NEWCLOSE NEWS November/December 2020
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NEWCLOSE NEWS November/December 2020
photo © Dave Reynolds WE WISH ALL OUR MEMBERS AND READERS A
VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
AND A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
To those of us fortunate enough to be living on the Isle of Wight we are amongst the 1% of
the UK’s population returning this week to a situation very similar to the one we enjoyed Editor:
for most of July, August, September and October. The new regulations, including the Hugh Griffiths
‘Rule of 6’, will apply from Wednesday 2nd December - with all Tiers being subject to a email: editor@
fortnightly review. Newclose, along with other Isle of Wight bars and restaurants, will be newclose.org
allowed to serve food and drink - by table service only so that we can maintain our mobile:
‘Covid-secure’ and relaxed environment. 07768 552682
Breakfasts and brunches will available on Fridays from 9am to 12noon and on Saturdays
(to 20th December where we already have bookings made via The Price is Wight). Should you wish to enquire about
making a private booking for an event at other times, please call Nikki Price on 01983 824570; or contact her by
email at: info@newclose.org.
The Newclose pavilion will be closed for Christmas and New Year from Sunday 21st December until 4th January.
So, wherever you are, the Trustees wish all our members and readers a Very Happy Christmas - and stay safe!
THE EDITOR LOOKS BACK ON THE STRANGEST OF CRICKET SEASONS
The number of matches played at Newclose this season struggled to reach double figures, less than a third of
the days of cricket played in 2019. On the face of it, many would say that this was very disappointing; however,
on reflection, the glass-half-full end of season report could, and should, read:
WELL DONE NEWCLOSE - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
After a few weeks in June, which saw the IW Disabilities Squad enjoying net practice on the square on Saturday
mornings, the season didn’t get properly underway until 26th July when Newclose hosted Island Bakeries and
three weeks later when Ryde were our visitors. Newclose were the victors in both these matches -
so it’s some consolation that we can boast a 100% win record in 2020!
As we anticipated, the 9th August Hampshire versus Lancashire Royal London Trophy fixture was cancelled due
to the coronavirus pandemic and, by the time Ryde and Ventnor contested the IW Cricket Board Cup Final on
27th September, a mere two months of cricket had been possible in the season.
If quantity was below par, quality was anything but! The MCC tour of the Island went ahead on two days in
early September - rather than on the planned three days in July - and the ECB’s #Womenscricketmonth morning
featured two girls’ games, providing the curtain-raiser to a match between an Isle of Wight Development XI
and MCC.
Following the same pattern Ryde Under 13s played Ventnor Under 13s as the precursor to the same clubs
contesting the Isle of Wight Cup Final. There was County Age-Group Cricket, with the Isle of Wight Under 17s
playing Berkshire Under 17s.
At senior level, the Isle of Wight Cricket Board XI played a Herefordshire county squad and other ‘overseas’
visitors were Oundle Ramblers (former pupils of Oundle School) who hired Newclose for a weekend to play a
two-day match against their counterparts from Eton College (the Barely Bluies).
This cross-section of cricket at Newclose was, therefore, a major achievement in the most difficult cricket
season in my post-WW2 lifetime.
The support of Newclose members was the icing on the cake. From the pre-season social day on 4th July through
to the nail-biting finish to the Isle of Wight Cup Final on 27th September, the camaraderie and the presence of
cricket folk was special to all of us who love the game, our ground and our Island.
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The Newclose Cricket Club Committee has
nominated Hugh Griffiths for election to
the ISLE OF WIGHT CRICKET BOARD
at its
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
on Monday 7th December 2020
on ‘ZOOM’
Newclose County Cricket Ground Limited Trustee and Newsclose News Editor, Hugh Griffiths, believes that being
quarter of a century younger than Colonel Sir Tom Moore, he’s not yet too old to take on a new challenge and
follow the veteran soldier’s positive spirit. Hugh has been a volunteer with Newclose since responding to the late
Brian Gardener’s appeal for help mowing the outfield a decade ago. After Brian died, he felt he couldn’t stand
back and see Newclose struggle to survive so decided to help by spending more time in other aspects of Newclose.
