Devon Under 16's
2000 Season's Report
Played 12 Won 8 Lost 3 Abandoned 1 Cancelled 1
Inter County Champions
FRIENDLY FIXTURES
v MILLFIELD SCHOOL at Axminster C.C. – Devon lost by 2 runs
MILLFIELD SCHOOL 188 all out (J.Toms 4-22)
DEVON 186 all out (J.Gibson 30, B.Glover 55, D.Field 31)
v WALES at Sandford C.C. – Match abandoned
DEVON 35-1
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
v DORSET at Bryanstone School - Devon won by 8 wickets
DORSET 174-6
DEVON 175-2 (N.Bettis 100*, J.Gibson 52*)
v CORNWALL at Penzance C.C. – Devon won by 6 wickets
CORNWALL 98 all out (J.Toms 4-24)
DEVON 101-4 (N.Bettis 40)
v ISLE OF WIGHT at Axminster C.C. – Devon won by 218 runs
DEVON 303-6 (R.Barron 30, D.Saunders 88, O.Pitts 63)
ISLE OF WIGHT 85 all out (O.Pitts 4-4)
Semi-final
v HERTFORDSHIRE at Haileybury – Devon won by 35 runs
DEVON 230-9 (B.Garner 64, N.Bettis 58)
HERTFORDSHIRE 195 all out (J.Toms 3-25)
Final
v WARWICKSHIRE at Haileybury – Devon won by 38 runs
DEVON 220-8 (R.Barron 31, N.Bettis 64)
WARWICKSHIRE 182-9 (N.Price 3-20)
THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
v SUFFOLK at Shanklin C.C. - Devon won by 52 runs
DEVON 290-7 (R.Barron 34, N.Bettis 33, N.Price 54*, J.Toms 51)
SUFFOLK 238-8
v HERTFORDSHIRE at GKN Westlands – Devon lost by 1 run
HERTFORDSHIRE 227-5 (J.Gibson 4-31)
DEVON 226 all out (R.Barron 57, O.Pitts 45, J.Toms 50)
v ESSEX at Ventnor C.C – Devon lost by 4 runs
ESSEX 262-6 (D.Field 5-47)
DEVON 258-8 (B.Garner 40, N.Bettis 99, O.Pitts 40)
v FRANCE at Ryde C.C. - Devon won by 214 runs
DEVON 284-6 (N.Bettis 125, N.Price78*)
FRANCE 70 all out (D.Field 5-13)
v ISLE OF WIGHT at Brading C.C. - Devon won by 4 wickets
ISLE OF WIGHT 128 all out (J.Gibson 3-9, D.Field 4-27)
DEVON 129-6 (R.Barron 36)
THE 2000 SQUAD
J.Gibson (Captain), N.Price (Vice Captain), R.Barron, N.Bettis, D.Field, B.Garner, B.Glover, J.Hoyle, J.Lamswood, O.Pitts, D.Price, S.Rowe, D.Saunders, J.Toms, R.Tucker, R.Warner, A.Williams, W.Withey.
There are good seasons and there are not so good ones but as the under 17’s and 19’s experienced in 1998 there are also exceptional ones. Whereas in 1998 these two fine sides sadly fell at the final hurdle of a national final this year’s under 16’s went one better and won a magnificent game against a strong Warwickshire side. A wonderful combined achievement. To be a successful team you need many ingredients: natural ability; skill; nerve; charisma; enthusiasm; inspiration; commitment; spirit; humour; courage; a good attitude and cohesion. Well all of these attributes and many more were evident in this top quality squad well led by James Gibson and Nat Price. In David Gibson they have a very fine coach and motivator who experienced the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle with the 19’s in 1998 and he was determined to make sure that his side did not follow suit. The weather in the 2000 season started badly and we were to experience some problems with rain but the final week in the Isle of Wight was played in exceptional conditions as the sun shone on the righteous all week.
