Tigers Player of the Year Award 2012

 Its been a long time coming, I know, but I'm pleased to finally announce the 2012 season SpecialEffect Tigers Player's Player (or Tiger's Tiger, if you like).

The voting turned into two horse race: Robbie Nicholson, the Tigers' Big Gun, who racked up a Tigers batting average of over 90 and an equally devastating bowling average versus the youngest Tiger in the Ambush, Cameron Newton-Grain.

Well, the youngest of the two Tigers edged it by a single vote.

 That's right, Cam Newton-Grain is the SpecialEffect Tigers 2012 Player's Player.

Here's what a few of the Tigers said about Cam ...

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"... for 14 years old I thought he did fantastically well ..."

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"Cam has been the most Improved, consistent and determined player to turn out for us and if for no other reason than "That Catch" alone."

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"A very promising young bowler who showed potential with the bat in hand as well.

Oh and who can forget that catch, I've played a lot of cricket in my time but that is without doubt the best catch I've seen. Shades of Paul Collingwood's catch against Australia a few years ago.

So there we go, my vote goes to Cam Newton-Grain, a very promising young cricketer, a pleasure to play with and a great kid as well!"

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The Player's Player Award will be officially handed to Cam in January by Dr Mick Donegan, founder and CEO of SpecialEffect and Rowena Byrne, who hand-made the trophy.

Congratulations Cam and thanks to all you Tigers who voted.

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ROB WEBB

 Tiger in the Spotlight: Rob Webb

Today, the spotlight swings across the Ambush of the 2012 cricket season and comes to rest on our mate Rob Webb.

Rob is a relative latecomer to playing organised cricket but has featured regularly in the Ambush this season (in five of the six games to be exact). His vocabulary is as agricultural as his off-drive but he's a top bloke and his slow right arm bowling has become more and more consistent with every game.

Rob on his way to 5-1-20-0 against Southfield Superstars

Rob deserves more wickets than his Tigers' bowling figures show. There was a period at the tail-end of the 2011 season and start of 2012 when we were putting catches down left, right and centre. Most of those seemed to be off Rob's bowling.

But he's taken some well-deserved wickets this season. Not so deserved was the hiding he got from Hubbard in the game against Badgers when his figures went from 5-0-36-3 to 8-0-79-3 as Hubbard put Rob and the rest of the Tigers bowling to the sword. Unlucky that Rob. 

 Rob takes the long walk against London Badgers

But Rob's a Tiger and made of sterner stuff. He didn't let that deter him and came back against Southfield Superstars with an excellent 5-1-20-0 and 3-0-19-0 in the 20/20 game against Ben McPherson's Dream Team.

There's not too much to say about his batting. Rob's happy to bat down the order and hasn't swung the willow too much as a result. As the Tigers' fielding improved beyond recognition as 2012 season progressed, Rob chipped in with a smartly taken catch right in front of his face against Southfield Superstars. Just as well he held onto it because it was travelling at a pace and would have probably remodelled his face had he not held on!

We're as proud to have Rob in the Ambush for the Tigers and we love playing alongside him. He's a fantastic chap, a great laugh to be around and a reliable bowler to call upon. Thanks for all the effort you've put in this season Rob and we hope to see you in the field again in 2013 mate.

Tiger, we salute you!  

Rob's 2012 season stats

   

FIRST MATCH CONFIRMATION FOR 2013 SEASON

SpecialEffect Tigers v Southfield Superstars

Sunday 16th June 2013

Venue: tbc

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SAM KELLIE

Tiger in the Spotlight, Sam Kellie (batting) shares a joke with brother Tom

Today's Tiger In The Spotlight is what we call a skirmisher. That is a Tiger who joined the Ambush for just the one game in the season (not the same as a Ringer if you're opposition and you're reading this).

Sam Kellie is another of the crop of talented young Combe Cricket Club players who have turned out regularly in the Ambush (Robbie, Iain, James and Huw) or helped us out by standing in at short notice.

Sam and his brother Tom follow John & Chris Grain and Bill & Tom Donegan as siblings who have played for the Tigers since we formed in 2009. And smashing fellas they are too.

So, we know Sam stood in for us at short notice but who against and how did he do?

The answer? Ben McPherson's Dream Team and brilliantly! 

Iain Nicholson, skipper for the 20/20 game against The Dream Team, decided he'd give as many Tigers as possible an over or two. Sam took full advantage of his two overs by turning in a fantastic 2-1-1-3. Yes, you read that correctly ... three wickets for just a single run.