These involved administration, communication, membership, marketing, fixtures and fundraising, whilst becoming
more involved as a Trustee as his experience of the ground operation grew.
Working with Graham Cooper, he helped to bring Hampshire 1st XI to the Island in May 2019. As cricket struggles
as a mainstream sport, and with the ECB having serious financial problems, Hugh reckons he can do a job for Island
cricket, whilst still keeping a close eye on Newclose and striving to expand the fixture list in terms of quantity and
quality.
“It’d be great to see Hampshire back at Newclose in 2021 or 2022. Ideally, at the same time we’ll be seeing more
youngsters, especially girls, playing at local schools and clubs, and at Newclose. With them and more women
cricketers boosting the numbers in the crowd at a county match, the vision is complete. Being at Lord’s watching
Denis Compton in 1956 got me into cricket. I captained my primary school team in Buckinghamshire a year later.
Alas that was the pinnacle for me as a cricketer and it’s been downhill ever since.”
Hugh’s love of the game however is constant and, whether filling a gap in the field in a Newclose Cricket Club
friendly match or working with others to put the ground to bed at the end of the season, he feels that he’s among
friends in cricket. When the votes for Directors of the IW Cricket Board are counted, that last statement will be
proven to be right or wrong. He commented “I know I’ll still have one friend, and that’s Graham who has seconded
my nomination on behalf of the Isle of Wight ACO (Association of Cricket Officials). Being a batsman who these
days struggles a bit, it’s a good idea to have umpires and scorers amongst your pals!”
Membership Report
When I took over the ‘Mem Sec’ role in February, I set myself a target of getting 100 new members in 2020. Guess
what – I didn’t make it. I suppose there have been extenuating circumstances that none of us could have envisaged.
Hopefully the big push will come in 2021 - as Newclose has so much to offer; I look on it as “the MCC of the Island”
- and somewhere that all cricket lovers should be attracted. So, we must put on a good show to fulfil this positioning.
I’m aware that it was once regarded as ‘the home’ of Ventnor Cricket Club – but those days are behind us and
it’s now a neutral ground for all Island cricket clubs. If I still had playing days left in me, I’d love to play on the
Island’s ‘hallowed turf’ every so often, wouldn’t you?
So Playing members will be a particular focus next year as we build up our fixture list and spread the opportunities
around; unfortunately we had a handful of such members in 2020 for whom we couldn’t give a game; next year!
We are very lucky to have over 60 Life members, many of whom joined as such in the so-called ‘noughties’.
They have been the mainstay of the Club through good times and bad – and we are very grateful to them.
We also have a debt to our ‘County’ members (who were to get free admission to the Hampshire v Lancashire
Royal London Cup match in August) - but we could not deliver on that expectation. Be assured that you are not
forgotten and that we have something up our sleeve to say ‘thank you’ for sticking with us.
We now have over 70 Social members and I would like to get to 150 in 2021; any help with recruitment or referrals
would be much appreciated. Between us, we can do it!
Jon Matthews
Membership Secretary
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BRIGGS-HEAD
REVISITED
After playing for Ventnor at Newclose
in their formative years, Danny Briggs
and Travis Head
will be reunited at
Adelaide Strikers along with coach
Jason Gillespie for the 2020-2021
Australian T20 ‘Big Bash’ Competition
(photos © Dave Reynolds)
Danny Briggs Travis Head
Going back to the days when Ventnor Cricket Club played their Southern Premier League fixtures at Newclose,
both Danny Briggs and Travis Head showed their potential to become professional First-Class cricketers.
Danny was an Isle of Wight talent born in Newport and educated at Carisbrooke High School.
As a cricketer he progressed from Ventnor to a professional contract with Hampshire and, whilst there, was chosen
to represent England in T20 and ODI cricket. After a move to Sussex, and under the management of
Jason Gillespie, he has continued to distinguish himself as one of the top bowlers in domestic T20 cricket.
Travis came to England in 2013 to join the Elite International Cricket Academy based at The Ageas Bowl - at the
same time being assigned to play at Ventnor in the Premier League as their overseas player. That season, it was
clear to all that he had his eyes firmly set on progressing his career from Australia Under 19s to T20 Internationals,
ODIs and the Australian Test team. He scored 72 on his Test debut against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018 and played in
4 of the 5 Tests in England last year.
