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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
a stroll down memory lane
1985
UNDER 15 SOUTH OF ENGLAND 1985
BACK ROW    M.WIGHT;   R.GUTTERIDGE;  J.SKRIMSHIRE;  T.WREN;  J.CLARE;  A.PHILLIPS;   D.J.L.
FRONT ROW   R.BEALES;   K.BUTLER;    D.KUTNER;   M.RAMPRAKASH;  J.FINCH;    A.BROWN;   D.BUTCHER

One tends to associate seasons with players and thus 1983 was Michael Atherton's year; 1984 was Graham Thorpeand Nasser Hussain's year. Sussex under 11 had first played against Nasser at Brentwood in 1978. Even then he took 7 wickets bowling leg spin and made 45 runs to win the game for Essex. In our Sussex side was Stephen Palmer now to be seen playing central defender for WATFORD F.C.
1985 was RAMPRAKASH'S year .
Mark had played for the South of England as an outstanding 13 year old and had found no difficulty in holding his own with players 2 years older than him. Merchant Taylors School and Middlesex Schools Cricket Association had nurtured him and his range of shots and technique stood him out amongst his peers. As selectors we felt that we had a reasonably balanced side to attend the English Schools Under 15 Festival being held at Truro,Cornwall.
Two Sussex players were included in the South of England squad - Jonathan Clare, Portslade CC,a useful bat and left arm spinner and Jason Finch, Wicket keeper batsman,Hastings CC. Jason had made his name with a double century against Hertfordshire School. The Sussex team manager, Ken Kerr, had allowed Jason to bat on for his double century and gave Hertfordshire just over an hour to score the 300 plus runs needed for victory. Ken, the Sussex Under 15 team manager for over 25 years was most generous as he presented a new bat to all centurions. The players responded in 1985 by presenting Ken with a hinged cricket stump, which, when opened, contained the signatures of the Under 15 squad.
The Sussex players, Jason Finch and John Clare( and my kit ) travelled with Jason's father by car whilst I took some of the team to Truro by train. Alas, on arrival, it was found that a spare battery had leaked in Jason's car and the spilt acid had eaten through numerous items of my clothing and cricket boots. This , however, was to be a minor event in the forthcoming Under 15 ESCA Festival.
On the first evening, Malcolm Broad, who in the 1999 New Year Honour's List was awarded the MBE for services to cricket, had arranged for a trip down river to St. Mawes. Fifty two blazered players and staff set off on a sunny evening's cruise. After an hour it began to rain. We arrived at St. Mawes in semi darkness and for some unknown reason the boatman wanted us to leave his boat for 45 minutes. There was nowhere to go for the players who waited huddled together awaiting the return trip. We arrived back in Truro totally bedraggled just after 11pm.
The weather experienced on the boat trip was to dog the festival for the next five days. The team photographs were taken in semi drizzle and we spent our first day at Perranaworthal Cricket Club watching the rain fall.
On day 2 we were due to play the North at Falmouth CC but the game was delayed as the groundsman had died in the Pavilion.
We lost the match despite some good bowling by Timothy Wren - later to find his fame and fortune with Kent CCC. Alas, John Clare was overbowled by his skipper and was hit for 18 off one crucial over.
In the other match Midlands versus West a helicopter from a local RAF station hovered over the wicket in a vain attempt to dry out the surface.
That night in our hotel we settled the lads for the night when they were disturbed by the owner playing an in house movie- of doubtful origin - on the TV system.
Our third and final match was against the West. We batted first - that is those who were able to stay awake after their late sojourn of the night before. Alastair Brown made 49 as we amassed 192 for 8. The West chased hard with Piran Holloway - now with Somerset CCC and Tony Penberthy - now with Northants CCC- top scoring with 53. As the last over came the West required 5 runs to win with 7 wickets standing. Our final over was to be bowled by A. Phillips of Middlesex Schools. The West parent body had earlier questioned his bowling action and it was ominous as several of them trooped around to the square leg boundary to check his " throwing style".
In an over never to be forgotten by those who played or witnessed the game the West lost 5 wickets and only scored one run. Phillips ended with match figures of 6 for 47 as the West ended their innings on 189 for 8.
It had been a memorable match in a waterlogged festival.
Mark Ramprakash, like many other young cricketers, has recalled his games as a young cricketer. He was probably the best South of England player ever to wear the green cap. He was obviously destined for the full England side.The professional game appears to have caused his flare and talent to become subdued.
The team photograph shows the Sussex double centurion - Jason Finch, now captain of Hastings Priory CC 2000 - sitting between Mark Ramprakash, Middlesex CCC skipper and England player and Alastair Brown, Surrey CCC and England one day international player.
Of the other players Tim Wren had a reasonable career with Kent CCC bowling particularly well in one day matches; Keith Butler joined Essex CCC and moved to Durham CCC but faded. Darren Kutner joined Somerset CCC but met with little success; Marcus Wight played University cricket and was last seen on TV as a computer expert recording cricket statistics.
The staff, many of us now retired, still talk about the Truro Festival with fond affection.

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