Members' Round-Up: Hampshire v Middlesex

The ROUND-UP is a publication for Members by Members, expressing views independent from management and not necessarily representing the views of Hampshire Cricket Limited.

Terry Crump:

 I am told that the proverb, often shortened to “When at first you don’t succeed then try, try again!”, was popularized by William

Edward Hickson, a British educational writer. I’m also informed that the proverb can be traced back to the writings of Thomas H.

Palmer in his 'Teacher's Manual' and 'The Children of the New Forest' by Fredrick Maryat. Whatever the truth of that, the proverb in full as quoted by Hickson is:

'Tis a lesson you should heed:

Try, try, try again.

If at first you don't succeed,

Try, try, try again.

No matter the proverb’s origins or history, it is pretty apt, bearing in mind Hampshire’s recent toils on the field of play. Unfortunately, I was unable to travel to Leeds, as I had intended and therefore I can only go on press reports or comments made by Committee members that did make the trip.

Defeats by Sussex and Yorkshire together with a rain-effected draw against Nottinghamshire musthave taught us all a few things about the true nature of competing in Division One.

Well maybe, the game starting on 17th May will prove to be a turning point (if the weather allows) as our record against Middlesex CCC at the new home of Hampshire Cricket has been a good one.

Dave Allen:

I’m writing this from Headingley in the early morning before day two of the match v Yorkshire. I booked into the hotel on the ground so I’m enjoying a start to the day soon to be shared by customers of our new hotel – draw back the curtains and there’s a county cricket ground. It’sas enjoyable as it’s unusual!

I observed on day one that Fidel Edwards was Hampshire’s 17th Caribbean cricketer. Anyone who has watched Hampshire over the past 50 years might have seen them all, although a couple did not stay long. Fidel had a difficult first day but he has been out of first-class cricket for a year so let’s wish him well during his stay with us.

Today we welcome Middlesex and it occurred to me that we could imagine a match between a Hampshire Caribbean XI and a Hampshire Middlesex XI – and again there is a Middlesex XI to be found from the past fifty years although our first recruit, Charles Robson, came more than one hundred years ago and was our first wicketkeeper/captain. I’ll make my selection for this ‘makebelieve’ match and post it on the Members’ Board and my Hampshire Cricket History Blog. One of the pleasures of a visit to Headingley is to see their museum. There are a number of grounds around the country that have them and a number that don’t, and I’m often asked when it will be Hampshire’s turn. In recent months I’ve had some very positive meetings with those in charge at the The Ageas Bowl and the new hotel and at present we are pursuing a rather different path – and one that for the time being, I prefer. This is apparently a matter of style which I’m very happy to discuss in detail) but also of accessibility. 

The Headingley Museum has a display of interesting artefacts and stories but it’s only open at certain times because it’s difficult to staff it. Compare this with for example our recent (and still growing) tribute to John Arlott (and through his words, to many of our players), which is there to be seen all the time. This is even more the case with the Solent University timeline under the Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie Stand, which non-members can view at any match. Hampshire Cricket has created a new support structure for Heritage, including a regular budget, so that book sales and individual sponsorships will become the icing on the cake rather than essential to the Heritage project. We have agreed (and I do mean ‘we’) that the next phase will be to create a narrative of our history around the The Ageas Bowl using as many of the public spaces as possible to tell our tales. Over the remainder of this season you should see that taking shape in various places and I will keep you updated about these initiatives. One of the first plans is to create an historical display in the Richards Room, similar to that which we displayed last year in Winchester.

That display will make reference to Hambledon and early cricket in the county but the focus will be on the County Cricket Club, established in 1863. Elsewhere there will be tributes to their predecessors and part of the purpose in creating a clear chronological or thematic narrative is that this can be used in educational projects.

The final piece of good news for now is that the speculation about the annual Handbook is over – we have agreed to sustain it as a clear part of the Heritage project with historical articles and the usual detailed record of the previous season. The latter will continue to be mainly the work of Bob Murrell.

We wish him well as he recovers from a recent hip operation and look forward to seeing him back with us soon.