A number of guest supporting the tour as well as The XI themselves departed for North Norfolk on the promise of fine weather, fun cricket and well kept ales on the morning of Thursday 26th May 2005.  I am delighted to confirm that apart from some questionable navigating en route, we were not disappointed!

Arriving at lunchtime (depending upon the quality of the navigation) the touring party checked into the Lenwade Country House Hotel in Great Witchingham, immediately taking up position in the bar to watch England begin the anticipated demolition in their first test at Lord's.

After a particularly friendly welcome from the especially talented bar staff, and of course one or two liveners, we enjoyed some much needed lunch before heading off down the drive to the Clubhouse and Bar where the cricket ground was placed within the hotel grounds.  Jack Frost XI enjoyed a very traditional warm up!

Jack Frost XI v Gt Witchingham
As a result of the warm up play started a little later than anticipated, with the opposition getting off to a blistering start, scoring at more than 7.5 an over for the first 10 overs. The athleticism of the Jack Frost XI, coupled with some fine F&G by some of our Senior Pros, including 'Stormin' Norman Gray et le renard argenté (aka Nigel 'foxy' Fowler), together with some acrobatic catching and deflecting in the field ensured the opposition were restricted to 197 by the close of their innings.

In reply the skipper of The XI on the day, Paul Lack, employed a masterstroke by opening our innings with Dom Bryan partnering one of Jack Frost XI's newest members, Clive 'Hookie' Hook.  Whilst Mr Bryan struggled to find form beyond the bar (0), 'Hookie' played some lovely strokes to reach 23 in double quick time.  With Hookie supported by one of The XI's most able players Mike 'nice car' Chase, The XI enjoyed a start that perhaps surpassed the opposition as we scored at an expansive 8 an over for our first 10 overs! 

As the lunchtime libation wore off and the roasting temperatures began to tell Jack Frost XI lost another wicket or two, to make way for Neil 'Youth Policy' Baker, who demonstrated great fortitude whilst embarking on a classic dismantling of the opposition's bowling attack, picking up where Hookie and Chasey had left off!  After a short while he was joined by Al 'didn't get a wicket all tour' Crowhurst, putting on 89 together before Neil finally fell, jug shy, on 93.  Al was joined at the wicket by David 'Dorothy' Dandridge, who hit the winning runs (on the legside shockingly enough) with more than an over to spare to record a Jack Frost XI win!

Tour Leader, David 'The Chair' Lipop, was good enough to act as official scorer for this game, for which we are all grateful.

We then adjourned for our first evening on tour, the highlight of which was a formal dinner with jazz - 'nice'!  It was an evening full of fun and frivolity which went on until 'sun up' for more than half the tourists, with Dorothy in particular putting a great deal of time, money and effort into rehearsing for the following night's conversations!  He was ably supported by Geoffray 'no LBWs until August' Last, as they depleted the supply of Babysham  the bar had especially ordered in. 

Many thanks to the Chairman for organising the dinner and presenting the awards with such aplomb!

Jack Frost XI v Aldborough
As one might well expect the following morning breakfast was not enjoyed in full by all of the Tourists, no doubt due to the barman's remarkable efforts the night before.  All however did put in an appearance for the interesting tour of the countryside to Aldborough taking in Blickling Hall, one of England's great Jacobean houses. 

Upon arrival at Aldborough another fairly orthodox training session commenced at a lovely hostelry blessed with arguably the best ale of the tour, The Old Red Lion.  An excellent light lunch was served and skipper for the day 'nice car' Chase was dispatched to survey the picturesque ground, reconoitre the wicket, win the toss, and come up with his game plan whilst the rest of the team began finding their feet again, with further light training.  

Aldborough started their innings against two of the batting heroes of the previous match, 'Youth Policy' Baker and Al 'didn't get a wicket all tour' Crowhurst.  Initial conditions, dictated perhaps by the training, lent rather towards the home team until 'Youth Policy' Baker picked up a wicket in the most unexpected way.  Garnering an edge from one of the left handed opening pair 'nice car' Chase snaffled up a sharp chance to his right at fifth slip (not gully - despite what he claims) as the batsman didn't ever really control the shot, well bowled arguably without due reward at that point.  This perked up The XI who were perhaps starting to wilt in the roasting temperature. 

'Youth Policy' Baker made way for 'Stormin' Norman Gray at the Red Lion end.  'Stormin' built on his F&G in the first game taking a wicket maiden in his last over before making way pour le renard argenté who gave Geoffray more exercise in two overs than he would normally expect in the course of a tour.  Al 'didn't get a wicket all tour' Crowhurst having toiled into the wind for 10 overs, gave way to John 'Diplomatic Corps' Croysdill who took only a few moments to scent the batsman's weaknesses.  'Diplomatic Corps' finished with 3-33 having surprised Aldborough into only posting 229-5 dec.

The XI's reply began with two batsmen who had scored 1 between them on tour, and 'The Chair' had an excuse as he was scoring in the first game.....the first 12 runs of the innings notably coming in extras, with the next eight from the edge of Graham's shiny new blade.  Before long 'Youth Policy' Baker joined 'The Chair' who proceeded to run him out, 'nice car' Chase then joined 'The Chair' and did the same to him..... at which point the skipper was joined by le renard argenté who failed to trouble the scorer (Jim 'smoky' Jeffries) at all.  It was at this point that Al 'didn't get a wicket all tour' Crowhurst joined the skipper for an exhibition of batting which finished with all Aldborough's fielders being posted on the boundary.  A great skipper's knock by 'nice car' more than ably supported by 'didn't get a wicket all tour' which put on the runs at almost two a ball.  Jack Frost XI had required well over 10 an over to win when they started their partnership and for the whole of their partnership this rate was exceeded with some clean hitting that had the crowd entranced.  Finally, when the rest of the team thought the improbable was indeed possible they both holed out and the last couple of tightly bowled overs to new batsmen ensured the draw was the fair result.

Many thanks to Jim 'Smoky' Jeffries for scoring and to Dave 'Fish' Salmon for keeping the telegraph/ales ticking over.

Following the game an exquisite meal was taken in Cromer (The Mary Rose Fish and Chip Restaurant) with the highlight being Hookie and Chasey's romantic stroll on the pier.  A superb piece of navigation enabled us to return to Lenwade swiftly where another evening of fun and frivolity ensued.  The remaining tourists welcomed those who had just arrived for golf until the first light was seen in the sky.  Which gave Dorothy ample time to perfect his previous evening's conversations much to our amusement.