Tour match #11 – Australia 70s versus Wednesday 22 August 2018 KENT Some background Located in the country’s southeast, Kent is popularly known as the Garden of England. Steeped in British history, it is the location of 26 castles and Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Church of England. Kent is also famous for the white cliffs of Dover on the shores of the English Channel, the backdrop for the aerial Battle of Britain during World War Two. Fittingly the Kent County Club’s limited overs team is known at the Kent Spitfires. The club has produced many legendary cricketers, among them , and wicketkeepers , and . Today Kent’s economy is quite diverse ranging from haulage, logistics, tourism, aggregate building materials, printing and scientific research. Host club for the Australian Over 70s match against Kent was The Mote Cricket Club at . Now a secondary ground of the Kent Club, it has nevertheless been the venue for 218 first-class matches since 1859, including one in 1973 when Kent’s most famous cricketer Colin Cowdrey scored his 100th first-class century. The ground has two pavilions, one of which is known as “The Tabernacle”, in reference to a private cricket club established there in 1910 by Marcus Samuel, who later became the first Lord Bearsted (1853-1927). One of the richest men in England Samuel started and owned the Shell Oil Company. So powerful was Samuel that “The Tabernacle” became his own changing room, while other players had to settle for the pavilion next door.

Kent motto: Invicta Kent flag

The Tabernacle Match report The Mote cricket ground was a 7 minute drive from our hotel but due to a broken down car blocking a narrow road we had to take a detour of 20 minutes. That had us driving past our hotel again which for those at the back of the bus was noted with some amazement. We duly arrived at the ground in another beautiful setting. During the warm ups by the Australians the Kent players enjoyed a biscuit and cup of tea. They noted that is how they always warm up prior to a game. The day was overcast and 18 degrees when the umpires and captains proceeded to the for the toss. Ian Petherick called heads and decided not surprisingly to bat. After the usual introductions by both teams and umpires the game commenced. The wicket looked excellent and had 500 runs made on it the previous weekend.

Both teams in front of pavilion at The Mote Australia opened with Ian Gibson (Gippsland) and Tom Wood (Parramatta) making a 73 run partnership. Wood retired on 41, Gibson retired on 43, followed by Ian Petherick 18, Alan Reid 41 retired, Stirling Hamman 40 retired, Bruce Pooley 14, John Costello 14 and Tim Spear 6 not out were the main run scorers. Australia’s innings closed with the score on 3 for 231.

Chris Swadkin bowls to Stirling Hamman

The typical English tea was served prior to the resumption of play with Kent openers starting the innings at 3.10pm. After working hard for their 45 overs, Kent were 4 for 164. Wicket takers for Australia were Roger Edmund 9 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 34 and Ian Petherick 9 overs, 1 maiden 2 for 34 with 1 run out. The game concluded in gloomy conditions as the days are becoming markedly shorter and cooler as we move from an English summer to autumn. Early September marks the end of the English cricket season. An excellent dinner and drinks were enjoyed by everyone in the clubrooms. The Australian Man of the Match was awarded to Tom Wood for his excellent 41 retired off 23 balls. The very humorous speech from Howard Smith, the Kent Over 60s and 70s Co-ordinator, was a tour highlight.

Our return journey to the hotel was an uneventful 7 minutes. The conclusion of another excellent day’s cricket, on a beautiful ground with probably the best wicket we have had on tour plus the generous hospitality of Kent Seniors and The Mote Cricket Club.

VETERANS CRICKET AUSTRALIA

COMPETITION: Over 70's ROUND: 11 DATE: 22/08/2018

TEAMS Australia V Kent TOSS WON BY: 35 40 45 50 INNINGS Australia Kent OVER OVER OVER OVER NO. PLAYER HOW OUT R B

1 Wood T Retired 41 23

2 Gibson I (Gipps) Retired 43 83

3 Petherick I LBW Bowled North B 18 21

4 Reid A Retired 41 37

5 Hamman S Retired 40 43

6 Edmunds R LBW Bowled Richards N 7 11

7 Pooley B Ct & Bowled Richards N 14 16

8 Costello J Not Out 13 19

9 Spear T Not Out 6 17

10 Gibson I (ACS) DNB

11 McPherson W DNB

12 Court R DNB

13

SUNDRIES B 0 LB 3 W 5 NB 0 8

TOTAL 3/231 FOW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 OVERS 45 73 179 207 BOWLER O M R W

Humphrey Peter 9 0 56 0

North Brian 9 2 37 1

Underdown Norman 7 1 31 0

Breed Colin 5 0 19 0

Swadkin Chris 6 0 28 0

Richards Neil 9 0 57 2

VETERANS CRICKET AUSTRALIA COMPETITION: Over 70's ROUND: 11 DATE: 22/08/2018 TEAMS Australia V Kent VENUE 35 40 45 50 INNINGS Kent Mote C C OVER OVER OVER OVER NO. PLAYER HOW OUT R B

1 Packman Frank Ct Court R Bowled Edmunds R 20 62

2 Dickson Andrew Bowled Petherick I 14 41

3 Swadkin Chris Retired 50 49

4 Breed Colin LBW Bowled Petherick I 4 8

5 Aiery John Run Out (Spear T & Hamman S) 28 56

6 Birmingham Derek Not Out 23 43

7 Underdown Norman Not Out 7 11

8

9

10

11

12

13

SUNDRIES B 9 LB 5 W 3 NB 1 18

FOW TOTAL 4/164

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 OVERS 45 37 39 49 149 BOWLING BOWLER O M R W

1 Court R 4 0 5 0

2 Spear T 9 1 22 0

3 Edmunds R 9 2 34 1

4 Petherick I 9 0 34 2

5 Costello J 5 0 23 0

6 Pooley B 5 0 19 0

7 Hamman S 4 0 13 0

8

9

10 UMPIRES

11

Australia won by 67 runs