🦆 The Duck Pond

A quiet closing weekend of the season saw the 1st XI shoulder the entire burden of ignominy, with three noughts recorded across two fixtures. The 2nds, 3rds and Sunday sides, for once, kept their heads down and their bats straight. 1st XI — Saturday 26th vs Anchorians CC In at nine, Len Conway fell b Alan Dixon for his 2nd duck of the season and 12th of a fine career spanning 110 innings — good enough for 24th on the all-time list of 792. Len remains a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his very first LPCC innings, though this latest effort was merely business as usual. Curiously, on this very day back in 1959, Robert Wood was also dismissed without score against A.Trembeths — Robert went on to 21 career ducks and 9th all-time, so Len has some catching up to do. Last man in, Dick Langridge departed b J- White for the 3rd duck of his season, moving to 9 for his career from just 46 innings — 32nd of 792, and closing in fast. A chip off the old block, no less — his relative Barry Langridge carries 6 career ducks of his own. And wouldn't you know it, that same 26th September in 1959 also claimed Robert Wood — two Langridge-and-Conway noughts, six decades apart, on the identical date. 1st XI — Sunday 27th vs Linton Park CC At four, Robert Murray was bowled by David Gale for his first duck of the season, but his 16th career effort from 172 innings sees him sat handsomely at 15th of 792 all-time — rarefied company indeed. On this same day in 1958, Terry Whittaker also made a duck against A.Trembeths, going on to bow out on a nought himself and finish with 13 career ducks — a reminder that the calendar has long memories where the art of not scoring is concerned. 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks from two matches, all falling to the 1st XI's middle and lower order — Anchorians CC and Linton Park CC both walked away with a wicket-maiden's worth of satisfaction. No pairs, no king pairs, no family affairs this week — just honest, unglamorous failure, exactly as the club likes it. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Terry Donovan — 6 ducks / 17 inns (35.29%) 2. Richard Ashby — 6 ducks / 28 inns (21.43%) 3. Roy Clarke — 6 ducks / 29 inns (20.69%) 4. Ron Hickman — 5 ducks / 8 inns (62.50%) 🍩 5. John Ames — 3 ducks / 13 inns (23.08%) Ron Hickman's strike rate for failure remains the stuff of legend this season — over three in five trips to the crease ending in nought. 🥇 The season draws to a close but the zero club never rests. Roll on next weekend's fixtures — someone's average is always due a reminder that not every innings ends in runs. 🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures out on the paddock this weekend, and for once the exclusive zero club had absolutely nothing to show for it. Not a single batsman offered himself up for ignominy — eleven-plus players a side, twice over, and every last one of them found the middle of the bat at least once. A vegan weekend if ever there was one, fowl-free from first ball to last. Whether this is a triumph of application or simply a conspiracy of good weather and generous fielding, the Duck Club cannot say. What we can say is that somewhere out there, a bowler went home most aggrieved. Rest assured, normal service will resume. The art of not scoring is not so easily retired — it merely waits. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇🍩 - Terry Donovan — 6 ducks from 17 innings (35.29%) - Richard Ashby — 6 ducks from 26 innings (23.08%) - Roy Clarke — 6 ducks from 28 innings (21.43%) - Ron Hickman — 5 ducks from 8 innings (62.5%) — a frankly alarming strike rate - John Ames — 3 ducks from 11 innings (27.27%) Terry, Richard and Roy locked together at six apiece with the season drawing in — a proper scrap for top spot brewing. Meanwhile Ron Hickman continues to defy the laws of probability, finding nought more often than not. A quiet weekend for the club, but the season isn't done with anyone yet. Next fixture, someone somewhere will nick one behind first ball and restore order to the universe. 🏏0️⃣ Until then — keep watching the crease.

A quiet weekend for the naughty nought by Linton standards — just two matches, but each handed over its own name to the ledger, both courtesy of the 1st XI. 🏏 1st XI Saturday 12th September, home to Bowaters CC: Frank Brattle, opening the innings, was trapped lbw by Edward Chick without scoring. It's his 3rd duck of the season and 22nd of a career now spanning 213 innings, holding him at 6th in the all-time standings out of 792 — rarefied company indeed. Kin of long-serving fellow quacker Percy Brattle, who carries 5 career ducks of his own — the Brattle name clearly has an eye for the leave-it-that-turns-out-plumb. And in a delightful quirk of the calendar, on this very day back in 1959 S Lusher also fell to Bowaters CC for a duck — a five-year echo across the same fixture. Sunday 13th September, away to Staplehurst CC: Basil Sears departed at number two, bowled by R. Newick for nought. Also his 3rd duck of the season, and his 20th career duck from 276 innings, sitting 11th of 792 all-time. On this same day in 1959, the legendary John Ames — a man with 31 career ducks, a place on the Ducks in a Row honours board and two separate Quacking Together memberships — was himself trudging back against Tunbridge Wells CC. Good company to keep, even in ignominy. 📋 Week in Summary Two matches, two ducks, one team responsible for the lot — the 1st XI cornered the market this week. Curiously, both duckers arrive at an identical season tally of three, though their career ledgers tell rather different stories. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family affairs this time round — just honest, workmanlike failure, delivered on consecutive days. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Terry Donovan: 6 ducks from 17 innings (35.29%) - Richard Ashby: 6 ducks from 26 innings (23.08%) - Roy Clarke: 6 ducks from 27 innings (22.22%) - Ron Hickman: 5 ducks from 8 innings (62.5%) 🍩 - John Ames: 3 ducks from 11 innings (27.27%) Ron Hickman's strike rate for nought remains the stuff of legend — over three in every five innings ending in a blob. Someone ought to check in on him. 📅 Looking Ahead The season rolls on and the leaderboard remains wide open. Who joins Frank and Basil on the honours board next weekend? We watch. We wait. We celebrate the art of not scoring. 🦆0️⃣

