London Erratics Cricket Club

OSCARS

	BATTING	BOWLING	FIELDING
2007	Bill Bush	Alex Padmore	James Rivington
2006	Nasir Khawaja	Brian Berrigan	—
2005	Jim Head	Matthew Eltringham	Simon Davie
2004	Parag Prasad	Tristan Ward	Peter Andrews
2003	Nasir Khawaja	Matthew Neal	Peter Andrews
2002	Tony Poulter	Giles Middleton	Nasir Khawaja
2001	Felix Meller	Ketz Haria	Giles Middleton
2000	Brian Berrigan	Richard Heller	James Rivington
1999	Michael Evans	Felix Meller	Bill Bush
1998	Nasir Khawaja	John Truscott	Brian Berrigan
1997	Jeremy Walker	Martin Parsley	[James Rivington]
1996	Brian Berrigan	Michael Evans	Jeremy Walker
1995	Richard Heller	Brian Berrigan	Simon Davie
1994	Richard Heller	Chris Dunabin ?	— ?
1993	Peter Andrews	Jeremy Walker	Chris Dunabin

1993 OSCARS

BATTING OSCAR

Just when it was beginning to look as though none of the Erratics batsmen had the staying power to get to the half century, a succession of big batting scores came late in the season, courtesy of the following nominees for the Batting Oscar.

The nominations are:

Peter Andrews	for his gritty 53 in the face of a lively attack, setting up victory against Tar Barrow
Brian Berrigan	for contributing a magnificent 64 to a century partnership with Peter Andrews in the same match
Brian Berrigan	for plundering a century off the Hartfield bowlers, a triumphant conclusion to a season that had started shakily, giving him the largest aggregate of runs and the best average
Matthew Baldwin	for crashing an unexpected 60 in the final innings of the year, in classic ‘just-got-off-a-plane-jetlagged’ style

For a remarkably consistent and productive season, and in spite of a batting style that has his colleagues on the boundary rooting for the opposition — a rare mix of prodding defence, streaky edges, and lofted shots agonisingly close to outstretched hands —

the 1993 Batting Oscar goes to PETER ANDREWS.

BOWLING OSCAR

This year’s list features the usual suspects. The nomination committee hopes to see some of the rest of the team breaking into these exalted ranks next season.

The nominations are:

Patrick Cheney	for the season’s best demolition job, trapping the Common Lawyers on a Ham House sticky, and capturing 5 for 24
Brian Berrigan	for maintaining his position as the team’s most fearsome weapon, with 25 scalps, including 4 against the Mortlake Casuals
Jeremy Walker	for combining the season’s most economical bowling with timely wickets, including a valiant 5 for 52 against the Mihir Bose Eleven
Richard Heller	for dominating the bowling statistics yet again, with the largest haul of wickets and the best average, putting to shame many of our younger bowlers

For his crucial second spell, which sowed the seeds of panic in the ranks of the opposing batsmen, and brought the Erratics a long-awaited triumph against those bastards from Magdalen, the Withered Lilies,

the 1993 Bowling Oscar goes to JEREMY WALKER.

FIELDING OSCAR

Just four players accounted for half of all the catches held by the Erratics this season, and these four are tonight’s nominees for the Fielding Oscar.

The nominations are:

Nasir Khawaja	for pouching 10 catches, with equal agility whether behind the sticks or in the outfield, and bringing much-needed youthful enthusiasm to an aging side
Jeremy Walker	for assembling yet another collection of exotic catches in the first half of the season
James Rivington	for simply some of the best catches seen all season, including an outrageously improbable, left-handed, finger-tip effort against Tar Barrow
Chris Dunabin	for replacing John Truscott as Mr Fingers in the gully, clinging on to an impressive number of sharp chances served up by the pace attack

With the unfortunate disqualification of both Nasir and Jeremy, for a shameful display of enthusiasm above and beyond the call of duty when fielding for the opposition, which almost caused a disaster against the Withered Lilies, and with James Rivington finding himself obliged to withdraw from the competition out of a sense of propriety,

the 1993 Fielding Oscar goes to CHRIS DUNABIN.

1994 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1994 season were awarded at the 21st Anniversary Dinner held on Saturday 18 March 1995, at The Patio, Goldhawk Road, London W12.

BATTING OSCAR

The batting of the team as a whole was remarkably undistinguished in 1994. Small targets proved impossible to achieve, with ignominious collapse being the preferred option. In spite of this, there were more big scores by individuals than in the year before, so the competition for the Batting Oscar is particularly fierce.

The nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	for a fine collection of half centuries, including a merciless 68 against Hartfield before the rains came down, and for a level of consistency at the crease that earned him yet again the highest average of the season
David Miliband	whose sadly too infrequent appearances still managed to produce two thunderous innings, to secure much needed victories against the Greyhounds and the Red Menace
Nasir Khawaja	for scoring more runs than anyone else in the season, and for plundering a century off the Chesterton attack
Richard Heller	for allowing his body to be possessed by a batting demon between July 2nd and August 6th, during which time his frenzied assaults on the opposition bowling brought victories against the Withered Lilies, Fernhurst and the Red Menace

For his whirlwind performances in the month of July,

the 1994 Batting Oscar goes to RICHARD HELLER.

BOWLING OSCAR

The Erratics bowlers applied themselves to their task with much grit and determination in 1994, and with a little good fortune they would have bowled the side to victory more frequently. There were, however, some fine individual performances.

The nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	for his valiant 5 for 22 in the keen contest with the Bohemians, the best analysis in a match all season but agonisingly not quite enough to bring victory on the day
Brian Berrigan	for maintaining his position as the team’s most fearsome weapon, with 24 scalps, including a mean and moody 3 for 10 that put the Red Menace in its place
John Truscott	for the season’s best bowling average and the best strike rate, and for bamboozling both the Greyhounds and the Artificials into humiliating submission
Chris Dunabin	for answering the call of that tactical genius, Michael Evans, with a devastating spell that tore the heart out of the Fernhurst middle order

Alas, at this point there is a gap in my archives, so I can’t confirm who won the 1994 Bowling Oscar. I have a hazy recollection that it might have been Chris.

FIELDING OSCAR

There is a similar lacuna regarding the 1994 Fielding Oscar. It is possible that, in a generally poor season, it was thought that no one deserved it.

1995 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1995 season were belatedly awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 27 November 1998, at Café Pasta in Kensington High Street, London W8.

Step back in time with me to 1995 — a season of great cricket, and the occasion of the infamous and bloody Over 40s versus Under 40s match. The team that year contained some true giants of the game, and there were enough heroic performances for several seasons of Oscars.

BATTING OSCAR

In a season of batting glory, three players scored triumphant eighties — Brian Berrigan against Saxmundham, David Miliband against Charlbury, and Tony Richards against the Financial Times.

For two old hands, 1995 was especially memorable. In the match at Chesterton, with the Erratics chasing 150, things were not looking good with the score at 28 for 6. At that moment, Richard Heller and Jeremy Walker came together and heroically steered the team to victory, both of them in the process reaching their maiden half-centuries for the Erratics — at long last.

Cruel to have to choose between the two of them, but edging it by just four runs,

the winner of the 1995 Batting Oscar is RICHARD HELLER.

[NOTE. There was one performance that was even more special — in the game against Tar Barrow. When the fifth Erratics’ wicket fell, the score had reached eight. The man who turned things round, with a defiant then flamboyant innings of 74 not out, was Tony Poulter. However, Tony wasn’t at the Dinner.]

BOWLING OSCAR

1995 saw fine bowling performances from David Miliband (four wickets at Charlbury), Brian Berrigan whose many successes included seven wickets against the Old Talbotians, Tim Kirkham for terrorising Jeremy Walker’s patients, and Mike Robotham (sad loss) for confounding virtually every team he bowled against.

But it is for justly putting to the sword the batting of the Over 40s (4 for 27) that

the 1995 Bowling Oscar goes to BRIAN BERRIGAN.

FIELDING OSCAR

1995 was a golden year for catches in the slip cordon. Honourable mentions go to sterling efforts by David Miliband, John Truscott and Chris Dunabin.

But one performance stands head and shoulders above the rest, in the game against the Red Menace. His first catch in the gulley was very good. But his second was a screamer — a full-blooded shot caught diving full-stretch, left-handed, wildly acclaimed. And just to show off, he then caught two more. For this virtuoso display

the 1995 Fielding Oscar goes to SIMON DAVIE.

1996 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1996 season were belatedly awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 27 November 1998, at Café Pasta in Kensington High Street, London W8.

BATTING OSCAR

The competition for the 1996 Batting Oscar is a simple (and brief) two-horse race.

Nasir Khawaja hit 500 runs in the season, his 73 against The Times having particular significance.

But for his ruthless plundering of the Artificials’ bowling, to reach 100, retired in contempt,

the 1996 Batting Oscar goes to BRIAN BERRIGAN.

BOWLING OSCAR

Some very fine bowlers put in some very fine performances in 1996: Andy Wallace (whatever happened to him?) against the Artificials, Richard Heller six wickets against The Times, Brian Berrigan seven for twenty against the Shambling Derelicts.

But none of these can compare with our winner tonight. For perplexing the Withered Lilies (4 for 16) and Mortlake Casuals into submission, and finishing the season with an average of seven,

the 1996 Bowling Oscar goes to MICHAEL EVANS.

FIELDING OSCAR

Another two-horse race for the 1996 Fielding Oscar. I am understandably rather fond of a spectacular, full-length diving catch, inches off the ground at cover by one James Rivington against the Greyhounds.

But in all fairness I have to concede that it is bettered by another. For his one-handed reaction catch at silly mid-off of a ferocious drive off a Rivington full-toss in the game against Min,

the 1996 Fielding Oscar goes to JEREMY WALKER.

1997 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1997 season were belatedly awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 27 November 1998, at Café Pasta in Kensington High Street, London W8.

With just four victories, 1997 was a miserable season.

BATTING OSCAR

In 1997, many good individual batting displays did not translate into success for the team. Tonight we select from the exceptions: Peter Andrews’ half-century to bring victory against Chesterton; Peter Stone’s knock at Tar Barrow, a wonderful final flourish to his Erratics’ career. But with 111 against Hartfield, and an average of sixty, one person dominates the batting statistics in 1997 — Brian Berrigan.

Which is why ... for his 12 not out against Pearson TV, including a victorious nine runs in the thrilling last over,

the 1997 Batting Oscar goes to JEREMY WALKER.

BOWLING OSCAR

There were good individual performances from Brian Berrigan (4-20 against Saxmundham), Richard Heller (4-28 against Great Milton), and David Miliband whose 4-11 set up a much-needed victory against Chesterton & Wendlebury.

But, for the (equal) best average, the best strike rate, and two five-wicket hauls (including 7-32 against Shalbourne),

the 1997 Bowling Oscar goes to MARTIN PARSLEY.

