POST SEASON REVIEW

1st XI Player's Player - Wes Nichols

At the beginning of the season, skipper Wes Nichols had 3 goals, to consolidate his side, bring in fresh faces and press for improvement from 2007. He knew the season would start slowly, he knew it was going to be very competitive but with an influx of youth, he hoped the back end of the season would reap the benefits.

The season began with losses to Datchet, Maidenhead & Bray and a lossing draw to Marlow. Not a bad start against the 'better' sides in the competition. Those three games also saw the emergance of Oliver Birch scoring his maiden 100 in his now customary role of opening batsmen.

A near miss against Chiswick claiming 15 pts and a training mishap that left Millman with a broken nose were the precursers to a forgettable performance against Basingstoke resulting in the sides 3rd loss in 5 games.

With numerous players unavailable for this game it gave the younger guys a chance to prove thier worth. Unfortunately it was realised some of these youngsters were not ready...

As such changes where made for the game against Farnham Royal, which resulted in the sides 1st win of the season. Once again worse was to follow the week after with Windsor putting in their worst performance of the season lossing to Beaconfield and getting rolled for 86 in the process.

The side had hit rock bottom.

Selectors reviewed their plans and Windsor brought in more experience for the game against Finchampstead, which recorded the sides 2nd win. Windsor were more than lucky enough to ride on the coat tails of Michael Gould whose cameo set up a winning draw against rivals Burnham.

At the halfway mark Windsor were only just out of the relegation zone and needed a much better 2nd half to claw there way out.

The next 3 weeks saw Windsor play some of the best cricket they have done in years. A poor batting performance on a water logged pitch was turned into a winnable target via superb bowling and astute captaincy, as Windsor beat Datchet at home to claim 25 points. Mohindru claiming 5/6 off 7 overs finishing off the opposition.

Windsor than travelled to Marlow and on the back of the seasons best knock from Bird, posted 234, which was too many for Marlow as Harris, Malloch and Nichols shared the wickets to give Windsor two 25pt wins on the trot...

A tie against champions Maidenhead & Bray was highlighted by the emergance of Ben Harris as a potent spin pairing to Mohindru, as he took 6/87 off 18 overs. Not bad for a 17 year old!

Windsor were solidly forced into mid table and another 2 near misses against Chiswick and Farnham Royal, having them 9 and 8 down respectivly harmed any future progress... A losing draw against bogey side Beaconsfield was remedied a week later with an emphatic win against Finchamptead away, assuring Windsors place in 5th position.

A dead rubber against rivals Burnham resulted in a loss but the work was already done.

The second half of the season was the key to Windsor rivival where they claimed 157 pts in 9 games at an average of 17.4 pts a game.

Malloch was superb at finishing innings off and often was the sole reason the side would post 200+ rather than 200 shy totals. It would have been very easy for the selectors to push him up the order, but with him being so important to the lower order, he really shown as the best finsher in the league. Next season he will get his chances up the order as new players come in to take his 'old' role...

With Birch, Bird and Nichols all scoring heavily at the back end, new players introduced like Nair, Riches, Lines and Weston managed to chip in a vital times.

Birch was a revelation as the left hander carved his way to 3 fifties and a 100. His attacking impetous put oppostion sides on the back foot early on.

Bird was all class as his swiped his way to 300+ league runs none more important than the 114 he scored at Marlow setting up the win. his combination with Birch is something that hopefully will last for a few more years yet! His fielding at times was also inspiration as the portly balding doyan threw himself around like Tim Smiths stockings saving runs.

Nichols often found himself batting down at 8 he pushed reasponsibilty to other members of the side, to varying benefits! He did step up when the pressure was on though like against Marlow on a wetty and Chiswick on a green top. Next season will see him restored up the order to his more familiar role bridging the innings.

The bowling that used to centre around Nichols and Mohindru evolved as Harris, Gregory and Malloch emerged. With Hartridge and Kellard getting chances they will be better off for 2009.