A rare and faintly troubling weekend for the Duck Club faithful: three matches played, eleven-plus batting line-ups sent to the crease across the club, and not a single nought to show for it. The zero club's scouts came back empty-handed. 🥇 An Uneventful Vigil Somewhere across three grounds this weekend, Linton Park batsmen contrived to actually score runs. Every single one of them. It happens, apparently, though the correspondent finds it hard to credit. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family affairs, no King Pairs to solemnly announce — the honours board gathers no new names this week, and stays exactly as ignominious as it was last Tuesday. One almost admires the discipline. The art of not scoring requires either total ineptitude or an unfortunate stroke of luck, and this week nobody could summon either. We live in hope that normal service — chaotic, comedic, thoroughly quackable — resumes shortly. 🍩 Week in Summary - Matches played: 3 - Ducks recorded: 0 - Chins: unbowed. Bats: unbroken. Standards: temporarily, alarmingly high. A blank weekend on the Duck front is nothing to celebrate in these pages, but rules are rules — no ducks, no write-ups. The exclusive zero club remains exactly as exclusive as it was. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard — 1964 1. Terry Donovan — 16 innings, 6 ducks, 37.5% 2. Richard Ashby — 24 innings, 6 ducks, 25.0% 3. Roy Clarke — 25 innings, 6 ducks, 24.0% 4. Ron Hickman — 8 innings, 5 ducks, 62.5% 0️⃣ 5. John Ames — 11 innings, 3 ducks, 27.27% Special mention to Ron Hickman, whose 62.5% strike rate for nought remains the most efficient failure in the current standings — a masterclass in consistency of a very particular kind, even in an otherwise fowl-free week. Terry Donovan holds top spot for now, with Ashby and Clarke breathing down his neck on equal tallies but contrasting innings counts. 📅 Looking Ahead The ducks may have evaded capture this week, but the season is far from over, and the top five will not stay so tidy for long. Get to the ground, take guard, and give the Duck Club correspondent something to write about — triumph through adversity awaits, one nought at a time. 🦆🏏

A rare and troubling sight at Linton Park this weekend: nothing to report. Two fixtures played across Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th, and not a single soul found their way into the exclusive zero club. Every bat that walked to the crease walked back again having, at minimum, disturbed the scorer's pencil. The art of not scoring, it seems, took the weekend off. Whether this represents a genuine outbreak of competence or simply a temporary evasion of the inevitable, only time will tell. The Duck Club does not take kindly to quiet weekends, and normal service is expected to resume shortly. Ducks, like history, tend to repeat. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1964 🥇 Terry Donovan — 6 ducks from 15 innings (40%) 🥈 Richard Ashby — 6 ducks from 22 innings (27.27%) 🥉 Roy Clarke — 6 ducks from 25 innings (24%) 4️⃣ Ron Hickman — 5 ducks from 8 innings, a startling 62.5% strike rate in the art of not scoring 5️⃣ John Ames — 3 ducks from 11 innings (27.27%) Special mention to Ron Hickman, who at 5 ducks from just 8 knocks is quietly assembling one of the more efficient campaigns of the season — efficiency here, of course, meaning the opposite of what it means anywhere else in cricket. With Terry, Richard and Roy locked together on 6 apiece, the race for Duck of the Year 1964 is very much alive, and this weekend's blank slate has done nothing to settle it. If anything, a fortnight of near misses only sharpens the appetite. So, members — do not be fooled by this weekend's suspicious silence. The ducks are still out there, biding their time. Get down to the next fixture, take guard, and give the honours board something to write home about. 🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures, four ducks, and the 1st XI doing all the honours this week as Linton's exclusive zero club welcomes fresh entries to its books. 🏏 Saturday 22 August — v Aylesford Paper Mills CC First to fall was Terry Donovan, bowled by M Spry at number four for his 6th duck of the season and 8th of an illustrious career, edging him to 41st in the all-time standings. Terry remains the man to catch in this year's Duck of the Year race, and with the "Full House nearly-man" board already carrying his name, one wonders which of the eleven batting positions he has left to conquer in pursuit of the full set. Next in was Barry Langridge, caught by P Pollock off the bowling of Eric Churchyard for his first duck of the season and 6th of his career, moving to 47th all-time. Barry already has a page in the "Quacked by Kin" book, courtesy of his relative Dick Langridge back in 1963 — proof, if any were needed, that the family name and the number 0 travel together at Linton. Both keep fine historical company: on this very day in 1953, J Barclay (7 ducks, 1953-54) also trudged off for nought against Charles Arkcoll. Some things never change. 🏏 Sunday 23 August — v Sevenoaks Vine CC David Gale departed bowled by Derek Preston, his 1st duck of the season and 6th career effort, sitting 49th on the all-time list. Then the headline turn: Alan Wilkes, bowled by Alan Hurd for his 2nd duck of the season, climbs to a mighty 19 career ducks — 11th in the all-time table, one of the loftiest perches in club history. Alan is already a two-time laureate of the exclusive "Only Two Quacks" club, alongside both Bob Arnold and John Ames, and 1964 has been unkind to him in the extreme — already enshrined this season as a "Runaway Duck", a campaign yet to yield him a single run. David and Alan share a duck-day ancestor too: on this same date in 1952, D Simmons (4 ducks, 1949-63) also fell against Charles Arkcoll. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks from two matches, both entirely the 1st XI's own work — the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs escaped unscathed this week. Consistency of a very particular kind. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Terry Donovan — 15 inns, 6 ducks (40.0%) 2. Richard Ashby — 22 inns, 6 ducks (27.3%) 3. Roy Clarke — 24 inns, 6 ducks (25.0%) 4. Ron Hickman — 8 inns, 5 ducks (62.5%) 5. John Ames — 11 inns, 3 ducks (27.3%) Terry leads outright for now, but with Richard and Roy snapping close behind, 1964's Duck of the Year remains anyone's to lose. Next fixture, the zero club opens its doors once more — who's ready to make an entrance? 🦆🍩