The millennium season commenced at Axminster with a friendly fixture against Millfield School. Our visitors won the toss and elected to bat and Somerset’s outstanding batting prospect Stokes scored an exceptional hundred. His 103 dominated the school’s innings of 188 in 49.4 overs with only one other player and extras reaching double figures. James Toms put in a telling spell and David Field and James Gibson picked up a couple of wickets apiece. The target was to prove more interesting than at first anticipated as Devon collapsed to 49-6. Debutant Brett Garner, on his home ground, reached double figures and Neil Bettis scored 28 but it was a seventh wicket partnership of 40 between the skipper James Gibson and Ben Glover that retrieved the situation. Gibson hit two big sixes but when he was well set he gave a tame return catch for a 30 that should have been much more! The pressure was now on the lower order and they responded superbly. Fortunately Ben Glover was well set, playing with great composure and with David Field put on an excellent 80 for the eighth wicket. At 173–7 the side were back on course but as so often happens two quick wickets fell and the score suddenly became 173-9. David Field was to prove throughout the season what a fine batsman he is and it was with acute embarrassment that he ended up as our number 11. In itself it indicates what a strong batting side this team are. However Field was bowled for a forty-five ball 31 and within 4 minutes his stalwart partner Glover was also back in the pavilion for a county best 55. He had batted for 84 minutes, faced 87 balls, hit 8 fours and had seen the score advance from 49 to 173, a gutsy performance. The last wicket pairing of Richard Warner and Jack Hoyle were faced with 50 balls to score the fifteen runs. Both did well to take the score to 186 when Devonian Tom Simon returned to bowl Hoyle with the side just two runs short. A good pipe opener, which showed the batting strength and character of the side.
We travelled to Sherborne School for the first County Championship game against Dorset and not a ball was bowled -very frustrating. Wales were our next opponents in a friendly at Sandford. Despite incredible efforts by the host club a torrential rainstorm brought the game to an early conclusion just after lunch after 13 overs. The time at the crease had given Garner an opportunity of showing his ability at running between the wickets and Bettis an opportunity of showing he was not frightened of hitting the ball in the air as he was dropped twice!! We all turned up at Axminster for our annual game with the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School but it was again the rain that had the final word and we had yet another total washout.
The Dorset game was rearranged but not surprisingly on a date not convenient for all of the squad. This gave under 15 players James Lamswood, Stephen Rowe and Richard Tucker an opportunity of being involved with the squad, with Tucker on this occasion acting as twelfth man. When Dorset won the toss and batted,. Lamswood soon got into the act with a neat catch behind off Toms. Rowe bowled a very tidy opening spell and after 20 overs Dorset were only scoring at two an over. All seemed to be going to plan with the side looking a high-quality unit in the field and bowling well. However an interesting approach to batting by the Dorset middle order enabled their side to score at just under 4½ an over for the last 30 overs. Needing 3½ an over Devon rode the early loss of two wickets for 16 as Neil Bettis and James Gibson put on an undefeated 159 for the third wicket. A batting performance of the highest standard with, most important of all, a positive approach and excellent running between the wickets. Bettis scored a most deserved maiden hundred for the county facing 128 balls, batting for 143 minutes and hitting 9 fours in his 100 not out. Gibson batted equally well as he chaperoned his partner to his century. Gibson reached 52 off 85 balls, which included 6 fours and took 129 minutes. A tremendous all round win which set us up for the next game against Cornwall.
Penzance Cricket Club was the venue as the side put on their first high-powered performance of the season. It was daunting. Captain Nat Price lost the toss and Cornwall had first use of the pitch. Price and Toms charged in for a superb opening spell as Cornwall were reduced to 6-3, with Saunders picking up two catches behind and Bettis taking a fine slip catch. Somerset Academy prospect Adam Barber decided to take the initiative and took on his future colleague Nat Price by despatching him into the next-door graveyard and taking twenty off one over. Toms then had Barber trapped leg before and the danger subsided as Cornwall were now 50-4. Wickets kept falling with Saunders and Bettis taking additional catches and the Devon under 15 captain Aaron Williams, on his debut, throwing out Grenfell with a direct hit from 30 metres. Cornwall were dismissed for 98 in 39 overs. It had been a splendid fielding and bowling performance of the highest quality. A score of just under a hundred can sometimes prove to be difficult so it was decided that we would attack it. Pinch hitter Ollie Pitts opened the batting and his shoulders. He watched his partner Wesley Withey run himself out but hit an eighteen ball 19 and the side were on course. Neil Bettis took over the pinch-hitting, destroying Cornwall’s top leg spin prospect Munday with a nineteen ball 40. A top cameo innings, which included one six and six fours. Daniel Saunders was meanwhile showing that there was some culture in the side and his straight four would not be bettered all season. Saunders fell for an important 22 and Williams and Toms took the team home in 19.1 overs. A victory to store and enjoy in the memory bank.
