holding up one end as night watchman. I left the ground happy with an enjoyable day’s cricket and banter.

The second day dawned and I turned up to Trent Bridge in good humour and optimistic. The usual faces were there and I once again got a very warm welcome over coffee before play started.

Our Nightwatchman didn’t last long with Pattinson roaring in he found the edge and ‘Tommo’ nicked off to Read having scored 5. Chris Benham took guard and with Jimmy in good form the pair put on 115 before Shrek castled Benham (38). Jimmy was joined by that year’s overseas signing Neil McKenzie, who hadn’t shown much form in previous four-day games. Unfortunately for Jimmy, with no additional runs on the board in the next three overs, he nicked off to Read from an excellent delivery from Franks and had to walk, 4 short of what would have been an outstanding century. Hampshire now four down for 168. James Vince joined ‘Mac’ in the middle but went for a duck after only four deliveries from Franks. Sean Ervine  entered the fray, played steadfastly and with McKenzie took the score to 242 before Neil was out for a fine 55, ‘leg before’, to become Pattinson third of the day.  Ervine (31)stayed at the crease until the end, watching Pothas (22), Cork (11), Balcombe (4) and Herrath last man out for 1, as Hampshire finished with a decent 305.

Day three was bright and looking forward to a fine day of Hampshire bowling, I  walked around Trent Bridge watching the warm up football and fielding practice before a strong coffee and a couple of Notts hospitality biscuits on my own in the Committee Room. Bill and Stuart joined me as the play began and we watched the first twenty overs of the home team’s second innings as Shafayat, Edwards, Patel came and went. Hayles was in full attacking mode once he got his eye in. Although others never really got going, with Cork and Ervine bowling especially well, Hales reached his century and more (136) before Cork had him caught by Benham off a looser shot. Franks survived until Cork captured him with an edge to Pothas. 22 runs later Ervine cleaned out Pattinson and then got Shreck to waft one into the safe hands of Vince. Cork and Ervine finished with ‘4fers’, with Tomlinson and Balcombe taking one apiece.

Hampshire managed seven runs without loss in the 2 overs before the close and so I went back to my hotel contented.

I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be plain sailing on Day Four. I only just made the start of play on the Thursday. It was going to be quite an ask to get 281 on a difficult track and our opening pair both fell within ten runs of each other for matching scores of 21 before Lunch; Jimmy Adams getting the slightest edge off a ball from Andre Adams and ‘Daws flashing at a ball from Franks that was too far outside the off stump resulting in him nicking off for Brown to ‘gather in’.  Adams and Franks were pressurising Hampshire, especially after the first break. Benham and McKenzie both looked good in the early afternoon and took us past the ‘hundred up’ before the dangerous Andre Adams got one to move one of Benham’s stumps from the vertical. Benham had done well and was only 5 short of a half-century. Vince came and went for 8. 

At Tea I was getting twitchy as we went in for the break at 178/4. ‘Slug’ (Sean Ervine) did well to get 26 off 54 balls but fell just after Tea, ‘leg before’ to one that Patel got to turn. Pothas (17) went and then in the next over Cork (1) holed out  to Hales on the boundary trying to smash one from Andre Adams. McKenzie was still there but we were still short of the mark when Balcombe was trapped with a rap on his Pad from a swinging ball from the dangerous Pattinson.

Overs were running out only 10 overs and 3 balls to go with odds on a Notts win. McKenzie was majestic, the Notts Skipper couldn’t seem to find field placing to restrict Neil McKenzie but when ‘Harry’ Herath walked down the steps and took his place on the stage I was none too confident, remembering how we had lost all ten wickets in the last session in the game against Essex. Herath looked a diminutive figure out in the middle but he played a GIANT’s role. 

Neil McKenzie hit two magnificent sixes and little ‘Harry’ cracked two boundaries as he managed 10 runs while ‘King Mac’ amassed a beautiful 115, smashing the winning runs with only seven balls remaining in the match.

McKenzie and Herath embraced in the middle and I had to remain unmoved (as was expected in a Committee Room - no gloating allowed) as I shook hands and said “well played” and “thank you” to my hosts.

I left as high as a kite. Hampshire had their first win and what a win! It was a stunning victory! 

HAVE BADGE WILL TRAVEL - A DYING BREED

By Terry Crump

My second match in this series of ‘Have Badge will Travel” is from August/September 2011.

