Founded in 1930, the Buccaneers is a wandering cricket club with Sunday fixtures, some all day, played throughout the South East of England including in Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and London.

"Let us take our stand and play the game, but rather for the cause than for the fame"

JB keeps Pilgrims at bay on gardening leave

Posted on July 2, 2013

Reigate Pilgrims 206-8 dec drew with Buccaneers 155-9

John Bryant was the Buccaneers hero as the shadows reached across the pitch behind The Red Lion on Sunday evening . Having nobly opted to forego the prospect of a Sunday’s gardening to complete the Buccs XI only 24 hours earlier, the distinguished barrister joined the Hack in the middle when the 9th wicket fell with an improbable 57 needed from the last 7 overs.

JB was rock solid against 3 overs of thunderbolts from
Pilgrims skipper Guy Mitchell even nonchalantly driving him twice through extra cover while the Buccs captain blocked the off-spin of Sakia. The veteran Arnold was brought on for the last over but the lawyer negotiated this with ease to put the final seal on what seemed a triumphant draw.

This was probably a fair result after the Pilgrims had won an enviable toss on a sunny day, a decent pitch and a smooth verdant outfield.

Paul Hobson kept the Pilgrims openers guessing with clever variations of pace and swing while Will Goulstone gave a passable impersonation of Mitch Johnson and took the first wicket thanks to sharp gully catch by 14 year-old Charlie Leefe.

Charlie’s father Simon earned the next two wickets with his deceptive flight while Richard Gwynn maintained the stranglehold with his dobbers as Pilgrims rather limped to an early lunch at 59-3 off 22 overs.

Burnside and Jordan eventually upped the tempo after lunch before two more Simons, Woolfries and Varney, induced a middle order collapse. “Reg”, a Teddington Town and Buccaneers legend known as the “white Sobers” in his pomp, celebrated his break from running the ICC in Dubai, with a nice return catch before the President suddenly took 3 wickets with straight balls.

With Pilgrims wobbling at 126-6, the Buccaneers felt they had a chance of facing a modest target. However,
skipper Mitchell dashed such hopes by launching several soaring sixes into the neighbouring fields. Subir Chakravarti threw down the stumps for a spectacular run out but Mitchell drove on until setting a tough but fair target.

After a wretched start as both former Teddington Town openers departed tamely, Sujay Chakravarti launched the Buccaneers chase with some forthright driving in company with the watertight Hobson. Having been adjudged lbw to the Ajmal-like offspin of Sakia, Sujay was replaced by his brother Subir who repaired the early damage with a promising 4th wicket stand of 40.

But Subir and Charlie Leefe both fell to Sakia at 96 to plunge the Buccs into serious trouble. Simon Leefe briefly raised hopes again with a sprightly 20 but Mitchell then brought himself on to take the decisive wickets of Leefe and the adhesive Hobson to a diving slip catch by Burgess.

Will Goulstone showed glimpses of his class before becoming Safia’s 5th wicket and setting the scene for
John Bryant’s heroic last stand.

Reigate Pilgrims innings

Burgess c C Leefe b Goulstone 16
Janardanan c & b S Leefe 22
Peddenini c Goulstone b S Leefe 5
Burnside lbw b Woolfries 58
Jordan lbw b Woolfries 17
Sakia c & b Varney 4
Kanagarajah b Woolfries 0
Mitchell not out 56
Wood run out 0
Arnold not out 8
extras 18
TOTAL (8wts -dec) 206
Fall of wkts:
1-33; 2-54; 3-59; 4-108; 5-125; 126-6; 159-7; 176-8.

Buccaneers bowling:
Hobson 10-2-22-0
Goulstone 9-2-22-1
Gwynn 8-2-10-0
S Leefe 8-1-41-2
Woolfries 7-0-37-3
Varney 6-0-46-1
Bryant 1-0-10-0
C Leefe 1-0-10-0

Buccaneers innings

James Stringer c Mitchell b Wood 0
Simon Varney c Mitchell b Arnold 3
Sujay Chakravarti lbw b Sakia 34
Paul Hobson c Burgess b Mitchell 44
Subir Chakravarti c Wood b Sakia 17
Charlie Leefe c Jordan b Sakia 0
Simon Leefe c Janardana b Mitchell 20
Will Goulstone c Burnside b Sakia 13
Simon Woolfries st Jordan b Sakia 5
Richard Gwynn not out 0
John Bryant not out 4
extras 15
TOTAL (9 wkts) 155
Fall of wkts:
1-0; 2-10; 3-56; 4-96; 5-96; 6-127; 7-136; 8-141; 9-150.

