Crowthorne Cricket Club team

Sunday XI
Dan Partridge Member profile

Manager : Dan Partridge

After Over 100 Games for The Crows, Partridge recently achieved the feat of his first ever 5 wicket haul.  After years of several near-misses, and poor fielding off his bowling, Partridge finally earneed his baggy Green.

Partridge contines to reap wickets with his own brand of left-arm bowling. Is it swinging? Is it seaming? Is it a spinner? The dodgy slower-ball? Who knows.
Favourite / only shot - ugly heave to cow-corner.
Current holder of the much coveted Duck Prize - although the trophy itself is currently missing in action after the annual dinner.
David Shaw Member profile

Captain : David Shaw

Transitional-lens wearing Skipper of the Sunday team. A complete novice a mere 5 years ago, Dave has developed into a hard-hitting, but sturdy bastman, good fielder (using all availabile body parts to stop the ball) and an appalling bowler.
Scored his maiden 50 in 2009, hitting all his runs entirely on the leg-side.
Dave attributes his fielding prowess to his 20 years man-and-boy Goalkeeping experience.
Players
Paul Barnes Member profile Paul Barnes
Right-handed bat and left-arm-round-arm bowler.
Part of the famous 2004 influx of players, Paul was a semi-regular in the Sunday side for a few years. Appearences are rare these days despite his mate being Sunday skipper.
Career highlight - running out Junior in comedy fashion in the Embrook T20 Match a couple of years ago.
Richard  Barron Member profile Richard Barron
The Red Barron, perhaps the one and only Crows player to attain a nickname before even playing a game for the Club.
Another in a long line of South Africans to have represented the Crows. The main difference being he could actually play.
1 innings, scored 90-odd.  
James Carson Member profile James Carson
Plucked from obscurity in the latter part of the summer of 2009 to star in 3 victories, 2 of which he stayed around and masterminded tight run chases.
His debut saw him leave the comfort of his sofa at short notice to hang around for 400 overs to score 15 runs. The stuff legends are made of.
James hadn't played cricket since his Slatcher-inspired schooldays, where his only contirbution of note was making piles of grass at fine-leg to prevent boundaries.
All he needs now is a nickname..
Ross Chalmers Member profile Ross Chalmers
No-ball specialist, Ross joined in 2008 and became a mainstay of the Saturday team in 2009.
Lived in Crowthorne for years before realising we actually have a cricket team. Finally came to nets with his missus (9 months pregnant) who was made to sit and watch.
Brother-in-law of Fellow Zimbabean legend Heath Streak. Has helped several bowlers complete a hattrick. Narrowly avoided the 2009 Duck Prize by giving up playing with a few games left.
Along with Brent O'Connor, produced a great display of fast bowling to blow away South East Reading in 2009 in one of the Crows greatest ever victories.
Terry Charles Member profile Terry Charles
A fine all-rounder, Terry made the leap from our feeder club, the Broadmoor Ducks.  Whether it be tearing in with the ball, cracking some terrific back-foot calypso drives or heckling his team-mates from the boundary, Terry is never far from the action.
In 2007 Terry won both batting and bowling awards for the league team.
Dogged by injury in 2009, Turbo Terry, as the local press have named him, will be hoping to be back firing on all cylinders.
Peter Clarke Member profile Peter Clarke
Hard-hitting batsman, tricky bowler and all-round good egg, Pete made his mark with the club by providing a case of beer for his team-mates on his debut. That'll do for us!
Awarded himself the nickname Kiwi due to his supposed New Zealand heritage. Turns up for home games in his big Jag despite living a mere 100 yards from Derby A.
Sean Clarke Member profile Sean Clarke
Another Crowthorne player who was schooled at the Broadmoor Academy of Cricket. His match-winning spell of bowling against his Broadmoor workmates in 2008 is stuff of legend, as is his time-keeping.
John Cole Member profile John Cole
 

John is a product of the club's highly successful youth system. On his day he is one of the most dangerous bowlers at the club, combining speed with fantastic movement;  John is also a very big-hitting tail-ender. John finally received his reward by winning the 2008 bowling averages after 14 years. Still the only club member to be arrested during a game!



