Five Questions with David Basterfield (re-publication)
Following the very sad passing of Club Vice-President (and Club Legend) David Basterfield, we are republishing his Five Questions, first published in Summer 2017. RIP, Sworldy.
1. How and when did you join Acton C.C.?
I joined the club in 1971 as a tennis player but always fancied playing a bit of cricket. And so I would be sniffing around for a game, offering to buy drinks for the cricketers including the club's recovering alcoholic… well I didn't know. Finally they were one short in a 3s game at Winchmore Hill and in I snuck. Incidentally a well-known Tantric sex expert got a ton that day.
2. What were the most notable highlights in your Acton career?
I got a 70 odd n.o against North London as captain when we chased down their score on a wicket turned into a shocker by a torrential rain shower (incidentally Matt Turnell was in the 2s that day - a naughty boy dropping.)
Also a Sunday game against Teddington when they were due to play Harringuay Cricket College in a cup game but Harringuay dropped out. Teddington had a really strong side out in consequence, whereas we had a couple of 1st teamers out but also AB's dad. They were supposed to wipe the floor with us particularly when their minor county's bat got 135 n.o. But the cricket gods' were smiling that day I got a steady 60 n.o and our dashers dashed successfully and we thrashed them. Also averaging 80 in the 3s one year although the pleasure was offset by never getting a sniff of playing for the 2s even after getting called up a couple of times for the 1s (but I wasn"t bitter - much).
3. What are the biggest differences between the old Acton and the club today? What do you miss most and what has changed for the better?
Well the thing that hasn't changed is the spirit of the club. Let's face it we had a crap weekend on the field last week but there were still 30 odd players drinking and talking bo##ocks a few hours later. Great. I miss not having our own bar - we always seem to be slight interlopers in the Park Club. We had endless great times in the old club. Undoubtedly we now play higher quality cricket across the board - the downside is that we have to get used to losing more frequently.
4. Who has been your toughest opponent?
Got to be Richmond. They always seemed to have ridiculously good players playing way below their appropriate standard.
5. And finally, what’s your all time Acton XI?
My all time XI excluding overseas players would be:
1.Steve Baz - he got the talent I got the looks. Solid against the quicks superb against spin. Massive batting brain.
2. Vernon Angell - devasting batter, exceptional nicker of strike (and coming from me !!!!) and a beautiful orthodox left arm spinner. Hung like horse and a proper six pack.
3. Pooram Singh - superb all round batter and useful seamer.
4. Yogi - Quality batter and think what he would be like if he got more than an hour's sleep on pre-match night's.5. Michael Judanath imperious batter and probably the best to watch.
6. Winston Farrell - quality hard hitting batsman who caused the worse injury I've seen on a cricket field.
7. James Hunt - in his slippy left arm opening bowler days.
8. Oh bo##ocks, Plug
9. Matt Turnell - club's best ever bowler. No argument.
10. Joe Burke - fine fine swing and seam bowler and would definitely argue about the statement in 9. Could cause a row in a monastery. So Acton through and through.
11. Gary King - a brilliant keeper when sober.