Action Replay

Most of the 2011 Tour Party enjoyed another game against a Barbados team at this year's English Schools Cricket Association Festival held at King's College, Taunton last week. The Barbados lads, managed by Roland Butcher, a native of Barbados who played County Cricket in England for Middlesex, were in the UK to play in the ESCA Festival and other games in Cornwall, Reading and London. The Lancs lads posted 209-9 in their 45 overs innings, with Captain James Seward top scoring on 42, and then bowled out the Bajan team for 157, with Jake Smith bagging 5 wickets for 18, to run out comfortable winners by 52 runs. To be fair, the rather cool and damp weather was always likely to favour the Lancastrians and the Barbados lads would not doubt have preferred the hot sunshine of their home island but they seemed to be enjoying the challenge of playing in English conditions.

Reflections and Highlights

A final (?) page - some reflections and highlights from the Tour. For a farewell a great song from Lancashire (well, Salford!) band The Doves:

First some very nice comments from Don Gooding via Phil Wright's Facebook page:

"Just been speaking to Don in Barbados, and it has not stopped raining since we left! He said that the boys had been impeccably well-mannered and that he has never had as many compliments about a group. We can all take something from that!"

To start, my personal highlights:

• The 20/20 game at Dover Beach - just an amazing cricketing experience and a wonderful evening amongst friends old and new
• Going in the Caribbean sea for the first time - crystal clear, warm, the most fantastic colour (is it azure, turquoise, cobalt?)
• Seeing my son take a hat-trick in the first game of the Tour
• Swimming with turtles AND seeing my daughter enjoying the experience despite being afraid of fish!

.....but to be honest the whole year in the build up to the trip was the experience of a lifetime - thanks to everyone who made it so memorable and to the lovely people of Barbados who were so welcoming and friendly and who make the island so special!

Please feel free to add your own thoughts using the Comments box at the bottom of the page!

Paul Morris said...
My highlight was watching the boys play under lights at Dover. Not just as this was a very competitive game after some poor opposition previously, but I thought the atmosphere and spectacle were great (and we won!).

Scorer and Team Manager, John Hood

Cricketing highlight - the 20/20 game, pushed close by the brilliant one-handed catch at slip by the Barbados player to dismiss Will Davidson in the final match. Non-cricketing - the Friday Night Fish Fry at Oistins - very special atmosphere and the lads really came together as a group.

Paul Clough said...

So many highlights - arriving in a great place with some fantastic people, on a tour of a lifetime for the boys. Kensington Oval - what a place - the Malcolm Marshall end is awesome. The 20/20 game - an unbelievable team performance under lights. Met loads of characters all over Dover Beach and the Catamaran trip was brilliant. To finish - Mr "REM" John on the karaoke - what a way to go!

Tour Captain, Chris Brownlow - all rounder
Cricketing highlight - the 20/20 game, especially my batting! Also it was great for Jakey to take a "sixfer" against The Lodge School - we really celebrated as a team! Non-cricketing - loved the catamaran trip, diving off the boat and having some chill time with my team mates - including the karaoke with Will and James.

James Seward - Vice Captain and wicket keeper/batsman
Same as Chris - the 20/20 game was fantastic and I enjoyed the catamaran trip, snorkelling and swimming with turtles.

Lewis "Ratboy" Wright - all rounder
Lewis has a "quirky" cricketing highlight - his "googly that went wrong" against Lodge School. His non-cricketing highlight was also the catamaran trip.

Harrison "H" Phelan - all rounder
Cricketing highlight - another vote for the 20/20. Non-cricketing - going on  a jet ski.

Jake Brown - batsman 
Cricketing highlight - loved meeting the West Indies Squad and watching how they trained at the 3W's ground. Non-cricketing - the Segway was great fun!

Dan Houghton - opening bowler
Another vote for the 20/20 as a top cricketing experience and getting the chance to help Dwayne Bravo warm up before he bowled at the Windies training session.Off the field, Dan also enjoyed the catamaran trip.

Dominic Morris - batsman
The 20/20 game and the Segway (especially his cartwheel when the wheels stuck in the mud!)

Jake Smith - spin bowler
The 20/20 game was the best cricketing experience and Jake also loved the catamaran trip and the swimming with turtles.

Will Davidson - all rounder
Another vote for the 20/20 game as the cricketing highlight and Will also enjoyed the Segway (but he would have preferred it to go faster!)

Saad Khan - batsman
On the pitch, Saad was another who enjoyed the whole experience and atmosphere of the 20/20 game under floodlights. Rather oddly, though (opening batsman's mentality?) he says he also relished the challenge of facing the fast and short pitched bowling in the last match! Away from cricket SK loved the whole experience and the camaraderie of the squad but says his highlight was the catamaran trip.

Jody Clough - spin bowler/batsman
Jody also loved the 20/20 game and the experience of playing under floodlights. Away from the game his favourite experience was also the boat trip and swimming with turtles.