A win against the Isle of Wight was needed to take the side through to the final stages of this nationwide competition. This win was duly completed at Axminster against a young inexperienced side that unfortunately did not have a look in, in spite of including in their squad two under 14’s who will be touring the West Indies with the West in 2001. Devon did all that was needed batting first they amassed 303 in the 50 overs with Barron beginning to find his county feet with a neat 30, Bettis chipping in with 29 and Saunders with Pitts putting on 115 for the fourth wicket. Successful batting performances are all about partnerships and this was another fine performance. Daniel Saunders is going to become one of the key batsman in the two-day game, which must in turn put some pressure on how long he continues to keep wicket. He has now grown into a fine athlete and he deserved his maiden county hundred. He hits the ball hard with a fine technique and he scored 88 off 91 balls hitting two sixes and twelve fours. He batted for 132 minutes, of which seventy were with Ollie Pitts who scored a typical 63 in the partnership. Pitts is an unselfish cricketer that every team needs, he is prepared to take risks for the side and his all round strength is a great asset to the side and he is a magnificent motivator. It is disappointing to learn that he is under some pressure to give more time to his rugby. His 63 came up in 55 minutes with forty-eight scored in fours. Both Saunders and Pitts were run out demonstrating the fine line between success and failure in this very important element of cricket. Sandford’s under 15 Richard Tucker, rewarded for his trips around the south west as twelfth man with a game, made his début scoring a very promising 19.
Skipper Nat Price who had been undefeated in our innings and Toms took early wickets as the Isle of Wight were never allowed to get into the hunt. The two leg spinners Brett Garner and Richard Warner each took a couple of wickets but it was Pitts who bowled the most damaging spell taking 4-4 appropriately in four overs as the visitors were dismissed in 29.1 overs for 85. A very professional performance
The final stages of this national competition was played at Haileybury, an independent school in deepest Hertfordshire. The squad travelled under the watchful eye of Penny Glover, via Wellington College and watched the under 19’s take on Warwickshire in the ECB two day quarterfinal. There they picked up David Gibson to allow him to mastermind their own semi-final against Hertfordshire on their home soil the next day. James Gibson won the toss and batted. Richard Barron (25), who has suffered in the past by being born on the last day of eligibility played his first really dominant innings that with other later important contributions was to indicate that he has now come fully of age. With Brett Garner he put on 78 for the first wicket with a truly outstanding performance of running between the wickets. When I arrived at the ground mid afternoon I was advised by at least five different parties that if we won this game it would be down to the sides outstanding running. Music to the ears. Bettis joined Garner and the pair carried on putting on another 70 high quality runs. At 148 after 37 overs Devon were really in the driving seat. Garner was the next to fall for an excellent 64. He faced 113 balls in a maiden county fifty hitting five fours in the process. Brett has come late to the county scene and has much to learn about the level of commitment needed to maintain a place but the early indications are that if he can adjust to the demands of county cricket he should have a promising future. Bettis went on with his skipper to take the score to 170 with nine overs remaining. It was a typical unselfish Bettis knock ending on 58 with five fours and a lot of style. Gibson 16, Saunders 12, Price 17 not out all made important contributions in the final total of 230. A fine team batting performance. Our splendid opening attack of Toms (3-25) and Price took early wickets to reduce Hertfordshire to 25-2 after nine overs and the home side were from then on always on the back foot. Another key to the success of the side is the support bowling and Glover, Pitts and Gibson all put in important spells. Our only current spinner David Field put in another telling spell and his ten overs went for only 27. The head groundsman thought this to be one of the best spells of youth spin bowling that he had witnessed. The out fielding was again of the highest standard as Hertfordshire were all out in the forty-eighth over for 195. So now for Warwickshire but sadly without key all rounder Ollie Pitts who was now injured.