Reigate Pilgrims bowling:
Wood 7-1-15-1
Arnold 7-1-16-1
Sakia 15-1-44-5
Janardanan 4-0-25-0
Burgess 4-0-16-0
Kanagarajah 1-0-10-0
Mitchell 6-0-21-2

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Knockers let off the hook

Posted on June 25, 2013

Knockers 181 beat Buccaneers 102 by 79 runs

The Buccs succumbed limply in their 2nd fixture at picturesque Bitchet Green having let The Knockers off the gigantic hook of 100-9.

With a blend of youth from Tonbridge School and experience from St Lawrence CC, Knockers skipper Stuart Seldon opted to bat on a decent-looking track.

However, the Buccs hit the ground running through incisive swing and seam bowling from captain Bob Palmer (3-27), Johnno Gordon (1-9), Choudhury (1-38) and Rege (2-42) as the Kent side slid to 60-6.

Amid a mild panic, the hosts requested a delay to give their Nos 10 & 11 time to arrive from a family barbeque.Good control from Simon Woolfries (2-26) and Richard Gwynn (1-23) kept Knockers on the rack as wickets continued to fall.

The Buccs felt pretty pleased with themselves when they thought they had taken the 10th wicket at 100 only for the umpire to call a no-ball for a full toss over
waist high.The youthful last pair proceeded to take full advantage of some loose bowling and the Buccs misplaced, if understandable, sense of complacency to turn the game on its head with an increasingly assured stand of 81.The Knockers had been let off the hook and were allowed to set a challenging, but scarcely impossible,target of 182 at 4.5 runs an over.

Apart from Paul Hobson’s typically upbeat and positive knock of 35, the Buccs batting never really got out of first gear after a judicious opening exploration by James Stringer (18) and Gordon (14).

Against testing seam and spin bowling supported by impressive fielding, the Buccs batsmen were unable to score with the fluency and urgency required to keep up with the required scoring rate.

Hobbo’s breezy innings aside, the batting was lackadaisical and fizzled out for a sickly 102. It was a disappointing performance and a salutary lesson to captains not to take the pressure off a batting side in trouble. However, a good turn-out at the nearby Padwell Arms sent us home in a happier spirit.

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Pratik stars in vain versus impressive Nomads

Posted on June 17, 2013

Nomads 238-2 dec beat Buccaneers 100 by 138 runs

Simon Woolfries won the toss and invited the Nomads to make first use of an odd-looking track at St.Paul’s School, Barnes on Sunday. Discretion was certainly in the skipper’s mind as he found himself one man short and nervous of his side’s ability to defend a total.

The first problem was soon solved, however, by a hasty call to a slumbering Andy Close who, magnificently, took the field 45 minutes later.

A small piece of Buccs social history was made as ‘father-in-law’ Richard Gwynn shared the new ball with ‘son-in-law’ Will Metcalfe and a decent job they made of it with Will picking up an early wicket.

The track was playing fine but the outfield wasn’t and value for ground strokes was hard to come by. Pratik Patel and Steve Brandes took up the attack after a dozen overs and the cricket was tight and hard-fought all the way to lunch. The two off spinners bowled very few loose balls and opener Sachin Puri,joined by skipper Brockton at 50-2, played with due caution. Lunch was taken at 108-2 after 37 overs.

Puri and Brockton continued in similar vein long into the afternoon and couldn’t be parted by any Buccs combinations which, admittedly, comprised largely successively older purveyors of off spin.

Patel completed a marathon spell of 19 impressive overs while ‘Rhino’ Brandes returned to deliver no fewer than of 17.3 accurate overs. The two Nomads both completed their tons during an epic stand of 188 before the declaration at 3.40pm after 60.3 overs to post a
daunting total on such a long, slow, outfield.

Right from the start of their reply, it was clear the Buccs were going to struggle to cope with the impressive new ball pairing of Jared Schmidt and Sajjad Shawl, who took two early wickets for very few before tea.

After the interval the situation deteriorated alarmingly as numbers 3,4 and 5 were all bowled while barely bothering the scorer. At 31-5 the skipper joined Pratik Patel and, with the opening bowlers out of the attack,
mounted a fightback. While your correspondent dug in Patel struck the ball cleanly until holing out for a well-made 32 just before the start of the last 20 overs.

Rhino settled in with his captain and it looked as if the match could yet be saved. However, this notion was snuffed out by an unfortunate run out featuring a determined ‘charge’ for which his species is feared and which took the skipper by complete surprise.

