Issue 13

Through optimism and persistence, I have been playing cricket in Scotland for over forty years, but it is a day long ago and far away that most reminds me about the pure joy of the game. In the autumn of 1989, I was on a British Council theatre tour of India with a production of Great Expectations. When the show was established in Calcutta, as it was then, I had my days free as we only had evening performances. So, I was able to wander the city and one day I came upon a large open park. The Oval Maidan was a lot scruffier then than it is today and there were about twenty bounce cricket matches going on. It was a remarkable sight as each game merged into the adjoining game, with the offside fielders of one game jostling with the leg side fielders of another. It was mostly kids and teenagers, but a few men also played. Some games used a worn leather ball, some a wooden ball, most a tennis ball. After watching for twenty minutes a group of kids asked me if I wanted to play. Moments later I was flailing at a bald tennis ball hurtling past my head and the kids were in fits watching me try to hook it. When I did manage to make contact, it was impossible to tell if a fielder was in our game or the next game. Fielding was even more difficult as people were flying everywhere. Fine leg would take off after an offside cut. It was all energy and joy and I found myself laughing out loud at the pandemonium. This was a long way from holding on in the dark for a draw at West Lothian. The language was also probably a lot cleaner. Suddenly, everyone took off leaving me standing in the field alone. I turned around to see a mounted policeman coming toward me at a reasonable trot. I didn’t know whether to run or hold my hands up. After a moment’s hesitation, I ran like an eight-year-old who had broken a window. When I got to the trees, I turned around and could see the kids already flooding back, they weren’t going to give up their game easily. I’ve had some great times playing and watching cricket, but that day was another brilliant perspective on how great a game it is. I’ve played cricket longer than most, but less than some, and there have been times, standing in a pavilion watching it rain seemingly all summer, that I’ve questioned the rationality of spending my time this way. But then the sky cleared and we played “The Game”. You hit that shot, take that catch, bowl that ball and hear that joke that makes you forget the weather, your dismissals, dropped catches and general humiliations of the working week and you are a kid again. It’s in our nature to remember good things over bad and it is this summer when play has been stopped by this pandemic that we particularly need to remember the good times and those feelings. We can all live off the past for a while until we can get back out and be kids again. Thank you for having me at Carlton, I wish you all well, stay safe and stay strong and I look forward to staggering out into the light once more (if selected). We welcomed Brian Kaczynski to Carlton a couple of years ago. He tells us what cricket has meant to him. The Game

Lockdown has left Carlton’s Selection Illuminati with far too much time on their hands. Told that 37 Test Match cricketers have graced Grange Loan over the years, the crack Squad convened, at appropriately Anti-Social Distances, and set themselves the challenge of picking a Fantasy Test Match XI. “Far too difficult” they grumbled - just for the sake of grumbling. It’s what they do. But eventually they came up with this XI based on their Test records. Pitchero invitations have now been sent. See how many you can identify from the picture below. Full details on next page. Kim Hughes visited the year before his Test call-up, and went on to to captain Australia. Swing bowler Terry Alderman’s stint in Edinburgh was perfect preparation for a superb Ashes tour in 1981 and Bob Holland’s leg-spin bamboozled many an English batsman after his late Test selection at the age of 38. Only three wickets between them at Grange Loan is scant return for bowlers of their quality. In 1985, Stenhousemuir engaged Abdul Qadir, the first of the “mystery” leg spinners so prevalent in the modern game. On his only visit to Grange Loan, Steve Alleyne, Carlton’s opening bat, smashed him for six sixes in a superb century. Qadir had the last laugh - scoring an unbeaten 97 to win the game for Stenhousemuir. Sadly, both are no longer with us. The Grange Loan Test XI With thanks to Brian Forrester

When it comes the greats of the game we should note that Harold Larwood, the hero or villain of the Bodyline series against Australia, was the main attraction in a fund-raising match in 1933. However, having broken two bones in his left foot, he could only play as a batsman, so the fixture was cancelled. Next week the grumbling selectors will choose a second XI of Test players based on their records at Grange Loan. Look out for it! Name Test Caps Country Club Year Grange Loan Top Performance Test Record Kim Hughes 70 Australia Watsonians 1976 63 runs 4,415 runs @ 37.41 Hanif Mohammed 55 Pakistan Poloc 1972 52 not out 3,915 runs @ 43.98 WG Grace 22 England United South of England 1872 17 runs 1,089 runs @ 32.29 Gus Logie 52 West Indies Kirkcaldy 1986 9 run 2,470 runs @ 35.79 Jimmy Adams 54 West Indies Royal High 1988 26 runs 3,012 runs @ 41.26 Sandeep Patil 29 India Kirkcaldy 1985 38 runs 1,588 runs @ 26.66 Farouk Engineer 46 India Carlton 1988 27 runs 2,611 runs @ 31.08 66 c 16 st Abdul Qadir 67 Pakistan Stenhousemuir 1985 1 for 110 / 97 not ou 236 wkt @ 32.80 Sydney Barnes 27 England Carlton 1922/3 27 for 129 (in 4 innings) 189 wkt @ 16.43 Bob Holland 11 Australia Watsonians 1981 2 for 58 34 wkt @ 39.76 Terry Alderman 41 Australia Watsonians 1980 1 for 45 / 46 not out 170 wkt @ 27.15 Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer played for Carlton in 1988 against a Scottish President’s XI as part of our 125 th Anniversary celebrations and spoke at the post-match dinner in the Carlton Hotel. Hanif Mohammed was the original little master. Delving into an earlier era, England fast-bowler Sydney Barnes played three times for Carlton in fund-raising fixtures in 1922 and 1923. Frequently mentioned as one of the best bowlers ever to play for England, his best Carlton return was 9 wickets for 27 runs against a visiting Tynemouth side.

QUIZ NEWS The Fifth Social Isolation Quiz brought a new champion to the rostrum as Brian Kaczynski romped to victory. Well done Kaz! Quizzers were left wondering how he managed to nobble the quizmaster to include a round on cop show themes - his specialist subject. up to play Merchiston Castle and knocked them off the park. The good thing was that we had lots of new players. What has been your favourite senior match? When we went to Broomhall. I always love playing there and I got 3-10. And we won! What is your best fun training? Once when it started raining and we did 45 minutes of boundary fielding always love getting myself wet. Max! Primary School Cricketer of the Year 2019 and 5th XI Bowler of the Year 2019 is in the hot seat. Who are your favourite Carlton players? 1 Arun Pillai - the passion he has and the work-load he puts in a training is so inspiring and I also love watching him play. 2 Fraggle - he helps me and others so much and is so talented and experienced. I make sure I listen to what he has to say and try add it to my game. 3 Kyle Macpherson - Kyle used to be my coach last year and as a team it was great fun. Kyle always helps with my game and is someone I look up to with my fielding. What is the best thing a coach has ever said to you? ‘Bring the best out of your ability.’ And finally, any thoughts on the best ever 4th XI skipper? Has to be the famous FB - the man with the most bat grips. What do you like about Carlton? There’s so many good coaches to bring the best out of you. I really enjoy the social side of the cricket and I like how close I am to the ground. What has been your favourite match? When the primary school team went