Nicholson Cricketer Cup Final Preview - Old Malvernians v Old Tonbridgians
Two heavyweight sides, in Cricketer Cup historical terms, go head-to-head in the final at Arundel Castle on Sunday 13 August. Both sides have won more finals than any other - Tonbridge with 16 wins and Malvern with 10. The next highest is last year’s winners, Bradfield Waifs, with 4 wins. In addition both Malvern and Tonbridge have been the runners-up in another 6 finals.
The 2023 final is a hard one to call. Old Tonbridgians have had comfortable wins at home against OMTs, Old Bedfordians and Eton Ramblers, with one away success at Bradfield in the quarter-final. Old Malvernians have won comfortably at home against Old Hurst Johnians and Old Wykehamists, then away at Clifton but came through by just one wicket in a nail-biting semi-final at home against Oundle Rovers..
Both sides would have liked to select their first class players, but Zak Crawley (Tonbridge) is probably having a good rest after triumphant Ashes performances and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Malvern) is playing in the Hundred. Both have played in the Cricketer Cup in earlier stages of their careers after benefiting from incomparable school coaching and facilities. Zak Crawley captained Tonbridge in 2016 in a side which included Ben Earl, who is striving for a place in England’s World Cup rugby squad. Malvern could also have called on Jack Haynes, Rehaan Edvalath and Josh Baker from Worcestershire, while Tonbridge will be missing Marcus O’Riordan (Kent) and Toby Pettman (Nottinghamshire). The days when the likes of Ted Dexter and Colin Cowdrey could play in the Cricketer Cup in the middle of a Test series are long gone, while counties are reluctant to release even fringe contracted players for what might be regarded by wizened professionals as a ‘jazz-hat’ competition. More’s the pity!
Old Malvernians are captained by 24 year old Josh Haynes, who also opens the batting, and is the elder brother of Jack Haynes. Alex Milton, with five Cricketer Cup centuries, including one in an Arundel final, and a century on debut for Worcestershire in the County Championship, is their most experienced batsman and he also keeps wicket. He was recently elected into the Cricketer Cup Hall of Fame 2010-19. The middle order has a decidedly youthful look with Tommy Boorman, who has just left school to join the Gloucestershire playing staff and scored a crucial match-winning 94 in the semi-final, and the Cox brothers - Joel also a school leaver who made 50s in both the quarter and semi-finals, and Olly, last year’s Wisden Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, now on Worcestershire’s playing staff. They are backed up by all-rounder Mark Hardinges, the veteran of the side, who made his Cricketer Cup debut in 1998, had ten years playing first-class cricket with Gloucestershire and is now a housemaster and master-in-charge of cricket at Malvern. The side is completed by three spinners and Angus Catto, a right-arm seamer. The spinners are Ben Twohig, a slow left-armer who played for Worcestershire, along with Josh Dickenson, a leg-spinner, and Dan Holland, an off-spinner.
Old Tonbridgians are led by seam bowler Hugo Snape. They also have a school leaver in opening bat Olly Sykes, the Tonbridge captain this summer, whose team lost in the final of the Schools T20 at Arundel, a competition in which Malvern also reached the semi-final, both teams losing to King’s Taunton. Their ‘veteran’ is Olly Howick, who made his Cricketer Cup debut in 2006 and, recalled to the team for the quarter-final at Bradfield after four years in ‘retirement’, took 4-37 with his right arm seam and scored 41 not out to settle Tonbridge nerves in the run chase. He has also been inducted into the Cricketer Cup Hall of Fame 2010-19, as has Fabian Cowdrey,. Cowdrey is the key player in the Tonbridge team, both for his batting and his left arm spin, the only one with first class county experience He has a current incredible Cricketer Cup average of 161 with six centuries and three fifties in only thirteen innings. In his only two appearances this year he has made 133 against Eton and 53 against Bedford. Ed Hyde, who won blues for Cambridge and keeps wicket in the final, is the only other Tonbridge player with first-class experience. Most of the others are playing top league cricket in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Julian O’Riordan (Tunbridge Wells CC) made 123 in the first round against OMTs, while recent school leavers in Freddie Geffen (Guildford CC) and Harry Bevan-Thomas (Sevenoaks Vine CC) come in at 4 and 5. As has been the case with many successful Tonbridge sides in the past, there are plenty of spinners. Apart from Cowdrey, there are two off-spinners in Tom Coldman (Sevenoaks Vine CC) and Joe Baldwin (Wimbledon CC), and two slow left-armers in Bevan-Thomas and Henry Cope (St.James, Montefiore).
The weight of experience probably lies with Malvern, but neither side will underestimate the other. Watching will be supporters from both schools, along with many who have played in Cricketer Cup finals in the past. Among them will be Bryan Richardson, the ex-Warwickshire player, now a Vice President of the Cricketer Cup and Old Malvernians’ organiser-in-chief, and Chris Cowdrey of Tonbridge, Kent and England, the current Kent President and father of Fabian, who will be presenting the cup.
A great day beckons, enhanced by the generous sponsorship from Nicholson Gin, and we hope for a good crowd for what is always a top class occasion. Nicholson will be providing a mobile unit selling pizzas and gin and other light refreshments are available from the cafe onsite. Nicholson will also run their ‘win gin for a year’ competition.
For those supporters who cannot get to the ground, the match will be livestreamed on the Chobham Cricket Club site, so follow the link below.
2022 Cricketer Cup Final