Brigands v Nomads, 19 April 2026

"In the spring, cricketers are fresh and eager; ambition within them breaks into bud; new bats and flannels are as chaste as the April winds", Neville Cardus

The cricketers arrived on the opening day of the season. There were the keen ones, with oiled bats, ironed whites, and confidence from six weeks in the winter nets. There were the rusty ones, with cricket bags unopened since the last Sunday of the previous September, who discover a solitary batting glove and a pair of socks with a faint archaeological aroma of another era. And there were the fair-weather cricketers who only confirmed that they were playing once the Met Office guaranteed conditions fit for a single sleeveless jumper.

The visitors were Nomads CC, a sociable and talented wandering club from London, who were asked to bowl first on what looked like a flat pitch for batting.

Rupert Preece and Adam Jay walked out to warm applause under blue skies. 12 -0 off six overs became 18-2 off 9 when Preece, and then number 3 Dave Turner, both fell to smart stumpings.

Guy Ladenberg walked out with a pristine new bat, knocked in across the winter with the devotion of a man restoring a vintage car, and was bowled third ball for a duck. He might have heeded W G Grace’s advice to “never treat a straight ball with contempt”.

At 94-6, Dave Henderson and Neil Wood came together for a 6-over partnership that yielded 60 runs. Henderson’s 89, with 16 boundaries, was the backbone of the innings. Wood was out to a one-handed catch, having scored an impressive 28. The most surprised person on the ground was Wood's father, who said he didn't realise his son could bat. Nomad’s Rob Jones announced his arrival with five wickets on debut. Brigands 178 all out off 40 overs.

Tea was taken outside in the sunshine on new picnic benches donated by our friends at the Bat and Ball Inn. Richie Hay, the much-loved Match Manager, moved among the teas with the air of a man who could arrange a wedding, a village fete, and minor military manoeuvres without breaking into a sweat. Pete Tomkins and Nigel Lovett-Turner arrived to show support. Nick Harris turned on the clock. Caroline Beardall checked the scorebook. Nervous football fans watched the start of the Premier League "decider" between Manchester City and Arsenal on their smartphones. And then there was Mark Smith, the groundsman, who proudly surveyed his luscious green outfield with pride.

Rob Manson was the pick of the Brigands' bowlers, 29 for 1 off seven, straight and fast, overs. Father of three, Dave Turner, hit the stumps from mid-off with a direct-hit run-out that would have pleased Jonty Rhodes. Neil Wood's nine overs went for 48, the rusty-first of them consisting of five full tosses. Mike Beardall was 24 for 1 off six. Reeve and Jones anchored the Nomads' chase with a composed 70 and a quick-fire 50, respectively, as “The Camels” meandered toward the target.

Jim Morris came on to bowl after 36 overs with just one run needed. One of the Brigands' fielders remarked that "the game was close until Jim came on to bowl”.

Welcome back, village cricket.

Brigands 178 all out lost to Nomads 179-4 by 6 wickets

Photo credits: Adam Jay, Richie Hay, Caroline Beardall, Dave Henderson & Kris Newton