FIELDING OSCAR

Not awarded

[NOTE. Subsequent archival research has indicated that the 1997 Fielding Oscar should probably have gone to James Rivington, for a catch at silly mid-on off a Berrigan long-hop in the game at Saxmundham.]

1998 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1998 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 27 November 1998, at Café Pasta in Kensington High Street, London W8. The dinner was attended by some 30 players and guests.

BATTING OSCAR

An honourable mention goes to Brian Berrigan for his half-century that set up victory over Great Milton. But this year’s winner must come from the season’s most thrilling game — the win against V & A. Who can forget Michael Evans’s agricultural but timely 24, or Tremayne Rennell’s elegant 69?

But for his truly heroic 98 not out in that match,

the 1998 Batting Oscar goes to NASIR KHAWAJA.

BOWLING OSCAR

A number of fine performances from the Erratics bowlers brought victory to the team: Jeremy Walker (3-11 against Fernhurst), Martin Russell (3-7 at Chesterton, in just two and a half overs), Richard Heller (4-9 to turn the tide at Great Milton).

But, for two match-winning four-wicket hauls (including 4-12 against the Common Lawyers),

the 1998 Bowling Oscar goes to JOHN TRUSCOTT.

FIELDING OSCAR

There was some excellent fielding on display in 1998: James Rivington’s sharp catch at Chesterton; good catches by both David Miliband and Peter Andrews (!) in the match against the Old Talbotians; and Felix Meller ran and ran, producing some wonderfully athletic fielding that spared his more sedate team mates.

But for his astonishing catch at Bampton, running in from long-on, bending, scooping the ball up with his finger tips inches off the ground,

the 1998 Fielding Oscar goes to BRIAN BERRIGAN.

1999 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 1999 season were awarded at the 25th Anniversary Dinner held on Thursday 25 November 1999, in the Pavilion Restaurant at the Oval Cricket Ground. The dinner was attended by some 30 players and guests. It was particularly pleasing to have present several members of the team that experienced the inaugural crushing defeat at Udimore. Guests included representatives of opposition teams.

1999 was an excellent season, with some truly memorable triumphs. The batting in particular was strong: targets were chased aggressively (remember Hartfield!); and we were bowled out only twice. There were important contributions across the age range ... particularly pleasing to see so many powerful performances from the young blood. An excellent year — but we must stop finishing the summer so lamely, or end the season earlier!

BATTING OSCAR

In a season awash with good batting performances, four individuals stand out.

The nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	for his valiant 77 against Tar Barrow that brought us so close to victory, and for thumping 88 runs that proved too much for The Times — in the process missing out by one run on the record total of runs scored in a season
Nasir Khawaja	for picking off the Bampton bowlers for an easy 73, but more importantly for his masterful 81 not out as we successfully chased Charlbury’s target of 209 — described by Brian Berrigan in an email as ‘the most heroic innings of the season’
Felix Meller	for half-centuries in the victories against South Wraxall and Bampton, but in particular for clattering 51 off the Hartfield bowlers before retiring, to be whisked away by Richard Heller to get to a dinner engagement on the other side of the country
Michael Evans	for his captain’s innings in that same match, an inspirational 71 runs that ensured an improbable victory

For his cunning plan of allowing Hartfield to score 245 for 0 (declared), and then leading from the front in one of the most extraordinary games we have ever played,

the 1999 Batting Oscar goes to MICHAEL EVANS.

BOWLING OSCAR

There were many fine bowling performances this season — Bill Bush’s 3-25 that tore the heart out of The Times batting, Patrick Cheney’s 4-27 that bamboozled Isis ... but not even these were good enough to make this year’s elite list of nominations.

The nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	whose 4-16 was too much for South Wraxall
Richard Heller	for four wickets against Evenley, five at Alvington, but in particular his three wickets for just four runs in the total humiliation of Chesterton & Wendlebury
Felix Meller	for three wickets each in the victories at Evenley and Shalbourne, but especially for his career-best 4-20 against Great Milton
John Truscott	for his career-best 6-44 at Bampton

For his unplayable second spell of raw pace — 3 wickets for 2 runs — that finished off the resistance of Great Milton,

the 1999 Bowling Oscar goes to FELIX MELLER.

FIELDING OSCAR

The nominations are:

John Truscott	for his reaction catch at slip in the match against the Mortlake Casuals, the only good thing in an otherwise ghastly game
Bill Bush	for clinging on to skiers in the matches against Tar Barrow and The Times
Felix Meller	for his remarkable catch at Evenley — off his own bowling, leaping high, surely past him, one-handed, wildly acclaimed
Mike Long	for a tumbling catch at long-on against The Times

For his transformation into the safest pair of hands in the team, and notching up the largest number of catches taken in the out-field,

the 1999 Fielding Oscar goes to BILL BUSH.

2000 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2000 season were belatedly awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Saturday 10 November 2001, at L’Arancia, Southwark Park Road. The dinner was attended by 26 players and guests.

2000 was a rather funny season ... very soggy to begin with, and with little early success. There then followed a string of awesome victories ... So a season of stirring promise — marred as always by pathetic defeat, in the rain, in the final match.

BATTING OSCAR

Several batsmen chipped in with half centuries: John Truscott with a supportive 50 against Tar Barrow; Peter Andrews 53 at South Wraxall; Nasir Khawaja with an average of 59.8 bizarrely larger than his highest score — 53 at Shalbourne.

But 2000 was dominated by the batting of one man. Let’s not bother mentioning his half century at South Wraxall, and his 96 not out at Great Milton shouldn’t count because he hadn’t wanted to play at all. But for following that up in the very next match with a crushing 109 not out against Tar Barrow, and scoring 421 runs in the season at an average of 60.1,

the 2000 Batting Oscar can only go to BRIAN BERRIGAN.