As I said my goodbyes to the under 19’s at Wellington College the previous day, the Warwickshire coach Neil Abberley’s parting shot said with a wry smile was that their under 16’s this year were a pretty useful side. So they proved to be on another pleasant summers day. Unfortunately they were not a match for a super charged Devon side. Warwickshire won the toss and gave us first use of another good track, which in fact fell completely in line with our own game plan. Barron and Garner carried on where they had left off with another confident opening partnership of 32 but those who live by the sword, die by the sword and Garner was run out by a direct hit. Neil Bettis then played the major innings of the match playing exotic drives and with Barron (31) put on another 34 before Barron was stumped to end another fine innings. James Gibson took over and added another 70 runs as Devon put on another class batting performance but after batting for 47 minutes he gave a catch for 26. Saunders again did the business with a twenty-seven ball 20 with three fours. During all this Bettis had not only taken the initiative but had rocked Warwickshire on to the back foot. His fifty came off 98 balls and he was eventually bowled for 64 (seven fours, 112 balls, 120 minutes) at 179. The need was now for fast runs and the lower order responded with Ben Glover scoring a twenty-one ball 19 only to sacrifice himself in a hopeless run out incident. The final score of 220 was just about par for the course but it had been attained against a high quality bowling attack supported by fine fielders. Would it be sufficient?
The Warwickshire side with the brothers of the current England under 19 captain Ian Bell and the former Cambridge University captain and current county player Anurag Singh were confident of success and their initial approach gave every indication of this, after five overs they were 22 but more importantly in the fifth over Price trapped Davis leg before. Davis was their number one danger man and he had already played some powerful drives. However from that moment Devon clawed their way back into the game with a truly thrilling fielding and bowling performance with David Field, Ben Glover and James Gibson all bowling important spells. Neil Bettis bowled a key two over spell which went for 13 but removed the well set and top scorer Patel. The out fielding was magnificent with three run outs by Bettis (direct), Gibson (direct) and Price and Bettis combining forces. Fielding at deep square leg with virtually the whole leg side boundary under his jurisdiction was under 15 captain Aaron Williams. He was now a permanent fixture in the squad, but should have come with a health warning, as he did not stop talking from the moment he joined us in Cornwall until we said goodbye at Exeter services 4 weeks later! His out fielding that day was incredible and included the vital catch of Allen, which he took with the aplomb of a veteran. However the abiding memory of this team performance was the forty-third over. Nat Price (3-20) had returned to the attack to see his side home. He was in overdrive bowling as he always does with total heart and commitment. His final two balls of the over took nicks and were swallowed up by the safe gloves of Daniel Saunders. I judge sides on how they respond together out in the middle, which sometimes can be a caldron. This side’s response to these two wickets, which virtually sealed the match, was wonderful, as one they reached the centre of the square to celebrate. That is what cricket management is all about – a united side. It was at this time that Gibbo and I could surface from behind the groundsman’s shed to actually enjoy the remaining six overs of a really well deserved victory. Devon are proud of this fine side well lead by James Gibson and inspired by some fine personal performances. Ollie Pitts on the sideline is not a shrinking violet and he helped keep the side going through what was a tense time. A great TEAM performance.
The Isle of Wight Festival was likely to be an anticlimax but the side outperformed any previous Devon squad that had visited the Island and it was no consolation that they failed to take a second title in two weeks by just five runs. Our fifth visit to the Island brought us a new ferry crossing and new accommodation, both were great successes and the weather was exceptional with the sun shining from the moment we boarded the mini-bus at Exeter until the heavens opened as we approached the ferry at Yarmouth giving us a rough homeward crossing! Day one started with our first game at this level against Suffolk. In the fifty overs the side amassed 290-5. Openers Barron (34) and Garner (26) put on 79 in nineteen overs with another fine partnership. Bettis scored 33 off 28 and then ran himself out. Gibson 13 off fourteen, Saunders 19 off fifteen took the side to 182-6 off 37 overs. Nat Price who had a memorable all round season scored his first fifty of the season in a 79 run partnership with James Toms. James is another very talented all round cricketer but to date his main contribution had been his bowling and fielding at third man. He now embarked on two outstanding days batting. His 51 came off 43 balls, hitting two giant sixes and six fours. This was vintage Toms who with self-belief would be an even better cricketer. The pair dominated but once Toms reached his first 50 of the season he holed out. Price and Glover took the side to the final total with Price undefeated on 54 (65 balls, four fours, two sixes) a pedigree knock. Suffolk needed just under six an over – game over.
Well not quite as their openers put on 120 for the first wicket in 28 overs of outstanding batting. It was Bettis again taking a key wicket that broke the partnership but Suffolk had no intentions of stopping the charge. However at 40 overs they needed 9 an over but were scoring at that rate. Fortunately the resilience of the side rose again and they only allowed Suffolk 34 runs off the last ten. A great, if tense, game.