Two Linton fixtures this weekend, and one of them decided to give the exclusive zero club a proper working over. Bowaters CC hosted what can only be described as a small massacre of the 1st XI top and middle order — four ducks in a single innings, a genuine triumph through adversity. The other fixture, mercifully or dully depending on your allegiance, passed without a single nought to report. 🏏 1st XI at Bowaters CC — a procession of nothing First to go, at three, was John Thirkell — caught Jack Day, bowled Roy Ecclestone, for the second time this season. That takes him to a staggering 54 career ducks, which remains, and has long remained, top of the all-time pile at 792-deep Linton — the undisputed king of the art of not scoring. A three-time Duck of the Year (1952, 1954, 1955) and a fixture of the Lone Duck, Homebody Duck and Ducks on the Road top tens alike, John ducks with equal distinction whether he's stayed local or travelled. Rather neatly, on this very day in 1936, Percy Brattle (1934-1963) was doing much the same thing against Bearsted CC. At six, Terry Donovan nicked off, caught and bowled Edward Chick, for his 5th of the season and 7th of his career — a tally that sits him 44th all time and keeps him firmly in this year's Duck of the Year conversation, a title he already holds for 1964. He's also a Full House nearly-man, having ducked in ten of the eleven batting positions — number six now ticked off, one slot still cruelly unconquered. Twenty-eight years back to the day, Percy Brattle was completing the very same ritual at Bearsted. Number seven, Richard Ashby, fell bowled to Chick's second victim of the innings, his 6th duck of the season — enough to lead the current Duck Hunting Season standings outright — and his 9th career, good for 33rd all time. A veteran of Ducks in a Row (five consecutive, no less) and a Tourist Duck top-ten regular, an away ground like Bowaters is precisely his natural habitat. Percy Brattle, unusually persistent this week, was there again in 1936. And completing Chick's hat-trick of noughts, at nine, Bob Arnold went caught John Evans bowled Chick — his 2nd of the season but a mighty 47th of his career, second only to Thirkell in the entire 792-strong club history. A Duck of the Year in 1963 and holder of his own Ducks in a Row (four), Bob shares an "Only Two Quacks" honour with Alan Wilkes and a "Quacking Together" board with none other than John Thirkell — and rather fittingly, the two of them renewed that acquaintance in the very same Bowaters innings. Percy Brattle, appropriately, made it four for four in the 1936 parallel stakes. 📊 The week in numbers Four ducks, two matches, one bowler — Edward Chick claimed three of the four victims in a single spell, and Linton's top two all-time duck aristocrats, Thirkell and Arnold, both fell in the same innings. A quiet weekend everywhere else, but Bowaters will do. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 20 inns, 6 ducks (30%) - Roy Clarke — 22 inns, 6 ducks (27.3%) - Ron Hickman — 7 inns, 5 ducks (71.4%) - Terry Donovan — 14 inns, 5 ducks (35.7%) - John Ames — 10 inns, 3 ducks (30%) Ashby leads the pack, but with Chick apparently bowling for the opposition on a weekly basis, nobody's tally is safe. 🍩 Roll on the next fixture — the noughts are watching, 0️⃣🦆

A brisk couple of days for the 1st XI, who conspired to hand back five wickets for precisely 0️⃣ runs across two away fixtures. No new arrivals to the exclusive zero club this week, but two old campaigners tightened their grip on the record books all the same. 🏏 Saturday 8th August — away to Tilling Steven Terry Donovan fell at four, caught Sheppard off D. Pound — his 4th duck of the summer and 6th of a career now 38 innings deep, good for 53rd on the all-time list. Terry arrives at this one already installed as Duck of the Year 1964, and with the Full House nearly-man board to his name — ducks from 10 of 11 batting positions — he's just one unlucky number eleven short of completing the set. On this very day in 1892, Jack Fryer (1881–1906) was doing much the same against Royal Engineers CC, en route to two Duck of the Year titles of his own. Next in, John Mattingley was bowled by Sheppard for his maiden career duck in just 4 senior innings — 284th on the all-time list and climbing. Jack Fryer, as it happens, was contributing to the very same 1892 fixture 72 years to the day earlier. Gordon Fenner followed, caught Cutbush off D. Pound, his 1st of the season but 21st of a career already 8th on the all-time standings. Something of a family trade — siblings Joe (5 career ducks) and Maurice (1) are paid-up members too. And yes, Jack Fryer was there again in 1892, rounding out the trio. 🌱 Sunday 9th August — away to Harrietsham CC The undisputed king of noughts, John Thirkell, extended his all-time lead to a scarcely believable 53 ducks — still top of 792 club members — bowled by Peter Hope for his 1st duck of the season. His honours board reads like a museum wing: three Duck of the Year titles (1952, 1954, 1955), top-10 finishes in Ducks on the Road and Homebody Duck, and shared Quacking Together honours with Bob Arnold and William Buck. On this day in 1904, Jack Fryer was likewise trudging off at Leeds Castle CC. Peter Hope wasn't done — John Ames edged behind to Laurie Holloway off the same bowler moments later, his 3rd duck of the season and 31st of a career now 5th all-time. Ames carries the Ducks in a Row board for four on the spin, plus Quacking Together company with both Roy Clarke and Stan Wratten. Jack Fryer, naturally, was there again in 1904 too. 📋 Week in brief Five ducks, two matches, one remarkably busy Jack Fryer haunting both fixtures from decades past. No pairs, no families of ducks this week — just honest toil in the art of not scoring, with Thirkell's all-time record edging ever further out of reach. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Roy Clarke — 21 innings, 6 ducks, 28.57% - Ron Hickman — 7 innings, 5 ducks, 71.43% - Richard Ashby — 17 innings, 5 ducks, 29.41% - Terry Donovan — 12 innings, 4 ducks, 33.33% - John Ames — 9 innings, 3 ducks, 33.33% Ron Hickman's 71% strike rate remains a standard nobody should aspire to. Donovan and Ames both feature fresh from this week's carnage — worth watching as the season run-in approaches. See you next week, when the 1st XI will no doubt keep feeding the club's most exclusive, least wanted list. 🦆🍩

