Crusaders Cricket Australia

2011 TOUR OF ASIA, EUROPE AND UK

The thirteenth Crusader tour followed a similar pattern to its predecessor, starting in steamy Singapore and ending six weeks later in balmy Bray.

In that time, thirty-nine players took part in thirty games; the Crusaders visited five countries (Singapore, Spain, Italy, Wales and England) and stayed in nine hotels, an organisational challenge which visionary director Swan Richards took in his stride and emerged from the experience more or less unscathed.

There was a concern that Crusaders mark XIII might lack the substance of some of its forebears, vs. Windsor Great Park CC with only two regular first graders in the core group plus a number of promising but raw teenagers for whom the schedule (both playing and traveling) would be a new experience.

Losses in Singapore, Barcelona and Verona suggested tough times ahead in the UK, something that our gregarious Italian host, Simone Gambino, mentioned more than once.

In the event, of twenty-one games played in the UK, Crusaders won sixteen and lost only two- on the same day in Sussex against MCC and Preston Nomads.

The team's resources were boosted in the UK by the likes of Sam Loftus, Dean Russ, Danny O'Shea (playing League cricket) and itinerant allrounder Chris Read. They brought stability to the team and also inspired the younger players to lift their games and contribute significantly to the team's success.

Sam Loftus led the batting by example-his 110no at Bourton Vale was the only tour hundred; better still was his 82no at Bray against Shaun Udal and co.

The two young left handers, Tom Goulding and Josh Manning, came through the tour with flying colours. Goulding was the only batsman to exceed 400 runs, and of his four fifties, none better than his 82 on Stowell Park's slow turner where most of his colleagues succumbed without trace. Manning was consistent-nine not outs helped the record, but he and Chris Read did well to reach 300 for the tour.

Read's ball striking at Abergavenny (scene of Andrew Symonds's record 16 sixes) earned him 8 sixes out of 70, but ambition got the better of him just when records were being contemplated. His 92 against MCC was a triumph in adversity when all around him were falling about in a veritable heap.

Much was expected of the two Premier Division players James Wild (Prahran) and Tallan Wright (Essendon). Wild rose to the royal occasion at Windsor with a forthright 99, but often their batting performances fell short of expectation. However the two shared 40 wickets with the ball and the attack looked more formidable for their presence.

The most successful of the other bowlers were those turning away from the right-hand bat, notably Jack Massie (leg breaks) and a bevy of slow left armers.

At times, it was quite comical to watch the leaden footed, crease bound English club batsmen trying to cope and inevitably failing.

In the seam department, in addition to Wright, much credit to Steve Pascoe who combined umpiring with some inspired spells, Cam Fitchett had his moments and Paddy Tyler always gave 110%.

The teenage Sudanese, Akat Mayoum, was a willing learner; his action in the delivery stride needs serious attention but he was a popular tourist with friends and foes alike.

In the field, the team was athletic, the catching sometimes problematic and the keeping duties efficiently shared by Tim Mahoney, the vocal Peter Marshall and the dependable veteran John Chapman.

The 'support staff as ever set the highest standards, notably Vs. Barcelona CC with Olympic Stadium in background Vs. Singapore CC with Marina Bay Sands in background umpire-in-chief Darrell Holt (16 games), scorer-in-chief Ann Pascoe (10 games) and the various match managers.

On the field, it was noticeable that English club cricket standards have declined, most sides having difficulty in raising players for mid-week matches; Hurlingham would have been seriously embarrassed without Michael Day and James Aloni coming to the rescue. Off the field, the hospitality everywhere was brilliant (yes, one glaring exception in SW London!).

The tour will be remembered for these experiences and The Queen shaking hands with Tim Arbon special mention to Windsor Great Park who altered their match schedule so that the Crusaders could share their 150th anniversary, an event that HM the Queen graciously agreed to attend.

Also Nick Gale in North Lancashire and Michael Parkinson in Bray set up memorable days, the latter providing a fitting end to Tour mark XIII. The 90 run win was a bit of icing on the cake.