Cricket – first game of the season

The first game of the season always feels tough on the legs. I was hoping that all the electioneering and my recent gym visits would have made up for being a year older. I was wrong.

Still, it was a lovely day, sunny, warm and no sign of rain. Very odd. Usually it only takes the sound of stumps being hammered into the ground to unsettle the weather.

Fielding for 40 overs was hard work. It seemed to go on for ever. I enjoyed diving around, stopping the ball for about 20 overs before it started to hurt.

It was good to meet up with friends who I have played against over the years. Lots of banter.

Playing against Granta is never easy. They had one new signing who will clearly make the first team. He put our bowling to the sword scoring an impressive 88. Chasing a big total is always a challenge and today the 257 seemed huge.

As I went out to open the batting I felt aching all over. Still, cricket is war and the battle needed to be won. After some dodgy shots I got into my stride and hit 85 before being caught. It should never have been that many as I was dropped three times, twice on the square leg boundary by the same person. Cheers Chris.

We eventually ran out a close second. The score was too much for us. A really great game of cricket.

County Chief Exec goes head to head with Cambridge ex Chief Exec and wins

This was a return cricket match between Cambridge City and Cambridge Horizons. Earlier in the season the city romped home as worthy victors. As this was to be the last game for Horizons the pressure was on. Alex Plant, manager, captain, kit provider, scorer and general all round good egg led the charge.

Horizons opened the batting, Horizons were quick off the mark with a four off the first ball. And so it continued. With each batsman being forced to retire at 25 we were soon changing batsman faster than England do when they face Sri Lanka.

The total raced to well over 150 for no loss of wicket, and on, and on, and on. A fine spell of umpiring by our own chief exec ensured there were no silly LBW decisions. Although it must be noted that Mark is a bowler and like all bowlers never gives a wide. I blame it on the velcro under his arms.

With the loss of only one wicket and a true cricket score on the board our 20 overs came to an end.

Rob Hammond, ex chief exec of the City Council, muttered dark thoughts. With a steely glint in his eyes he mustered his troops and sent his batsman to do battle. On a regular basis as they were quickly bowled, caught and run out. Could this be the moment when honour was restored to Horizons.

Suddenly, we had the sight of Rob taking his guard at the wicket. Despite this being a friendly game his jaw was set and the grin looked a little forced. At the other end Mark Lloyd was preparing to bowl. I couldn’t work out if he was marking out his run up or pawing the ground in expectation. Never have I seen Mark so serious. The battle of chief execs was on.

Rob played a couple of lovely shots, gaining valuable runs before Mark bent his back and ripped the stumps out of the ground. With much slapping of hands and leaping in the air, the game was ours.

Great fun, played in a fine spirit and only one reference from me about Lib Dems turning like a spinning ball. Fantastic. Apologies for any poetic licence demonstrated.

Fractured ankle

I have played cricket for more years than I care to remember. During this time I have broken a number of minor bones but nothing that has stopped me playing. I could not believe it, during the first game of the season, I was hit by a full blooded drive from about 4 meters right on my ankle. I now know that it was fractured that should have seen me go home but having taken a rest I went back out to open the batting. I managed 11 runs before scuttling off to A and E.

This all happened about the time I was elected Leader so it was not great timing. Luckily, it was declared a stable fracture so it was only pain that would hold me back rather than doing any further harm. This meant I could get rid of the boot after a week and the crutches after two. Now, apart from the pain, fully mobile.

I played cricket on saturday and managed to bat through scoring 133 not out – much better.