Captain’s Blog #3 – End of Year Review by Sam Brooks

On the Record

Anson St George concluded the season after 19 matches, with a record of:

10 wins

8 losses

1 draw

Our final game of the season was the Harrison-Moody Trophy, where we faced the GB-XI. Despite challenging weather all weekend, we managed to adapt by playing a revised 20/20 match, followed by a raffle, bake sale, and a curry. The 20-over format wasn’t in our favor, and despite a solid effort, the GB-XI secured the trophy for the second time, making the series 2-2. We’ll be looking to bounce back next season.

Moments to Remember

Overall, it’s been another fantastic year with the team showcasing some excellent cricket. Here are some standout performances:

Jim scored his second century for Anson, 18 years after his first, and in his 30th season with the club. His contributions go beyond cricket, with his efforts as match secretary and what seems to be a new role as our social (media) secretary—capturing photos, posting team sheets, blogs, and event updates. These have added a lot to the year, so a big thank you to Jim.

Sam Doyle scored his first century in men’s cricket for Anson, then followed it up with back-to-back centuries for his Saturday club the following week. It’s great to see another cricket family joining our ranks, which speaks volumes about what Anson stands for.

Dave Bage took home all the awards at the AGM for his 17 wickets this season. It could’ve easily been 30+, if not for a few near misses and unfortunate drops. A highlight for the team would be an unfortunate one for Baggy as he spent the majority of the early season when waiting to bat, knocking in his new bat and towards the end of the season, Dave finally decided to use the new stick only to break the bat down the splice the very same innings.

Needless to say he’s had it replaced and pre knocked in professionally.

We are family

Charlie Brooks made a welcome return to the team, playing all 19 matches and contributing 12 wickets with his spin bowling. It’s been great to have him back and it brought another challenge for me as captain as I can be a bit harsher on my younger brother but Charlie rose to the occasion each week, despite winning the duck cup.

Billy Parnell had another solid season and someone who is willing to put his hand up each game. As captain I can turn to Bill if we’re in need of a keeper or change bowler and he’s up there with our best fielders too. The versatility and reliability to feature most weeks is a credit to him. Both Daniel and Ricci have joined ranks and if not playing will be staunch supporters with the whole Parnell family, I hope this will be a continued support each season.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Lee Gilbert in his role as Chairman and keeping Anson’s history up to date. And Hugh Henry for all the hard work with scoring and fixture arrangements. The club wish Hugh the best of luck representing England over 50’s World Cup campaign as scorer.

While I could mention everyone individually, the club as a whole is thriving, and many guest players have helped fill out the team sheet. By the end of the season, we were once again looking at the drops list, but team spirit remained high.

In terms of my efforts on the pitch I would say my Anson career best 7-29 against Forest Gate is the standout.

A huge thank you to all the club members and their families for making this another memorable year, especially my first as skipper. I’ve learned a lot, and I hope I’ve done the team justice both on and off the field.

The post-season celebration at the Gilbert’s cabin was another fantastic occasion.

Looking forward to 2025

Cricket fosters a unique camaraderie and sense of community unlike many other team sports. The culture is built around strong connections with teammates, their families, and friends, all of whom are integral to the summer experience. The slower pace of the game offers plenty of opportunities for conversation—whether it’s about stats, match highlights, or just chatting about the evening ahead. These moments, often shared in the clubhouse or on the sidelines, are what create lasting bonds and a sense of belonging within our cricket “family.”

Following the recent AGM, we’re now looking ahead to shaping up for next season. Lots of great work has been made ahead of 2025 and I hope we can stay connected during the off-season, possibly with some net sessions and social events. I’m particularly looking forward to Steve’s Baz Crawl and Butlins! 

Finally, after being re-elected as captain, I’m eager to improve our win record and continue growing the club.

End of innings.
Cheeks