Harris was a handful on anything that turned and with ultra attacking fields managed to make most bats feel umcomfortable. The balls that dismissed Bashir and Khan from Maids were great examples of this.

Mohindru tasted a week in the 2nd XI early on in the season but from here never looked back, chipping away at opposition batting. His guile and experience is a crucial factor in Windsor performance late in the season.

Nichols and Malloch shared the seam duties and with 2009 coming, will be looking for additional support from either Hartridge, Gregory or Sam Condon, dependant on who can put their hand up in the pre-season...

The one thing that was a massive difference to 2007 was the fielding. Selectors decided early on not to select poor feilders, blokes who let others down in the feild.

With players like Birch, Lines, Malloch, Harris and Nichols patrolling the feild, catches seldom went down (save for a a couple of games!) and proved a massive difference from 2007 where catches where shelled often. Meaning the bowlers would not have create as many chances. The slips catching of Malloch was a massive highlight as was some of the unbelievable outfield catches from Ben Harris.

In round up the massive improvment in the squad from game 1 to game 18 was remarkable, as they learnt what it took to play good cricket. Unfortunately some players where pushed aside after the 1st half and placed in the 2nd team to work on their games, players like Chana, Kellard, Riches and Hartridge will be mich better for that experience in 2009.

2009 will be a massive one for the side with easily 20+ players capable of playing in the top grade, competition for spots will be high. If Windsor can replicate the same form from late 2008, they will be in with a massive shout!

2008 AVERAGES AND AWARDS

1st XI Captains Player - Oliver Birch
1st XI Players Player - Wes Nichols

Batting
Oliver Birch - 507 runs @ 31.69 (100 x 1, 50 x 3)
Craig Bird - 337 runs @ 30.64 (100 x 1, 50 x 2)
Wes Nichols - 331 runs @ 23.64 (50 x 2)
Andy Chorley - 290 runs @ 20.71
Bevan Malloch - 286 runs @ 31.78 (50 x 1)
Adam Weston - 210 runs @ 30.00 (50 x 1)

Bowling
Wes Nichols - 56 wickets @ 14.20 (4 x 5W)
Rah Mohindru - 33 wickets @ 17.91 (1 x 5W)
Bevan Malloch - 23 wickets @ 27.13
Ben Harris - 17 wickets @ 33.24 (1 x 5W)
Richard Gregory - 7 wickets @ 24.29

Catches
9 - Oliver Birch, Ben Harris
8 - Rick Baumgartner*
7 - Bevan Malloch
4 - Wes Nichols, Andy Chorley, Adam Weston, Mark Lines

* Best wicket keeper with 11 dismmissals (8 catches and 3 stumpings)

BURNHAM BRUSH WINDSOR

WINDSOR 147 all out (7 POINTS)
Birch 77

defeated by

BURNHAM 183 all out (25 POINTS)
Gregory 4/49

Amid terrible conditions that were on par with a terrible August, Windsor played host to friendly local rivals Burnham. the game in itself was a 'dead rubber' with Burnham already consigned to demotion into Division 3 for 2009, and Windsor playing for 3rd spot.

In reality the conditions where awful, and if the game was not a dead rubber, play would not of been attempted, but with nothing to loss. and the fact that a match abandonment would be a empty way to finish the season, both skipper decided to their credit to play anyway, knowing that the winner of the toss would almost certainly win the game!

In a total reversal, Windsor having lost only 4 tosses all season lost the toss! Burnham who had only won 3 tosses in 2008 has no hesitation to take advantage of a wet pudding of a track to bat.

Burnhams openers took a liking to the turgid conditions where bowlers got no value for bending their back with the new ball. They got off to a flier scoring 50 runs off the first 7 overs! Gregory finally got a breakthrough with skipper Nichols holding onto one at cover to have Burnham at 1/70 off 11.

Gregory (4/49) bowled an inspired spell, in hardly bowling friendly conditions to take the next 3 wickets LBW and caught behind and with Nichols claiming the danger man Rehman (47) to a juggling act by Riches at gully, Windsor looked in really good shape at 5/110.

