XMAS 2003 - SUPPORTERS' CLUB NEWS

THE BINARY CHRISTMAS DRAW AND PARTY: 15th December 2003
If you’re a member of Surrey CCC, one question - have you sold your Christmas Draw tickets yet? If not, why not? As you probably know this annual venture provides the Supporters’ Club will valuable funding. So, if you received some tickets in the Club’s autumn mailing we would appreciate your efforts in selling them in the next week or so. The ‘binary’ draw for a first prize of £1,110 will be made at 8.45pm on Monday, 15 December. For those wishing to attend the Draw Party, where there will be a free hot and cold buffet from 9.00pm. The venue, as in previous years, will be the public bar of The Beehive, Durham Street, London SE11. The party will get underway at around 7.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

SUPPORTERS’ CLUB PLAYER AWARDS 2003 - ROLL OF HONOUR
This year’s Surrey CCC Supporters’ Club awards went to Mark Ramprakash, Jonathan Batty, Rikki Clarke and James Ormond respectively. The voting ended as follows:

PLAYER OF THE SEASON
85.0% - Mark Ramprakash
5.0% - Jonathan Batty
5.0% - Adam Hollioake
2.5% - Azhar Mahmood
2.5% - Ian Ward

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE SEASON
41.7% - Jonathan Batty
30.6% - James Ormond
13.9% - Rikki Clarke
5.6% - Graham Thorpe
2.8% - Azhar Mahmood
2.8% - Tim Murtagh
2.8% - Ian Ward

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
52.6% - Rikki Clarke
23.7% - Scott Newman
13.2% - James Benning
7.9% - Tim Murtagh
2.6% - Jonathan Batty

SYLVESTER CLARKE ‘LARGE RUM MOMENT’ AWARD
26.5% - Jimmy Ormond’s hat-trick and four wickets in an over against Middlesex at Guildford
8.8% - Adam Hollioake’s 6-17 against Kent at Canterbury in the NCL
8.8% - Martin Bicknell’s first Test wicket for ten years
8.8% - Martin Bicknell’s return to Test cricket
5.9% - Jimmy Ormond’s 4-11 in the Twenty20 Cup final
5.9%- Rikki Clarke’s two run outs in the day-nighter against Gloucestershire at The Oval
5.9% - Surrey’s victory in the Twenty20 Cup final

The following ‘moments’ all received one vote each:

• Dismissing Kent for 114 in their second innings at The Oval in a game that could have gone either way
• Mark Butcher’s one-day century against Yorkshire at The Oval
• Martin Bicknell’s hundred against Loughborough UCCE
• Martin Bicknell’s three-ball trick on Jacques Rudolph in the Oval Test
• Sept 8th - Boucher c Stewart b Bicknell
• Surrey's NCL win from nowhere at Headingley
• Surrey's NCL victory against Kent, in front of a typically fair-minded crowd at Canterbury
• The last three overs of Surrey’s NCL match against Yorkshire at Headingley
• The team’s lap of honour at Trent Bridge BEFORE the Twenty20 Cup final
• Virtually no championship cricket at The Oval between the beginning of June and mid-September

PREDICTIONS LEAGUE 2003
The Surrey CCC Supporters’ Club Predictions League competition was won by Alan Croft, who finished with a total of 210 points. Gill Tee (205), Bob Parsons (195) and David Woolf (180) were second, third and fourth respectively.

CENTURY CLUB
The results of the final two draws of 2002-03 were as follows:

£50 – John Banfield (No.94)
£15 – Rod Burridge (No.11)
£10 – Michael Power (No.9)

£250 – JE Taverner (No.15)
£30 – Kevin Henriques (No.114)
£20 – Rob Woods (No.85)

If you would like to join the Century Club or need to renew your membership for 2003-04, the deadline for being included in the first quarter’s draws is Friday 12 December 2003. You have a choice of paying quarterly (£9), half-yearly (£18) or annually (£36). Memberships should be sent to Sarah Atkins at The Cheviots, 236 Ashbourne Road, Micham, Surrey CR4 2DR. Cheques need to be made payable to the ‘Surrey CCCSC Century Club’.

WANTED: YOUR MEMORIES OF THE OVAL
I am working on a history of every Test match played at the Oval, to be published in 2005. There will be a 12-page introduction about the ground itself – its history, character, atmosphere, etc – and I am interested in hearing from any regular Oval-goer with interesting or unusual stories about events or games (not just Tests). If you are willing to talk, please call or e-mail me, David Mortimer, on 01444 443337 or at dmortimer@internetmarketing.co.uk.

