Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club

Wellington College-educated, Ant joins for the 2011 season with twin brother Will.  Right handed Batsman and Off-spinner. His potency with ball comes from the mystery which he provides, neither batsmen or himself know what the ball will do next, this has been a key weapon his his arsenal. 

Anthony has made himself a key member of the Crowthorne and Crown Wood fraternity, setting up the CCWCC Flag society which currently has 3 members including Kieran Golding. His love of flags has opened up many avenues for him and he recently returned from a 3 month trip/retreat to Kathmandu for the International Vexillology Convention. Ant was among the key note speakers along with Kim Jong-Un, The Dalai Lama and Imran Khan. Speaking after the event he said that he was humbled to be in such esteemed company and Kim Jong-Un is "a misunderstood guy with great banter", The Dalai Lama "has anger issues" and Imran Khan "has little knowledge of flags but makes up for it in his ability to chin a Guinness with no hands"  

Will joined us in the 2011 season, the younger Avrili, learned his Cricket under the guidance of Mr P Daines at Yateley Manor and subsequently at Wellington. Along with twin-brother Ant, Will has injected some youthful enthusiasm and agility into the Crows ranks. Will is known for his wonderful stroke play and diving catches from behind the stumps. 

Nicknamed 'Fray Bentos' after the famous Cuban leader by his team. Will dictates the play in the middle and from behind the stumps. Will's nickname and intentions have now truly come to light as he was selected as ONES CAPTAIN. Avrili quipped when wished good luck, "You don't need luck when you're me"

Local entrepreneur, Andrew Baines, joined the club looking for a chance to ‘give back to the community that has given him so much’. Baines made his money as a property mogul and Cosplay costume designer winning Best Costume at the London, Paris, Milan and San Diego Cosplay events.

 

During the summer, Baines donates his time, and considerable personal wealth, to the club and even the cold winter chill cannot deny him his love for the club and the game by rattling through batting lineups in the Eversley Indoor Cricket League. Indoor Captain Jeff Cluett and manager, Sinith Chandran, have been overheard on a number of separate occasions at the local watering hole, The Frog and Wicket, singing Baines’ praises as he cleaned up yet another side with his slow left arm grenades.

Not just a bowler, Baines is always good for a few runs and sometimes even more than that regularly contributing 50+ runs to an innings. Nicknamed the ‘Village Bradman’ by local funny man and hunk Ant Avrili, seeing Baines slashing shots through Cover Point in his Baggy Green is one of the sights of the summer. This display, unsurprisingly, attracts many passersby that look on enviously as Baines piles on the pain for opposition teams.

Son of Crown Wood legend Sean Brundish. Mikey has the loudest voice on planet earth. 

One of life's true mavericks.  Came through the ranks at Crown Wood under the close tutelage of his father John.  A classy batsman on his day and a bowler who can "bowl the lot"

Really made his mark for the merged club in 2015 after a quiet 2014. Scored bucket loads of runs for both the 2nd XI and Sunday teams including a century and several 50's

HIs crowning glory was the 2015 Cardiff Tour... details of which may never become clear..

Crown Wood Legend.

Looks after the ground as well as numerous other tasks for the club.

Still plying his trade in the 3rd XI and taking plenty of wickets with his off-spin.

Hard-hitting batsman, tricky bowler and all-round good egg, Pete made his mark with the club by providing a case of beer for his team-mates on his debut. That'll do for us!
Awarded himself the nickname Kiwi due to his New Zealand heritage.

AKA  :Belmont Maracas

 

U11's player

Young fast bowler, good fielder and working hard on my batting. Shot to fame as part of the all conquering Indoor Team that won the 2013 Eversley indoor league. Also part of the U17s indoor team that retained their title in 2014.

 

Dan is a keen bird watcher and can often be gone for weeks at a time searching for the perfect bird. He's attempted to set up the Amateur Bird Watching Society at all of his previous Jobs, including Warwickshire County Cricket club. When asked about his favorite bird he replied "I'm always partial to a Great Tit, but I'm a bit of sucker of the larger birds, they're easier"

Joe is our newest import from Down Under having relocated from Sydney to Crowthorne (can'y be many people that do it that way round). Joe is a legspinner and right handed batsman. He took an instant liking to "The Newbury" at his first net session.
Joe hit an impressive 52 not out in his 3rd game for the club against BBC Caversham. Joe went on to score over 400 league runs in his first season to scoop both the "newcomer" award as well as the Berkshire League Young Player of the year 2012 award, and was a key member of the 2013 Div 2 winning side.

Joe is undoubtedly the best thrower of a cricket ball north of Alice Springs, and is responsible for large numbers of runouts and overthrows in equal measure. He is famed for his vest/wooly hat combo, probably a result of the climate difference from his native land.

