TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: HUW NEYROUD

 Tiger in the Spotlight: Huw Neyroud

Judging from the change in his Facebook relationship status, Huw has had a bit of a rough week so lets swing the spotlight on him and give the young Tiger a bit of attention.

 Huw gets his feet at the ready as keeper Bob Gall looks on

Huw is one of several young Combe cricketers who joined the Ambush throughout the 2012 season. All of them decent players, all of them thoroughly good blokes. Huw is certainly no exception.

Like Alec Stewart, Adam Gilchrist and Matty Prior, Huw is a wicket-keeper who knows how to handle a bat. In his two games last season, against Stuffed Beavers and Southfield Superstars, he took two stumpings and knocked up 42 runs. 

 Huw and John Grain watch on as that one disappears through mid-wicket

Unlike Robbie Nicholson, Huw doesn't provide fireworks with his batting. He goes about his work quietly and efficiently, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with ones and twos whilst placing the odd bad ball through the field for four. And, considering the bowlers only got his wicket in one of his two innings, he's pretty difficult to remove from the crease too. Every team needs a Huw and we're proud to have him in the Ambush.

Tiger, we salute you!

Double click to see Huw's batting and fielding statistics

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS GRAIN

Chris (Centre) with brother, John (left) and nephew Cam (right)

As the spotlight sweeps across the Ambush this week it comes to rest on a Tiger who, until the 2012 season, was an ever-present in the side since 2007.

Last season, our skipper Chris Grain was bowled over by an Italian maiden and played in just two of the six fixtures. Come on you single Tigers. Given the choice of sweating it out in the field with a bunch of blokes or enjoying the company of a beautiful Italian girl, you'd go for the latter too wouldn't you? Of course you would.

On his way to an aggressive 30 against London Badgers

So how did Chris fare in the two matches he played in? Pretty well actually.

It's no secret that Chris is one of our most technically gifted batsman. And he showcased his talent against Witney Rugby Club as, single-handed, he tried to save our collapsing innings with a stoic 26 before being run out going for a risky one.

Against London Badgers, he played another captain's innings as he plundered six fours on his way to a spectacular 30 before being trapped LBW by badgers' Ewels.

Chris nudges one away as Badgers' keeper Hubbard looks on

And that was Chris' 2012 season. He didn't bowl, take any catches and no run outs were recorded against his name. He's a really decent fielder so it wouldn't have been for a lack of trying.

Still, an average of 28 exactly isn't a bad tally for his season. We hope we'll see a lot more of Chris of Chris in the 2013 season. Not just because of his superb batting and fielding but because he's a top bloke.

Tiger, we salute you!

Chris' 2012 record

SpecialEffect Allstars FC Take on Oxford United Legends

Our Gav and Charlotte

On 14 April an Oxford Utd Legends football team will be taking on celebrity-strewn SpecialEffect Allstars squad to raise money for Charlotte and SpecialEffect. 

It's going to be a fantastic day. We hope you can join us! Find out more at http://bit.ly/ZXDBjA

I've been told the Tigers' very own star, Robbie Nicholson, will be playing so do come along to support him and the SpecialEffect Allstars.

If you're reading this and don't know what SpecialEffect is, follow this link and see for yourself an example of the fantastic work they do on YouTube at http://bit.ly/ZgePKD

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ROBBIE NICHOLSON

Our Robbie

After a long break, the time has come to pick up where I left off and continue paying tribute to the Tigers who joined the Ambush throughout the 2012 cricket season.  And who better to start with than our very own star Tiger, Robbie Nicholson.

Robbie is a fantastic chap. As well as studying hard at university (we hope he's studying hard - he seems to have a great time as well, judging from his FB pictures!) he's a superb golfer, footballer and cricketer. And he's a SpecialEffect Ambassador. We love having him in the Ambush and we're proud he's taken our charity to his heart.

Robbie's appetite for cricket seems to be endless. He captains Combe 1st XI on Saturdays and was one of just two ever-presents in the Ambush through last season. Thanks Robbie.

