I shall not be putting myself up for re-election for the Midweek Captain next year. My reasons are twofold: it is about time someone else had a turn, and my work commitments next year will probably mean I shall be unable to play as much or may be at all. I would rather get someone in now than drop them in it later. That is of course assuming I got the vote.
I have done the role since I got the midweek side up and running and have tried to give everyone a chance to perform in the club. My mantra has always been team ahead of self and good sportsmanship. This I have seen for the majority of the time this season. If I went out to win every game then it is true to say that many would not get a game or would bat 9, 10 and 11 every week or not asked to bowl before getting fed up and moving on. I hope the next season’s captains follows my example. Probably, if I played it differently we would not have seen, for example the excellent bowling of Cameron and Michael this year.
This season, I personally feel has been a successful one with many people shining. It has been great to see regular new recruits like Manoj and Sam in to compensate for the oldies like Dr. John, Peggy and dare I say it myself. After the tour I have no doubt I am in that category!
I would like to thank the support this year of Mark “Scorebooooaaarrrrdddddd” Beames my vice- captain who took the reins for a few games as well as the Hayman clan for getting there early and helping me with set-up. Finally a big thank you to Don for allowing us extra games to make up for the ones we missed due to rain.
I am letting the club know this now so that anyone wishing to take the role forward is aware before the AGM. I will be happy to arrange the fixtures for next season as this is very simple for me as I would simply repeat this year. I would consult with the new skipper first should he want to make any changes. I can also let my club contacts know the change in captain so I am not bothered or act as a bottle neck next season.
Thank you WMCC for allowing me to do this and good luck to next year’s skipper.
Any resemblance to this and Andrew Strauss resignation speech is a complete coincidence. A fuller version of the Geoff Reddin letter can be found in the Wisden Cricket Almanac. Just after the article “Playing through the offside”, by Mark Beames – a short read and before “Pies for Cows”, by Stephen Richardson, subtitled “Leg-spin the Spuju way!” an epigrammatic tale of his 2012 season.
Winter well!!!!
Geoff Reddin