BOWLING OSCAR

The bowling in 2000 didn’t reach quite the same level of distinction, but there were some creditable performances. Felix Meller took nine wickets in all, three of them at Tar Barrow. Matthew Neal did well to take 4 for 11 against The Times, only to see his good work undone by woeful batting. In one of his occasional outings for us, David Brook produced a spell of swing bowling that was much too good for the Great Milton batsmen, as he claimed 5 for 50.

But for taking 16 wickets, including 5 for 47 to set up victory against Tar Barrow — and he may well think this award is long overdue —

the Bowling Oscar for the year 2000 goes to RICHARD HELLER.

FIELDING OSCAR

There are a few performances to choose from for the Fielding Oscar. Nasir Khawaja accumulated more statistics: 10 catches, 4 stumpings. Felix Middleton apparently took a fine catch against the V&A. And Tristan Ward produced a dazzling display with the gloves at Charlbury, 3 catches including one full-length screamer.

But for his constant steadiness under fire, whether a high-velocity bullet at South Wraxall, a howitzer shell to long-on in the game against WPP, or best of all an intercontinental ballistic missile (I’ve never seen a ball go so high) caught at the second attempt on the mid-wicket boundary in the match against The Times,

the 2000 Fielding Oscar inescapably goes to JAMES RIVINGTON.

2001 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2001 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Saturday 10 November 2001, at L’Arancia, Southwark Park Road. The dinner was attended by 26 players and guests.

An uncharacteristic string of late victories turned a modest season into a very good one.

BATTING OSCAR

May and June saw a flurry of big scores from our established batsmen, including Brian Berrigan, John Truscott and Tony Poulter. In the period July to September, half-centuries were rarer and came from less typical sources (it had been seven years since James Rivington had scored one). But the Batting Oscar depends on more than just big scores. It is for scores that count, for batting that salvages draws from certain defeat or that tilts the balance in favour of victory.

So the nominations are:

Max McKay	for a dogged 0 not out in his maiden innings to deny victory to the Mortlake Casuals
Nasir Khawaja	for brutally punishing first the Pearson TV bowlers (64 not out) and then the Shalbourne attack (cruelly ending up 99 not out), to ensure triumphs in both games
Felix Meller	for contributing to some of the most important partnerships in the season, including a sweet 42 to set up a first-ever win against the Bank of England
Bill Bush	for seizing a lacklustre innings by the scruff of the neck and blasting a half-century against South Wraxall, combining a team victory with a personal triumph

For transforming an Erratics innings — reeling at a disastrous 28 for 7 — and, with a mature blend of defiance and aggression, steering the team home to an impossible victory against the Withered Lilies,

the 2001 Batting Oscar goes to FELIX MELLER.

BOWLING OSCAR

It was a good year for the bowlers, as we bowled out opposition teams seven times — eight times if you don’t count sabotage by fellow Erratics. Some fine performances — including Brian Berrigan’s crucial 4-28 at Shalbourne — haven’t made it to the final list.

The nominations are:

Assad Ulhaq	for ripping through the Times batting (4-20), and finishing the season with an average of just 9
Felix Meller	for mowing down the Withered Lilies, in the process picking up his first-ever five wicket haul
Ketz Haria	for bamboozling the Old Men of Threadneedle Street with 4-34
John Truscott	for tormenting the South Wraxall batsmen with a career-best 6-24

For his unplayable spell of 4-7 against the Withered Lilies, and in particular for bowling John Redwood MP not playing a shot,

the 2001 Bowling Oscar goes to KETZ HARIA.

FIELDING OSCAR

There was quite a lot of good fielding on display in 2001. Who will forget Max McKay’s direct-hit run out in the game against the Mortlake Casuals? And Bill Bush remained firm and sure under the high ball.

But the nominations are:

Giles Middleton	for spectacular run outs in the games against Shalbourne, the Bank of England, and South Wraxall
John Truscott	for a stunning diving catch at square leg to dismiss the most dangerous V&A batsman
Mike Long	for his tigerish fielding at Fernhurst, including a run out
Felix Meller	for a couple of stinging return catches, and for his first-ever Erratics stumping at Great Milton

For two catches and a run out against the Mortlake Casuals, and for just running and running all season,

the 2001 Fielding Oscar goes to GILES MIDDLETON.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

We now come to an innovation, the Champagne Moment of the 2001 Season, sponsored by the official London Erratics web site, and nominated by you the readers.

There were one or two miscellaneous nominations — a Giles Middleton run out in the Bank of England game ... Chris Dunabin nominated his own slip catching in the game at Alvington ... and someone (Nasir) mischievously mentioned a certain outburst of swearing after a certain run out in a certain match at Bampton.

But all the other nominations clustered around just two matches — the game at Great Milton and the game against South Wraxall.

From the South Wraxall match, there was a nomination for Michael Evans’ running between the wickets — a surprising turn of speed combined with a very personal sense of what constitutes a safe run.

Nominated from the Great Milton game was (my personal favourite) Jeremy Walker’s staggering straight six that sailed over the boundary hedge and crashed into the brickwork of the house beyond.

However, the bulk of the votes centred on two, very belated, losses of cricketing virginity.

In the game against South Wraxall, who can forget Bill Bush scoring his maiden fifty off the very last ball faced by an Erratics batsman in 2001?