Somerset v Hampshire

There are few grounds around the country that have remained unchanged in the past two decades and Taunton’s County Cricket Ground has changed considerably since I first visited it. The River Tone still ripples from the balls hit into it by Botham and Richards but in the past 14 years the old parts of the ground have disappeared with a new pavilion, the apartments that border the ground and new facilities taking their place. However, you can still see the same sight looking towards the two church towers (St James and St Mary Magdalene) and below that vista one can still see the Gimlet’s Hill seating; a place I still go and sit for a while in the early morning before a game begins.

I have memories that make me smile involving Roy and Lynn Kerslake, Richard and Sandra Parsons, Viv Brewer, Vick Marks and Brian Rose. There are many more people that over the years made me feel welcome, cheerful and comfortable as a representative of Hampshire Cricket at the home of Somerset County Cricket Club. For me, any day of cricket at Taunton begins with a walk from the Castle Hotel to the ground; out along Castle Bow, through the town via North Street, crossing the road into St James Street, past the Ring of Bells, onto Priory Street and hence in through the Gate. So it was on the last day of August in 2011. I’m generally optimistic at the beginning of any game, because as any cricket follower knows, anything one imagines can happen and usually does; just when you don’t expect it!

At the end of April Hampshire had been beaten into second best on our home ground by Somerset and despite my joy at welcoming a large Somerset Committee contingent, it was hard to smile and give the customary sporting handshake and “Well Played” to seal the finish. We had lost by 9 wickets after a fine first innings by Somerset led by a magnificent Trescothick Double Century. Here at Taunton the season was coming to a close with Hampshire fighting to avoid relegation from the top flight, with only two previous wins in the whole of the season. Hampshire had Somerset, Lancashire and Warwickshire to overcome to stay up, while Somerset were still in the race for the top spot. Marcus Trescothick was absent from this match and Alfonso Thomas, often a thorn in Hampshire’s side was named as Somerset Skipper. Hampshire elected to take to the field first and out walked Suppiah and Barrow to enthusiastic Somerset support. Suppiah faced less than a ‘score’ of balls before ‘Tommo’ took out his stumps for a very moderate return (3 runs). Chris Jones went in the seventh over, not playing a genuine shot to a good ball from Chris Wood, that clattered Jones’ pad and got the finger from Martin Saggers to send him on the path to the Pavilion. It soon became clear that Jimmy Adams had made the correct call to bowl first, as by Lunch, Somerset were almost down and out at 86 for 7.

Thomas held out for a while after Lunch, with Murali Kartik (59*) putting in a very resilient effort before Chris Wood found the edge of Charl Willoughby’s timber, that was gratefully pouched by Carberry. I was still in shock because Trego, so often a match winner against us, had gone very cheaply (4) to a beautiful ball by Dimmi Mascarenhas. So there it was, Somerset done for in the 59th over for poor pickings (204). ‘Tommo’s’ figures of 3/40 and ‘Imi’ Tahir’s 2/22 stand-outs in a bowling display that saw Wood, Mascarenhas and Ervine bowling exceptionally well and taking wickets at regular intervals. This was heavy stuff in the Committee Room and Somerset’s President, Roy Kerslake, looked stunned but was sporting in his congratulations; likewise the Somerset supporters around me. However, you could feel the optimism of the home team’s backers, quiet but clearly partisan. 

Hampshire’s openers were going to face a wicket hardly changed from the start of the day. Captain, Jimmy Adams looked very determined and Liam Dawson had his usual young swagger as they walked to their place centre stage. Unfortunately, in the first over Willoughby let fly a beauty that beat Liam’s defence on the third ball he faced to find his pad and he had to trudge back to the Pavilion with an imaginary quacking in his ear. That loss brought ‘Carbs’ to the crease. With a slow but steady approach to some challenging bowling, ‘Bison’ and ‘Carbs’ saw out the first day pretty much stroke for stroke (Adams 57*, Carberry 65*) to get Hampshire to 124/1.

I spent a great evening in the Brasserie at the Castle Hotel with some Hampshire supporters and retired feeling really positive.