A quiet week for the fowl-hunters by Linton's usual standards — just two fixtures, both falling to the 1st XI's lot, but three ducks all the same. The art of not scoring remains very much alive. Saturday 1st August — Headcorn CC (home) Openers to tailenders, nobody was safe. Basil Sears, in at number one with grand intentions, was caught D Down off S Parham without troubling the scorers — his 2nd duck of the season and 19th of a distinguished career (7% from 271 innings), good enough for 11th on the all-time list. At the other end of the order, Derek Pantony fared no better, also caught D Down — a busy afternoon for him — off R Excell, for his 2nd of the season too and his 11th career duck from a mere 30 innings, a rate for nought that would make actuaries wince. That puts him 24th on the all-time list, and Derek is already a name on the 1947 Duck of the Year honours board, a title earned long before this week's efforts. Curious company for both: on this very date back in 1959, a young Roy Clarke also strolled back for nought — a man who sits 4th on the all-time list with 36 career ducks and the 1959 Duck of the Year crown to his name. Which makes what happened two days later rather delicious. Monday 3rd August — Bearsted CC (away) Because on 3rd August, at Bearsted, Roy Clarke obliged history all over again — bowled by Jim Ralph at number 8, for his own 6th duck of the season. His tally climbs to 36 career ducks from 208 innings (17%), still holding 4th on the all-time list, and a reminder that his Duck of the Year 1959 title and his Quacking Together (with John Ames) pairing sit proudly on the honours board. On this day back in 1952, one Gordon Fenner also made a duck — Roy now keeps that company too. Spare a thought for the family name as well: brother H Clarke carries 3 career ducks of his own, so the surname has a certain pedigree in these parts. Week in summary Two matches, three ducks, one recurring surname. The 1st XI carried the entire load this week — the 2nds, 3rds and Sundays got off lightly, for once. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Roy Clarke — 6 ducks / 21 innings (29%) - Ron Hickman — 5 ducks / 7 innings (71%) - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks / 15 innings (33%) - Terry Donovan — 3 ducks / 11 innings (27%) - Fred Greenfield — 3 ducks / 17 innings (18%) Ron Hickman's 71% remains the number to beat this season — arithmetic bordering on the heroic. 🍩 Fixtures resume shortly, and with them, no doubt, further additions to the club's dubious roll of honour. The Duck Club never sleeps — see you at the crease. 0️⃣🦆

A brisk weekend on the road for the exclusive zero club, three new members processed and not a run scored in anger. Both matches away, both duly obliging. Saturday 25 July — away to Tovil and Bridge Ron Hickman strode out at nine and departed to the bowling of J- Jeganathan, the art of not scoring performed with typical economy. It's his 5th duck of the summer and 6th for his career in just 12 innings, hoisting him to 52nd of 792 in the all-time list — and a paid-up member of the "Quacking Together" honours board alongside Alan Cradduck. On this very day back in 1925, W Turner was doing exactly the same thing against Bearsted CC. Jeganathan wasn't done. In walked A Mitchell at ten and departed the same way, bowled by the same man — a tidy little brace for the bowler and a grim procession for the scorebook. Mitchell's 2nd of the season and 2nd of his young career from only 3 innings, 118th of 792 all-time. He's already a card-carrying member of the Debutante Duck club from a nought on arrival, and — fittingly — shares this week's on-this-day company with W Turner too, 1925 vintage. Sunday 26 July — away to Folkestone CC Fred Greenfield, in at four, fell to H Ratcliffe for his 3rd duck of the season and 3rd of his career from 17 innings, good enough for 96th of 792 on the honours board. Fred is also a standing member of the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell — no such drama today, just another quiet contribution to the tally. On this day in 1940, J Short made the same walk against Boughton Monchelsea CC. Week in summary Three ducks, two matches, one bowler doing most of the damage — J- Jeganathan claimed a Saturday brace at Tovil and Bridge before Folkestone chipped in on Sunday. Triumph through adversity, as ever. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Ron Hickman — 5 ducks in 7 innings (71.43%) 2. Richard Ashby — 5 ducks in 14 innings (35.71%) 3. Roy Clarke — 5 ducks in 20 innings (25.00%) 4. Terry Donovan — 3 ducks in 10 innings (30.00%) 5. Fred Greenfield — 3 ducks in 17 innings (17.65%) Ron Hickman leads the pack after this weekend's efforts — can anyone catch him before the season's out? 🥇 Next fixture looms, bats at the ready, and the Duck Club stands eager for fresh additions. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures, two days, four visits to the exclusive zero club this week — the 1st XI doing all the heavy lifting in the art of not scoring. Saturday 18 July — 1st XI v Rumwood CC (h) Bowler J- Nolan enjoyed himself enormously, claiming a brace for the album. First to go was Frank Brattle, undone at five in the order, his bat troubling the scorers for precisely nought runs. It's his 2nd duck of the season and 21st for the career from 203 innings — a lofty 7th of 791 in the all-time table. Splendidly, on this very day back in 1959, none other than Bob Arnold made a duck against these same opponents, Rumwood CC — Arnold went on to rack up 46 in a Linton career running 1949-1964 and sits 2nd all-time, Duck of the Year in 1963 to boot. Fine company to keep on a shared anniversary. A chip off the old block too — kinsman Percy Brattle carries 5 career ducks of his own. Six down and Nolan struck again, removing Dick Langridge at number eight for the same fate. Also his 2nd of the season, and his 8th career duck from just 35 innings — 34th of 791. Same Bob Arnold parallel applies here too, so make that two Linton men echoing the great man's 1959 vintage in one afternoon. Sunday 19 July — 1st XI v Len Newbury's (h) Openers are meant to see off the shine, not the umpire's finger. John Ames, in at first drop, fell to J- Fletcher for his 2nd duck of the season and 30th of a distinguished career — 219 innings, 5th of 791 all-time, a Ducks in a Row man and a fixture of the Homebody Duck top ten. Then, fittingly, last man Alan Wilkes was run out for nought too — his 1st duck of the season but 18th of the career from 72 innings, 12th all-time. The pair now share honours the hard way: both are paid-up members of "Only Two Quacks (with each other)" — a rare double confirmed live at the crease this very match. Wilkes is also deep into his own "Runaway Duck" campaign, chasing an entire 1964 season without troubling the scorebook. On this same 19th day back in 1953, Tom Osborn made a duck against John Larkings — Osborn's only one in a short 1944-1958 career, 338th of 791, so Ames and Wilkes both nod to a rather more modest namesake this time round. 📊 Week in summary Four ducks, two matches, one very happy bowler in Nolan and a tidy symmetry — a brace apiece for both fixtures, and the top and bottom of the order both getting acquainted with nought on Sunday. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks in 14 innings (35.71%) - Roy Clarke — 5 ducks in 18 innings (27.78%) - Ron Hickman — 4 ducks in 6 innings (66.67%) - Terry Donovan — 3 ducks in 9 innings (33.33%) - Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) The season race remains wide open. Next fixture awaits — the ducks never sleep, and neither do we. 🦆🍩

