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Village Cricket
£50.00 – £1,250.00
Village Cricket began in England during the medieval period but the earliest known reference concerns the game being played c.1550 by children on a plot of land at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Surrey. It began as a children’s game and was only later deemed suitable for adults. Originally, all cricketers were amateurs in the literal sense of the word. Local villagers would spend their evenings and weekends congregating together on the Village Green, where more military pursuits such as Archery had been practiced in earlier centuries. Often there would be fixtures against other local parishes. In the 17th Century it was known by every schoolboy in the South-East of England. Indeed schools led the way in the expansion of the sport, with members of the clergy and school teachers enthusiastically setting up new teams as they moved to pastures green.
Local villagers, such as ‘Silver Billy Beldham’ played cricket at the Green in Tilford after it was designated an open space for recreational purposes in 1853. The Cricket Club was formally opened in 1886, and it remains one of the most picturesque village cricket grounds, aided, no doubt, by the Barley Mow pub alongside!
Inspiration
Village Cricket
We bowl the ball upon the bails
which half of us delights
A sport to entertain us
while we put the world to rights!
One Batsman goes, another in:
“a slip will catch him out”
Enjoy the sun, “another beer?”
That’s what this game’s about!
It’s all day long – all summer long! –
Those smart, white- trousered bowlers
From time to time a ‘four!’ or ‘six!’
To honk the biggest Rollers!
A spinning, left-hand round the stumps, ball landing, bounces right
Unusual ‘googly’, ‘bite’ for thought,
Then “wellying it” – ball out of sight!
A “donkey drop” from out the sky,
Attempts to startle next
Some wizardry or just a slip?
The mobile bowlers text!
From out the sky it falls to earth
That ‘bulls-eye’ stumping-seeker
A mixed-up catapult of hope
Straight to the wicket-keeper!
“It’s over!”
No! We’re part way through…..
the fielders change their place
A new man with the cricket ball
A tougher, faster pace!
The bowler runs just past the crease, The umpire stretches hands
A wide to give another ‘run’
Yet still the batsman stands!
The next bowl and the batsman’s off
Before the ball’s been hit
Determined to change places?
Or to show the fans he’s fit?
He wants another run, and shouts;
the batsman swipes and fails
Which one will be run-out this time –
the Ball’s been caught and hits the bails!
The last, eleventh batsman
wanders up to take his mark
A biffing, well-built slogger
on the Pitch, from off the park.
There’s one to win, but will he duck
or will he let it fly?
A disappointing way to end,
that last, declared ‘good bye’!
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