march 2009 - Fitzwilliam College - University of Cambridge

march 2009 68
JRAC
(embarrassingly for him) became the first of four
victims claimed by Coombs’ flighted filth, regularly
the Past XIs most successful pie-thrower.
Amidst the carnage, West carried on stylishly, a
hard-hitting captain’s innings of 72 to his name, and at
tea (221 for 8) he must have thought the College wellplaced.
Indeed, after an uncertain start, the impartial
observer may have agreed. However, the Past XI has
a tradition of avoiding defeat, either by invoking
ingeniously the Jackson-Pratt Variation of the
Duckworth-Lewis Method, or indeed by winning
the fixture outright.
Alas for Ollie, 2008 was an example of the latter
eventuality. After a careful – others might unkindly
suggest a somewhat middle-aged – 50 from the
Groundsman (it was this year the Past’s turn to select
him), the real fireworks were provided by Husain
whose not-out 105 was a sheer delight to witness.
His measured strokeplay and powerful hitting were
epitomised by the six out of the ground and through the
greenhouse roof in the garden beyond, evidence of
which was caught on camera and posted gleefully on
the college web-site within 24 hours. The game was
won by Baretto’s careful cameo, promoted to 6 to
ensure that all players enjoyed the opportunity to
participate, with the exception of the Past’s captain
whose earlier injury while fielding deep in the wet
outfield may finally have signalled the end of his
cricket career.
The traditional end to the day, drinks reception
followed by dinner and speeches, featured the College’s
excellent catering, and the opportunity for convivial
conversation which unearthed some unusual matters
of fact: Jethwa and Jackson in the Past team, not only
Fitzwilliam alumni, but also Old Nottinghamians
both, originally sharing the same alma mater: the two
captains, for the first time in anyone’s memory, both
MML students. Such a shame that no-one had thought
to invite the Master to dinner to complete the
Francophile triumvirate.
The Past XI is once again grateful to the Bursar for
the invitation to attend, to him and to Andrew Oakes
for umpiring, to the Groundsman for his assistances
in the victory but much more importantly for his work
at Oxford Road, and to the Catering Corps for their
excellent fare. On an important point of principle, one
should never change a winning team – so those who
winter well hope to receive the call for 2009.
SIMON JACKSON (1975)
Past versus Present Cricket