The excellent Shawl was soon brought back to administer the coup de grace and bowl the Buccs out for exactly 100 with 6 overs left. It could have been worse!

Nomads innings

M Plant lbw b Metcalfe 5
S Puri not out 100
M Budgen lbw b Brandes 23
S Brockton not out 100
extras 10
TOTAL (2 wkts – dec) 238

Buccs bowling:

Metcalfe 9-0-43-1
Gwynn 6-2-17-0
Patel 19-3-63-0
Brandes 17.3-0-62-1
Bryant 6-0-16-0
Woolfries 2-0-16-0

Buccaneers innings

B Cullen b Steele 10
Subir Chakravarti b Shawl 1
Metcalfe b Schmidt 7
Sujay Chakravarti b Schmidt 0
P Battley b Shawl 0
P Patel c Puri b Smith 32
S Woolfries run out 22
S Brandes lbw b Plant 10
R Gwynn not out 1
A Close b Shawl 0
J Bryant c Smith b Shawl 0
extras 17
TOTAL 100

Nomads bowling:

Schmidt 10-2-17-2
Shawl 10-3-14-4
Steele 11-3-20-1
Smith 7-0-34-1
Budgen 5-1-8-0
Plant 2-1-2-1

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Gayle-force Robbery nearly nicks it

Posted on June 6, 2013

Armadillos (187) beat Buccaneers (176) by 11 runs

The Buccaneers’ first-ever fixture against the Armadillos fully fulfilled expectations on Sunday amid the Elysian splendour of historic Sheffield Park against a dazzling backdrop of frothing azaleas, soaring firs and the lordly stately home.

The Buccs lost the toss and were sentenced to sweat it out under a welcome but pitiless sun. A low, slow track and a tight line and length from Rob Rydon and Paul Hobson made scoring difficult and the Armadillos struggled to 8 for 1 off the first 10 overs, Sujay Chakravarti snatching a hard low catch at square leg.

Cunningly taking the pace off the ball to ironic cries of “great hang time, Hobbo,” from Mel Ragnauth, Hobson took three more wickets including a sharp slip catch from Richard ‘the Hack’ Gwynn to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 33.

Hack then bowled a very tight spell with movement and guile to record the scarely credible analysis of 3 for 8 in 10 overs to keep the home side on the rack before and after a sumptuous lunch.

But after losing their 6th wicket soon after lunch while still short of 100, the home side dug in and then accelerated during a torpid afternoon against the father and son spin combination of Simon and Charlie Leefe to establish a defendable total. But good fielding, including another fine catch, this time by Sujay’s brother Subhir, and accurate bowling eventually wrapped up the Armadillos innings for 187 in 55 overs.

With batting strength in depth, at least on paper, the Buccs were quietly confident of reaching their target.
However, early wickets fell regularly, including the prized scalp of galactico Ragnauth who was caught and bowled pushing early at a ball that stuck in the sluggish surface.

Sujay Chakravarti provided the only early resistance stroking several fine shots including a silky on drive before being caught trying to up the tempo for an elegant 59. But having slumped to 107 for 7 with 81 required off 12 overs, the Buccs looked done and dusted until Rydon entered the arena brandishing his cracked Salix blade.

Reprising a creditable impression of Chris Gayle, Rob simply smashed the ball to all parts of the picturesque field in a quick-fire 57 ably assisted by 13 year-old Charlie Leefe who cleverely nudged singles into the gaps to get Rob back on strike.

Alas, Rob fell with 16 still required which proved too stiff a target for the lower order against the clock and an accurate attack and the Buccs went down nobly guns blazing just 12 runs short, having received 12 fewer overs than their hosts.

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Staggering ton from Kimbo

Posted on May 30, 2013

Buccaneeers 260-9 dec drew with Hurlingham 182-8

The Buccaneers welcomed several new recruits and the reappearance of the legendary Paul Hobson, Mark Gibbons and the long lost sun at Hurlingham on Sunday.

After lengthy deliberation, the home captain decided to bowl first to the barely concealed joy of the Buccaneers stand-in skipper Will Noble, who then suspected that his side might be facing some real quicks.

As befits a true gentlemen’s XI, the Buccs had assembled a side of 11 solid batters and a rather gentle bowling attack.Opening with Johnno Gordon, Kim Ross was a man with the mission of making up for previous disappointments and misfortunes on this beautifully-manicured ground in his last knock before his wedding in St. Andrews.

Like all the best English South African batsmen in this country, Kim combined dogged defence with attacking flair against a strong attack during a one-man stag party. Kim completed his bachelor career with a stylish 102 from 143 balls before being 6th man out on 195.