Two fixtures, three ducks, and the exclusive zero club takes in a fresh trio of dubious achievers this week. 1st XI Saturday's away day at Tovil got the ball rolling early. D Woolston departed at first drop, caught D-White bowled M-Taylor for nought — his 2nd duck of the season and 2nd of a career now 9 innings deep, tucking him in at 127th of 791 all-time. Curiously, on this very date back in 1943, Stan Wratten (1943–1964, 21 career ducks, 8th all-time, and a card-carrying member of Quacking Together with John Ames) was also trudging off for a duck, against Royal Artillery Wing. Some things about mid-July never change. Not long after, Ron Hickman joined him in the pavilion, caught M-Taylor bowled J-Archer down at number 10. That's Hickman's 4th duck of the summer and 5th for his career from a mere 11 innings — a rate of attrition good enough for 62nd all-time, and honours already secured via Quacking Together with Alan Cradduck. He too finds a companion in Stan Wratten's 1943 vintage — evidently the great man cast a long shadow. Sunday brought the 1st XI home to face Claributs Circus, where Len Conway completed the weekend's set, bowled M Balcombe for his 1st duck of the season but a weighty 11th for the career, from 103 innings — 24th of 791 in the all-time reckoning. Conway is a long-standing paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his own debut duck years past, though this week's effort is very much a repeat customer's work. On this same calendar day in 1959, John Ames (1952–1964, 29 career ducks, 5th all-time, decorated with Ducks in a Row, Homebody Duck top 10 and a brace of Quacking Together honours) also fell for nought against Tovil. Week in summary A modest three ducks from two matches, but each one dutifully accompanied by its own ghost from history — two of this week's names sharing their haunting with Stan Wratten's 1943 vintage alone. No pairs, no family affairs, just honest, solitary failure — the art of not scoring, practised quietly and well. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks in 12 innings (41.67%) - Roy Clarke — 5 ducks in 16 innings (31.25%) - Ron Hickman — 4 ducks in 6 innings (66.67%) - Terry Donovan — 3 ducks in 8 innings (37.5%) - Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) Hickman's fresh addition nudges his rate ever closer to two-in-three — Ashby and Clarke would do well to keep glancing over their shoulders. The season presses on and the ducks show no sign of migrating. Get out to the middle next weekend and see whose name joins the honours board 🦆🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures on the road this weekend, and Charles Arkcoll proved considerably less hospitable than their neighbours down the lane. The zero club welcomes four new entries, all from the same afternoon's carnage. 🏏 1st XI — away to Charles Arkcoll, Saturday 4th July Basil Sears opened proceedings and departed just as promptly, caught Sean Carter bowled Vic Wellard. It's his first duck of the season but hardly his first rodeo — 18 career ducks now sit against his name from 268 innings, good (bad?) enough for 12th on the all-time list. Splendid company to keep on this particular calendar square: on this day back in 1904, Arthur Cornwallis (1884–1909) was doing precisely the same thing, strolling back for nought. At five, Colin Eldred fell bowled John Ames — only his second senior innings for the club, and already his first duck of it. He's a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell, a standing honour we mention purely for colour rather than any suggestion he's hanging up the boots today. Like Basil, he shares his calendar date with Cornwallis's 1904 effort — the ghosts of Sutton Valence past clearly fancied a July weekend out. Terry Whittaker, at eight, was run out in a mid-pitch mix-up for his 13th career duck from 96 innings — 21st in the all-time standings and a fully fledged member of the Quacking Together honours board alongside Brian Relf. Same date, same spectral company: Cornwallis strikes again. And last man Ron Hickman rounded things off, bowled John Ames for his third duck of the season already — a proper hot streak. He moves to 4 career ducks from just 10 innings, 82nd on the all-time list, and carries his own Quacking Together entry alongside Alan Cradduck. John Ames can rightly claim the bowling figures of the day, accounting for both Eldred and Hickman. The 1st XI's other fixture this weekend passed off entirely fowl-free — every batsman got off the mark, much to the Duck Club's disappointment. 📅 The Week in Brief Four ducks from two matches, all condensed into one unforgiving Arkcoll innings. A tidy hat-trick-and-one of dismissals — caught, bowled twice, and run out — proving there's more than one route into the exclusive zero club. Ron Hickman's third of the season already has him climbing the current standings nicely. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks from 10 innings (50.0%) - Roy Clarke — 5 ducks from 14 innings (35.71%) - Ron Hickman — 3 ducks from 5 innings (60.0%) - Terry Donovan — 3 ducks from 7 innings (42.86%) - Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks from 3 innings (66.67%) Ron Hickman now sits third in the season race off the back of today's effort — keep an eye on him. Next weekend's fixtures await, and the Duck Club's talent scouts will be watching every stroke, every leave, and every hopeful forward defensive. 🦆🍩

