Nomads in Spain October 2002

 N omads visited L'Alfas del Pi in late October 2002. There were four matches on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday October 25,26,27 & 28th.

   The party was: Michael Blumberg,Jack Hyams, Paul Wakefield,Charles Fellows-Smith, Alan Eyles,Chris Gallaher, Simon Barter, Kevin Smith & Lady, Vince Gavin & Helen Cooper, James While,Mike Palowkar, Charles Noakes, Chris Horne & Kelvin Sutherland    

Accomodation: AlbirGardens Aparthotel, Albir, L'Alfas Del Pi.  

Nomads did not acquit themselves with distinction on this tour perhaps reflecting the disappointing UK results at the back end of the season. Good starts were squandered needlessly and with limited bowling available the totals set were not challenging except on Sunday when Paul Wakefield hit a splendid ton and James While plundered 70*.  

Charles Noakes fell over despite the best attempts of Vince Gavin to prevent this and so he hurt his shoulder on the pavement which was a shame for him and the team and this was only on Wednesday evening.    

The problem with the middle order was that it was long on nocturnal experience in Benidorm and the pleasure houses of L'Alfas Del Pi but short of runs whenever it mattered.    This is not in the tradition of true Nomads who need precious little sleep  in order to perform well on the field of play.  

The leader of course arrived with his eyes twisted in a squint which stayed all tour and some would stay clouded his judgement on the field at times.     His major problem was the late arrival of half the team every day leaving him with only one decision to make on winning the toss namely to bat. Given the condition of many of the players a few hours in the field would probably have improved their batting prowess.    

The weather  was wonderful and several of the dinners consumed delightful. The youngest member of the tour was frequently surrounded by teenage nymphettes but his conquests were unproven or extremely discreet. His innings likewise  promised much but always fizzled out when in sight of a substantial score.   

Kelvin Sutherland was reputed to have done better in Benidorm but arrived 2 hours late for the Saturday match complaining of the sweat generated when oversleeping on a real leather couch in the foyer of an apartment block where he has been 'dumped' when believing there was much more to be completed that morning.  

An altercation in Tony's restaurant on the Friday night involving James While, Mrs Smith and Christopher Horne was to have repercussions for a decade involving MCC and more! Chris Horne incurred an injury apparently from this incident and sensibly took an extra week to recuperate. In fact he may sthave lingered there much longer   having been engaged as extra bowler by the Intellectuals CC for net practise. 

The real triumph of the tour was of course the near 83 year old Jack Hyams who completed an 8 over spell on Sunday with two wickets to his name and then on Monday opened the innings and hit a swashbuckling 32 off 35 balls, an example to us all sadly not taken.   

Our hosts Sporting Alfas were in fine fettle with an increasing membership and  very pleased to reverse last year's results. The Forty Club of Spain recorded their 1st ever victory over Nomads/Cricket World XI and were pretty chuffed about it too.