Tynemouth Test v ATCC : 30/06/11

Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club v Australia Transplant Cricket Club

Tynemouth Cricket Club

June 30^th 2011 – July 1^st 2011

The Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club is the representative side for players in the United Kingdom who have had life saving organ and tissue transplants.  Tynemouth Cricket Club played host to match 1 of the 2011 Transplant Ashes against the Australia Transplant Cricket Club as the visiting side look to revenge their defeat in 2006.

New look sides were on display from both sides, with the ATCC retaining 4 of their 2006 side in Wulff (Captain), Rose (WK), Campbell-Jones and Pyras.  The GBTCC starting line up retained Parker, Harris (Captain) and Graham from 2006, with Rice and Appleby out through injury.

The sides were honoured to have Robyn Hookes amongst the spectators – Robyn’s husband was David Hookes, the Australian batsman who, upon his death, donated his organs to enable life saving transplants to take place.  The players compete for the David Hookes Memorial Shield, named in his memory.

The 2011 series consists of the two day game at Tynemouth and a ODI at Dulwich on Wednesday 6^th July – as such, a victory in this fixture would lead to a series victory, with 2 points being allocated to this fixture.

On arrival at Tynemouth there were some fantastic reunions as old competitors and friends met back up.  The club should be thanked for preparing a superb wicket for the fixture, which promised a fantastic two days play.

GBTCC skipper, Simon Harris, won the toss and elected to bowl first.

ATCC 1^st Innings

• The ATCC showed some extremely powerful strokeplay to establish a significant total, Kevin Green in particular should be singled out for his all rapid run accumulation which led to the second highest innings total in Transplant Ashes history being posted.
• A lack of depth in the GBTCC bowling was apparent despite significant efforts from Adam Phillips and Simon Harris.
• The GBTCC showed great resilience in the field and a fantastic team work ethic – and demonstrated an attitude which showed what transplant sport, and cricket in particular, should be about.

GBTCC 1^st Innings

• Facing a significant total, and 308 needed to avoid the follow on, Phillips and Parker got off to a sharp start.  However, both played shots that got themselves out, rather than any effectiveness in the ATCC attack.
• Harris, Mills and Molyneux all got off to good starts as they sought to move the GBTCC total on towards the 409 required. Harris in particular, looked like he was due to remind the ATCC of his century making in the 2006 series.
• However, with none of these 3 converting their starts into a big score, the GBTCC innings soon petered out, 99 short of the 308 needed to avoid the follow on.
• Steve Arthy should be singled out from the ATCC attack for his excellent economy and continuous effort – the only genuine fast bowler in the ATCC attack, he continued to run in all innings and put continuous pressure on the GBTCC batsman which allowed others to take wickets.

GBTCC 2^nd Innings

• Having enforced the follow-on, the ATCC put the GBTCC back into bat, requiring 199 to reach the ATCC first innings target.  Starting at 1245, the GBTCC would have to bat for the rest of the day to save the game.
• The GBTCC second innings was notable for one stand out performance, which for everyone present was the performance of the match.  Adam Phillips, 17, scored a rapid 138, executed with classic and power strokeplay.  Prior to this match, he had never scored a senior 50 or 100 and his approach and mindset were superb.
• Other players made starts, but once again, did not convert these into larger totals.
• Prior to the start of the game, the ATCC and GBTCC captains had agreed that transplantees could replace each other fully within the game – the main aim being to allow all to take part as necessary.  An injury to A. Knox led to 12^th man Rice batting at 11.
• The captaincy and sportsmanship of ATCC’s John Wullf should be applauded for ensuring that this was allowed to happen at the end of the GBTCC innings.
• Wulff finally dismissed Phillips for 138, leaving the ATCC with a target of 43 in 13 overs.

ATCC 2^nd Innings

• Needing 43 in 13 overs, the ATCC faced a relatively nervous closing session.  Having established a significant first innings score there were initial thoughts of having batted too long as the GBTCC resistance continued in their second innings.
• The target of 43 looked achievable due to the power hitting seen in the first ATCC innings, however, the ATCC got off to a nervous start with both Green and Arthy falling cheaply following some clever bowling by Phillips.
• Indeed, Phillips charged in from the start, supported by Harris, as the ATCC continued to look nervous.
• However, Hollingsworth and Nolan saw them through to the close and an 8 wicket victory in the game, with 5 overs left to play in the day.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

• The game was a great exhibition for transplant cricket and established again some of the many compelling reasons for organ and tissue donation – the players were truly celebrating the generosity of their donors and their second chance of life.
• The spirit of the game was very good, in particular should be noted previous ATCC players Rose and Pyras for their supreme efforts on the pitch and the way in which they took part in the game.
• The game was followed by a memorial dinner, in memory of Graham Marsh, the previous GBTCC secretary who tragically died last year.  He was a stalwart of transplant cricket, transplant sport in general and a wonderful character to have known.  His widow, Christine Marsh was present and both sides were delighted to have been able to show their respect for Graham through their play, conduct and their kind words after the match.
• Despite the ATCC victory in the series, the sides now compete next at Dulwich CC in an ODI on Wednesday 6^th of June.  
• Hitters Hannay, Chilcott, Biddick, Rice and Kennedy all come into the side, with Kennedy, Biddick and Hannay making their GBTCC debuts.