He Says: 'My proudest moment on a cricket field was my club record fourth wicket stand of 171* with Jeff Cluett in 2012. It was a privilege to stand at the other end.'

Father of two leading CCWCC cricketers and husband to a committee member, it would not be an understatement to say that Damon Emes has single handedly secured the future of the club. ‘The club cannot repay the debt that we owe him but we shall nevertheless try’ said club legend Dan Partridge when interviewed about Damon by local journalists.

 

Away from the field, Damon is a keen musician playing the French Horn in a number of local bands and orchestras. Never one to be pigeonholed, Damon is also able to turn his hand to a number of other instruments including the bassoon, the viola and the steel drums. This has prompted him to say that ‘he would start a band of one but he can’t play all the instruments at the same time’. His love of brass instruments also took him round the world with The Barmy Army as the head trumpeter. His tenure was ended with a mysterious dishonourable discharge in St Lucia leading to his dismissal. Not widely reported after a skilful PR campaign by the Barmy Army, the local police report simply listed the offence as ‘Carib Beer’.

 

 Even in sport Damon cannot be limited. For many years, throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, he was the throwing partner of darts legend Phil ‘The Power ‘Taylor. Taylor even attributed his 1995 and 1997 World Matchplay and 2001 and 2002 World Championship wins to the coaching of Damon. It comes as no surprise then that Damon is constantly on the spot with the cricket ball regularly racking maidens and wickets on the cricket field.

Another fine product of the clubs youth system, who’s appearances are limited nowadays as he has gone away to flight school. Think Top Gun academy but without the Sunglasses, Cool Planes, Girls, Leather Jackets and Excitement.

Also forced in being a Chelsea fan by his father.

 

RP Hester is a classic village cricket all rounder...can't bat or bowl! But reasonable glove work and on field leadership means he still has his Crowthorne & Crown Wood central contract. Captained the Sunday side in the famous 2011 1-wicket win at Sandhurst. Digging in for the final wicket, scoring 2 off 25 balls in determined style to help see the Crows home to win the A3095 Ashes! Elected 2012 Sunday captain by popular demand on the back of this historic victory. His electric coolbox is more than useful for post-nets beers.
He says: 'Probably more catches than runs for the club'
We say: 'Probably more wickets than runs for the club, too'

Fun Fact: A lifelong model railway enthusiast, Rich houses a scale replica of the Stockton to Darlington expressway in his conservatory. He lists his proudest achievements in his life as first, his replica railway, second, his children, and third, that run he scored a couple of seasons ago.

Although probably one of the most gifted all rounders to have graced Crowthorne, sadly it has only ever been his bowling that has been recognised by the club (and scorers). He won the club bowling averages five consecutive years and collected two Berkshire League divisional awards. Has never managed to capture the coveted player of the year award, probably down to a vote rigging/ drunken outrage incident during the mid-nineties. Best bowling? Either 8-37 or 3-0 off three balls, take your pick!

Interesting FACT: The Long Room at Lord's is named in honour of Aran's 6 consecutive "Bowler of the year" awards.

Mid-season signing from Cumbria University CC.   Right-arm spinner and right-handed batsman.


Recently given up working behind the bar at one of RG45's premium venues to concentrate solely on his cricket. Useful player when girlfriend allows.

I'm Dave I'm 27 and have played for Crown Wood for years .I also play football for a five a side team on a Monday night . I am a left handed batsman and bowl right arm very slow .

Marshall or Monty is Crowthorne's Mr Reliable; he has given his entire 40 year childhood to the club.  A very solid number 11, particularly tricky bowler and sometimes even keeps wicket. Can always be relied on to provide two or three comedy injuries per season, including a nasty broken ankle sustained during Crows Winter Footy.   Monty is also the regular favourite and usual winner of the annual duck prize, as well as trying to run Dan close for the Sunday Bowling prize each year. Another Reading FC season ticket holder despite his Man United background and tattoos!!!

Monty has been described by teammates, opponents and lovers alike as a prodigious swinger, and his wrist position as he delivers is as effective as it is efficient.

He says: I am always happy to bat at 11
We say: Duck avoidance (ineffective)

Fun Fact: Monty is a huge Star Wars fan and has attended the official 'Lucas-Con; London' for 28 straight years. Amongst other memorabilia he owns a replica "Return of the Jedi" Ewok costume he claims never to have worn.

Joined the club in 2010 as a fast bowling all rounder and brought the key attribute of being able to smooth over the Wellington College liaison from the inside. The days of bounding in bowling snorting bouncers to Sandhurst openers are behind him and after many years of seeing the likes of Dan come in off three paces and clean up wicket after wicket, the retirement plan of bowling liquorice allsorts was born. Rarely allowed to be released in a real match, those ghastly googlies are mainly reserved for Sundays when every other avenue has been exhausted. Trying to capitalise on a decent batting season in 2016, with a ton against Arcadian Casuals and make an opening batsman role a permanent move.
But it's on the football pitch where he comes into his own. The Golden boot award has been abandoned after he won it for so many years in succession that everyone got bored. Current holder of the Golden Hoof Award too, but committed to stop hogging all the footballing trophies and let someone else have a go.

