It’s that Time of Year Again! – Captain’s Blog #6 – By Sam Brooks

It’s That Time of Year Again

Welcome Back

Not to rival Jim and his blogs, but it’s that time of year again. The cricket bags are dusted off, the whites are (hopefully) still white, and a few of us, keen as ever, have convinced ourselves that a brand-new bat will somehow fix last season’s batting averages. I picked mine up and immediately decided the grip needed changing… and, naturally, a new pair of gloves wouldn’t hurt either. So, I’ll be getting the kit ordered with Hugh accordingly…

Butlins

Fresh from a 00s Butlins weekender, the lads are heading into the season in high spirits. It was a brilliant turnout with plenty of laughs, compiled with a trip to our now well-adopted local, The Claremont Pub, before later fully committing to some questionable Mexican fancy dress outfits—another one for the ages! Special mention has to go to Mitch, who kept the entertainment flowing, creating some AI-masterpieces over the weekend, featuring Martin and Jason in ways they probably won’t live down anytime soon. Top-tier content that had the group in stitches.

The good times didn’t stop there either, with several of the squad taking part in the pre-season golf day expertly organised by Luke Lovell. In a result that saw the oldies edge out the youngsters, any celebrations were short-lived as the winnings were swiftly lumped on a losing bet at the Grand National—sorry, Steve 🤣

Practice maketh the batsman

The county season may already be underway, but let’s be honest, the real stars return this weekend as Anson St George kick off the 2026 campaign at home. There’s a real buzz around the squad, with a full XI confirmed by Tuesday afternoon. That alone says plenty about how much we’ve all missed the weekly routine and being around each other.

Monday night saw the first of many net sessions, expertly organised by Billy Parnell and Paul Doyle. Rusty? Maybe a little. But there were flashes of brilliance… mixed in with some “tragic magic” from both bat and ball. Safe to say, a few of us felt it the next morning. If you speak to the likes of Taggs, Jim, or Lee, they’ll tell you some of the best Anson moments don’t even happen on the pitch. Net sessions and car park chats have produced their fair share of stories over the years. Maybe one day those will be shared.

To round off Monday’s session, a mention for Daniel Parnell, who found his rhythm after a slow start and sent down a few quality deliveries, although at one point he did produce what Paul eloquently described as a “boncer.” Moments like that keep spirits high and the laughs flowing as we head towards Sunday’s opener.

Pre-match prep

Before the match, I might do a bit of homework on the opposition via Play-Cricket… though I’m sure the lads will be quick to point out everything I’ve done wrong and what needs tightening up if we’re to get off to a winning start. And with it being a Bank Holiday weekend, I imagine a few of the boys might enjoy a light celebration to mark the return of cricket 🍻

Game on!