 Sam, bowling his way to 2-1-1-3

You'd think he'd have relaxed a bit after that but Sam strode out and knocked up 35 runs before retiring on a pre-agreed 'retire at 35'. 

 Sam flicks away to mid-wicket on his way to 35 not out

Not a bad afternoon of cricket, eh?

We hope Sam will turn out for the Tigers for a few more games next season. But for now mate, thanks for helping us out and making sure we could go ahead with the game against The Dream Team.     

Tiger, we salute you!

Sam's Stats for 2012

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CAMERON NEWTON-GRAIN

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CAMERON NEWTON-GRAIN

As we continue to move the spotlight across all the Tigers and thank them for their efforts in the 2012 cricket season, today it comes to rest on our youngest player: Cameron Newton-Grain.

Cam plays his club cricket for Charlbury CC and also turns out for Magdalen College School where he is a pupil. Despite his youth, Cam is a veteran of the Ambush and played in all but one of the 2012 fixtures.

Cam on his way to delivering 6.4-0-20-3 against Southfield Superstars

There's a couple of things about Cam that we in the Ambush all know but the opposition might not. The first is that the often 'typically teenage' disinterested look on his face does not mean he isn't absolutely 'on-the-ball' and not enjoying his cricket. He's as sharp as a tack is our Cam. The second is that his age doesn't make him a soft touch. Few batsman have targeted Cam this season and got away with it.

So what sort of season did Cam have? The answer is a very good one. A season that saw him play with more maturity with each passing game.

 No mug with a bat: Cam on his way to 19 against Badgers

Initially a bit disheartened after going for a few runs in the first two 20/20 games against the lads from Witney Rugby Club, Cam showed that his real strength was in bowling in the longer format games. And while most of our bowlers were suffering at the hands of Hubbard in the game against London Badgers, Cam and Robbie Nicholson gave him very little. Cam topped a mean bowling display of 8-0-32-0 in that game with a decent tail end innings of 19.

That was just the platform the young fella needed. After being frustrated at not taking a wicket against the Badgers, Cam stormed out with a 4-0-12-3 against Stuffed Beavers. Then, in another ruthless bowling display, he turned in 6.4-0-20-3 against Southfield Superstars.

 The Tigers Mafiosa: Dad John (left), Uncle Chris and Cam

And it was in the Southfield game that Cam provided us with one of the magic moments of the 2012 season when he took a superb overhead, diving catch from a standing start to dismiss one of Southfield's dangermen in the batting line-up. Few of us who saw that catch won't forget it in a very, very long time.

Cam thanks for all the effort you've put in for the Tigers in the 2012 season mate. Fingers crossed you'll be with us for many, many more.

Tiger, we salute you!

Cam's 2012 Stats

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: IAIN NICHOLSON

Tiger in the Spotlight: Iain Nicholson 

Today's Tiger in the Spotlight is one of three dads who have played alongside their son since the SpecialEffect Tigers were founded in 2009.

Iain Nicholson and son Robbie joined the Tigers at the start of the 2012 season. After seeing Robbie play the first couple of games, Iain joined the Ambush for the game against London Badgers and was a permanent member from then on.

Iain puts his best foot forward against London Badgers

Not only is Iain one of only three fathers who have played in the Ambush alongside their son but he's also one of only three Tigers to have captained the Ambush since we started. That's right, Iain led probably the youngest Ambush out to victory against Ben McPherson's Dream Team for the last game of the 2012 season.

 Skipper Iain gathers the Ambush at the fall of a Dream Team wicket

Opening the batting with Robbie, Iain hasn't had such a prolific season with the bat as Nicholson Jr (then who has?). But he does what he's supposed to do. He knows how to handle a bat, hangs around to annoy the opposition opening bowling attack and plays a great cameo whilst Robbie grabs the runs and the glory. Iain's a proper team player and that's why he's proved to be so popular amongst the rest of the Tigers this season.

Iain, I know you don't particularly like the spotlight on you (that's why its so bloody difficult to get any pictures of you for the blog) but the Tigers and SpecialEffect do appreciate all you do for us so tonight the blog headlines are all your mate. 

Tiger, we salute you!

Iain's 2012 Season Stats

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STUART DUFF

 Stu 'Analyse This' Duff

As we continue to march through the Tigers squad, saying thanks to every member of the Ambush who put themselves in the firing line over the past cricket season, tonight we focus on the brilliant Stuart 'Analyse This' Duff.

Now, I've played football and cricket with Stu and I can honestly say he's a pleasure to be around. Always cheerful, always encouraging and quietly consistent in all that he does on the sports field.