He was signed as Sussex’s overseas player in 2020, a contract now deferred to 2021. Travis has also played for
Worcestershire and his earlier link with fellow South Australian Jason Gillespie at Yorkshire would have continued
at Hove - but will now continue with ‘The Strikers’ in their home city of Adelaide this month.
In a ‘warm-up’
50-over game
against Sussex at Hove
before the ODIs
in 2018,
Danny Briggs traps
Travis Head (Australia)
LBW for just 2 runs.
(photo © Hugh Griffiths)
As an Englishman, it’s good to recall the inaugural T20 International match played against Australia at the (then)
Rose Bowl back in 2005. Chasing 180 to win, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden cruised to 22 for no wicket
in 2.2 overs. After 5.5 overs it was 31-7! Both openers, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey,
Ricky Ponting and Damien Martin were all ‘back in the hutch’ – with Jason Gillespie then top scoring with a
T20I career best 24. England went on to win by exactly 100 runs - but which two England bowlers did the
damage? Darren Gough and Gloucestershire’s unsung John Lewis. Steve Harmison got in on the act and ended
the match in the most emphatic way by cartwheeling Glenn McGrath’s middle stump clean ‘out of the ground’!
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England cricketers enjoy an Isle of Wight break
Two of England’s top cricketers have recently spent days
on holiday on the Isle of Wight.
World Cup winner Jason Roy and England teammate
Sam Billings visited tourist hotspots including The Hut at
Colwell Bay and Tapnell Farm, also in West Wight,
where they pitted their skills on the go-karts. Sam also
flew high on the bouncing pillows (right).
In an Instagram® post, Kent county cricketer, Sam, said
he had a “beautiful few days away” with the Island
“never disappointing”. Thank you, Sam, for these kind
words!
Meanwhile, in other County cricket news, our own
Danny Briggs has left Sussex after 4 years there and, in
2021, will join Warwickshire where he’ll be teaming up
with Adam Hose, another Isle of Wight born First-Class photo © Sam Billings
cricketer.
After a dearth of home-grown talent on the County scene (not one in the first half of the 20th Century!) it’s good to
see the Island punching above its weight now with four of our own already appearing in the 21st Century – with two
still current. As well as Danny Briggs and Adam Hose at Warwickshire, they are:
Arthur Watson (1866-1955) (Hampshire) Howard Phillips (1872-1960) (Hampshire and Border, South Africa)
Hamilton Smith (1886-1955) (Hampshire) William Scott (1903-1989) (Hampshire)
Ian Hilsum (b 1981) (Oxford University) David Griffiths (b 1985) (Hampshire and Kent)
Donald Gordon (b 1990) (Oxford University)
We plan to feature more about these Isle of Wight born First-Class cricketers in future editions; watch this space!
Scoreboard
It was mentioned in the October edition we face major challenges with our current scoreboard; in short, it has
suffered water ingress into its innards and there is much corrosion in evidence within its circuitry. It’s only a
matter of time before it dies on us.
Happily the advances of technology have eliminated this particular problem and these days circuitry is housed
within waterproof modules to give complete weather protection.
But, regrettably, we are faced with the prospect that a new scoreboard is the only viable solution.
The Trustees have identified a funding source that will go some way to meeting the capital cost (now expected
to be in excess of £25,000) and, in doing so, are required to seek three quotations from suppliers. Unfortunately,
this route will require an up-front initial injection of cash - and then the loan repaid over several years.
Going through this exercise has opened up new and interesting possibilities – but it has also resulted in a delayed
decision whilst we explore the product offerings that are available in today’s marketplace; lockdown hasn’t
helped either!
So, it will be the New Year before we can put forward a solution and a business plan to present to the
membership. We must ‘get it right’; rushing into a decision without doing the groundwork is just not an option.
However, the good news is that there are innovative products out there that will more than suit our needs –
even some that may be beyond our purse! But we know that time is not on our side and that our existing
scoreboard is already on borrowed time.
Jon Matthews
Treasurer
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