ALICANTE – SPAIN
Two bedroom apartment to rent (all year round).
Las Minosas (near Torrevieja)
Comprising one double bedroom, one twin bedroom lounge, bathroom and kitchen.
Access to communal swimming pool.
Supermarkets, bars, restaurants and golf courses nearby.
Beach 10 minutes drive
Prices per week:
July to mid-September - £300
Mid-September to February - £200
Christmas and New Year period - £250
March to June - £250
Please contact Mr & Mrs Jenkins
020-8857-2916 or 07960-127481

TEAM, CLUB AND OTHER NEWS

MEDLYCOTT LEAVES SURREY
The shock announcement that Keith Medlycott, Surrey’s Cricket Manager, had decided to leave the Club came on 27 November. Medlycott, who had just over a year left to run on his contract, said: “It has been a privilege to have managed the side since 1998 through a period of unrivalled success. To have been part of this era gives me enormous pleasure and pride. I now feel that following Adam’s decision to stand down as captain that the time is right for me to leave to pursue other opportunities and fresh challenges. Adam and myself formed a fantastic winning partnership and its now time for me to look forward to the future. I believe I have taken Surrey as far as I can and that under a new manager and captain in Jonathan Batty, the Club can continue to be successful.” The 38-year-old had been Manager since 1998, during which time Surrey won seven major trophies, including the County Championship in 1999, 2000 and 2002. A club spokesman was quoted as saying: “Surrey will be looking to get a replacement well in advance of the start of the new season. The cricket committee will draw up a list of names as a matter of urgency.”

BEN SCOTT SIGNS FOR MIDDLESEX
Surrey’s 22-year-old reserve wicketkeeper, Ben Scott, has signed for Middlesex. Vinny Codrington, Chief Executive of Middlesex CCC said: “Ben enjoyed his time at Surrey enormously, but wanted a real opportunity to break through and challenge for a regular first team place to further his career.” Scott made two first-class appearances for the Oval outfit during 2003, taking six dismissals and recording a highest score of 58 not out in the final championship match of the season against Essex at The Oval.

REVELOPMENT OF THE OVAL GETS THE GO AHEAD
Surrey have now secured the necessary funding and other agreements and permissions to allow them to proceed with their ambitious redevelopment plans. A new stand at the Vauxhall End, together with new terracing at the east and west of the ground will increase capacity from 19,000 to 23,000. It will also deliver modern facilities for the media, for conference and banqueting and for extensive community use. The Ken Barrington Cricket Centre will also be refurbished as part of the overall redevelopment. Paul Sheldon, the Chief Executive of Surrey CCC, stated: “This is a gigantic milestone in the history of the Club. The new stand will be an iconic structure not only in world cricket but also in South London. These new facilities are essential if The Oval is to maintain its pre-eminence as one of the world’s leading Test venues. The Club’s major objective is to ensure that Surrey Cricket continues to thrive and develop. The redevelopment will ensure that Surrey and England continue to play cricket at The Oval and that it will be protected in the long term.” Sheldon added: “The project has brought together a professional team of the highest quality, and without their input and the support of all our commercial partners, we would not be underway.”

STEWART GIVEN NEW ROLE
Surrey County Cricket Club has announced that Alec Stewart has been handed a new appointment as the Club’s Director of New Business. Paul Sheldon, Chief Executive of Surrey County Cricket Club, stated: “We have asked Alec to help us in a number of different areas – all of which will use his great skills and reputation to attract new supporters to The Oval. He will be concentrating particularly on the immense opportunities brought about by our redevelopment project.” Alec Stewart added: “I am delighted to be able to continue my long association with Surrey County Cricket Club. I hope that I can help raise the profile of the Club and support it’s excellent work in the local community. I am very much looking forward to this new exciting challenge.”

SHELDON REFUTES SUGGESTIONS OF PLAYER UNREST
Surrey’s Chief Executive, Paul Sheldon, recently rejected suggestions that some of the county’s senior players are opposed to the appointment of Jonathan Batty as captain. Speaking to the Evening Standard (7 November), Sheldon said: “These rumours are totally groundless. Someone has caught hold of a story that the players are going to attend a meeting to discuss the captain’s position, but I can categorically state that this issue won’t be discussed.” The article went on to suggest that Martin Bicknell, Alistair Brown, Mark Ramprakash and Ian Salisbury were thought to be ahead of Batty in terms of taking over from Adam Hollioake, who will retire at the end of next summer.