From here Burnham really dug in and Bashir in particular took a distinct liking to Mohindru as he proceeded to hit 12 off one over. Burnham looked to really be heading for a total of 200+ until Malloch got the breakthrough with Nichols diving forward at 1st slip to remove Bashir and hopefully stemming the flow of runs.

It was not to be, as skipper Asif starting pinching boundaries that kept the score board ticking. Nichols (2/48) managed to claim one more wicket and Malloch (3/58) another 2, and Burnham where bowled out in the 45th over for 186.

It was a mixed result for the homeside. Windsor were very guilty complacency at times in the field with the hard conditions making life tough for the seamers, it was all the advantage the visitors needed to get 150+

With the pitch now looking like a battle field with divots everywhere from the ball having dried up, Windsor had to bat very well to be any chance of claiming a 20 point win.

Burnhams skipper Asif applied the very same formula that his opposing skipper wanted to do if he won the toss by taking the old ball and opening with spin. It had the desired affect as Chorley fell in the 5th over to a mis-timed drive with Windsor 1/7

Nichols then joined Birch who played a majestic innings hitting the bowling to all parts as he swash buckled his way to a good score. With Nichols merely rotating strike to an inform Birch, the partnership reached 50 in no time. Birch than brought up his 50 with a trademark swipe through cover.

The ginger headed caviller watched at the other end as the pitch began to play its first tricks as Nichols (15) was adjudged LBW to one that rolled off a divot to make Windsor in the box seat at 2/79. Nair (0) than was caught at midwicket off a ball that this time held up, the same fate as Weston (0) who mirrored the same dismissal. Both bats were extremely unhappy with themselves as playing across the line so early on on a deck like that was always going to end poorly!

Riches (11) than cracked a few shots around until he was caught behind and Birch who was seemingly on course for a well deserved 100 was bowled leaving Windsor at 6/119.

Malloch like he has done all season steadied the ship well, playing the testing conditions with ease. George (0) marked his first bat in the 1st team with golden duck hitting the ball right back to Asif.

Gregory (14) who along with Mohindru (13) hit same lovel boundaries to get the score close 150 and 8 points that would confirm 4th spot but both fell with the score short on 142. Malloch then was clean bowled by the talented Bashir to give the demoted side something to cheer about claiming their 1st 25 point win of the season! Much to their celebration...

Windsor however where very poor with the bat. too many false shots suggested they where not up to the challenge and with conditions against them, the end of the season nigh and not really much to play for, it was just the tonic they needed to give in and award Burnham a well deserved win.

It was a bitter way to end the season, but all in all a good one for Windsor. At the half way mark they where placed dead in the relegation zone and on the back of some superb wins against Datchet & Marlow, managed to build confidence and turn in a great purple patch of form that helped turn it all around.

Players like Nair, Harris, Line and Riches all took their chances and the fact they are all under 20 proves that the plans at seasons beginning to blood the youngsters was the right one.

With lads like Hartridge, Kellard, Chana and Malik also under 21 and proving to be star performers in the 2nd XI the future looks very bright indeed.

In the next few season these are the lads who need to step up, as its their shoulders the clubs advancement will be based upon. They will join the established players like Birch, Mohindru, Bird, Nichols and Malloch who form the nucleus of the side now to try and advance this 1st team to bigger and better things.

Next week sees a hybrid side of these youngsters taking on Braywood in the East Berks Twenty/20 Final at Braywood. Having won the league, they are very keen to claim the trophy and the club would appreciate all supporters turning out to get behind them so they can finished 2008 in style. Fingers crossed we can have something to celebrate at the Windsor CC Ball next Saturday night!

WINDSOR WALLOP FINCH!!!

WINDSOR 215/5 (25 POINTS)
Weston 71*

defeated

FINCHAMPSTEAD 152 all out (5 POINTS)
Nichols 5/38
Mohindru 4/13 (including a hat-trick)

On the back of a dour but gritty draw the week previous, Windsor travelled to Finchampstead hoping to secure more points to help them in their quest to secure 3rd spot on the league table.

