🦆 The Duck Pond

A Chronicle of Ciphers — the 12th of August, 1885 Intelligence reaches us of a single fixture played against Hunton CC, in which our First Eleven's willow-wielders contributed no fewer than three additions to the exclusive zero club. A day, in short, in which the art of not scoring was practised with some diligence. 1st XI, away to Hunton CC Mr A Barker opened proceedings at the wicket, only to be run out — the identity of the fielder responsible left, we are told, unrecorded, which is perhaps the kindest mercy the innings afforded him. It marks his very first appearance in senior colours, and what an overture: a maiden innings closed at nought, his name entered at 26th of 137 in the club's roll of dubious distinction. The season bearing his own birth year, 1885, his effort stands credited toward this year's Duck of the Year honours, a race very much open. We note, with the solemnity such coincidences demand, that on this very day in 1867 Mr G a K Simpson likewise departed for a duck's egg, against Leeds Park CC. At number eight, Mr X Latter fared no better, caught by W Crump off the bowling of W Hodges without troubling the scorer. Like Mr Barker, this was his debut innings — a baptism of ciphers, if ever one was witnessed — and he takes his place at 65th of 137 on the all-time list. He too shares his misfortune with the calendar, Mr Simpson's duck of the 12th of August 1867 standing as company for him also. Then, at number nine, came Mr F Danells, no stranger to these proceedings, caught by W Best off the bowling of W Crump. This being his fourth career duck in but fourteen innings, he climbs to a lofty fifth of 137 on the club's all-time register — a veteran, one might fairly say, of the noble failure. His name too falls under the shadow of that same August afternoon in 1867 when Mr Simpson made his own contribution to the calendar of ciphers. The Week in Summary Three ducks from a single fixture is no mean haul, and that two belong to gentlemen quite new to the fold suggests Hunton CC's bowling gave our newer men rather more to consider than they might have wished. Mr Danells, for his part, continues to demonstrate a consistency of a very particular kind. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - A Barker — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - F Danells — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - X Latter — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - F J Barmby — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - F J Richardson — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% We commend all five gentlemen to the club's continued attention, and await, with our customary mixture of dread and delight, whatever further ciphers the next fixture may add to the register.

Our fixture against The Mote CC on the 26th proved a fertile afternoon for the ledger of nought, five of our men returning to the pavilion without ever troubling the scorer. The House Eleven F J Barmby, in at four, fell to a catch by G Marsham off the bowling of A Hearne, his maiden entry in the club's books of failure. By curious chance the almanack records that this very date in 1872 also claimed E Skinner for a cipher in the first innings against Sutton Valence CC. Tom Peach Snr, following at five, was run out, the fielder responsible going unrecorded by our scorer, a fate perhaps crueller than dismissal by skill, for it leaves no bowling figures to console him. The date, as before, carries its history, E Skinner having met an identical fate in 1872. N T Nickolls, at seven, was bowled by L E Bligh, his stumps rearranged in a manner permitting no appeal. The 26th of June continues its long acquaintance with the duck's egg, E Skinner having set the precedent some thirteen years before. F J Richardson, at nine, was taken by G Marsham off L E Bligh, Marsham's second catch of the innings and a tidy one by all accounts. Once more the calendar obliges with company from 1872, when E Skinner suffered likewise. O M Leigh, last man in, was caught by the Hon V Parnell off A Hearne, completing the quintet of ciphers for the innings. That this same date in 1872 should furnish a fifth precedent, in the person of E Skinner once again, is a coincidence the club's historians will doubtless wish to note down. In summary A single fixture yielded five ducks, a testament to the home bowling of A Hearne and L E Bligh, who claimed two apiece, and to G Marsham's safe hands, taken twice. All five gentlemen record their first duck of a young season, and indeed the first entered against their names in the club's proper books, each having but one prior innings behind him. The Season's Ledger of Ciphers At this early hour of the season all five ciphered gentlemen stand level at the head of affairs, each with one duck from two innings, a rate of fifty per centum apiece: F J Barmby, F J Richardson, N T Nickolls, O M Leigh and Tom Peach Snr. The next fixture awaits, and with it, no doubt, fresh candidates for this most select and unenviable of confraternities. Members are cordially invited to attend, willow in hand, and try their fortune against the leather.