WARWICKSHIRE CHASE CLARKE
In Birmingham’s Sunday Mercury newspaper (26 October) it was reported that Warwickshire were pursuing interest in the Surrey and England all-rounder Rikki Clarke. According to Paul Bolton’s article Clarke, who departed for England’s tour of Bangladesh without signing the one-year extension that Surrey had offered him, was far from settled at The Oval. The midlands county have had more than one informal approach for the highly-rated 22-year-old rejected by Surrey, who intend to hold their prized asset to a contract that still has four years to run. However, following John Crawley’s acrimonious departure from Lancashire two winters ago, counties can now negotiate compensation payments for players who wish to move while they are still under contract. Consequently, if Rikki Clarke did go, his new employers would be looking at a bill of up to £200,000. Clarke, who was reported to be unhappy at being dropped after making a match-saving century against Lancashire in April, had also voiced concern that he is not being given the opportunity to develop his seam bowling. In a separate interview he was quoted as saying: “I worked with (England bowling coach) Troy Cooley with the one-day squad this summer and my bowling improved vast amounts over the four weeks. But it just seemed to deteriorate to the old ways when I went back to Surrey. I wasn’t really bowling enough. I need to bowl a lot more. I believe I can bowl, I just need to get into a rhythm, bowling 20 to 25 overs a game, not miss a game bowling, then bowl a bit here and there.”

THE OVAL NAMED BEST PITCH IN 2003
The ECB have named The Oval as the best pitch for 2003. Bill Gordon, Surrey’s new groundsman, won the ECB’s ‘Groundsman of the Year’ award for both the four-day and one-day categories. The prize was judged by the Pitches Advisory Group, chaired by Mike Denness, and The Oval came up trumps for the second successive year after sharing the accolade with Kent in 2002. “I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of Bill Gordon and his team has been recognised this year,” said Paul Sheldon, Surrey’s Chief Executive. “Traditionally, Surrey have enjoyed success in the ‘Groundsman of the Year’ award and it reflects the continued high standards we have for pitches at the Club.” Alan Fordham, the ECB’s Cricket Operations Manager said: “As well as a thrilling and memorable npower Test match against South Africa, The Oval played host to many entertaining one-day and four-day matches in 2003 thanks, in part, to superb pitches.”

SAKER SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL
Neil Saker has signed a two-year contract with the Surrey County Cricket Club, to become the first Surrey Academy player to have signed a full-time professional contract with the Club. The nineteen-year-old seamer is the latest player from Guildford Cricket Club to sign for Surrey, following in the footsteps of Darren and Martin Bicknell and, more recently, Rikki Clarke. Saker made his first-class debut this year against India ‘A’ and was a regular in the 2nd XI. Keith Medlycott, Cricket Manager at the time stated: “Neil is a very promising young bowler, who has been playing very well at Under 19 and 2nd XI level. We hope to see him continue to improve and develop at Surrey, and progress to the next level of his cricketing career. Neil is the latest in a run of young cricketers to come through our highly successful Development of Excellence programme and the first from our Academy.” Neil Saker himself added: “I am absolutely delighted at signing full time for Surrey. The season has gone really well for me but I never expected to be offered a two-year deal. I hope that I can continue to improve my game and I’m already looking forward to next season.”

BATTY RELISHING CHALLENGE A NEW ERA
Days after Jonathan Batty’s appointment as Surrey captain was announced, he spoke to the Croydon Advertiser (10 October) about being handed the reins. “It’s come as a bit of a surprise and perhaps sooner than I would have anticipated,” he said. Batty added: “I’ve always had captaincy aspirations. Surrey see me as a thoughtful and, hopefully, intelligent person who gets on well with everyone in the dressing room and I’m looking forward to taking the club into a new era. There are some fantastic youngsters coming through and I’ve seen them develop for the past five or six years.”

SURREY ANNOUNCE NEW CAPTAIN
Surrey announced that Jonathan Batty will be taking over the captaincy of the Club from Adam Hollioake next season. Paul Sheldon, Chief Executive stated: “Following Adam Hollioake’s decision to retire at the end of 2004, both he and the Club decided that it was in the best interest of the team for the captaincy to be handed over at the beginning of next year. The Club is deeply fortunate to have a man of Jonathan’s calibre and integrity, to take on this demanding job which he has described to me as ‘one of the biggest jobs in world cricket’. We all wish him the very best of luck.” Keith Medlycott, Cricket Manager at the time added: “JB has been an integral member of the team since he joined the Club in 1997. He has worked tirelessly on his game and has now developed into a top class keeper and opening batsman. He is a very popular member of the squad and will no doubt draw on the experience of both Adam and the senior players in the team to ensure that we can continue to build on our recent success.” Batty, 29, made his Surrey debut in 1997 and was awarded his county cap in 2001. Last season he scored three centuries and ended with a first-class batting average of 56.94.