Day 2 brought the customary welcome by the ground’s gatekeeper and I watched the warm-ups from a bench on Gimlet’s Hill. I was welcomed by Richard Parsons (a past Chairman and future President) whose handshake was the type that was vigorous and seemingly never ending. The Committee Room Steward (a man that had served coffee to visitors for over two decades but whose hands also shook vigorously, so that there was often as much coffee in the saucer as in the cup). The Steward did his duty and after greetings from the Somerset faithful, I settled down to watch a couple of outstanding innings that took Hampshire through Lunch and on to Tea without loss (373/1). Tea in the Committee facilities was not unlike Lunch; very quiet and resigned! The final session of Day 2 saw us lose 3 wickets: Carberry (for a magnificent 182), McKenzie (5) and Vince (6), all caught behind by a young, upcoming and exciting Keeper called Jos Butler. 1st September came to a close with Ervine holding up an end with 56*, while Jimmy Adams, playing a true Captain’s innings reaching his ‘Double’ (204*).

Oh how I floated back to the Castle Hotel, like a leaf riding the River Tome, calling in at the Ring of Bells for a ‘couple of sherberts’; before going out with a couple of nameless Hampshire Squad members for an Indian. Then a few (or more) beers in the Castle Bar.

I can’t say my walk to the Ground on the morning of Day Three was clear-headed but after a sit in the fresh air on Gimlet’s Hill and a black coffee, the day began with Adams falling to a good ball from his opposing captain that ended up off the edge into Butler’s very adequate gloves. Jimmy had played one of his best innings, a knock that can only be described as a tenacious and terrific 207. ‘Slug’ lasted another seventeen overs so close to a fabulous ton (98 off of 119 balls) falling following the loss of Michael Bates (15) who was another victim of Butler behind the stumps. ‘Woody’ chipped in with 20 off 14’. Then ‘Dimi’ played his part with a lovely 30 off as many balls, alongside a really terrific knock by Imran Tahir 22* off only 12 balls. When Dimi went ‘Tommo’ made 2* alongside ‘Imi’ before The Captain called a halt at Lunch with Hampshire at 627/9d.

Session Two on Day three saw Somerset’s first three batters dismissed for only 23 runs and I was becoming more and more excited, expecting Hampshire’s third win in four matches by the end of Day Three. As usual, I was wrong about not having to come back on the final Day.  James Hildreth (45), Jos Butler (35) and Peter Trego (32) did exceptionally well against some fine bowling by Mascarenhas and Tahir but it was Craig Meschede and Alfonso Thomas that started to show some real resistance. Somerset ended the day on 266/7 with Thomas on 79* and the weather looking doubtful for Day 4. I enjoyed a meal with a couple of fellow travellers and got an early(ish) night.

The 3rd September dawned grey and more than a little overcast. The main question wasn’t “could Hampshire win?” but “would the weather steal the win?” by letting Somerset hold out until the promised rain forced a draw. Somerset on 266 needed 157 to make Hampshire bat again and avoid an innings defeat, with rain certainly a possible helping hand if it arrived in time. Somerset didn’t flinch and Thomas, who went in on the previous day with his side 132 for six, faced 141 balls and hit 12 fours and a six. Somerset fought to hold out until they could benefit from the threatening rain break. Thomas added 15 to his overnight score before ‘Imi’ deceived him and caused him to mistime a full blooded drive straight to Captain Fantastic, Jimmy Adams, at mid-on. Murali Kartik knocked off 26 in an eighth-wicket stand of 50 and Steve Kirby hit 14 as part of a valiant fight. Even at the death last man Charl Willoughby took the fight to Hampshire, with grey menacing skies brooding and foretelling rain - Willoughby swung his bat to make an unbeaten 23. Somerset, still hopeful of a saviour in the form of rain squall, managed to last two balls past the 21st over of the day reaching 362 but the rain hadn’t arrived. 

Dimitri Mascarenhas’ three wickets were a reflection of his usual fine spells of bowling. Chris Wood took a fine catch at Point to give Tahir the final wicket of Kirby and a 4-fer. Hampshire had won in fine style by an innings and 61 runs. Hampshire got 23 points which gave us a chance of survival (that was not to be) and Somerset only took away 2 points which seriously curtailed their challenge, with the injury to Trescothick, without doubt, playing a part in their ultimate failure to secure that first ever Championship title.

My relationship with Roy and Lynn Kerslake, Richard and Sandra Parsons continues to this day. The company of Vick Marks and Brian Rose was educational but now sadly the lovely Viv Brewer is no longer alive, although his daughter-in-law (an especially nice lady) is on the Somerset Board. 

I love my visits to Taunton and I loved this 2011 visit in particular.