8-11 year old boys tend not to be overly excited about getting up for 5:30 on a Saturday morning, but this was an exception, there was more than a little excitement in the air as the boys and parents met for the coach journey down to Lords. Keyworth CC girls were competing in the girls final and the coach picked them up on the way, (No this isn’t Lords) then we were off. Sausage cobs a plenty with pre match donuts, the boys were in the zone.
Once at Lords we were met by Alice our Royal London representative who looked after us throughout the day. First stop was the MCC indoor cricket school where there was the chance for photo’s with Gilbert the match day mascot and the boys were each presented with a match day goody bag. Having watched Notts start to go about their business it was time for the boys to go back to the cricket school and have their training session/ warm up. England Ladies cricketer Kate Cross and England Mens One Day / T 20 Captain Eoin Morgan were the surprise guests and both on hand to lead the boys through their drills and offer their expert guidance.
As Surrey’s innings drew to a close it was time for the boys to get changed into their whites and head out on the outfield for their game against Cheam Cricket Club of Surrey. In the shadows of Messrs’ Atherton and Hussain, with Eoin Morgan conducting the toss, Cheam won and elected to bat (Coach was a little excited at this point and wished he’d brought his book down for signing). The pitch was a tad smaller than the boys are used to so boundaries were always on the cards. Despite the boundaries, wickets fell with regularity (Joe Lincoln taking two in two balls) so the score was always kept in check. With an injury preventing Nicolas taking the field, young Thomas Coleman stepped up and duly opened the batting with elder brother James. Boundaries were a plenty with 26 runs coming off the first over, and thus the tone for our innings was set. James Wyres and Lachlan continued in the same vein as did the family pairing of Sam and Joe. With victory in sight, Cameron and William needed to just be sensible to see us home and that they did.
Presentations were then made in front of the pavilion and with their names in lights, literally all around the ground (on the advertising hoardings and the scoreboard), there were cheers and high fives from the crowd as the boys ran round the boundary back down to the media centre to celebrate their victory. Just to be able to step onto the hallowed turf at Lords is a privilege not many have, so to play on the pitch and have the day the boys had will hopefully provide them with lasting memories and inspire them to continue to play this great game and have fun. Well done to you all, you were a credit to yourselves, parents and the Cricket Club throughout the whole day, a great Calverton Away Day. An immensely proud Coach