John was a fully paid up member of the clubs "spice boys" of the nineties along with Adam, Aran, Gaz A and Rob Atkinson.

Pete Daines Member profile Pete Daines
** NEW SIGNING!** Another Edgbarrow old boy, Currently following in the footsteps of his hero Bernie Slatcher and working as a PE Teacher at Yateley Manor Prep School
Former clubs - Bracknell CC (with his other hero Johnny Ainger)and a few appearances for the Aran Long XI (Crowthorne Beer matches in the early 90's vs the Alex Gent XI)
Much more of a batsman than a bowler!
Adam Elrick Member profile Adam Elrick
He's a good lad is Ad. Oh you are a good lad Ad.

Former skipper and darling of the Wokingham Times sports pages, Elrick has played more games than anyone else in Crows history. A tall right-arm spinner with a dodgy faster ball, Elrick was a vital weapon as the Crows made their way up the Berkshire League. Technically correct as a batsman and outstanding at backward point, he is a true club legend.
Fatherhood and work commitments have curtailed his appearances in the last 2 years but he remains close to the club.
A great advocate of fielding practice, leading the way with such innovative fielding drills as "Catch for Snatch" and the world-renowned "C-Ball".

Wokingham born and bred, he's a textbook Manchester United fan. Still seen now and again driving round in his bright yellow hairdressers car.
Jeff Flood Member profile Jeff Flood
Legend, the nickname says it all.
Jason Gibbings Member profile Jason Gibbings
Right arm "spin-bowler", right handed unorthodox bat and a very safe pair of hands anywhere close to the bat. Also a great student of the game and a renowned captain. So good in fact he managed to skipper the team in 2009 without actually playing any games.
His pre and end of season BBQ's were legendary and usually ended up with J fast asleep on the throne, much to Kate's disappointment if not surprise. Another of the Reading FC contingent at the club, Big J has often been mistaken for a squashed down version of James Beattie.
Micky Gopie Member profile Micky Gopie
A product of our feeder team, Micky has played for the League team for the last 3 years.  Involved in more run-outs than you'd care to remember.  Micky has opened the batting on several occasions, the bowling, and kept wicket too.
Gary Hampshire Member profile Gary Hampshire
No nonsense Yorkshireman who captained the club to its only league title in 2000. Gritty batsman and brilliant wicket keeper and slip fielder who kept the "Spice Boys" of the late nineties in line. Still plays a couple of games a year, usually scoring a century in the process.
Chris Harden Member profile - no photo available Chris Harden
        
Richard  Hester Member profile Richard Hester
New Signing for 2010.  Watch this space...
Lawrie Hill Member profile Lawrie Hill
Younger and probably more skillful brother of Simon Hill, no relation whatsoever to Nick Hill or probably Benny Hill.
Nick Hill Member profile Nick Hill

Another Crowthorne legend having first joined the club in the early nineties.  Retired many times but has made more comebacks than Ricky Hatton.  Big Bird's height causes many problems for opposition batsman, he is also a big hitting batter. Single handedly keeps Romida Sports in business.

Simon Hill Member profile Simon Hill

Sidders joined the club as a spinner in the mid nineties; despite early successes (taking 5-55 on bowling debut) he fell victim to the 'yips' after 218 consecutive deliveries were slogged out of the nets to taunts of "No respect to spinners!". He reinvented himself as a batsman and worked his way up from No 10 to opener during our 2000 division 6 title winning season, setting the tone for success with a stunning last-ball boundary to secure batting points in the first game. Travelled Asia, and then returned to the club, where after a short-lived attempt at 'inswing' he has now reverted to a batsman again.