Sam "Jacko" Jackson - pace bowler/batsman
Sam is another who has picked the T20 floodlit game as his cricketing highlight and the catamaran trip as his top "off field" experience. Apparently his Mum, who couldn't make the trip, is a big fan of the bottled rum punch he brought home as a gift (his Grandma bought it, not Sam!) and says "..it's nora tall schtrong!"

Umer Khan - "Operations Manager"
My highlight was ... finding out that Lisa had a washer/dryer at her flat....it meant no more washing for me in the bath tub!! Plus the boat trip... it was great for all the kids and the families to come together and have a fab day out in the sea !

Nick Houghton
I found the 20/20 game a whole new cricketing experience and a fantastic evening. I also enjoyed seeing my son, Dan, taking wickets in the West Indies and playing with a smile on his face and with a great bunch of lads. Outside the cricket activities I loved the whole experience of the fund raising in the build up to the trip, the atmosphere of Barbados and the friendliness of the people, and the camaraderie of the whole group of players and supporters added together made for a fantastic trip of a lifetime.

Mollie Brownlow
The night match at Dover Beach was my favourite cricketing highlight. I loved the island of Barbados and being able to go out in The Gap with the other older brothers and sisters as a group, have a meal and feel safe - the people were so friendly. We had some great evenings including one where there was a bath in the Chinese restaurant, which also had plastic plates!

Thoughts of Head Coach, Dave Leighton

The Lancashire u13s Barbados tour was an overwhelming success both on and off the field and on reflection I would make the following points:

On the field:

Whilst the opposition in 4 out of the 6 matches would at best be viewed as 'ordinary' the match practice was invaluable in terms of playing in a competitive environment. The coaches and players were able to work on tactics and mental strength in very hot conditions. All the players were given ample opportunity to perform and excel on some challenging pitches and outfields. The other 2 matches of the 6 match tour they were severely tested by a good Barbados u13s team. On these occasions the pitches had more bounce and the bowling was more accurate. Batsmen were particularly challenged against genuine pace. They did however perform admirably, winning in total 5 out of the 6 matches, which included a spectacular performance in a T20 match under floodlights. This was a match they will never forget with some outstanding fielding the highlight. In addition the 2 practice sessions were excellent in terms of the players replicating what they had learned from these sessions in matches.

Off the field:

All the boys were exceptionally well behaved, well mannered and punctual throughout the 2 weeks. They will have learned the importance of team meetings and respect for their fellow players, hosts, other guests and staff in the hotel. Equally, they will have learned about looking after themselves on tour, the patience required and the challenges that they had. Protection from the sun, getting enough sleep, eating the right foods and keeping hydrated were more challenging for some than others. Learning to live without the need for parents for some was more difficult than others. The team building/bonding events were excellent value towards the end of the tour. Meeting all the West Indies players and having a talk from Ottis Gibson, the current West Indies coach, and then watching them practice, will have been a particular highlight of the tour for the boys. The coaches have learned as much about the players as people and their character off the field as they have on the field, and this will now be taken into consideration for the imminent trials for Lancashire u13s selection 2011 in early/mid May.

Summary

A tour that was exceptionally well organised with cricket, education and life skills benefits that cannot be replicated indoors or in England. Would I recommend this approach for other squads? Absolutely!! Our future challenge is whether we can now perform in the ECB competition this summer and have a good Taunton Festival. Only then will we be able to really start to see the benefits of this tour and further evaluate.

David Leighton (Lancashire u13s Coach)

Club Programmes Manager England and Wales Cricket Board : c/o County Cricket Ground, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0PX

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I've completed (I hope!) the Thank You Page with details of all the Squad and Player sponsors. Please let me know if there are any errors or omissions - some of the adverts in the Tour Brochure (let me know if you would like a PDF copy by e-mail) I couldn't identify as being from an individual player's sponsorship so I've put those down as Squad sponsors for now!

Don't forget to check the Tour Gallery. If you've any photos you'd like to add just e-mail them to me!

Thank you all - to get 10,000 hits (and still counting!) on the Blog has been a real thrill - I hope you've enjoyed it. See you all at the OSCA's Dinner on 15th July - Lucky Phil tells me the event's a sell out and that all of the Tour Party, apart from a couple who are on holiday, will be there!


......and finally, from Sarah Davidson, Ali Bongo and the Lancashire Songstresses, recalling a fantastic evening of song and merriment at The Ship Inn, St Lawrence Gap....

Diary Date

The Lancashire Under 13s Barbados Tour Squad, Coaches, families and followers will be together again on Friday 15th July in The Point at Old Trafford as they attend the Lancashire Lightning 20/20 game against Northamptonshire Steelbacks and enjoy a meal and hospitality at the LCB Annual OSCA (Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards) Dinner. This is the Squad's way of thanking the LCB for their support of the Tour and returning the balance of the Tour Fund to Lancashire Cricket. This will be a great opportunity to socialise, drink a rum or two and reminisce; and it's hoped that Shaun Anders' video diary of the Tour will be shown on the evening. Lounge suit for the fellas and best frocks for the ladies!