Noble (36), Hobson (28) and 32 extras also made valuable contributions before the declaration at 260-9 after 56 overs. The other noteworthy innings was played by James Harcourt, who faced one ball before lunch and one ball after lunch which spanned 68 minutes and contained one disappointing child’s portion of pasta with mascapone sauce and one ginger beer.

The Hurlingham Club’s reply was also disappointing due to a combination of good bowling and a reluctance to chase a far from formidable target in 47 overs. Debutant Pratik Patel bowled a fine spell of off spin (12-3-24-2)
containing several doosras which were edged through the slips.

Despite Noble attacking field settings, including leg slips, short legs and upto 5 slips, the scoring rate never exceeded 4 runs and over. Only John Atkinson, who’d taken 4-47 with his off spin, kept the scoreboard up to speed until he was caught at long off by Noble off Hobson for 53.

Despite disciplined bowling from 8 different players, the Buccaneers were unable to take the last two wickets
being thwarted by the determined defence of 13 year old wicketkeeper Martyn Hemphill who looked a real find for Radley in surviving 23 deliveries including a surprise bouncer from Noble.

12 May: BUCCANEERS v RIPLEY rained off at tea

On a drizzly afternoon the Buccs arrived with only a magnificent seven (an administrative cock-up depriving them of an 8th gun). Undaunted, the Buccaneers skipper was confident he had sufficient talent on display – and displayed it was after the captains had opted for a 40-over contest with Ripley kindly topping up the somewhat, er, skeletal Buccs outfit.

With echoes of Agincourt….outnumbered though they were, Rob Rydon led the attack and devastated the opposition with three quick wickets. Indeed, it was Crispin’s day as Mr Vollers of that ilk took a spectacular catch in the covers while Paul McCann bowled tidily in support as Ripley limped to 23-3.

As Ripley threatened a recovery, John Bryant was brought on to bowl. His plan of lulling the batsmen into a false sense of security almost came off; the sense of security was achieved but, alas, it wasn’t false.

A partnership developed with both batsmen making over 70. Simon Woolfries nobly tried to stem the breakout and picked up a wicket or two as a just reward,

McCann was brought back to replace Bryant and bowled a second spell of beautiful swing. He and the returning Rydon took more wickets in the drizzle before Ripley finished their 40 overs with a decent total of 208.
(At least that was what the scoreboard showed while a comparison of the batting and bowling entries in the Ripley scorebook would have baffled even the boffins of Bletchley Park.)

However, the Buccs were confident that with batsmen of the calibre of Mel Ragnauth and Sujay Chakravarti, who had kept wicket superbly, they would reach their target.

While a splendid tea was taken the clouds assembled and the rain became more persistent. More tea was taken. The covers went on. The groundsman threatened to cut off the digits of anyone who suggested the pitch was fit for play. More tea was taken. Eventually, the captains agreed to abandon the field thus depriving what the Buccs felt would have been a certain victory.

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Winning start with show at the Row

Posted on April 29, 2013

Buccaneers 237 for 4 (39.2 overs) beat Forest Row 231 all out (39.5 overs)
A new season opener and a repeat of last year’s happy start, as the Buccaneers won a closely fought encounter at Forest Row. Although a sylvan setting (with Royal Ashdown Forest GC merely a raking 3 wood away), Forest Row’s ground offered extra spice thanks to the groundsman’s decision to use a track only 35 yards from Vietnam-like jungle on one side.

Forest Row won the toss, decided to bat and proceeded to explore how deep into Viet-Cong territory they could hit a cricket ball. Wyartt’s restraining order preventing him entering woods in the East Grinstead area proved a handicap. The first ten overs cost 90 runs.

Metcalfe began to find his rhythm and with Brandes started the squeeze as the ball softened. The skipper finally woke up and realised that a form of tin pan alley was required on the vulnerable side of the ground. Openers Holmes and Gardner looked in little trouble until Brandes picked up his only wicket with Holmes, and Leefe, who was introduced after Metcalfe, accounted for Gardner. Bruce dropped anchor, while the second half of the innings provided the light (in Buccaneers’ eyes) to the dark of the first hour. Leefe claimed a further two wickets, while ‘Angry’ Paul Hobson swung the ball prodigiously at no great pace to collect 4 for 26. With Mann and Gwynn closing proceedings (Hack announcing to the assembled press pack afterwards that the 2013 season marked his sixth decade playing cricket), Buccaneers had done well to limit the Row to only 231.

