Gravesend Cricket Club

Gravesend Cricket Club

Established:	1880
Home venue:	Bat and Ball Ground

Gravesend Cricket Club^[1] is a cricket club which currently plays in Division 2 of the Kent Cricket League.^[2] The club was formed in 1880 and plays at the Bat and Ball Ground which has been around for over 150 years (since 1848). First Class Cricket was played at "The Bat" (as it is affectionately known) by Kent County Cricket Club and its Second XI. The highest ever score on the ground came from W.G.Grace with 257 for Gloucestershire in 1895, and the most wickets in a match coming from Tich Freeman for Kent in 1931. The club currently has four running league teams, as well as a 5th XI which play friendly matches. Also, the club operates an exciting youth section with teams ranging from U11 to U17 (with the exceptions of U14 and 16). In Autumn 2011, the club was awarded the ECB "Clubmark" status which acknowledges the colts section of the club.

Cricket Grounds used by Gravesend Cricket Club

There are three different grounds which are used every week during the season by the four operating league sides, whilst the Fifth XI play all of their games away, apart from one game which is annually played at the Bat n Ball against Detling CC. These grounds are:

Bat and Ball Ground - Played on alternatively by the First XI and Second XI
Southfleet CC - Played on by the Third XI
Nurstead CC - Played on by the Fourth XI

2010 Season

In the 2010 season, the First XI was pushing for promotion from Division 3 of the Kent Cricket League and after a brilliant season, were promoted as champions. No doubt, the club were very grateful from the help of Jamaica national cricket team player Yannick Elliott who got 37 wickets and 588 runs during the campaign as the club's overseas player.^[3] The rest of the 1st XI were also brilliant during the season altogether (including Yannick Elliott) accumulating 137 wickets^[4] and 2873 runs.^[5]

First XI top league wicket taker 2010 - Charley Nash - 49
First XI top league runs scorer 2010 - Charley Nash - 625
Overall top league wicket taker 2010 - Charley Nash - 49
Overall top league runs scorer 2010 - Charley Nash - 625

2011 Season

The 2011 season was going to show to be a tough season in Division 2 for the First XI. However, the club managed 4 wins in the first 6 games of the season and were comfortably out of the relegation zone, sitting in the top half of the table. Despite this they went on to lose their next 6 games whilst two were abandoned. They avoided relegation by managing to win two out of the last four games and as a result, they finished 7th in the league with 167 points,^[6] 13 points above the relegation zone.

First XI top league wicket taker 2011 - Dale Clarkson - 21
First XI top league runs scorer 2011 - Marlon Johnson (overseas player) - 575
Overall top league wicket taker 2011 - Joshua Hughes - 37
Overall top league runs scorer 2011 - Marlon Johnson (overseas player) 575^[7]

December 2011 was to prove to be a great month for the club - despite it being during the off season. This was due to the club being granted £43,214 by the Sport England's Olympic Legacy Fund. This money was spent on new outdoor nets, a roller, a bowling machine and a new cover for the club to use at the Bat n Ball. All of these things will contribute massively, no doubt, to the growth of the club as a whole and will pave a better path for the club's up-and-coming youth players. Also, it was great news for the club when they found out that newly appointed Assistant Coach of Essex County Cricket Club, Matthew Walker, would be coaching the winter nets sessions for the club. Matt is an ex-player for the club having played there for 13 years as a youth and adult.

2012 Season

The 2012 season ended up being a good season for the club especially for the 2nd XI who managed to gain promotion to the Kent 2nd XI Division 2. They did it in the last game of the season and were promoted by a single point. Elsewhere in the club, the 1st XI remained in Division 2 of the Kent League,the 3rd XI remained in Division 1A Central of the Kent Regional League, and the 4th XI were relegated from Division 2B West of the Kent Regional League. However, the 4th XI did win in their final game of the season against the Hartley Country CC 5th XI. Ironically, the win relegated Hartley as well.

First XI top league wicket taker 2012 - Robbi Nash - 34
First XI top league runs scorer 2012 - Pedro Venus - 508
Overall top league wicket taker 2012 - Robbi Nash - 34
Overall top league runs scorer 2012 - Pedro Venus - 508

Notable ex-players and Club Legends

Simon Hinks - (1960-): Played for the club during the 70's and early 80's before going on to play First Class and List A cricket for Kent and Gloucestershire.^[8]
Matthew Walker - (1974-): Played for the club for 13 years during the late 80's and 90's before going on the play First Class cricket for both Kent and Essex as well as List A. Also played for England U19 and became the Head Batting Coach at Essex taking over from Graham Gooch in the winter of 2011.^[9] He now plies his trade at his old stomping ground, Kent County Cricket Club, as Assistant Coach. He joined in the winter prior to the 2014 season.
Jonathan Hinks - (1964-): Played for the club during the late 70's and 80's, before going on to play Second XI Cricket for Kent. He then came back to the club in the late 90's to continue to play club cricket, and now uses his spare time to coach for Gravesham and Dartford District.^[10] Jon also holds the record score on the ground for Gravesend, scoring 200 not out during a First XI league game.

References

↑ Gravesend Cricket Club official website http://www.gravesendcc.co.uk/
↑ Kent Cricket League official website http://www.kcl.uk.net/
↑ Yannick Elliot Statistics for season 2010. http://gravesend.play-cricket.com/profile/statistics.asp?id=11465640
↑ Gravesend 1st XI Wickets 2010 Season http://gravesend.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/bowlingstats.asp?fromForm=1&team=7935&type=501&ruletype=6101&seasonID=23&sortBy=5&filter=0
↑ Gravesend 1st XI Runs 2010 Season http://gravesend.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/battingstats.asp?fromForm=1&team=7935&type=501&ruletype=6101&seasonID=23&sortBy=4&filter=0
↑ League standings for the Kent Cricket League Division 2 in the 2011 season http://kcl.play-cricket.com/leaguetables/resultsReport_view.asp?fromForm=1&seasonID=24&startDay=&startMonth=&startYear=&endDay=&endMonth=&endYear=&divisionid=823&cupid=
↑ http://gravesend.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp Gravesend CC on Play-Cricket Site
↑ Simon Hinks First Class and List A Career http://www.cricketarchive.com/Kent/Players/4/4316/4316.html
↑ http://cricketarchive.com/Players/4/4703/4703.html Matt Walker Cricket Career
↑ http://www.cricketarchive.com/Kent/Players/67/67554/67554.html Jon Hinks Cricket Career

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