So let's take a look at this extraordinary young Tigers' 2012 season ...

Well, Robbie's Tigers career didn't get off to a great start with the bat as he managed to get himself out without scoring against Witney Rugby Club at Carterton in May. Having got that one out of this system, he went on to terrify and destroy opposition bowling figures through the rest of the season. Clocking up 27 fours and 22 sixes across the next five innings' he finished his Tigers' season with an unbelievable average of 97.33.

Robbie on his way to 70 against London Badgers

But that was only half the story.

Robbie is also a quick, aggressive and accurate bowler as his final bowling figures of 19-1-57-5 clearly demonstrate. Before you reach for your calculators, that's an economy rate of 3.00 and an average of 11.40 per wicket.

While Robbie's 73 not out against Southfield Superstars was undoubtedly his best innings of the season, the 8-0-17-4 with the ball against London Badgers was the crowning glory of his 2012 Tigers' bowling.

 Robbie drives as he heads towards 73 not out against Southfield Superstars

If you're looking at Robbie's 2012 season bowling record and wondering why he didn't bowl against The Dream Team, that's because he volunteered to go wicket-keeper. And guess what? That's right, he managed to get himself two stumpings. Yep, he's a great wicket fielder and four catches and three run outs are proof he's no slouch in the field either.

Robbie, you're a star buddy and we're proud to play alongside you in the Ambush.

Tiger. We salute you! 

SpecialEffect Tigers v Oxfam CC Match Confirmation

 No team photo of Oxfam so here's one of their Stalwarts disguised as a Tiger.

Chris Ellis, we salute you!

Opponents: Oxfam CC
Date: Sunday 4th August 2013
Venue: To Be Confirmed (Almost Charlbury or Combe CC though)

As the two year conflict in Syria continues to rage on, coverage of the people forced to flee their homes seems to be gathering momentum in our media. Over three million people currently in temporary shelter and 8,000 more refugees a day are putting a strain on the aid agencies working out there.
 
One of those aid agencies are our mates at Oxfam. And tonight's match confirmation is the cricketing arm of Oxfam.

 Ben Rainford

Oxfam, SpecialEffect Tigers and founder of The Dream Team CC

That's right, on Sunday 4th August the Oxfam boys are going turn their thoughts (just for a few hours mind) away from the refugee camps of Lebanon and Jordan and towards the green cricket fields of West Oxfordshire where the most hostile behaviour they'll come up against is Robbie Nicholson or Steve Brackley bowling the odd short-pitched ball.

Get Sunday 4th August in your diaries Tigers ... Oxfam gave us a good hiding in 2011 so we want a full Ambush for this one.
 
































 

SpecialEffect Tigers v Stuffed Beavers Match Confirmation

Monsieur's 'Morto' Morton (gauche) et Nige Gurney (sur la droit)

Yes, we're on for a Bastille Day showdown as our mate Nige' Gurney, skipper of the Stuffed Beavers, has confirmed this years' fixture against the Tigers as 14th July.

The match is likely to take the form of two 20/20 fixtures. One before tea, the other after. We'll firm that format up nearer the time.

So, if you fancy celebrating not being French on France's most celebrated day (uh?) come and have a game of something quintessentially English. 

And no, the format definitely won't be French cricket.

Match Against Witney RFC Confirmed

Witney RFC celebrate a 2012 win by ... what are you doing Simon?

Right Tigers, I've been chatting to our mate Robbie Mills and we've got our first weeknight fixture since 2010 against Witney RFC on 21st June. Its a T20 fixture and we're aiming to get the West Witney CC ground for this one seeing as its Friday night and we can have a pint or two afterwards. 

I know I said I'd not arrange weeknight fixtures again but Witney RFC have requested a Friday night game and considering how they stepped in last season when one of our opposition withdrew, I reckon we owe them a favour.

Anyone who played against Witney RFC will know what a good bunch of lads they are. You'll also know from our two defeats last season that we'll be in for a tough old game.

Get it in your diaries Tigers. Friday 21st June at West Witney CC (tbc).