Issue 14

In the previous Newsletter, Carlton’s Lockdown Selection Panel chose an XI from the 37 Test cricketers who have played at Grange Loan based on their Test cricket records. The Selection Panel has now picked a Test team based on performances at Grange Loan. The most controversial selection is that of Adam Gilchrist. With 96 Test caps, a batting average of 47.1 and 420 dismissals, he might have been expected to have featured in last week’s side, but Farouk Engineer got the selectors’ nod to take the gloves. As ever, who knows what goes on in selectors’ minds? Gilchrist’s appearance at GL was for Perthshire in a friendly in 1993. There were some signs of what was to come in his later career - his 73 came off 22 balls with 7 sixes and 5 fours. Robin Singh had more chances to join this illustrious list than anyone else, having played a season as Carton’s professional. A more than decent coach – he’s currently running a coaching academy in Dubai. Gavin Hamilton is the only Scottish-born player on our Test visitor list, winning a single Test cap for England on the 1999-2000 South Africa tour - perhaps the unluckiest Test debut ever. He visited Grange Loan with his home side West Lothian before he moved south. The Grange Loan ‘A’ Test XI With thanks to Brian Forrester

So, with Bailey and Gilchrist in the side this team does not lack in firepower. The Selectors received a late representation that current Australian coach Justin Langer, (105 Tests, 7696 runs @ 45.27) might be available for selection. They could find no documentary evidence that he turned out at GL during his stint with Perthshire in 1991. Perhaps an embarrassed Carlton bowler ensured the scorecard was lost? Other players unlucky to be overlooked for selection include Kiwis Hamish Rutherford, Matt Horne and Colin de Grandhomme; and Indian players Lal Rajput and Buhdi Kuderan. So that’s the selection done - which XI is likely to prevail? And how would they do against Carlton’s First XI? Name Test Caps Country Club Year Grange Loan Top Performance Michael Papps 8 New Zealand Ayr 2011 106 runs George Bailey 5 Australia Grange 2007 53 runs Zahoor Elahi 2 Pakistan Royal High 1998 170 runs, 1 for 22 Floyd Reifer 6 West Indies Ferguslie 2002 128 not out Omar Henry 3 South Africa Poloc 1980/85 55 not out, 6 for 15 Robin Singh 1 India Carlton 1995 114 not out, 6 for 43 Adam Gilchrist 96 Australia Perthshire 1993 73 runs Gavin Hamilton 1 England West Lothian 1992 36 not out, 6 for 21 Rangy Nanan 1 West Indies Kirkcaldy 1990 8 runs, 7 for 32 Manzoor Elahi 6 Pakistan Royal High 1995 7 runs, 7 for 37 Derek Stirling 6 New Zealand Stenhousemuir 1984 2 runs, 3 for 40 Omar Henry was the first coloured South African to play Test cricket following the end of Apartheid, during which time he had spent several years in Scotland. Had circumstances been different, he might have amassed far more than three Test caps. Manzoor Elahi and his younger brother, Zahoor both played as Royal High professionals in the 1990’s. Derek Stirling was mentioned in NL 9, as remembered by Andy Mac. A photo of him in action could not be found. Nowadays he is mostly remembered for conceding 24 runs to Ian Botham in the Oval Test of 1986 - a record at the time. Joint holder of that record now is George Bailey - who took 28 off Jimmy Anderson at Perth in 2013. Bailey shares that place in the record books with none other than Brian Lara.

Nowadays, many Carlton cricketers play the majority of their matches on artificial surfaces. But not so long ago, grass was all Carlton players knew. The Grange Loan arti was first installed in the mid 90s. It was part of a plan to expand the square and to build up junior cricketers. The surface was relaid in 2008 - a concrete base replacing the previous aggregate. Shortly before that, Carlton’s first experience on plastic took place in June 1991 at Inverleith, where Stewart-Melville had laid the first artificial surface in Edinburgh some years before. Brian Forrester recalls: ‘Carlton’s 2nd XI bowled first against Stewart’s Melville F.P. 2s. Our bowlers hated it. Predictable, slow bounce, no movement off the seam, nothing swung under a cloudless sky. The home side could have declared earlier, but batted on to the 55th over (as the league rules allowed in those days), leaving us to chase an improbable 264 in 45 overs. ‘Our reply started badly - three wickets in the first four overs. Then captain Chris Kear was joined by Paul Bailey (a Grangemouth refinery chemical engineer – not the current Carlton 5th XI player and erstwhile East League administrator). Chris thumped the ball everywhere - including a six into the petrol station across Ferry Road. Stew/Mel’s dropped catches helped Chris finish undefeated on “140 for 5”. Real Cricket Artificial Pitch ‘Paul scored a much more classy, chanceless 90 not out – which even Chris acknowledged was the better innings. ‘At tea, no-one would have bet that we would have come away comfortable victors by seven wickets with four overs to spare.’ In recent years the Inverleith arti has been visited by Carlton’s lower and junior teams on many occasions - some triumphant, some less so. There are too many to relate, but readers might enjoy the 4th XI’s match on 1 August 2015 - Match Report on this link. Fergus Whatley took the reins and with the weather forecast being very gloomy a shortened match was agreed. Carlton scored 212 for 2 with Eric Edwards 75* before bowling the opposition for 104, with Fantasy Bob doing little to deserve the 3 wickets the scorebook gives him. One thing that never changes at Inverleith is the cold. Even on a sunny day it can be perishing. Artificial wicket? Fine. But many Carlton cricketers - like Mike Kennedy pictured here - have wondered whether some artificial heat would be more to the point.

The Lockdown Newsletter - What Next? The gates of GL are sort of open, albeit under strict conditions. Lockdown is easing all around. Is this the end of the road for the Lockdown Newsletter? The editorial team (lol) is grateful for the positive reaction to the NL. They would like to keep it going until matches resume. But can only do so with your help. Many thanks to those who have contributed so far. Some exciting contributions have been commissioned. But more contributions would be great. If you have a favourite match, a well remembered incident, a favourite player, a favourite ground, tell us. Maybe you are a past member who has likes to keep abreast of Carlton news - it would be great to hear from you. There is no restriction on subject matter other than that it should be Carlton or cricket related. Don’t be shy. Just send to Newsletter@carltoncc.co.uk Reading the Issue 13 brought back many happy memories for me, especially the Test XI. Unsurprisingly I cannot recall having played with or against four of them - WG, Sidney Barnes, Harold Larwood and Hanif Mohammed - but I do recall the other seven. I have very pleasant memories of the time I spent with 'Rouki', Farouk Engineer, in our 125th Anniversary Year. At the time when I was the Treasurer with deep pockets! Jimmy Adams and Gus Logie bring back special memories. In my first match against Jimmy I managed to bowl him out, I didn't think he was the greatest of batsmen and was surprised later when he emerged as Captain of the Windies. A few years later I met him with AD when he still called me 'sir' and enquired if I remembered dismissing him years earlier. A very nice guy. The Alleyne/Qadir story brought Gus Logie to mind. Shortly after he arrived at the wicket at Grange Loan there was a drinks break. Prior to this Gus had managed to accumulate 9 runs with little effort. Immediately after the break I managed to trap him LBW off the first ball of my over. When we met next at Kirkcaldy he repaid me by striking me for many fours through midwicket and finally walking off undefeated. He too was a very nice guy. Thanks for the memories. All the Best David We would welcome any similar reminiscences. Newsletter@carltoncc.co.uk A Letter to the Editor Last week’s NL piece on a GL Test team stirred the memory of former Carlton stalwart David Raistrick.