ADAM HOLLIOAKE AWARDED BENEFIT
Surrey County Cricket Club have announced that Adam Hollioake has been awarded a Benefit in 2004. Hollioake made his county debut in 1992 and was awarded his cap in 1995. The 32-year-old, who has scored 8,964 runs at an average of 40.01 in first-class cricket and has taken 343 wickets at an average of 22.83, in turn announced that he will be donating 20% of all money raised to the Ben Hollioake Fund. Paul Sheldon, Surrey’s Chief Executive, stated: “Adam has shown tremendous loyalty and service to both England and Surrey County Cricket Club over the past decade and we all wish him a very successful benefit year.” Adam Hollioake stated: “Playing for Surrey throughout my career has been a fantastic privilege. I have been fortunate and feel humbled to have played with some great players and be part of the huge success the Club has achieved. I hope that I can continue to contribute to the Club in years to come.” Richard Thompson Chairman of Cricket stated: “Adam has given everything to the Club and fully deserves to be awarded a benefit year. He will surely be regarded as one of the greatest Surrey captains.”

HOLLIOAKE TO RETIRE AT THE END OF 2004
On 1 October Adam Hollioake announced that 2004 will be his last season in first-class cricket. Hollioake issued a statement in which he said: “I have had a marvellous 14 years at Surrey, and in the last seven years as captain I feel we have achieved many things of which I am immensely proud. After much soul searching I have decided that 2004 will be my final year. I have many things that I want to do with my family, charity work with the Ben Hollioake Fund and my business interests in Perth. I will continue to give everything I can to the Club in the next 12 months, and in the years to come.” Paul Sheldon, Chief Executive of Surrey County Cricket Club, stated: “We have had many discussions with Adam about his future, which have been open and honest throughout. Of course, we are very sad that Adam will be retiring at the end of next season, as he has been an outstanding captain and the most pivotal character in the Club’s success of recent years. We will continue to plan for Adam’s succession and will ensure a smooth hand over in to a new era.”

GRAHAM THORPE SIGNS NEW TWO YEAR CONTRACT
Surrey announced that Graham Thorpe has signed a new two-year contract. The Club’s cricket manager at the time Keith Medlycott stated: “This is fantastic news. Graham is one of the most talented players that Surrey and England have ever produced. His influence and experience within the dressing room will be increasingly valuable in helping to develop our exciting breed of young players.” Thorpe himself said: “I am delighted to have signed a new two-year deal with the county with whom I have grown up with in cricketing terms since I was nine. I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else or ever playing against Surrey.”

WARD GOES SOUTH
At the end of September, Sussex, the newly crown county champions, announced the signing of the former Surrey and England batsman Ian Ward on a four-year contract, after the 30-year-old had rejected a reduced deal to remain at The Oval. Sussex boss Peter Moores said: “Ian is a proven performer who will bring not only his talent as a batsman but also the wealth of knowledge and experience from his years at Surrey. He is still hungry to improve and regain his place in the England team and to help Sussex use the successes of this season as a launching pad for the future.” The Martlets beat off opposition from several sides, including Hampshire and Somerset – who offered the captaincy as bait – to secure the opener’s services. Ward was reported as saying: “I felt a bit stale at Surrey and needed a new challenge. I was flattered by the offers I received from other counties. But I chose Sussex because of their vibrancy, the way they are going and the way they are run and led.”

ALEC STEWART CALLS IT A DAY
On 15 September Alec Stewart announced his immediate retirement from first-class cricket. Stewart made his debut for Surrey back in 1981 and scored 26,165 runs at an average of 40.06 in 447 first-class appearances. Alec Stewart stated: “Playing for Surrey throughout my career has been a fantastic privilege. I have been lucky enough to play with some great players and particularly to be a part of the huge success the Club has achieved over the last eight years. I look forward to contributing to Surrey’s continued success both on and off the pitch in years to come.” Paul Sheldon, Chief Executive Surrey County Cricket Club stated: “Alec has shown tremendous loyalty and service to both England and Surrey County Cricket Club over the past two decades. He will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest Surrey player of modern times.”

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