It was to be even tenser the next day as Hertfordshire were out for revenge. They batted first and scored 227–5 with Pearce hitting a fine century. Gibson’s bowling is a very important element and throughout the season he had taken important wickets and today he steadied the ship taking 4 including the century maker, well held by the ever-reliable Richard Barron. Devon’s batting faltered for only the second time in the season as Barron held the side together completing his much deserved maiden fifty. It was not until he was joined by Ollie Pitts that the side started to regain ground. Barron was fifth out at 100, batting for 86 minutes and facing 72 balls in compiling his 57 (seven fours). Pitts took out his long handle and fell five short of his fifty but it only took 36 balls as he struck two sixes and four fours. However at 145-7 and then 164-9 Devon were virtually dead and buried. Not with this lot. Under immense pressure Toms was playing perhaps the innings of his life, batting at eight he was in superb form with the best number eleven around, David Field, at the other end. They inched their way towards the total. They had fourteen overs (84 balls) to score the required 63 runs! Field, demonstrating his great leave and showing tremendous judgement, did not look like getting out and it looked like the great escape could be whistled. A crucial moment was with just a couple of runs needed, Toms whipped a terrific shot through mid wicket which had four written all over it, however mid wicket somehow got airborne, got a hand to the ball and, although he did not complete the catch, made an amazing stop. With just one run needed Toms decided to place rather than blast and was caught. The result really was immaterial the performance of the final pairing deserved better and if these two did not believe they were key cogs in the side beforehand they knew now. A brilliant piece of batting with the team behind the pair playing ever ball. A special bunch. The scorer is still blaming me for this defeat, as to avoid an incident I conceded a disputed boundary in their innings and did not pursue a disputed one when we were batting – so it was really all my fault we lost!!
The interestingly contoured Ventnor was the venue for the game against Essex. A couple of their players were returning that night to take part in the ECB two day under 17 semi-final against Somerset. It was soon evident why they were required as Essex won the toss and batted. Opener Akram scored a fine 56 and Humphrey 71 as Essex scored 262-6. Our fine off spinner Field had the first of two field days (sorry) in taking 5-47 off fourteen. Although a couple of chances were missed the fielding in general was up to standard with Williams, Gibson (2), Barron and Bettis taking good catches. There was one hiccup as Saunders was struck on the leg and this created major problems with his mobility. This was sadly to be his last game of the season. A disappointing way to end what had been a personally tremendous season. One subsequently crucial moment was when the seventh ball of Prices sixth over went for six!!
Essex had their customary useful attack but Garner and Bettis put on 128 for the second wicket and Devon were very much in the driving seat. Garner continued to build his growing reputation in the side and had scored a very composed 40 (75 balls, 96 minutes) when he was sadly run out – we have been there before this year – and that might have been a turning point as the pair were dominating and the Essex heads were down by their boots. Bettis was simply majestic, I doubt if a better innings has ever been played at this age level and against a talented and varied attack he was immense. Pitts joined him and blasted another quickfire innings this time 40 off thirty-five. At 198 with ten overs left Bettis ran himself out on 99. Perhaps the saddest moment of the season was as Neil sat down in the pavilion the PA system announced his score and because of the limited score board facilities he had been oblivious to his own personal score. The look on his face…. It had been a huge innings taking 116 minutes, he faced 112 balls and hit 13 fours. Ollie Pitts was then caught on the boundary – Devon 230-5, six overs left 32 needed with batting to come, an interesting situation but Essex now felt back in the game. The injured Saunders and runner now appeared and he played his second “shot of the season” straight driving their quick opening bowler Mahmood all along the ground at lightening speed. Williams, Glover and Field all knew what was needed, but wides seemed to dry up and ones were needed. Nine needed off twelve with two wickets in hand. The less said about Glovers run out dismissal the better but it was an horrendous decision and Devon failed by four. Disappointment all round, and so there should have been, the side was just four runs short of a memorable victory but luck was just not with us.
France were our first international opponents and in all truth were a poor side. Poor sides have to be beaten and the 215 run victory would indicate that the mission was completed. Bettis scored his second century of the season and, after the previous day’s disappointment, he deserved it. The statistics are 137 balls, 165 minutes, fourteen fours for 125. Had we had a few extra overs vice captain Nat Price would have scored his first century. He did reach 78, which was also just reward for his major contribution to the side’s success, he batted for 101 minutes, faced 67 balls and hit 8 fours. Pitts was itching to get out there all afternoon and faced four balls for his 12 with a last ball six. 284-6 should have been enough and so it was. David Field gave another outstanding demonstration of spin bowling and took five but we are still not sure how they scored 13. The catching was good and Bettis behind the stumps interesting. Time to go and watch the X Men.
