Hampshire Seniors ... mothballed and rusting up.
Jan Bridle and his merry band of Hampshire Seventies athletes have packed their cricket kit back in the loft for another 12 months following the England Seniors’ decision to scrap this summer’s 70-plus County Championship, together with a planned winter Ashes visit to Australia.
“It’s such a disappointment, but totally understandable in the current climate,” reflected Bridle, the hero of Bournemouth’s win over RAA Butterworth in Malaysia in March 1984 (ask him about it : if you’ve an hour to spare !).
“The turnout at nets was excellent and we were looking to have another good season in a competition in which we’ve previously shone.”
The cancellation of the 70s tournament is also a blow to Elliman’s liniment and WD40, which both keep 70s cricketers pro-active. Worse still, no one in the Hampshire ranks will be able to eat and enjoy Mrs Biddlecombe’s award winning bread pudding, the highspot of a wonderful Cadnam spread at each 70s home match.
The best Geoff Beale’s Sixties team can hope for is a knock-out competition among the counties in August. The normal league programme was already scrapped.
“It’s such a disappointment, but totally understandable in the current climate,” reflected Bridle, the hero of Bournemouth’s win over RAA Butterworth in Malaysia in March 1984 (ask him about it : if you’ve an hour to spare !).
“The turnout at nets was excellent and we were looking to have another good season in a competition in which we’ve previously shone.”
The cancellation of the 70s tournament is also a blow to Elliman’s liniment and WD40, which both keep 70s cricketers pro-active. Worse still, no one in the Hampshire ranks will be able to eat and enjoy Mrs Biddlecombe’s award winning bread pudding, the highspot of a wonderful Cadnam spread at each 70s home match.
The best Geoff Beale’s Sixties team can hope for is a knock-out competition among the counties in August. The normal league programme was already scrapped.