But not everyone could agree on exactly which bit of the innings constituted the Champagne Moment — dangerously splitting the vote. One person nominated the trademark pull to cow corner with which Bill got off the mark. Another suggested that the moment was the penultimate ball of the innings, when Bill — 48 not out — coolly declined a single.

The other debut event that has attracted a lot of attention is James Rivington’s sweetly timed maiden straight six, into the playground at Great Milton — itself just part of an over that went for 14 runs, which in turn was just part of a brisk half-century.

But the votes are in, the people have spoken ...

the Champagne Moment of the 2001 Season just has to be BILL BUSH’S FIFTY.

2002 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2002 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 15 November 2002, at L’Arancia, Southwark Park Road. Nice to see Nick Langford there.

2002 was a season of extremes. There were some appalling, crippling, record-defying defeats. And it’s been a grim year for injuries. But we won more games than we lost — and there was one glorious, history-making moment of triumph.

BATTING OSCAR

There were extremes of batting. There was the handsome 214 scored by the team against the V&A. But this had been immediately preceded by the two lowest totals achieved in the last ten years: the woeful 46 scraped together by a depleted Erratics contingent at Fernhurst (where five wickets fell for just one run); and that score itself represented some sort of recovery from the calamitous 41 all out against WPP — a performance that cast a long shadow over the rest of the season.

But tonight is time to think of the positives, and there has been much to admire — trademark straight sixes from Jeremy Walker, Peter Andrews unlucky to miss out on a half century ... James Rivington scored the odd run.

But the nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	for placing team success ahead of personal safety in chasing victory at Alvington
John Truscott	(whose arrival on the scene at the end of June provided the team with much needed backbone) for a half century against the V&A and telling contributions to the wins at Evenley and Great Milton
Tony Poulter	for a crushing 62 at Great Milton that contained only six runs not scored in boundaries
Nasir Khawaja	for scoring far more runs than anyone else, including 64 against the V&A and a crucial 75 runs at Bampton, and for finishing with an average of 49 which would have been even higher if he hadn’t received some shocking umpiring decisions from his fellow team mates

For the season’s most brutal display of hitting, shattering the spirit of the Great Milton bowlers,

the 2002 Batting Oscar goes to TONY POULTER.

BOWLING OSCAR

It was a season of extremes. Too many times the Erratics fielders were run ragged, as our bowling was smacked about. Yet we were also a well-oiled machine. In sixteen matches, we bowled out the opposition ten times. There were some devastating passages of play, as when Brian Berrigan and Ketz Haria took six wickets for six runs at Great Milton, or when Brian and James Rivington took six Alvington wickets for five runs. So there are some fine individual performances to celebrate this evening.

The nominations are:

Brian Berrigan	for those decisive spells that turned the games at Alvington and Great Milton
Tristan Ward	for his three wickets in one over that finished off the resistance at Alvington
Giles Middleton	for topping the list of wicket-takers, with 19 scalps in the season
John Truscott	for four wickets against the V&A, and for taking the vital last wickets to win the trophy at Evenley

For his once-in-a-lifetime spell of seven wickets for nine runs at Evenley,

the 2002 Bowling Oscar goes to GILES MIDDLETON.

FIELDING OSCAR

There were times this season when the Erratics fielders best demonstrated their agility in clambering over wire fences to retrieve balls from neighbouring fields. But there were moments of excellence too, such as Felix Meller’s three slip catches against The Times, and after too long an absence Simon Davie got straight back to business with good catches at Bampton and South Wraxall.

The nominations are:

Nasir Khawaja	for efficient performances behind the stumps against Alvington, Great Milton and the Bank of England
Mark Hattam	for four fine catches, some in the deep, one a diving catch at point to dismiss the most arrogant Withered Lilies batsman
James Rivington	for diving to get his fingertips under a ball against the V&A (almost reminiscent of more athletic days)
John Truscott	for a stunning slip catch at Charlbury, clinging on to a fierce top-edge slash that was surely past him

For six catches and six stumpings, thereby earning various Erratics bowlers undeservedly flattering figures,

the 2002 Fielding Oscar goes to NASIR KHAWAJA.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

We now come to the Champagne Moment of the 2002 Season, which is where you the players get to have your say. In a season of such varied fortunes, it is perhaps inevitable that you should have produced a wide variety of nominations.

We should perhaps mention that for more than one of you the season was a blank, to be consigned to the dustbin of the memory without further note. Michael Evans, the captain who received the Erratics’ first-ever trophy at Evenley and proudly held it aloft, could recall no triumphant moment of the year. [And he failed to bring the trophy to the dinner!]

Some of you have come up with anti-votes — moments memorable for their awfulness. There was the farce of the ‘last wicket partnership’ in the WPP match, where the opposition skipper rewrote the rules of the game to allow his team to get their score above 200. Even more scarring, was the recollection of the number of balls that were lost, as the Black Rose batsmen contemptuously carted a succession of slow full tosses into the undergrowth of Highgate Woods.

But there were lots of positive votes too. Richard Heller fondly recalled his teasing flighted delivery that deceived the Black Rose skipper in the second match — a moment for which the word nemesis was invented. From the same match, there was praise for the gritty last wicket stand in which Richard and Giles Middleton overcame hostile bowling, intimidatory fielding and even broken bones to hold out for the draw. One individual cherishes the memory of a Bank of England batsman embarrassingly getting stumped off the slowest of wide lobs from Michael Evans. And someone was kind enough to mention James Rivington’s slightly ostentatious catch against the V&A.

But for the Champagne Moment of the 2002 Season, your votes have created the problem of a five-way tie.

There was the immense pleasure of seeing Max McKay open his Erratics batting account with two boundaries from aggressive pull shots, in the game at Bampton.