Veterans of the 2003 Lincolnshire Tour still reminisce about his innings of 32* (28 singles and one four).

Colin Ingram Member profile Colin Ingram
Not available very often but enjoy playing. Does not like running singles!!   Big hitting batsman and canny slow bowler. Has vital stocks of garden furniture and accessories that we borrow for the 6-a-side! If he hits it, it stays hit. If he doesn't, he's usually out!
Luke Jouanides Member profile Luke Jouanides
Luke burst onto the scene with a hungover guest appearance at the first 6-a-side tournament. 2009 was a great year for Beavis. He took 5+ wickets in 4 consecutive games and scooped both the Bowler of the Year and Player of the Year awards. He also came 3rd in the Berkshire league bowling award.
With the bat he's Boycott-esque in defence.
Amazingly makes the effort to come down from his West London bolthole every week to play, resulting in rendezvous' with team-mates at various railway stations on the South-West Trains network.
Morgan Kemp Member profile Morgan Kemp

Morgan is another product of the hotbed of cricket that is Lorien Unique (he works there along with Aran, Aleks and Sandip). Like his cousin South African international Justin Kemp, Morgan is a big hitting batsman and solid medium pacer. Appearances maybe limited this season due to many Eddie Kidd type motorbike accidents.

Wayne King Member profile Wayne King
Best name in the club.
Aran Long Member profile Aran Long
Although probably one of the most gifted all rounders to have graced Crowthorne, sadly it has only ever been his bowling that has been recognised by the club (and scorers). He won the club bowling averages five consecutive years and collected two Berkshire League divisional awards. Has never managed to capture the coveted player of the year award, probably down to a vote rigging/ druken outrage incident during the mid-nineties. Best bowling? Either 8-37 or 3-0 off three balls, take your pick!
Tony MacDowell Member profile Tony MacDowell
A recent addition to the Sunday squad. Full of experience and guile. A legend of the Broadmoor Cricket scene he now plays for the Crows, Finchampstead and of course the Ducks.
Brendon MacKenzie Member profile Brendon MacKenzie

Lifelong cricket fan who after being asked to take up playing the game for 15 years finally took the plunge last season, loved it and is probably now regretting the 15 years he sat around watching it. Potentially free scoring batsman and great student of the game. Honed his skills in the badlands of Little Sandhurst and can often be found driving the “ruck truck” to Reading's away fixtures.
Brendy's debut for the club came in the away fixture at Stoke Row, a game noted for a few reasons: 1) no-one could find the ground and we started the game with about 6 men 2) Brendon's comical running between the wickets; 3) The pitch being on the side of a steep hill; 4) Brendon's comical attempts to catch the ball
However his luck changed for the better in subsequent appearances when he hit a sublime 30 in his very next game. Shades of a young Robin Smith in his pomp. He also atoned for his auspicious start as a fielder by holding on to a blinder at slip whilst finishing off his cigarette.
His best shot of the season was away to Englefield, whilst practicing his favourite late-cut shot near the pavillion, he stepped back connecting perfectly with the antique clock and Bell on the wall.

Nick McDonagh Member profile Nick McDonagh
Best nickname in the Club.
Nick's debut for the club couldn't have gone worse. Badly broke his little finger whilst fielding, then witnessed one of the worst batting collapses of all time.  He came back though.
Appearances limited in 2009 due to expanding his family.
Captain and tactical mastermind of the all-conquering Crows 6-a-side team.
Managed to break his foot on his comeback game this year.
Marshall  Miller Member profile Marshall Miller

Marshall or Monty is Crowthorne's Mr Reliable; he has given 16 years outstanding service to the club.  A very solid batsman, particularly tricky bowler and sometimes even keeps wicket. Can always be relied on to provide two or three comedy injuries per season.

