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Still
more to come...
A
- B - C - D
- E - G - H
- K - M - P
- S - W |
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Paul
Goss Captain RHB LFM
Cryptic Man of the Year 2003, Goss is the
best left arm, Australian ginger the club has ever seen.
Appearing more frequently since acknowledging serious
league cricket was no fun by comparison, Goss can lift
the spirits of team mates in an instant, if only by being
the butt of the humour. His opening spells are always
tidy and respected, though tail enders tend to clout him
out of the ground periodically. His batting technique
is considerably better than statistics indicate, which
he would attribute to lack of opportunity. |
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Greg
Andrell LHB Wicketkeeper
One of our few real quality players, Greg's
age is still seven short of his career average of 48.
Has scored a few good hundreds and several nineties, most
memorably 97* when with 4 needed to win his old school
mate Edwards clouted a boundary to leave him stranded
and save him the cost of a jug. Doesn't play enough but
when he does he makes stumpings others would never attempt
and still manages to squander the easy ones. Recently
made the strange decision to marry on the Saturday of
the Lords Test Match. |
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Peter
Andrew LHB Left arm medium
P.A.J.A. can, on his day, destroy a bowling
attack. He bats best on the back of bowling figures
like 8-0-62-1 when he knows he owes us some runs and
once won a match with 22 runs from four balls having
run out the then skipper. Brilliant with the scorebook,
Peter will continue playing at least until he has shared
a dressing room with son Nick who, thankfully, is equally
keen. Hobbies include bizarre trivia quizzes, plane
spotting and extolling the virtues of eating a Melton
Mowbray pie for every initial you have. |
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Richard
Atkinson Opening bat
Probably in the wrong category these days
as his last few attempts to play have been scotched by
injury. Captain 1992-94 and so good a right hand bat that
he barely used his left hand. Harshly remembered for scoring
1 in a total of 210-1 against the Federation of Zionist
Youth in 1993, he was for years the club’s best batsman
and remains the best slip fielder we have had. Briefly
flirted with bowling under his own captaincy, an even
briefer flirtation with wicket keeping followed in later
years. Now prospering in New York, younger Cryptics know
him as the guy that just turns up to Club Dinners in the
same way that those under 30 think Bill Beaumont was just
the chap on Question of Sport. Hopes remain of a comeback
game some day.
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Mark
Blamphin Number 11 Right arm medium
Based in Northampton, Mark is used to long
journeys for cricket, but to Havant for one over? He did
it with a smile. Mark has scored 51 runs in ten years
and six if them were from one shot over the road at Headley
(prompting a declaration and first dig at the pies while
the opposition searched for the ball.) Unlucky not to
have taken more wickets with his loopy medium pacers,
Mark is sometimes hampered on the field by injuries picked
up in the normal course of his varied social life. |
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James
Brooke-Webb RHB Right arm medium
For years a reticent journeyman allrounder,
James has blossomed into a startling matchwinner in
recent times. His spectacular 88* at Claygate in 2000
to score an unlikely victory will never be forgotten
by those who saw it. Now with the confidence to trust
his natural good eye and lack of footwork he can turn
a game on its head in quick time. His seemingly innocuous
bowling has surprised a few too and in the interests
of keeping the club alive he is producing sons at an
impressive rate.
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Dwight
Cupit RHB Wicketkeeper
One of the Australian contingent recruited
in 2000, Dwight has become a dependable ‘Club Man’
and middle order batsman. Sometimes cruelly called Frodo,
he is a more than capable but reluctant wicketkeeper,
preferring to patrol the outfield and always offering
to bowl his assortment of pies. Cupit proved a first
class tourist in Menorca 2002 despite ill health and
has offered to organise the next tour for 2005. Initially
a sartorial write-off in brown hat, blue shoes and dodgy
shirt, he eventually began to wear cricket clothes but
his form took a dip in 2003 when he bought pads and
a box.
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Paul
Dickson RHB Leg spinner
Captain 1988-91. Records of the Dickson
era vanished in events following his stag weekend, which
is why all records begin in 1992 and older players claim
to have been statistically denied their heydays. Doubtless,
the myths are better than the stats would have been. Paul
has an encyclopaedic knowledge and deep love of cricket
and all things Cryptic. Were he not now resident in New
York he would still be turning out and telling tales of
his schooldays with Pippa. Still a chance we will see
him on the field again.