The Buccaneers featured a strong batting line up on paper, and so it proved on the day. With bookies in Forest Row offering a spread of between 60 and 80 on Ross, the man himself looked in no trouble until surprisingly out for 67 when the score was on 129. The elder of the Chakravarti brothers, Sujay, who arguably lacks the carefree stylishness of his brother (so typical of a younger brother), made up for it with grit as he dug in to support Ross, and also continued the push when his pal was out. The brothers were united after Ross’s departure and kept the scoreboard moving steadily at the required rate. Hobson surprisingly came and went – victim of the lively skipper (and scorer’s boyfriend) Woodward. Cometh the hour cometh the Mann. He’d already contributed tidy keeping, hidden skills as a bowler and now offered Michael Bevan-like closing. With three runs required off 5 balls, Mann ended matters with a raking three wood into Royal Ashdown Forest GC to seal a six wicket win.

Innings of Forest Row
J Holmes ct Gwynn b Brandes 58
D Gardner ct Sujay Chakravarti b Leefe 57
C Bruce not out 58
P Godden ct Stringer b Leefe 0
M Woodward ct and b Hobson 17
S McCarron ct Mann b Leefe 1
A Carter ct Stringer b Hobson 6
I McPake b Hobson 0
M Best ct and b Hobson 1
T Beswick lbw Gwynn 8
W Barker lbw Mann 3
Extras 25
231 all out (39.5 overs)

Bowling
W Metcalfe 8-0-51-0
A Wyarrt 2-0-30-0
S Brandes 8-2-23-1
S Leefe 8-0-44-3
P Hobson 8-1-26-4
R Gwynn 4-0-34-1
Mann 1.5-0-13-1

Innings of Buccaneers
K Ross ct Gardner b Barker 67
Sujay Chakravarti b Carter 80
Subir Chakravarti lbw b Woodward 30
P Hobson ct Bruce b Woodward 2
J Stringer not out 16
J Mann not out 25
Extras 17
237 for 4 (39.2 overs)

Bowling
W Barker 8-0-39-1
A Carter 8-0-55-1
M Best 3-0-21-0
S McCarron 8-0-54-0
M Woodward 8-3-22-2
T Beswick 3-0-32-0
D Gardner 1.2-0-9-0

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New Buccaneers kit to buy online

Posted on April 17, 2013

To really look the business on the field this season order our spanking new kit online at http://www.seriouscricket.co.uk/shop/section.php/1252/0

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2013 Fixtures

Posted on March 19, 2013

2013 fixtures, match managers and other details have been published.

The fixture card can be accessed by clicking on this  link: Members Fixture Card.

Copies of the fixture card will be posted to members shortly.

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Buccaneers contribute to new history of wandering cricket

Posted on March 5, 2013

Order before 30th April to be included in a list of Patrons

Richard Gwynn, our very own Hack Laureate, has contributed a chapter on the club to a new history of wandering cricket. Titled ‘Gentleman, gypsies and jesters’, it is published in July.

Written and edited by Anthony Gibson and Stephen Chalke (both past winners of the MCC & Cricket Society Book of the Year prizes), it is a 320-page guide to over 120 wandering clubs, and also features pieces on Old Boys cricket such as the Cricketer Cup.

If ordered directly (see details in the flyer – link below), all proceeds after postage will go to Chance to Shine – a charity aimed at keeping cricket alive in schools. Already the charity has reached 6,500 schools, but with only 10% of state schools playing cricket, a huge opportunity remains.

Gentlemen, gypsies and jesters order form

Order before 30 April and you can have your name included in a list of Patrons at the back of the book. The book costs £25, with a further £15 donation allowing you to be a Friend of Chance to Shine (you’ll also receive a free tie).

If you have any questions, please contact Richard Gwynn.

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Grizzly secrets of 2 for 4 revealed

Posted on March 3, 2013

Thursday 28th February saw the latest Annual Club Dinner, hosted at the East India Club in Mayfair.

 

Approximately 40 members and their guests enjoyed an evening which club President Simon Woolfries reflected on the 2012 season as well as the challenges faced by wandering clubs who play predominantly on Sundays.

 

The club was also fortunate to have former Test batsman Chris Adams, respond on behalf of a toast by members to their guests.

Chris revealed much about his career, reflecting on the characters he had played with at Derbyshire, his 12 successful years as Captain of Sussex, his Test and ODI career and finally as Cricket Manager for Surrey.

Members were reassured to hear that it was not just Buccaneer debuts that are mired by a top order collapse and a scorecard of 2-4.

Winner of the Geoffrey Moore Award for 2012 was Jim Harcourt for his 120* at the annual House Match. Congratulations Jim.

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