A quieter week in the ledger, but the exclusive zero club still took delivery of four fresh members across two fixtures — both, fittingly, at home. Onwards. 🏏 Saturday 27th — v Sevenoaks Vine CC (h) Opening the innings and the day's misfortune, Terry Donovan fell to a- Greenwood — his 3rd duck of the season and 5th of a career now running to 32 innings, good (or bad) enough for 62nd on the all-time list. Terry currently holds the reins in this season's Duck of the Year race, and remains a solitary position away from completing the full set — a "Full House nearly-man" on 10 of 11 batting slots now blemished. On this very day back in 1936, E Godden was doing much the same against Bearsted CC. At the other end of the order, No.11 Ron Hickman was bowled by Michael Bowler for his 2nd of the season and 3rd career duck, sliding into 111th on the all-time roll — a paid-up member of the "Quacking Together" pairing with Alan Cradduck from seasons past. Like Terry, Ron shares his date with E Godden's 1936 vintage effort versus Bearsted. Top order and tail order both present and correct — a fine spread of ineptitude. 🏏 Sunday 28th — v Canterbury Pilgrims (h) Opening again for the 1s, D Woolston departed to B Terry for his maiden blemish in 8 senior innings — the season's and the career's first duck alike, landing him at 219th all-time. Back in 1882, J Sedgwick made his own duck on this same date, one of four that would earn him the 1881 Duck of the Year crown. At No.7, Dick Langridge was bowled by K Collard for his 1st of the season and 7th of a career spanning 32 innings, a very respectable 41st on the all-time chart. The surname runs deep in the club's duck annals — kinsman Barry Langridge carries 5 career ducks of his own. Dick, too, shares his date with Sedgwick's 1882 effort. 📊 Week in Brief Four ducks, two matches, both at Linton Park, and a tidy symmetry to it — Saturday's top-and-tail (opener and No.11), Sunday's top-and-middle (opener and No.7). The 1s carried the full weight of ignominy alone this week; the 2s, 3s and 4s escaped entirely unscathed. Enjoy it while it lasts. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks / 9 innings (55.6%) - Roy Clarke — 5 ducks / 13 innings (38.5%) - Terry Donovan — 3 ducks / 6 innings (50.0%) - Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.7%) - Ron Hickman — 2 ducks / 4 innings (50.0%) Terry and Ron both climb straight into their own leaderboard this week — proof that consistency of a very particular kind is alive and well at Linton Park. 🍩 The season rolls on, and the crease waits for its next volunteer. See you all at the next fixture — someone's got to keep the honours board ticking over.

A quiet weekend for the ducking classes — just the one fixture on the board — but East Peckham & Nettlestead CC still managed to prise out two card-carrying members of the exclusive zero club. 1st XI v East Peckham & Nettlestead CC (Home) Opening the innings, Frank Brattle departed b R Cox without troubling the scorers — his 1st duck of the season and a tidy round 20th of his career, good enough for 9th in the all-time standings out of 790. He carries the family name proudly, kin to Percy Brattle, who has quietly banked 5 career ducks of his own — the art of not scoring, it seems, runs in the blood. Curiously, on this very day back in 1958, Tony Snell (1952–1963) also fell for nought against Aylesford Paper Mills CC — Snell went on to a season entirely without a run that year (Runaway Duck 1958) and a four-in-a-row streak besides, so Frank can at least say he's in infamous company. At six, Roy Clarke was undone by D Tolhurst for his 5th duck of the season and 35th of his career — a lofty 4th on the all-time chart, a paid-up member of the Duck of the Year 1959 board and holder of the Quacking Together honour alongside the legendary John Ames. His sibling H Clarke isn't far behind either, with 3 career ducks of his own to keep it in the family. And remarkably, Roy shares Frank's exact echo from history — on this day in 1958, Tony Snell also went for a duck against Aylesford Paper Mills CC. Two Lintonians, one bowling side sixty-odd years apart, both undone on 21 June. Cricket has a long memory. Week in Summary Just two ducks from one match, both courtesy of the home 1st XI, both at the hands of a different East Peckham bowler — a shared misfortune rather than a conspiracy. Modest pickings, but the season standings tell a livelier story. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 🏆 - Richard Ashby — 5 ducks in 7 innings (71.43%) - Roy Clarke — 5 ducks in 11 innings (45.45%) - Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) - Terry Donovan — 2 ducks in 5 innings (40.0%) - Fred Greenfield — 2 ducks in 11 innings (18.18%) Richard Ashby sets the pace with a fearsome 71% strike rate for failure, but Roy Clarke's 5-for-11 keeps him snapping at the heels. 🥇 Next fixture looms, and with it the promise of fresh recruits to the honours board. Pads on, bats raised, standards low. See you all out there. 🏏0️⃣

Bobbing Court CC away day, and the exclusive zero club welcomed three new dividend payments to its ledger. A trio, all in the same innings, all in the same tour party — Bobbing Court clearly know how to set a field. 🏏 1st XI — Away at Bobbing Court First to the crease and first to the pavilion in this batch was William Buck, caught John McLeod bowled P Bedelle at number five. This is only his 1st duck of the season but a weighty 22nd for his career, keeping him a commanding 6th of 790 in the all-time table across 267 innings — a "Quacking Together" honours-board man alongside John Thirkell, proof that misery does indeed love company. On this very day back in 1882, C Gibbs was doing exactly the same thing against 1st Innings Boxley CC — some traditions span the centuries. Next in was Roy Clarke, undone caught J Gleissner bowled Roger Mills at six. This is his 4th duck of the summer and 34th of his career, good enough — or bad enough — for 4th of 790 all-time, and it comes with a Duck of the Year 1959 gong already on the mantelpiece plus another "Quacking Together" credit with John Ames. A chip off a feathered block too — his sibling H Clarke carries 3 career ducks of his own. Like William before him, Roy's fall echoes C Gibbs' effort of 1882 to the very day. Rounding out the collapse, Richard Ashby went caught W Webb bowled Roger Mills at number nine — his 5th duck this season and 8th for his career, sat 39th of 790 all-time. Richard is riding a "Ducks in a Row" honour for five on the bounce and features on the Tourist Duck top 10 for services rendered away from home. Same date, same fate as C Gibbs in 1882 — the ghost of Boxley CC clearly enjoys a mid-June reunion. 📊 Week in Summary One match, three ducks, one long-suffering scorebook. Bobbing Court's bowlers took the entire middle-and-lower order to the cleaners, and all three victims share a curious historical twin in C Gibbs of 1882 — a duck ley line running straight through Linton Park's June fixtures for over 80 years. Consistency, as ever, of a very particular kind. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Richard Ashby — 7 innings, 5 ducks, 71.43% 2. Norman Mattingley — 3 innings, 2 ducks, 66.67% 3. Roy Clarke — 10 innings, 4 ducks, 40.0% 4. Terry Donovan — 5 innings, 2 ducks, 40.0% 5. Fred Greenfield — 11 innings, 2 ducks, 18.18% Richard Ashby sits imperiously atop the standings with a duck rate that borders on the architectural. Can anyone dislodge him before the season's out? Bring your bats, gentlemen — or don't, and simply add to the tally. The Duck Club never turns anyone away. 🍩0️⃣🦆