Old Trafford nets on Sunday 1st May

What day is it? I've lost track of time but we're back home after a great cricketing trip. I'm sure all the Lancashire players will remember the experiences for the rest of their lives!

Dave Leighton has asked me to remind everyone that there is a pre-season nets session for the Lancs Squad on Sunday 1st May. This will also be a good opportunity to reunite items of "lost" kit with players! My son's bag was certainly lighter coming home than going out! Please bring anything you find that you don't recognise or with someone else's name in it!

The Tour has had a "Welcome Back" mention on LCB website

To finish off the Blog I have drafted a "Highlights" page. I've asked Dave for his reflections on the Tour, especially what he thinks the lads gained from it as cricketers and as people. It would be nice if each of them  - and anyone else who wishes to (I already have John Hood's) - could let me have their cricketing and non-cricketing highlights from the Tour. Let me have them on Sunday, by e-mail or by posting a Comment below.

Days 13 & 14 - heading home

Sorry for the late post but there was an end of Tour party last night at the Ocean 15 Bar in Dover Beach - the lads (and a few others who shall remain nameless, but somebody's mother thinks it's time she came home!) took part in karaoke (we have some good singers as well as good cricketers) and there was a grand finale as the locals lead a dance session to some calypso rhythms! A fantastic end to a wonderful Tour on and off the cricket field. Earlier in the day the Players and Coaches had visited the North end of the island where they enjoyed some "Segway" (small motorised scooter type things) 

Segway-ing in Barbados (NOT our Party)

and a trip to the underground Animal Flower Cave 

where some of the boys swam in the "dipping pool". Today is a bit of chill time - a last chance to visit the beach, do a bit of shopping etc - before packing up and heading home, exhausted!

Not too many photos from last night as I couldn't keep still long enough!

 The 3 Musketeers - Davidson, Seward and Brownlow belt out Wonderwall

"Big Man Rapper" - Dom Morris 

Day 12 - Wi Jammin'!

Why not listen to this Reggae classic whilst reading of today's Tour happenings?

Wow! What a day full of experiences.

First of all, to those who have thanked me for running the Blog I just offer the words I've heard most often in Barbados (apart from "You guys ready for taxi service?") - "You're welcome".

Secondly an anonymous quote: "Flying fish? What's going on? You're either a fish or a bird, make your mind up!"

In theory another day of rest but the whole Tour party has been out on a catarmaran cruise along the South coast of the island today with the fantastic guys at http://www.jammincats.com/  The Lancashire boys need no lessons in how to work as a team but the boat crew, all mad as a barrowload of monkeys as far as I could tell, would set a pretty good example! Part of it is being Bajan and enjoying the relaxed island lifestyle I'm sure but "Jolly" Roger and his crew made the experience memorable; nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with a smile and/or a song and/or a dance (as you will see!).

So we enjoyed swimming with turtles (a protected species in Barbados), which is undoubtedly one of life's great experiences, and snorkelling amongst the fish on 2 shipwrecks; a fantastic lunch, an "all inclusive" bar (and you didn't have to ask for a drink - they just kept coming!), reggae and other music, dancing, and some "Limein'" (Bajan for chill time). 

The afternoon ended with a tropical storm but it's now hot and humid again! The supposed appearance of Mel B (of The Spice Girls, not the Real Mel B from the Tour Party!) at Dover Beach has yet to materialise.

A mystery trip out for the boys tomorrow then back home on Easter Monday.

Some photos from today below - in most cases names have been withheld to protect the guilty!

 Bridgetown Harbour

 Swimming with turtles

 Under sail

 Sam "Jacko" Jackson relaxes with Grandma Liz. Grandad George was either swimming or at the bar!

 The Houghtons take over the ship

 Mollie Brownlow with Rasta hairstyle!

 Coach Leighton in "double teapot stance" last seen in the swimming pool at Taunton!

 Mel B (the real one) makes a new friend

 Perhaps the coolest crew member

 They even laid on some dancing girls!

 DJ Kai of The Jammin' Crew

 More dancing!

Rockin' Da Dockin' - the boat reaches home!

Day 11 - R&R

A real day at leisure today as the squad and most of the supporters group had some time out at The Boatyard in Bridgetown so not much to report - a few photos below. Unfortunately Saad Khan couldn't make the trip as he seems to have picked up Jake Brown's "lergy" but he was much better come late afternoon. The sun again caught a few people off guard and there's a bit of mild sunstroke around but everyone should be fit for what is expected to be a highlight of the trip - a catamaran sail up the West coast of the island tomorrow and the chance to swim with turtles!

This turtle looks a bit worried!

 Captain Castaway

 Harrison Phelan & Lewis Wright

 Ready for the off - Jake Smith, Dominic Morris, Jody Clough and Dan Houghton

 Dan Houghton tries to escape the flying fish that flew onto the beach!

 Water Babies! - Spencer Phelan & Kian Clough

Coaches on Couches! - Phil Wright, Jonathan Partington, Shaun Anders and Dave Leighton take a well earned rest.