Peter Northall Member profile Peter Northall
Comfortably Crowthorne's top batsman of 2009, this Andrew Caddick look-a-like at times resembles a one man batting line-up. If he can act like he does on any club night out, and stay 'til the end, a maiden club century is surely on the cards in 2010. On top of batting, Pedro's on field talents include a bit of occasional off spin and starting brawls with 14 year old boys. Recently seen trying to turn himself into a fast bowler just to be like his brother.
Brett Richards Member profile Brett Richards
Joined the club through the legendary Lorien network of new players. Continually tries to hit every ball for 6, with varied success. A useful bowler too who desperatly needs some spikes though! Brett has a 100% hangover record in games played for the Crows, it staggering to think what could be achieved if he turned up sober and on time.
A talented Snooker player too, he travels from Watford way to play for the Crows.
Broke Soapy's heart by hitting a few 6's on his debut at Cranbourne a few years ago. Soapy had been trying for years and his mate show's up and does it straight away.
Dan Richardson Member profile Dan Richardson
Joined the club in the early nineties, left before the turn of the century, but makes an occasional appearance most recently in the 2008 6-a-side. Has threatened many many comebacks. A celebrity player who DJs on Marlow FM!
Todd Saunders Member profile Todd Saunders

Big Hitting, Rugby supporting <WASPS>, Motorbike Riding, Jag driving, Salsa Dancing Batsman.
Toddaars is renowned for having the biggest heaviest bat possible and regularly putting it to good use.
A fine exponent of hitting the ball straight out of the nets and most of the way across the field. Developing into a tricky bowler too.
Todd is an excellent Cover fieldsman and has even taken the gloves when required.  Joined the club as an opening bowler and makes a fine attempt at batting from eleventh man. ;)

Simon Sheppard Member profile Simon Sheppard

Simon earned his “Saviour” nickname for scoring the winning runs off the final ball in a tight Berkshire League encounter against Swindon NALGO in his first season. Joined as a bowler but went on to win the batting averages in 2006. Outstanding fielder and twice winner of the fielder of the year award, this despite one particular fungus related instance away at Purley. Currently the Club's Fixtures secretary as well as the vitally important Organiser of the End of Season Do.  For all his good work, he lets himself down by supporting Swindon Town.

Howard Shore Member profile Howard Shore
What we say......Sunday regular H-Bomb has all the attributes of a quality keeper; good hands, great agility and the unique verbal flatulence possesed by all the finest glovemen. Howie is a decent bat with a couple of half-centuries to his name, and he's also a seemingly hopeless bowler with an uncanny knack of taking wickets.
If Monty is the king of on-field comedy injuries, then Howard takes the prize off-field; he can be relied upon to miss a few games a year due to falling off dancefloors or into dry riverbeds.
Howard gets extra club kudos for introducing the BBQ match against his other team, the Arcadian Casuals, to the mid-summer fixture list.
Favourite phrase: "It's time to bring down the Hammer of Justice!"

What he says.......

With figures of 2 wickets from two overs with 1 run conceeded from my last devastating bowling spell, by allrights I should be our opening bowler. Instead I am the 2nd 11 wicket keeper, if I'm lucky. Says more about the selection panel than it does me, if you ask me, which no-one does!
Rob Shore Member profile Rob Shore
Occasional appearances both for and against the Crows in 2009. Hopefully more to come from the younger Shore brother in 2010.
Chris Smith-Gander Member profile Chris Smith-Gander
A connisseur of the finer points of village cricket, such as the quality and quantity of food on offer at various away games.  Took it upon himself to appoint his own mother to make the teas one year to ensure his own needs were catered for.
His finest hour in a Crows shirt came whilst manning the BBQ at the 6-a-side in 2009.
His best bowling effort came with a superb over of: wd;wd;wd;wd;wd;wd;dot;dot;dot;dot;dot;wicket.
Russel Smith-Gander Member profile Russel Smith-Gander

Probably the more naturally gifted of the cricketing Smith-Gander brothers; dependable right hand bat with a useful bit of left arm spin bowling. Earnt the nickname “Little Lord Fauntleroy” on the basis that he has a double-barreled surname. Genius from the Club's Nickname department. Had a successful stint as Sunday Skipper too. Still appears at club functions now and then, more into his golf now unfortunately.