Three fixtures, five ducks, and one Tovil bowler having an absolute field day. The exclusive zero club welcomes its latest inductees below. Saturday 6th June — 1st XI v Tovil (h) - Roy Clarke departed at first drop, bowled M- Taylor, for his 3rd duck of the season and 33rd of a rather storied career — good for 4th on the all-time list of 788. A Duck of the Year alumnus (1959) and one half of the Quacking Together honour with John Ames, Roy keeps distinguished company on the boards, and closer to home too — sibling H Clarke isn't far behind on 3 career noughts of his own. - Richard Ashby, lbw to the same M- Taylor, notched his 3rd of the season and 6th of his career (42nd all-time), already a paid-up member of the Ducks in a Row (5 consecutive) club and handily placed in the Tourist Duck top 10. Little did he know Monday had more in store. - Ron Hickman rounded things off at number 11, also bowled M- Taylor, for his 1st duck of the season and 2nd of his career (163rd all-time), joining the Quacking Together roll of honour alongside Alan Cradduck. Three for M- Taylor, then, in a spell of pure poultry farming. And rather beautifully, on this very day in 1903 George Champion also made a duck, against Town Malling CC — Linton's trio keeping him company 61 years to the day. Sunday 7th June — 1st XI v Gore Court CC (a) - Derek Pantony fell at number 11, caught Robin Bush bowled Ron Beckenham, for his 1st duck of the season and 10th of his career — 26th on the all-time list, and a Duck of the Year graduate from 1947. On this same calendar day back in 1953, Richard Harris was also departing for nought, on his way to a career haul of 36 (3rd all-time) — rarefied air for Derek's tenth. Monday 8th June — Midweek XI v Dimanchians CC (h) - Richard Ashby was back at it, caught Pete Best bowled J Foster, his 4th duck of the season and 7th of his career. Saturday and Monday together make a grim little pair for the week — the art of not scoring, twice in three days. On this day in 1940, Stan Pierce likewise walked back empty-handed, against Loose CC. Week in summary: five ducks from three matches, one bowler (M- Taylor) doing the hat-trick unassisted, and Richard Ashby claiming this week's dubious double honours all to himself. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Richard Ashby — 6 innings, 4 ducks (66.67%) - Roy Clarke — 9 innings, 3 ducks (33.33%) - Norman Mattingley — 3 innings, 2 ducks (66.67%) - Terry Donovan — 5 innings, 2 ducks (40%) - Fred Greenfield — 11 innings, 2 ducks (18.18%) Fixtures continue apace — who'll be adding their name to the honours boards next time out? The Duck Club awaits, as ever, with open arms and low expectations. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Two matches, two days, four fresh inductees into the club's most exclusive and least coveted society. The 1st XI handled the honours both days, keeping the whole grim business splendidly in-house. 🏏 Saturday 30 May — vs A. Trembeths (Home) Richard Ashby fell at number seven, bowled by H Clancy — his 2nd duck of the summer and 5th of a career now 30 innings deep, level at 61st in the all-time table of 787. A paid-up member of the "Ducks in a Row" honours board with five consecutive to his name at some point along the way, and a top-ten Tourist Duck man besides, though today's fall came on friendly home soil. On this very day back in 1959, H Clarke was doing much the same thing against Old Williamsonians — some things never change. Then Bob Arnold, at eight, somehow contrived to get out hit wicket off G Davis — a duck delivered entirely by his own hand. Only his 1st of the season, but his 46th career duck, a tally that puts him 2nd on the all-time list, second only to the legendary John Thirkell. Duck of the Year in 1963, "Ducks in a Row" honoured, and carrying pairing honours alongside both Alan Wilkes and John Thirkell besides — Bob keeps rarefied company. Also on this day in 1959, H Clarke made a duck too, though clearly in different sporting circles. 🏏 Sunday 31 May — vs Folkestone CC (Home) Stan Wratten went at three, bowled by H Ratcliffe — his 1st duck of the season, 21st of a career spanning 226 innings, and good for 7th all-time. A member of the "Quacking Together" club alongside John Ames. On this day in 1958, Frank Brattle also made a duck, in a career that would eventually run from 1937 clear through to 1964. And closing the weekend, Roy Clarke — run out at eight, the end itself apparently too undignified to be recorded for posterity. His 2nd of the season, 32nd of his career, 4th all-time, with a Duck of the Year gong from 1959 and his own "Quacking Together" pairing with John Ames. Roy comes from good ducking stock — his sibling H Clarke carries 3 career noughts of his own. Like Stan, Roy shares his on-this-day twin in Frank Brattle, ducking against Old Williamsonians on this same date back in 1958. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks, two matches, entirely a 1st XI affair — the 2nds, 3rds and beyond escaped unscathed this week. Bob Arnold and Roy Clarke both sit inside the all-time top 5, which is either a remarkable coincidence for one weekend's fixtures or simply business as usual at Linton Park. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks in 2 innings (100%) 2. Richard Ashby — 2 ducks in 4 innings (50%) 3. Terry Donovan — 2 ducks in 5 innings (40%) 4. Roy Clarke — 2 ducks in 7 innings (28.57%) 5. Fred Greenfield — 2 ducks in 8 innings (25%) Norman Mattingley sits pretty atop the table on a flawless record, while Richard Ashby and Roy Clarke both feature fresh this very week — the chasing pack is closing in. 🍩 Until next weekend, the stumps stay up and the crease stays lonely. Bring your bat, bring your luck — the ducks are always hungry for company.