Nick moved to Crowthorne at the end of 2012 and quickly became a mainstay of the 2013 Div 2 and Div 1 title winning team taking over the Captaincy of the first team in 2017. He is a solid top order batsman with plenty of runs in his locker and one of the sharpest fielders at the club. That's what he tells us anyway, it's difficult to remember as he tends to be on the proverbial physio table most of the time, most notably after the 'exploding finger incident of 2013' where he was spectacularly injured fielding a ball off his own bowling at nets. Nets! Lesson learnt.

He Says: 'I just love the taste of Jalfrezi, the colour isn't important.'

Fun Fact: A young Nick can be seen in the music video for the 1980s classic number one 'Snooker Loopy', appearing as a young snooker fan who Willie Thorne high fives.
 

Club Stalwart and all round legend of the Crowthorne area, The Partridge can often be found at the club or touring the away games when unable to turn the arm himself. Having taken a 18 month absence out of the game he was thrown back into the fold by the ONES Captain Will Avrili, who was looking to motivate and inspire the younger generation in the club. Dan has consistently taken wickets throughout his cricketing career and continues to do so to this day. 

In his spare time The Partridge frequents the Mad Stad to watch his beloved Reading FC or spending his wages following the England cricket team across the globe. Back in 2013 a mini documentary series was commissioned to follow Dan in his daily life called 'Up with Partridge - The Making of a Legend', Dan declined to speak on the documentary, instead the BBC recruited Ashley Giles to narrate the series after a personal request from Ashley himself. In the series we see Dan's memorabilia room which was once a childs bedroom, in this shrine he has many prized artifacts of his 2 loves, Reading and The England Cricket Team. The room includes a pair of Stephen Hawking's football boots (Unworn), a jock strap from Reading's all time leading goal scorer Trevor Senior, and a 'used' tissue from his favorite England cricket Alan Mullaly. After a high profile court battle the series was removed from Netflix and is now permanently on BBC iPlayer. Partridge's lawyer later stated that this was due to Dan's insistence that the series be free to air, citing the demise of English cricket since 2005 for his decision. 

A recent petition has taken place to get the Nine Mile Ride End by St Sebs renamed the Dan Partridge End which is currently at 55,000 signatures. When asked what it meant to be the centre of such a fantastic cause he simply replied 'No comment'. 

I joined Crown Wood Cricket Club in 1993 and I haven't missed a season. I've played in all Berskshire league divisions from the Premier to the 5th. I've captained Saturday 2's and later 3's as well as Sunday friendly sides and indoor teams. I'm getting too old and decrepit these days but I'm looking forward to never earning a baggy green coz I'm too crap these days.

 

Best figures for Crown Wood (living past successes coz I'm so old and sad now):

Batting: 72 vs Sulhamstead and Ufton

Bowling: 4.3 Overs, 0 Maidens, 7 wickets, 6 runs vs Newbury

Division 3 winner 2003

Division 1 winner 2006

Best batsman 2nd XI 2005

Runner up friendly bowler 2000

Adrian Chatters Day winner (there's no date on the medal but probably about 2013)

Bracknell Midweek League winner early 2000's

Newbold College Indoor Winter League runner up early 2000's

I am a keen enthusiastic learner and still want to learn for the age group I am now but this is not an issue as age is no barrier to learning

I played cricket before with a group of lads at Uni of Reading for couple of years but now disbanded so I have moved on to join a club

International man of mystery whose criminal career is punctuated by cricket during the summer months. Ben’s life in the underworld has left him with a myriad of aliases including the infamous Ben Willams of Workington. Known to ‘the fuzz’ as the Scarlet Pimpernel, he evades capture despite numerous accusations of public lewdness and indecent exposure.

Ben recently went past 50 career runs and fathered a child ‘Barry’ named after his favourite place in the world, Barry Island in South Wales. An astonishing fact considering he has never been there.

Also a philanthropist and keen model railway enthusiast in his free time, Williams/Willams donated an eye watering sum of £250,000 to the Crowthorne Model Railway Club in 2016 following a huge fire that was reported as being seen as far as 20 yards away. Crying over an ashened remains of a 12 gauge replica of the Flying Scotsman, Williams vowed to dedicate his life to cricket.

He is rapidly becoming the first name on the Sunday XI team sheet and even holds the crown of being the most inked person at the club sporting a number of tattoos. The club eagerly awaits a neck tattoo of the club crest inspiring some to undertake a whip round at