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Rod
Edwards LHB Right arm medium Emergency wicketkeeper
A round allrounder, Rod will try anything
on the cricket field except catching without gloves
on. As a younger man he thought he was Richard Hadlee
but now bears a greater resemblance to Chris Harris
on a diet of lager and sausages. Occasionally savage
with the bat, Rod's bowling remains his strongest suit
as a career average of 19 suggests. After a seven-year
exile in the John Major years, his return was welcome
and instrumental in raising the fortunes of the club
under the current regime.
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Jimmy
Greenhough Slow bowler Occasional bat.
The longest serving Cryptic. Debut 1978.
Former wild man and former paceman, Jim now enjoys the
autumn of his career as a non turning flight and guile
man bewildering batsmen into suicidal strokes with considerable
success. When the opportunity presents itself his strokeplay
can be spectacular. Off the field his musical talent shines
after midnight and he remains the only Cryptic able to
recite 'The Lion and Albert' in its entirety. |
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Ross Greenwood
RHB Right arm fast
The club's top bowler from the day he
arrived from Richmond CC (Melbourne) in 1999. Fast and
furious, Ross averages under 14 and claims he would
top the batting averages too if given greater opportunity.
Uses his professional skills as a journalist and broadcaster
to ensure that opposing batsmen are well informed on
how they are playing and, occasionally, how lucky they
are to be playing. Failing to get a visa meant he missed
the trip to Oporto in 2000.
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David
Grindrod RHB RM
The unassuming geography teacher never
lets us down. Probably denied opportunity with both bat
and ball by virtue of being good enough with both. David
makes batting look easy and is due a big score, bowls
a tidy line and length and has a dodgy knee. Rumours that
he is brother-in-law of former skipper Paul Dickson are
untrue so we can be confident he won’t nick the scorebook.
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James
Hogben RHB Won't bowl
Holder of one of the biggest mortgages
in the club, James bats like a millionaire. Best playing
his strokes at the top of the order as a foil for the
ponderous Wright, he prefers to score his runs in boundaries
and detests being called for singles and twos by others.
Threes are simply not on. A good fielder if the ball
is hit straight to him, James is also the club's only
vegetarian and one of our heaviest players.
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Charles
Hope-Dunbar RHB RM Wicketkeeper
Universally known as Tommy for, inter alia,
his insatiable appetite for ketchup, Hope-Dunbar should
not be mistaken for that pinball wizard of The Who’s
era. His hearing seems OK, his talking is incessant and
best of all he has a deceptively good eye for a ball.
Tommy has already taken some blinding catches, demonstrating
remarkable agility for one so comfortably built. His batting
is commanding and at times spectacular, his work ethic
refreshingly old-fashioned and his sister is Mrs Goss
elect.
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Peter
Kowalski RHB RM
‘Polish’ Pete is not easily forgotten.
If you miss the individual arrangement of facial hair,
you will not miss the endless chatter emanating (largely)
from among the facial hair. Forthright and vivacious,
there is never a need to ask Kowalski for his opinion.
No longer classified as an overseas player since Poland’s
EU entry, listening to him on sport reveals more of a
South African than Polish upbringing. For a man who played
only four games in his debut season 2003, he has already
made quite an impact. 2004 will reveal if he can take
wickets and scores runs as well.
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James
MacDonald LHB Left arm wrist spinner
Now returned to his native Melbourne, this
lively and talented lefthander made a huge impact on the
Cryptics 1999-2001. He scored 1052 runs at 47.82, bowled
a bit and took his turn with the gloves when required.
Instrumental in recruiting several other players prior
to his departure, he also introduced us to some verbal
tactics while fielding. His departure will be welcomed
by those whose names are followed in the scorebook by
the words 'Did not bat'.