Sandip Sorathia Member profile Sandip Sorathia
  A mystery twirlyman from the Lorien Unique school of cricket, Sandip gets genuine turn and bounce when he lands it on the cut strip. When batting he confidently strides to the crease, gold watch and all, and proceeds to produce an array of switch hits, sweeps and pulls that won't be found in any coaching manual.

Career highlight must be 3 wickets in a destructive 4 over spell vs the Arcadian Casuals. His low-point must be the comedy collision with Howard in the Ducks game that kept him off work for weeks.
Kevin Spence Member profile Kevin Spence
Kev's cricketing career is truly a tale of two halves. His first incarnation was as a soporific opening bat for Edgbarrow school; boring opposition and team-mates alike with defensive prod after defensive prod after defensive prod....
A 15 year career break saw him return to the crease a changed man, now capable of Flintoff-esque fifties down the order, as well as bruising batsmen with his deceptively heavy balls.
The all new Kev 'over the fence' Spence should hopefully be a more regular fixture on the cricket field this summer, having somehow persuaded his girlfriend to trade in the charms of Budapest for the bright canteens of Slough.
Harry Stent Member profile Harry Stent
Hatchet is a Crowthorne stalwart. He's a  left-handed bat, right arm mystery spin bowler, specialist gullly fielder, and fitter than most of the rest of the team. 
A scouser by birth and a South African by heritage, H is responsible for the club's youth policy with the emergence of his 2 sons Robin and Neil.
He is a qualified umpire, former fixture secretary and general do-er of stuff.
Robin Stent Member profile Robin Stent
Robin is a true club man who has held many positions within the club over the past few years. A quick scoring aggresive batsman and a fantastic bowler in the nets. Made a clean sweep at the 2008 awards night with his brother Neil. Like most South Africans does not mind the odd confrontation.
Aleks Sudar Member profile Aleks Sudar
Our Serbian import, who took the game up as a complete novice 5 years ago. Soapy is also a talented snooker player and known as the Watford Nugget in the Harrow Borough snooker circuit.

Soapy achieved a life-long ambition of hitting a 6 in a 20Twenty match this year. Despite being the shortest boundary possible he was rightly chuffed with this achievement.  He went one better by hitting a proper one later in the season.

A reliable fielder, when he doesn't bust his fingers trying to catch the ball. Occasionally amazing viewers with his one-handed catching ability.

Another fruit of the Lorien production line.
Andrew Taylor Member profile Andrew Taylor
Made his mark in 2009 with a five-for in a league game. His bowling continues to improve, gaining extravagant swing, coupled with his resolute batting and abundent enthusiasm Fluffer is a valuable squad member.
Music commitments limit his availability throughout the summer.
Finest hour in a Crows cap was being caught dancing to Earth Wind and Fire at tea at Pinkney's Green.
Saves his surprise beamer for nets mainly these days.
Dean Timms Member profile Dean Timms
High quality cricketer who bats well, bowls a little and can keep wicket. Deano is also our man on the inside at Wellington College. Worryingly owns a pair of Oxford Utd shorts, but we don't hold that against him. Deano likes a Cider or 10. Made his maiden 50 for the club in pain-staking fashion, batting for 45 overs and running out half the team, almost ending in the Club being relegated.
Naz Younas Member profile Naz Younas
Cricket is in the Blood, what can i say. Not as fast now as i used to be- blame wife for that!!!! Too much good food.
Love the game and waiting for my chance to return to the crows!
Performance history
SeasonMatchesWonDrawnTiedLostCancelledAbandoned
All130396261184
201014600521
200920700760
200813311701
200715600801
2006236101150
200523840920
2004223011431