Royal Household v YGs played at Home Park, Windsor on Sunday, 27 August 2025
Glorious weather and a rather special venue. From the cricket square the castle tower, some 400 yards distant, peeped curiously through the trees. An array of photographs in the well-appointed, and beautifully maintained pavilion, revealed a significant number of Royals both playing and spectating over many decades. A framed stump from the infamous Bodyline series was of interest to those that have a passion for historical cricketana.
On such a hot day, winning the toss, electing to bat, scoring just shy of 300 and then offering the charming hosts less overs than we received (39/37) is, perhaps, not the way to expect a further invite, but negative rumblings were countered by sweet talking big Fletch (sporting a splendid MCC handkerchief which clashed violently with his YG blazer) and also, perhaps more subtlety, from our man in the scorebox in charge of the YG book. Their scorer was also their Fixture Secretary.
Alfie Spencer was at his belligerent best and biffed 154 off a mere 86 balls before being called back to the pavilion. Does a 'retired out' count as a red-inker? No it doesn't. Sorry, Alfie! Charlie O'Kelly reeled off a string of delightful textbook shots and contributed a cameo knock of 40. Dad D and Uncle R looked on approvingly. Great to see O'Kelly x 3 on the scorecard. The hosts had an opening stand of 114 but thereafter wickets tumbled at regular intervals and a chase was never realistically on. Smithy helped himself to four cheap wickets and at the close the Royal Household were 80 short of their target, and had lost eight wickets. Match drawn. As the players left the field a gaggle of geese in perfect formation flew across the ground. Not quite the Red Arrows but perhaps we were not deserving of such a grand aerobatic treat?
A great day was had by all (but jazz-hat cricket is not league cricket and needs to be played differently). A lost art?
Geoff Wellsteed