Windsor made some minor adjustments to their side with wicketkeeper batsmen Chris George slotting in and all-rounder Richard Gregory strengthening a batting line up that in previous weeks had failed to capitalise on getting starts.

Windsor bucked the trend of recent visits at the ground and decided to bat first. Finch where obviously not to worried about this and set about knocking over Birch (0) in the second over of the match.

Finch's openers bowled a consistent spell on a hard wicket that early on seamed around prolifically. Cowan in particular proved his usefulness having Chorley caught off a no-ball and beating the batsmens outside edge countless times.

Chorley (3) succumb to Jubb meaning that Nichols and Riches where left to consolidate the innings. Amid some consistent bowling on a sporting pitch, both bats found their feet and slowly began rebuilding the innings. At drinks, the partnership had reached 70 and Windsor where 2/86.

Just as Riches (25)was coming to terms with the conditions, he was bowling trying to pull. Windsor then lost Nichols (38) caught at fine leg on the pull soon after. Weston and Lines where left to push the total upwards of 100 and done so in style as the pitch flattened out amid the hot conditions, much to the batsmens delight.

With the score on 4/150 Lines (22) popped a disappointing return catch to Whiteman. From here Weston and new batsmen Malloch paced the innings to perfection. they took all the singles on offer hit the odd boundary in an absolute masterclass of end of innings batting.

Weston brought up his 50 with a 6 over mid on and in the last few overs, Windsor past the magical 200 mark. At the end of 52 overs Windsor had struck 5/215 with Weston unbeaten on 71 and Malloch a fine 31*

Finch's batting started very well. Some inconsistent bowling allowed Finch to get off to a flier. With Brogan seaming having a magnet on his pads balls flew to the boundary and after 7 overs the 50 was up!

Windsor were probably thinking this was going to be a short stay in the field and where relieved when Malloch got the breakthrough claiming Ward caught at cover by Lines for 17.

Nichols then introduced himself and proved a week is a long time in cricket by cartwheeling new batsmen's and previous weeks century maker Bell's off stump for a duck. An over later after Brogan brought up his 50, Nichols cartwheeled his off stump and Windsor looked back in the game pushing Finch to 3/80.

The partnership of Loveday and Brown was going to be crucial for both sides. Young off-spinner Ben Harris was introduced and tied the two veterans up superbly while Nichols probed away at the other end, in the middle of a quick spell.

It was the skipper who got the prized wicket of Loveday with a false shot catching the edge and landing sweetly in the awaiting gloves of George who had flown across 1st slip to take the chance! The celebration was worthy of centre stage in West-End, a sign of the respect for the Finch stalwart and his ability, as Windsor could see the the chance to go through the home side.

The 'Ice Man' Mohindru was introduced to replace Harris, and the skipper could not have dreamed for a better result. Birch took a terrific catch at deep square to claim Ansell and Malloch took a fine catch diving at fly slip to claim Cowies scalp. Two wickets in two balls! Nichols then began his over and destroyed the castle of Whiteman, to which Mohindru, 1st ball of the next over completed a hat-trick with Smith out caught by Birch again, to a magnificent diving catch.

The tail for Finch could not resist the Windsor attack as Monhindru got his 4th wicket with George stumping Alexander, and Nichols wrapped up the innings claiming his 5th wicket bowling his 4th victim Jubb, to gain a well deserved 25 Point win...

The best part of the day for Windsor was the massive improvement to the way they batted. Nichols and Riches where key to stabilizing the innings after some great bowling from Cowie, taking the score close to 100. but Weston was the star, who with Malloch turned a meek beginning into an extremely profitable 215.

The work and effort in the field was sublime from Windsor with the likes of Birch, Lines throwing there bodies around and helping to apply pressure. The performance of Nichols and Mohindru is directly attributed to their attitude in the field, with out them it would have been a lot harder.

With a higher standing up the ladder still on offer Windsor will be looking to finish the season in style against local rivals Burnham. It will be the last time in a while that Windsor get to play them, so here's hoping we can make the most of it!