The Twelfth Man 2011

27 • Q: A question about the main pressures and stresses of commentating was posed. A: The main pressure is usually a summary of events which has to be done inside a tight schedule. The other main stress involved is being away from your family during overseas tours, especially at Christmas time when you have young children. • Q: Views were asked about sky coverage. A: Sky do a brilliant job, but Kevin is against the ever increasing influence of technology as this increases the influence of the third umpire match referee who might become the main man, when the main men should always be the two umpires in the middle. • Q: Kevin was asked about the problems of sorting out accommodation when travelling around the country commentating. A: There is now a company available who will sort it all out for you so it is not normally a problem unless there is a late change of circumstances when things can get a little complicated. Kevin went on to discuss amongst other things England’s chances in Australia and Yorkshire’s chances in 2011 to conclude a fascinating and entertaining evening. November – Peter Duncan Bowler This evening’s guest, Peter Duncan Bowler, was introduced to the audience by our chairman. Peter is a former English-born Australian cricketer who played for Leicestershire in 1986, Tasmania in1986/87, Derbyshire from 1988 to 1994 and Somerset from 1995 to 2004. He played three youth Test matches during a 1982 tour of Pakistan – making 82 on his debut, and also making a 76 on the tour. In 1986, Peter made a century on his Leicestershire debut. He played in Australia during the following season, but came back to England in 1988, playing for Derbyshire, and, 14 times in the following 17 seasons he top scored in the season with an innings exceeding 100. In 1988, his first season with Derbyshire, he scored 1,725 runs, a record which stood for three years until it was broken by Mohammad Azharuddin. Peter’s top score in a league match came in 1990 when he made 210, having a month previously made 241 against Hampshire in the NatWest Trophy. Even in 1992, when he possessed his highest season average of nearly 66 runs, he failed to get the call from England, particularly at a time when Derbyshire’s wickets were more suspect to being felled by clever seam bowlers. From 1994 he had a run with Somerset, but made a comeback in Derbyshire’s second placing or 2001 before they were relegated the following season. He spent two years in Division Two before retiring from the game. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler, who occasionally played as wicket- keeper. Peter then gave us a personal outline of his life as an English /Australian county cricketer. He started by pointing out that his last visit to our society was in1988 when he collected the Player of the Year trophy. Peter classed himself as a steady batter, so steady that when he went into bat he usually helped in his clubs revenue collecting by the bar filling up. Born in Plymouth, Peter went to Australia as a baby with his parents and was brought up in Canberra and he grabbed the chance to play for Tasmania under David Boon. Peter returned to England at the age of 22 to play for Leicestershire. He found himself set up on his first day at the club when Jonathan Agnew sat him in David Gower’s seat for the team photo. He made his debut in1986 against Hampshire when two batsmen developed migraine at the thought of facing Malcolm Marshall. Fortunately, despite being hit on the helmet first ball by Marshall, Peter went on to make 100. Peter’s next match was at Middlesborough, where he witnessed Boycott trying to get his 150 th ton, which he managed despite the sacrifice of batting points. Peter then gave us further stories and anecdotes prior to question and answer to provide a first-class and entertaining introduction. Question and Answers: • Q: Peter was asked about England’s prospects against Australia. A: A very close series was predicted. Peter felt the First Test was vital, but even if England lost there (not many touring sides win at Brisbane) he still felt it would be a close series; unlike last time. • Q: What was it like playing with Richards and Dominic Cork. A: Certain batsmen make their own rules up as they go along, such as Richards and Botham, which makes them unique and as far as Cork was concerned, he was unique in other ways. • Q: Spats with Sledging Aussies was questioned. A: The one with Shane Warne was just a case of giving as good as I was getting, which he wasn’t used to. As for sledging in general up to a point it’s acceptable, but cross the line into abuse and that is not acceptable. Peter went on to answer questions on school cricket in Australia, grade and state cricket down under and lots more stories and anecdotes, to make it a highly successful evening. January – Mark Rowe Mark was at the WCLS to talk about the Victory Tests between England and Australia. Mark explained that the matches were not classed as Test matches due to the non-availability of certain players i.e. one certain Don Bradman. This did not however diminish the post war public appetite for the matches, which were in the main sell outs. Tom Hudson presents Peter Bowler with a WCLS glass on 25 November