Firmly lodged in some people’s memories was that catch by John Truscott at Charlbury — truly a ‘wow!’ moment (though Michael Evans has argued against this nomination, on the grounds that it merely brought to the crease the young batsman who proceeded to smash 77 off our bowling).

Inevitably the events at Evenley attracted votes, and provides us with two more candidates. There was Giles’s devastating bowling in the first match, seven wickets for nine runs — all the more impressive when you recall that his first ball was swatted for six.

And then there was the victory itself, as John Truscott took the last wicket, and the trophy was ours — a just reward for an excellent all-round team performance.

What could the fifth nomination be, that might challenge these other excellent candidates? A moment sublime in its timing, finely judged in its intent, decisive in its execution, a moment that speaks of cricket at its most raw and vital, the climax of one of the great competitive games of our time ... the cry from square leg of ‘no ball!’ as Richard Heller called the Withered Lilies quick for chucking.

It falls to me to use my casting vote, and there can only be one winner — the moment of collective joy, when we realised (almost in disbelief) that we had spoilt EVENLEY’s party, taken the fun out of their Fun Day, and — bonded together in victory — for the first time ever in my 16 years as an Erratic, we actually condescended to be photographed with one another.

So it’s Champagne Truffles all round.

2003 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2003 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 26 November 2004, at L’Arancia, Southwark Park Road.

BATTING OSCAR

Several people chipped in with half centuries — Matthew Neal at Charlbury, John Truscott at Fernhurst ... why even Chris Dunabin gave us at innings to remember against the Bank.

But the nominations are:

Nasir Khawaja	for scoring 407 runs at an average of 81.
Matthew Eltringham	for a high pressure 24 not out to steal victory in the first farcical FC London match.
Tristan Ward	for carrying his bat to score 81 in the second FC London game, on the hottest day ever recorded.
Tony Poulter	whose 70 at Shalbourne displayed a determined aggression that his team mates were alas unable to match.

For five half centuries, including match-winning contributions against the Withered Lilies, Bampton, and South Wraxall,

the 2003 Batting Oscar goes to NASIR KHAWAJA.

BOWLING OSCAR

A couple of Erratics recorded impressive sounding figures — Tristan Ward 5 for 42 against the Bank of England, John Booth 6 for 54 against the V&A. But you will have come to realise that the nominations committee places much emphasis on performances that win matches.

So the nominations are:

James Rivington	whose three for eight ensured victory at Bampton, and blighted the early cricketing careers of several small boys.
Sam Walker	for holding his nerve at the death, bowling two Harpsden batsmen, and pressurising their obnoxious skipper into attempting a suicidal run.
Matthew Neal	for taking four wickets at Magdalen that kept the target within reach.
John Truscott	for his three wickets that crushed the spirit of FC London in the first match.

For removing the classy Withered Lilies No. 1 just as he was about to cut loose,

the 2003 Bowling Oscar goes to MATTHEW NEAL.

FIELDING OSCAR

There are just three nominations:

Tremayne Rennell	for being busy behind the stumps, with two stumpings against FC London, and three against the Bank of England.
Peter Andrews	for swooping on a short single and leaving the Harpsden No. 11 (joyously!) just inches short.
John Truscott	for taking a total of seven catches, including a couple of blinders low down at gully.

For giving us so much unexpected and unalloyed joy,

the 2003 Fielding Oscar goes to PETER ANDREWS.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

We now come to the Champagne Moment of the 2003 Season, which is where you the players get to have your say. There are just three nominations:

Chris Dunabin’s 50 against the Bank, a fine example of how the team is less important than the individual ... anyway it was good to see an event that you thought you'd never see.

The pleasure of seeing a much admired ex-international finally laying to rest the ghost of that penalty as Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce joyfully celebrated his clean bowling of Michael Evans at Shalbourne.

Peter Andrews’ dramatic run-out at Harpsden that secured us an unlikely 1-run victory in a game we’d seemed to be losing, the satisfaction of winning against a dodgy opposition captain, and the subsequent obsessive pleasure in checking the rules about field placings after the game.

The Champagne Moment of the 2003 Season just has to be the amazing victorious finish at HARPSDEN.

2004 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2004 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 26 November 2004, at L’Arancia, Southwark Park Road.

In 2004 the opposition suddenly seem to have got good. They have been coaching their youngsters — is this fair? And is it just me getting old, or are they all hitting the ball much harder? This year we gifted big scores to a succession of happy batsmen, including four hundreds.

BATTING OSCAR

There was some good batting in 2004, but it was spread thin — concentrated in just two or three matches. In particular, the match against Bampton showed that the Erratics could still chase a big target (and what a target — 284) and get so close! Matthew Neal’s 62 played a big part in this.

But the nominations are:

Jim Head	for his 112 in that Bampton game.
Bill Bush	for acting his age and adding an explosive 52 in the same match to his defiant 50 at Great Houghton.
Tristan Ward	for his 73 that brought victory at Shalbourne.
Parag Prasad	for his immaculate and record-breaking 139 not out against the Bank of England.

For that one awesome innings,

the 2004 Batting Oscar just has to go to PARAG PRASAD.

BOWLING OSCAR

The Erratics bowling in 2004 was somewhat fragile, and some big scores were conceded: 237 for 3, 241 for 2, 255 for 5, 284 for 4! We bowled the opposition out only three times. But there were still three performances worthy of note.

The nominations are:

Jim Head	for his match-winning five for thirteen at Kilndown.
Matthew Neal	whose three wickets at Inkpen included the high-pressure final scalp to tie the game.
Tristan Ward	for taking three wickets in the victories against Shalbourne and FC London.