Stu is also a better all-rounder than he'll admit to. He didn't have much of a chance with the bat this season but he did provide us with the entertaining spectacle of hitting the last ball of the innings against Stuffed Beavers for an almighty six. None of us expected it other than Stu himself.

So having established that he's a smashing bloke (with a great taste in music) but didn't get much of a bat, lets talk about his bowling.

18.1-1-102-6

Stu's best bowling figures came against Witney RFC on 17th June at Charlbury CC where he bowled 3 overs and took 3 for 15. He was on form again against Stuffed Beavers CC in July where he turned in figures of 3.1-1-5-2.

Over the course of the season, Stu turned in a very respectable 18.1-1-102-6. That's an economy rate of 5.64 and an average of 17.00. When you consider Stu bowled in both 20/20 games against Witnet RFC and against Ash Hubbard (of 146 not out fame) in the Badgers game, that's a pretty good economy rate.

Stu, thanks for all your efforts through the season and for being a truly brilliant team mate. Enjoy your birthday this week Tiger. We salute you!

 Stu's 2012 Stats

 

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT 3: TIM LOWE

Tonight's Tiger in the Spotlight is Charlbury Cricket Club's Tim Lowe.

Tim Lowe

A smashing fella, Tim joined the Ambush at short notice for the last game of the 2012 season against Ben McPherson's Dream Team. Tim joins the growing number of excellent young players from Charlbury and Combe Cricket Clubs who have supported SpecialEffect this season by playing for the Tigers.

So, how did Tim do with bat and ball?

Well, in the 20/20 game Tim bowled two overs and went for ten without a wicket. A pretty good economy rate considering it was a 20 over game.

Batting-wise, Tim usually opens for Charlbury CC but batted middle order for the Tigers. Hitting a single boundary on his way to 13, he fell to a fantastic catch by Calvert off the bowling of Ben McPherson as he went for a big hoist over long-on. Although less runs than he's used to getting, in a game where the Tigers' middle order capitulated, Tim's contribution helped steer the Ambush to a third successive victory to end the 2012 season.

 Taking a breather

By the time he reads this, Tim will be studying hard (or drinking heavily in the student bar) at Chichester University. All the best in your studies Tim and we look forward to seeing you in the Ambush again for the 2013 season mate.

 'Right Sam, the next ball's going to clear that Calvert bloke at long-on'

Tiger, we salute you!  

  Tim's 2012 Tigers Stats

 

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JAMES GRIST-PERKINS

Today's Tiger in the Spotlight is the ever cheerful James Grist-Perkins.

Let's start with an interesting statistic. After losing 8 games on the bounce in the 2011 season and start of the 2012 season, we've not lost any since James has joined the Ambush at the end of July. When James plays, we don't lose .. spooky, eh?  

The ever-cheerful James Grist-Perkins 

This was James' debut season for the Tigers, joining the Ambush for the first time against Stuffed Beavers. Instantly popular with the entire team, James is one of a number of young Combe CC players who have joined the Ambush this season. And we're chuffed to bits he's joined us.

So, other than the instant morale boost James' ready with and cheerful disposition brings to the team, what does he do cricket-wise? Well, a bit of everything actually. He's a decent bowler, no slouch with the bat and pretty nimble in the field too.

 James in action in the slips in the Tigers victory over the Dream Team

Circumstances have meant that James has not been able to show off his skills as much as we'd have liked. But an economy rate of 2.83 from the six overs he's bowled for the Tigers speaks for itself. Look forward to seeing more of that next season mate.

Oh, and because James is a Combe lad, he's a bit of an expert on the weather in the area too. If you're worried about rain coming in during the course of the afternoon, just ask him. He'll look to the sky above the church and tell you exactly what's going to happen. The 'weather always comes from over the church, you see?'. 

Yep, James may be still in his teens but he's already thinking like a man way beyond his years. 

James, you've been a pleasure to play alongside this season. I hope you'll join the Ambush again next season and for many more to come.

Tiger, we salute you!

James' stats for the 2012 season

Watch the New SpecialEffect Video

 

Some of us play cricket for the Tigers because we enjoy a Sunday afternoon out in the fresh air.

Some of us play because we want to avoid household chores.

Some of us play because its a great way to spend a bit of time with our mates.

All of us play because we love cricket.

All of us play because we love SpecialEffect.

That's why we're proud to pull on the orange and green of SpecialEffect on a summer Sunday.

Follow this link and be inspired ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLNrCivOzw&feature=youtube_gdata_player