Two fixtures took to the field this weekend and the club's most exclusive members' bar admitted just one new arrival. Quality over quantity, as the Duck Club committee likes to say. 🏏 1st XI v Gore Court CC (home, Saturday 23rd May) Richard Ashby, in at number 8, was bowled by Andrew Ogle without troubling the scorers — his 1st duck of the season and the 4th of a steadily distinguished career, now sitting 80th of 787 in the all-time charts. Richard is already a paid-up member of the "Ducks in a Row" board for a run of five consecutive noughts, and holds a top-10 spot on the Tourist Duck charts into the bargain — a man who travels well and bats indifferently wherever he lands. 0️⃣ Splendidly, on this very day back in 1959, Basil Sears (1947–1964) also departed for a duck against Gore Court CC. Gore Court, it seems, has form. Sears retired with 17 career ducks, good for 13th all-time — Richard has some way to go to catch him, though the omens for future visits are not encouraging. Week in Summary A rare quiet spell by Duck Club standards — 2 matches, just the 1 duck, no pairs, no families, no king ducks to log. Even the ducks take the odd weekend off. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Norman Mattingley — 2 ducks / 2 innings (100%) 2. Terry Donovan — 2 ducks / 4 innings (50%) 3. Fred Greenfield — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.3%) 4. A Mitchell — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) 5. Richard Ashby — 1 duck / 3 innings (33.3%) Norman Mattingley leads a flawless charge at 100%, though with only two innings on the board there's time yet for someone to make it interesting. Next fixture awaits, gentlemen — the honours board always has room for one more. Bring your bats, and, ideally, your luck. 🦆🍩

Three matches, six ducks, and the 1st XI doing all the collecting this week. A vintage mid-May haul for the exclusive zero club. Saturday 16th May — Maidstone YMCA CC (away) A rare treble in one innings. - Terry Donovan fell first, bowled by B- Relf for nought at three — his 1st duck of the season and 3rd of a 29-innings career (rank 80 of 786). He's the current pace-setter for Duck of the Year 1964, and remains cricket's answer to an unfinished jigsaw — the club's reigning "Full House nearly-man," having batted in ten of the eleven positions and still short of the full set. On this very day in 1959, the legendary Bob Arnold (45 career ducks, 2nd all-time) was doing exactly the same thing against Gore Court CC. - Norman Mattingley followed, caught Grenfell off the same Relf, for his 2nd of the season and 4th career duck — from just five innings. A strike rate bordering on vocational. He shares his on-this-day company with Arnold's 1959 effort too. - And at eleven, debutant A Mitchell rounded things off, stumped for nought on his very first senior appearance — a genuine, freshly-inked entry on the Debutante Duck board. Not even golden, mind: young Mitchell had the decency to face a few before departing. Bob Arnold, once more, keeps him company from 1959. Sunday 17th May — Bearsted CC (home) Roy Clarke, the club's most prolific collector of noughts (31 career ducks from 190 innings, rank 4 of all time), added his 1st of the season, caught Warnett off Snook. A former Duck of the Year (1959) and one half of "Quacking Together" with John Ames, Clarke ducks in fine company — his brother H Clarke carries 3 career ducks of his own. On this day in 1953, Stan Wratten — another name tied to Ames on that same board — went the same way against Mote A. Tuesday 19th May — Detling CC (home) Fred Greenfield went lbw to G Wood for his 2nd of the season, career duck number 2 from just four innings, and a filed member of the Retirement Duck club — though nobody's said he's finished yet. On this day in 1951, Gordon Bugge made his own duck against Aylesford Paper Mills CC. In the same match, Terry Donovan returned — run out, call unclear — completing a grim pair for the week: Saturday's Relf special and Tuesday's mix-up, moving him to his 2nd duck of the season and 4th career. Two blobs in four days is consistency of a very particular kind. Week in summary 6 ducks, 3 matches, all 1st XI. Norman Mattingley sits on a flawless 100% for the season, Terry Donovan banked a full pair, and young Mitchell opened his account in the cruellest possible fashion — first knock, first blob. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Norman Mattingley — 2 inns, 2 ducks (100%) 2. Terry Donovan — 3 inns, 2 ducks (66.67%) 3. Fred Greenfield — 4 inns, 2 ducks (50%) 4. A Mitchell — 1 inns, 1 duck (100%) 5. John Ames — 3 inns, 1 duck (33.33%) The season's still young and the ducks are circling. Next fixture, someone's number is surely up — see you at the crease. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quieter harvest this week, but the exclusive zero club still opened its gates twice, and the 1st XI monopolised the honours entirely across two fixtures. 🏏 Saturday — v Charles Arkcoll Norman Mattingley departed in the murkiest fashion cricket allows — run out for nought, the scorer left with nothing more decisive than "Unsure" to go on. It's his first duck of the season and the third of a young career spanning just four innings, lifting him to 103rd in the all-time standings. Splendidly, on this very day back in 1959, one Brian Mills was doing exactly the same thing, a brief but productive career (1959–1960) yielding four ducks and a place among the Debutante Duck alumni. 🌱 Sunday — v Bobbing Court CC John Ames was next to the gallows, caught T Ades bowled W Webb without scoring. His first duck of the season, but the 29th of a substantial career across 212 innings — good enough for 5th on the all-time table, rarefied company indeed. Ames arrives here a decorated member already: four consecutive ducks on the honours board, a fixture in the Homebody Duck top 10, and shared membership of the Quacking Together lodge alongside both Roy Clarke and Stan Wratten. Remarkably, on this exact date in 1958, none other than John Thirkell — the club's all-time record holder on 52 — was out for nought himself. Fred Greenfield fared no better at four, trapped lbw by Roger Mills for a duck of his own — his first of the season and only his second senior innings, taking him to a single career nought and 238th place all-time. He's a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club from some past farewell knock, though happily nothing here suggests today was any kind of goodbye. Fred keeps Ames company in following Thirkell's footsteps from that same May day in 1958. 📊 The Week in Brief Three ducks from two matches, the 1st XI cornering the market entirely while the rest of the club kept its bats safely away from the taxidermist. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family affairs this time round — just three honest, unhurried failures to trouble the scorers. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - John Ames — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - Norman Mattingley — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - Fred Greenfield — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% Early days yet in the 1964 campaign, but the race for Duck of the Year is already stirring. Next fixture awaits — who'll be added to the roll of dubious distinction? 🦆🍩