For taking thirteen wickets (more than anyone else)

the 2004 Bowling Oscar goes to TRISTAN WARD.

FIELDING OSCAR

There are just two nominations:

Michael Evans	for a sharp slip catch against the Bank of England.
Peter Andrews	for overcoming his temporary disability to execute another excellent run out at Inkpen.

For holding his nerve to take the crucial slip catch that saved the day at Inkpen

the 2004 Fielding Oscar goes to PETER ANDREWS.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

We now come to the Champagne Moment of the 2004 Season, which is where you the players get to have your say. There are a handful of nominations:

For Nasir, a champagne moment was ‘getting into the car after the South Wraxall debacle to turn my back on the “cricketing” summer’.

There was Parag Prasad’s big classy hundred against the Bank of England, including the huge six over square leg off a Surrey Under 14.

Of course there were Peter Andrews’ last-ball heroics at Inkpen.

Who can forget Bill Bush’s feast of sixes that so nearly pulled off an improbable victory against Bampton.

And finally, on his debut for the Erratics, there was Simon Green’s one-handed catch on the long-on boundary at Shalbourne, which was crucial in our winning of the game — truly a wow! moment that lingers in the memory of all who saw it.

And that is why ...

the Champagne Moment of the 2004 Season just has to be SIMON GREEN’S CATCH. (Þ)

2005 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2005 season were awarded at a reception held on Friday 21 April 2006, in the Australia Room, at the Oval Cricket Ground.

In 2005, we won more games than we lost. We posted more two hundred totals than we conceded. We bowled out other teams more frequently than we were ourselves dismissed. 2005 can therefore be described as not a bad season.

BATTING OSCAR

At the last dinner, I complained that opposition batsmen were cheating by hitting the ball too hard. In 2005, it was the turn of Erratics batsmen to bludgeon a generation of bowlers into early retirement.

Seven different individuals passed fifty in the season, making the task of the awards committee particularly difficult. Mike Stephenson clubbed a combative 52 against the Beamers; Brian Berrigan hit a superbly judged 52 not out at Kilndown; and, in his only appearance so far for the Erratics, Adam Mellows-Facer plundered an unbeaten 127 off the Times bowlers.

But the nominations are:

Mike Long	for contributing 55 runs to a partnership of 158 with Adam in that Times match.
James Rivington	for two fine half centuries of contrasting character against FC London and the V&A.
Peter Andrews	for 60 runs and a century partnership with James at Great Houghton.
Jim Head	for amassing a total of 468 runs at an average of 67, including 87 at Fernhurst and 92 at Harpsden.

For his brutal 141 not out against FC London, setting a new Erratics batting record (just four fixtures after the last record was set),

the 2005 Batting Oscar inescapably goes to JIM HEAD.

BOWLING OSCAR

On a couple of occasions in 2005, the Erratics bowling came unstuck (Shalbourne, South Wraxall), but for the most part the bowlers did good work.

Again, seven individuals chipped in with three or more wickets here and there. John Truscott got three against FC London, Chris Dunabin three against The Times, Michael Stephenson three at Great Milton.

But the nominations are:

Matthew Eltringham	for three wickets at Inkpen and four against the Beamers.
Jim Head	also for three wickets at Inkpen and four against the Beamers.
Brian Berrigan	also for three wickets at Inkpen (they were cheap wickets that day!), but more impressively for three hard-earned scalps against the free-hitting Hemingford Hermits.
Tristan Ward	for three wickets at Harpsden, a match-winning five at Great Houghton, and for his defiant haul of seven V&A wickets — just one dropped snick away from claiming all eight available wickets.

For three precious wickets that turned the tide against a fired-up Great Milton team

the 2005 Bowling Oscar goes to MATTHEW ELTRINGHAM.

FIELDING OSCAR

The likes of Tim Green, Simon Green, Alex Padmore, and dare one say even young Hugh Evans, injected much needed youthful energy into our fielding performances. But the senior players still showed that they can do the business.

The nominations are:

Tremayne Rennell	for five smart stumpings that made the Erratics spinners look good, and for a dismissal against The Times that was both caught and stumped.
Brian Berrigan	for his spectacular boundary catch, running from long off to long on, in the game against the Bank.
Simon Davie	for one of those stunning slip catches it is a privilege to have witnessed, at Great Milton.
James Rivington	for his running diving catch at long-on against FC London, dislocating his finger in the process, and then just two weeks later selflessly risking further injury to take a similar catch at Harpsden, and for his last gasp, direct hit, run out that denied Inkpen when they were only 74 runs short of victory(!).

For providing the team with its one true ‘wow!’ moment of the season

the 2005 Fielding Oscar goes to SIMON DAVIE.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

As is our custom, members of the team have sent in their nominations for the Champagne Moment of 2005. And as usual, there has been a wide range of recollections.

There were bad moments: James Rivington driving his dislocated finger through the suburbs of London, trying to find a hospital whose X-ray department hadn’t just shut for the day; more dramatically, during the match against The Times, the extraordinary theft of Jonathan Green’s car.

But there were memories of many fine cricketing virtues displayed by the Erratics in 2005:

The wily captaincy of Peter Andrews as he held his nerve to tease out a last-over victory at Kilndown.

The stoicism of Jonathan Green as he batted through back pain against the Bank of England.

The gallantry of Tim Green in demolishing the stumps of the Times batswoman who was stubbornly denying us.