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Andrew
McLoughlin RHB RFM
Teacher and nephew of Cryptic legend
Mark McLoughlin, Andrew is a genuine sportsman and valuable
successor to the retired uncle with one major bonus
– he can bat. Though he fails with the bat too
often for one so talented, when in the mood (usually
hung over) he is a match winner with a full range of
strokes, as shown against Cedars in 2002 and Bounders
in 2003. Currently top of the career bowling averages,
he will do well to stay in front of Greenwood for long.
Sometimes dangerous at social functions, Andrew makes
his presence felt off the field as well and if he ever
masters his diary he could make a huge contribution
in years to come. |
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Mark McLoughlin
Number 11 Right arm "fast"
Mark announced his retirement in 2000,
and promptly turned up with a new pair of boots. At
53 he is about to embark on another "final"
season and his first overseas tour. Still able to bowl
long spells, the run up is getting shorter and the arm
lower but his reputation and skiddy deliveries can tie
down all but the best. Exceptionally good statistics
over a long time owe nothing to his recent habit of
asking for an offside sweeper from the first over. Uses
a Doug Walters autograph bat.
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Nick
Pow RHB Right arm medium
A bowler of rare distinction, Nick is
the only Cryptic to have been carted onto his own bedroom
balcony (Oporto 2000). Such harsh treatment is rare
for this nagging line and length man who beats the outside
edge frequently. Has a weird tendency to apologise profusely
to the batsman after bowling a bad ball. Nick shares
many characteristics with the great Angus Fraser, among
them batting.
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Richard
Seeckts RHB Cafeteria bowling
Captain 1996-2006. Joining in 1991, Richard was attracted
to the Cryptics by the prospect of guaranteed first
team cricket. The fact that there was only one team
did not diminish his enthusiasm. He donned the mantle
of 'Skipper' in 1996 - the positions of fixture secretary
and treasurer were soon added to his burgeoning Cryptic
CV.
Richard is the reason the SCCC survives today. His commitment
to the club is beyond reproach and owes as much to his
desire to play enjoyable cricket in the right spirit
as it does to the realisation that he wouldn't get a
game anywhere else.
An all-rounder - in body if not ability - he has become
a fixture at first slip where the conversation is often
better than the catching. A solid middle-order batsman,
he is uncommonly reticent about bowling himself...until
confronted with a twitchy nosed opponent, that is. |
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James
Streeter RHB Off spinner
‘One more inch and he’d be in
the circus’ was a comment on the 5 feet 23 inch Big
Jim at Headley in 2002. Those who have witnessed his party
piece of playing the bagpipes with an inverted chair at
Club Dinners might wonder why he isn’t in the circus.
Jim’s social impact on the club shades his playing
record but he is technically the most correct batsman
we have thanks to the coaching of his youth. He played
Kent age group cricket for years and peaked in Exeter
University’s 1st Xl before getting the yips as a
bowler. Tends to get served quickly in pubs.
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Tom
Ware RHB Leg spinner
Our best fielder, 'Puppy' will chase a
ball anywhere, anytime. Like a cocker spaniel with a good
arm, Tom now has to work on batting and bowling. To that
end he recently became the only Cryptic known to have
coaching and should be a match winning leggie within weeks.
His innings are often brief but never dull and the big
one will be worth watching when it comes. |
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Martin
Williamson RHB Right arm dollies
Williamson got himself a good average in
the mid nineties and has preserved it by appearing infrequently
since. Best known for being the only Old Cranleighan captain
to be beaten by the Cryptics, he is also responsible for
the world-renowned baggy pink and black caps as treasured
by Tony Dodemaide and others. Taking 1 for 16 in an over
in 2003, his bowling was described by the Australian all
rounder as ‘good shopping’. That’s more
than can be said for his wardrobe. |
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Philip
Wright RHB Occasional donkey drops
"Pippa" is a long established
opening bat on account of his extreme nervous habits
when having to wait to go in. Once a strokemaker of
note, he now prides himself on anchoring the innings,
often setting up a tall order for the middle order in
a run chase. One of the longest serving Cryptics, he
manages to combine perpetual injury problems with being
the most reliable for availability to play. His standards
slipped in 2001 when he took a family holiday during
the season and the makeshift openers scored bundles
in his absence. Won't travel again for a while. Once
took five wickets, all of which were caught on the midwicket
boundary.
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