Summer

Summer in Kent means village cricket. Today I went to Wittersham Road to grab some train shots and passed this cricket game on the way back. I decided to stop and watch a few overs and it was wonderful. Rolvenden, the home team, were batting against Exiles at Stelling Minnis CC; a club with a wandering history. The fielding team were wearing a range of cricketing whites including those with the badges of previous Exiles teams. The wicketkeeper was rocking a vest rather than a shirt and was probably going to regret having that much skin exposed. The banter between the fielders was incessant and often biting; against their own teammates. Some was obviously based around running gags but other comments were simply about someone's despairing lunge for a ball as it whizzed past. At one point three fielders were haranguing a fourth as he struggled to find the ball which had bounced once and dived deep into a hedge. A few shots passed me and crossed the road behind me, one hit a tyre on my car at pace. The batsmen weren't having it all their own way though and I saw a few wickets tumbling including an LBW given by the umpire who was bare-chested and wearing khaki shorts. He'd previously enjoyed a smoke while at square leg. It really was great fun.

As I headed home there was a game in the next village - they have a super ground and I'll try to get some shots of it soon. Watching some cricket in the sun is a very nice way to spend an afternoon

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