The Isle of Wight were in contention for winning the Festival and their side bore no resemblance to the side comprehensively defeated at Axminster. Because of their limited numbers they select under 17 players and as the Hampshire shell suits kept arriving it looked as if it would be quite a game. A buoyant Isle of Wight skipper won the toss and elected to bat and, after the first two overs they were set for a total of 425! Price had a quick word with himself and then started to bowl another quality spell. Toms had an early rest (his only one bad spell of the season) and Ben Glover again proved his all round virtues with a tight spell making the initial inroad. Price removed the dangerous Snell and Devon were back in the game. Price put so much into his bowling that he turned an ankle and so with Saunders crocked we turned to Price junior and Damien made his under 16 debut three years ahead of schedule! He let nobody down with a competent fielding performance. Baker scored a solid 47 but his side was dismissed in just under 43 overs for 128 with David Field taking another four to bring his total up to 15 for the week the best bowling return by a long way of any bowler at the Festival. Neil Bettis broke another county record this time the catching record with yet another dolly and Pitts was tidy behind the stumps.
Garner did not feel up to opening because of a ham string so the 2001 opener Aaron Williams was given his chance. Disappointingly he actually batted well, surviving a stumping appeal and being heavily sledged thereafter. I could not follow the keeper’s logic as it was not Williams who had made the decision. It was a lesson for Williams, one that we could all do without. The serene Barron just batted as he now does with great composure for a top score of 36 and the pair put on 46 valuable runs. The middle order faltered for the third and final time of the season. Bettis completed his record breaking season by scoring his six hundredth run and then got caught at slip! Bettis was not surprising the leading scorer all week at the Festival with 268 runs at 53.60. Pitts came in with all guns firing as normal to score another bright 19 and Brett Garner made a miraculous recovery to score a well-composed and competent undefeated 14. Match won, game over, season over time for reflection and thanks.
Thanks first to James Gibson and Nat Price an excellent captaincy team who got the best out of their squad by leading from the front and showing a wonderful example with bat, ball and in the field. Both have good cricket brains and together form a top leadership line-up. David Gibson is a magnificent, hard working, thorough, thoughtful and inspirational coach. His contribution throughout the season was immense. The players were all simply outstanding. On reading this report there is one player who does not seem to get a mention – Wesley Withey. Wesley was omnipresent, never complaining at his lot and his very limited opportunity, never moaning and turning up game in game out knowing he was not necessarily going to feature. Not once during the season did he stop trying and encouraging, he bowled well at Cornwall and in the same game, until he ran himself out, batted sensibly as he gave Pitts his head. Throughout the season he fielded magnificently never ever letting the side down. An unsung hero Wesley but one whose presence was as important as anyone’s. The Society of Devon Umpires again provided high quality umpires and Monty Thorns made his fifth appearance on the Island. Our thanks to all our umpires. The assistant manager was unable to score in two games and our thanks go to Lynne Edmonds and Toni Hartwell for filling in so ably. Our hosts again treated us splendidly and, when rain came, did everything possible to get us a game.
Reflection, well this is where the bad news starts. This squad has set its own standards which are high and quite simply they have not only to maintain them in 2001 but improve on them. Complacency will simply not be accepted. The 2000 season was good but the 2001 has to be better still. The two-day game is an entirely different proposition but this squad in the main has most of the ingredients necessary. There will be opportunities for batsman to build innings and bowlers to bowl reasonable spells. It is likely that a second spinner will be needed and it might be unfair on Daniel Saunders to expect him to keep for 120 overs and then bat in the top five. We will be looking for improvement from everyone, there really is no point playing if we do not progress, we will be looking for the same hard work and dedication that has been displayed this year. We will be looking for an increase in fitness both mental and physical from everyone, two-day cricket is hard work. We are looking for another successful and enjoyable season. Enjoy the next few months as Inter County Champions but come next July we start all over again. Remember the pleasure of not just winning games but outplaying sides. I hope the 2001 report is even more glowing but that is down to you.
The Cecil Wensley Player of the Year Cup was awarded to Neil Bettiss for his outstanding record breaking performances throughout the season.