I seemed to have strained a knee while running around yesterday so I'm looking at today's game with some trepidation.   Once again, after our early pool session I make the most of the breakfast buffet, knowing that its unlikely that I will want to eat much for lunch with a 1:00pm start to the game. The Queensland contingent are going to head off early for the half hour drive to Longparish as Ross Chapman has relatives there and wishes to have a quick catch-up with his daughter's mother-in-law before the game.

Longparish is a small village lying on the western bank of the River Test in Hampshire .   It has a population of 702. The village's most famous resident, John Woodcock is going to attend today's game and toss the coin. John Woodcock was cricket correspondent of The Times from 1954 to 1988 and editor of Wisden Cricketer's Almanack for six years from 1981 until 1986. He has attended more than 400 Tests. He was President of the Cricket Writers' Club from 1986-2004.
 
 We visit the village pub (called The Cricketers) for a coffee while Ross completes his family obligations. The organiser of the local team is there and explains to us that everyone is so excited about the visit of Australians that just about the whole of their first-grade team has put their hand up to play - along with a couple of older guys who played in Longparish's win in the English Village Championship final at Lords in 1989.   As it turns out, they field a side that apart from two "seasoned veterans" consists of players aged between 19 and 27.   Their superior athletic ability is to tell in the final result.  

Ross is skipper for the day and gives us an emotional speech pre-match as his daughter's father-in-law had passed away in the last couple of weeks - and being not much older than Ross, it just brings to a head how lucky we all are to be still healthy enough to keep playing this game we love.

I'm not required to keep today as Ross intend to use me as a bowler. Not a good plan I'm thinking, as I can hardly complete the half-lap jog before we commence warm-ups as my knee is so sore.   Anyway I limp and lurch around the field, mostly boundary-riding while the Longparish openers zip between the wickets like teenagers.   Oh yeah, they are!! One of the openers is on the verge of county cricket with Hampshire and looks very stylish.   Cookie however beats the edge probably half a dozen times and earns the respect of the early batsmen. Three of their top order reach the 40 run retirement limit but we do manage to pick up 6 wickets before the innings is over.   They ran like startled rabbits during the last dozen overs or so and picked many extra runs that we wouldn't have conceded against an over 60's team.   My brief sojourn to the bowling crease was probably as painful for my captain as it was for me. Three overs, none for twenty with eleven runs coming off my final over as happy hour had been declared.   In the end they finish with 6/217 (off 45 overs) but tell us afterwards they felt our bowling attack put them under more pressure than any of their regular opponents.

A different opening pair will be used today, with regular opener Gill Chapman returning to the side. I'm listed to bat at number 9 so I can take full advantage of the wonderful afternoon tea provided as I'm confident our batting is strong enough to get us through the late session.   As it turns out, we bat very well but countless shots that would have been boundaries against opposition of our own vintage are cut off by diving saves from the athletic and enthusiastic youngsters.  Bill Rowe provides plenty of amusement during his fine innings as he attempts the diving slide to avoid being run out on no less than 4 occasions.  Having what some would describe as a well-rounded physique, the slide really becomes just a flop-and-stop. The second one is more of a face-plant and the one where he has to dive back into his crease at the bowler's end after calling "No" is just crazy.

Calling was a hop topic during the first training session held by tour-skipper Stirling last week as he strived to ensure we stuck to the basics and kept it simple.   His theory of not using "no" because it sounds like "go" has most of us bemused but we were willing to humour him.   However his innings today was interspersed with such gems as "come come", "go" and "go back" so it was no surprise to see him awarded the gonguzula - a stupid hat that is required to be worn for the next 24 hours.
 
I'm summonsed to the crease with three balls left in the day and make a very stylish 2 not out (from a late cut, of course) and we finish the day at 7/167.   A loss by 50 runs but all things considered a very good effort.   We have certainly earned the respect of our opposition.

Both teams wander back to the village pub for presentations and speeches before we sit down for a feed.   For me its chilli prawns for entrée and fish & chips (what else!) for mains. A few ales as well as Chappy is driving home again and we are back in bed by around midnight.   Tomorrow we move our base from Thatcham to Cheltenham so no game scheduled. Might give my dodgy leg a chance to recover.