May's Bounty

posted by John Winn

With followers of first class cricket bracing themselves for the horrors that the 2020 fixture list might have in store this coming season's fixtures have provided a crumb of comfort with the demands of the world cup forcing affected counties to play some matches on out grounds, in some cases where first class cricket has not been played before. There is for example much excitement in my part of Yorkshire at the prospect of Warwickshire visiting Clifton Park in York in June.

Further afield Hampshire will play a fixture on the Isle of Wight for the first time since 1962 when Notts will be the opposition at Newclose near Newport. The last match to be played 'offshore' was at the J Samuel White* ground at Cowes,  now disused. Worcestershire were the visitors on that occasion and needed rain shortly before the close on the last day to secure  a draw. The highlight of the match was 99 before lunch on the first morning by Roy Marshall. Run getters for Worcestershire were Ron Headley in the first innings and Dick Richardson whose second innings knock of 76 did much to secure the draw. Derek Shackleton took nine wickets in the match including the prized scalp of Tom Graveney for nought.

An article in Cricketer magazine suggests that the Newclose ground, completed in 2009, might be used for the next four years if 'The Hundred' means that there will be more use of out grounds. Newclose has been used by Hants II and MCC and has a 'sizeable pavilion and restaurant with white benches modelled on those at Lord's.' Having lived further along the coast from Hampshire for almost thirty years I was able to see championship cricket on four grounds, Northlands Road Southampton, United Services at Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Basingstoke. County cricket has not been  played at the last of these  since 2010 but a return there in the near future has not been ruled out.

In a posting some years ago I described a visit I made to May's Bounty, the home of Basingstoke CC, in 1999 when some impressive bowling by Matthew Hoggard and a fine second innings knock from David Byas did much to help Yorkshire gain a victory but six years earlier I had made my first trip

when Mark Benson brought his Kent XI to the north of the county. The ground is named after John May who purchased the land in 1880, there is a pleasant  pub close by called The Bounty, and championship cricket was first played there in 1907 when Warwickshire when after a poor first innings effort Warwickshire ran out comfortable winners over a Hants side which included six amateurs.

The 1993 match was spoilt by rain, and I was fortunate to be present on the second day for the third and fourth were both washed out. Highlight of the first day was a thrilling innings from Carl Hooper which was halted when he was run out by Malcolm Marshall off his own bowling. Hants made rather turgid progress on the second day which was shortened by bad light. Skipper Mark Nicholas top scored with 73 and the match was evenly poised before the rain intervened.

The championship that season was won by Middlesex led by Mike Gatting, Kent finished 8th and Hampshire 13th = with Lancs. Yorkshire, hampered by poor batting were 12th and Durham in just their second season collected the wooden spoon.

Finally I must wish our readers a Happy New Year and on a rather gloomy morning I take heart that in three months time the season will be underway. Let's hope for weather like we had in 2018.

* a ship building firm based in Cowes specialising in destroyers. It ceased trading in 1981.