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Cricket St Lucia Tour Report

before the final match at Beausejour

in action at Beausejour

in action at Beausejour

team bath St Lucia-style

Thirteen Canford cricketers from four year groups enjoyed a twelve-day cricketing and holiday experience in St Lucia in March/April 2006. In fine, breezy weather, they travelled the length of the island by bus and boat, taking in natural wonders such as the Pitons and the smouldering volcanic crater. They also explored the ‘Jump-Up' street carnival, Castries market and the delights of deep-sea fishing and jet-skis. Local cricket followers gave them a splendid reception, and we were able to present three schools with equipment purchased through the winter fundraising campaign. 

The cricket programme involved 6 matches and two practice sessions. Four of the eight days' cricket took place on the Beausejour international ground, where England will be playing their preliminary matches in the 2007 World Cup. Rotating batting orders, using fielding substitution procedures to avoid dehydration and, in two matches, batting 13-a-side meant that all players were involved in every match, with opportunities for each of them to take on crucial responsibilities. Playing limited-overs (between 30 and 40 a side) Canford won two matches comfortably, suffered last-over defeats in two others and another relatively close defeat in a third, and only struggled in one match played on a very ‘unfamiliar' surface. Skippers Will Linley-Adams and Tom Zeal did an excellent job in binding the team together as a credible unit able to compete with established home sides in mid-season. Despite rigorous local leg-side-wide rules, our bowlers produced some fine spells, and six batsmen made 100 runs or more. Most of the party played themselves into form for the season ahead and emerged with enhanced reputations. Among the end-of-tour award winners were:

Will Baylis – all-rounder (10 wickets, 142 runs)

Paddy Kelly – best bowler (9 wickets, best economy rate)

Tim Hartnell – best seamer

Richard Lewis – best swing bowler

Freddie Allen & Tom Wilkinson – best batsmen (150+ runs)

Steve Chase – best fielder and highest score (73*)

Elliot Lindsay-Wood - most promising player (9 wickets)

Tom Downey - most improved player (best bowling: 5-15).  

In all, a terrific trip - with loads of revision done too.