The Saturday XI welcome longstanding adversaries Avebury to the ground formally known as ‘fortress’ Glasshouse this weekend in a top, (them) vs bottom, (us) head-to-head. The Bears haven’t played any other team in Wiltshire as frequently as Avebury and have shared some memorable moments with the men from Wiltshire’s rural heartland. Who can forget; ‘The Avebury 8’, the Josh Parkyn ball that Wes Hartsleif hit for 12 nearing killing a postman delivering letters in the neighbouring street or the numerous spats our garrulous and talismanic all-rounder (former) Michael Sherring has had with a certain left arm swing bowler!
The skipper welcomes back Wiltshire’s most potent spinner in the form of Shreyas Molhotra who returns after a family reunion in his native Oman. He is also able to spread the tremendous news that he has been able to resign the prodigious talents of South African batsmen Brendan Bester, who averages over 40 in all competitions for the Bears – welcome back to a true Bear Flat legend. He is also able to offer a debut to another legend, and BFCC stalwart Michael Colbeck who was part of the famous Somerset Cup winning team of 2015 – it is hoped that Michael’s undoubted desire and will to win will permeate through the squad inspiring a potential victory.
However, (this could take a while) he is without; (1) Harry Cadbury (farming on the Scottish island of Mull – seriously), (2) Tony ‘Big T’ Deoliveira (eating the wild boar he caught on last weekend’s hunting expedition in the MSN woodlands), (3) George ‘My Boy’ Ellis (recovering from ground-breaking heart surgery in California’s finest cardiac hospital), (4) Jack ‘The Capt’ Mainwaring (stag do to the Balearics finest island, – Majorca), (5) Simon’ Rimmer’ Porter (finishing off his ECB Level 8.25 coaching badge), (6) Michael Sherring (touring Malta with his posh mates from Babington House), (7) Michael Smyth (continuing his statistical battle with ‘Wardy Lee’ regarding the social care system in the United Kingdom), (8) Rob Wilson (babysitting duties), (9) Paul Wood (back strain), (10) Charlie Samler (tree climbing course) and (11) Lloyd Katz (working on his slower ball).
If you would like to play, please let the skipper know! If not, please do come up for a cup of tea and sandwich as we have the lovely Zoe and friends on tea duty.