The awesome telepathy between the Allen twins, as their tip-and-run eased the Erratics to victory at Great Houghton, after our more traditional big hitters had thrown the game away.

The nobility shown in the Canbashers game by Mike Long who, on being given not out lbw by umpire Chris Dunabin, walked for a catch behind.

The team spirit displayed by nine-year-old Hugh Evans as he heckled the captaincy of his own father against the V&A, and then quit the field in search of cider.

The stamina revealed by Tremayne Rennell in his fine knock at Inkpen, where not only did he carry his bat, but in scampering between the wickets he lapped Matthew Neal, fifty years his junior.

But one episode stands out. When one of the openers was hit on the head by a bouncer and retired hurt, things hardly looked promising. But when he rejoined his opening partner on the fall of the first wicket, they set about the FC London attack. Through a combination of ruthless hitting and reckless running, one scored fifty, the other a massive hundred.

The 2005 Champagne Moment is the Erratics record partnership of 186, unbeaten, between James Rivington and Jim Head.

2006 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2006 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 30 May 2008, at the Three Bridges restaurant, Battersea Park Road.

2006 was a truly indifferent season, with some appalling humiliations – who will ever forget the battering at Stonor? But it ended with a moment of Erratics magic, in the ten-wicket victory against the Hemingford Hermits.

BATTING OSCAR

In a season where the team wasn't particularly successful, some individual batsmen were remarkably prolific.

The nominations are:

Andrew Pannell	for crushing Bampton spirits with a brutal 83.
Nasir Khawaja	for scoring 433 runs, at an average of 54.
Jim Head	for three half centuries, including the crucial 66 in the ten-wicket victory against the Hemingford Hermits.
Peter Andrews	whose more modest 34 still contributed to a victorious century partnership.

For five half centuries, and for a defiant 113 not out that thwarted The Times,

the 2006 Batting Oscar goes to NASIR KHAWAJA.

BOWLING OSCAR

Every now and then our bowlers showed what they could do. On World Cup Final Day, Great Milton arrogantly asked for an early start, not knowing that their top order was going to be demolished by our two Alexes – Towers and Padmore.

Our four fine nominations are:

Jim Head	for 16 wickets, at an average of just 8.2, including five that completed the rout at Great Milton.
Matthew Eltringham	for five match-winning wickets against FC London.
Brian Berrigan	for nine wickets in the season, at an average of 14.7.
Tristan Ward	for 14 wickets, half of them – yes, seven – in the victory at Bampton.

For those glorious five wickets that set up our greatest ever win, against the Hemingford Hermits,

the 2006 Bowling Oscar goes to BRIAN BERRIGAN.

FIELDING OSCAR

Not awarded

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

There has been no popular vote for the Champagne Moment of 2006 because the choice is too obvious, and has already been much alluded to: the historic ten-wicket win against the Hemingford Hermits.

But which particular bit? The grittiness of Peter Andrews, the belligerence of Jim Head, the genius of vice-captain Nasir Khawaja in placing himself wherever the next catch would be offered?

No, the Champagne Moment of 2006 belongs to the bowlers Brian Berrigan and Michael Stephenson — and in particular the return catch by Michael to dismiss Keith Pont.

2007 OSCARS

The Oscars for the 2007 season were awarded at the Erratics Dinner held on Friday 30 May 2008, at the Three Bridges restaurant, Battersea Park Road.

If 2006 was bad, 2007 was soul-crushingly worse. The weather didn't help, though bizarrely we played more cricket than in the previous three years. In truth, we were lucky to escape with a record number of draws. There is no doubt that for 2007 the nominations committee has had to lower its standards.

BATTING OSCAR

There are five nominations for the Batting Oscar:

Peter Andrews	for half centuries at Fernhurst and at Great Milton.
Matthew Eltringham	for half centuries at Fernhurst and against the Beamers, but more tellingly for a timely 36 that built a winning total against the Balliol Erratics.
Bill Bush	for thumping 41 runs at Inkpen.
Jaspar Khawaja	for two crucial and assured 0 not outs, which staved off humiliating defeat against Chelsea Arts Club and saw us home at Inkpen.
James Rivington	who batted the entire innings to frustrate the Canbashers, and who held his nerve to garner the winning runs at Inkpen.

When he came to the crease, the score was 6 runs for 4 wickets. For his tour de force that converted disaster into victory at Inkpen,

the 2007 Batting Oscar goes to BILL BUSH.

BOWLING OSCAR

The nominations are:

Matthew Eltringham	for four wickets each in the games at Harpsden, at Great Milton, and against the Beamers.
Richard Heller	whose four wickets were the only restraint on the prolific Canbashers batsmen.
Brian Berrigan	who – in an innings where we were walloped for a shocking 288 runs – in eleven overs conceded just 14.
Alex Padmore	whose irresistible five wickets for nine runs swept aside the Balliol Erratics.
Jim Head	whose five wickets crushed the spirited resistance at Inkpen to set up one of our rare victories.

For the stunning figures of 10 overs, 6 maidens, 9 runs, 5 wickets against Balliol,

the 2007 Bowling Oscar goes to ALEX PADMORE.

FIELDING OSCAR

In truth, in 2007 we relied on subs and guest players to raise the calibre of our fielding. So there's not a lot to choose from.

For six outfield catches, including a stunning diving finger-tip effort at Harpsden,

the 2007 Fielding Oscar goes to JAMES RIVINGTON.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

There was no Champagne Moment in 2007.

But there should be special mention of MATTHEW ELTRINGHAM for becoming only the fourth player in recorded history to complete the 'Erratics double', with 241 runs and 20 wickets.