Clifford Cox Memorial Game and Presentations

Eddie Norfolk

The Cliff Cox Memorial Match 2012 at Upper Brockton, Vancouver, July 14th, 2012

MCC 205 for seven wickets (50 overs) beat British Columbia President’s XI 186 all out (48.3 overs) by 19 runs

The Cliff Cox Memorial Match itself saw a battling effort from some of the British Columbia President’s XI after captain Jimmy Hansra had been the only one of the front order batsmen to begin to build an innings. Hansra, just back from Canada’s trip to Scotland, score 31 of his team’s first 67 runs. The BC President’s XI was facing a target of 206 to win in 50 overs.

MCC had reached 205 for seven wickets in 50 overs thanks to an unbeaten eighth wicket stand of 63 between captain Jason Gallian and wicketkeeper Lamiman. The BC President’s XI bowled quite well, but gifted too many wides, that in the end made a big difference.

The 45 wides conceded by the President’s XI beat the individual contributions of openers Tom Webly (35 runs) and Rajiv Sharma (20), who shared an opening stand of 49. Harvey was the second batsman out, for 11, after 75 runs were on the board. But then the hosts gained control as four wickets fell in moving the score from 96 for two wickets to 129 for six wickets. Jason Gallian ended on 50 not out and Robert Lamiman was 25 not out when the innings closed with 205 runs registered.

Opening bowlers Tom Harvey and Tom Parsons then struck with early wickets for the MCC. Three BC President’s XI wickets had already been lost when Haninder Dhillon, a former Canadian international, drove fiercely, only to be caught one-handed at mid-on by Charlie Finan. The scoreboard now read a rather a sorry looking 27 for 4. So it fell to another Dhillon – Dilpreet – to support a rebuilding partnership with Hansra, then take charge of the President’s XI recovery.

Dilpreet Dhillon went on to score 57 which won him the Batsman of the Game award. He was eventually was the ninth batsman out, with the BC President’s XI total on 159. Later, during the awards presentations he was quick to point out “I am pleased to be chosen for this award as I am a bowler, not a batsman”.

The last wicket pair kept the President’s XI in the hunt until Virender Grewal was bowled by Harry Smallwood for 15 with the score on 186 after 48.3 overs. Manny Aulakh made 25 not out.
It provided some interesting cricket to end this Cliff Cox memorial game on the Upper Brockton cricket ground. MCC’s opening bowler Tom Harvey captured the bowler of the match award thanks to his three wickets for 33 runs.

A sky full of runs and cricket balls on the lower ground

It is probably a pity that the speeches during the presentations that followed the Cliff Cox Memorial Game, the British Columbia President’s XI versus the MCC did not seem to be video taped. So a few chicken scratchings on some of what was said may have to suffice; at least for the time being. Someone else, hopefully, may provide a better review.

There was nothing at the game between the BC President’s XI and the MCC which indicated it was being played as a memorial to Mr. Clifford Cox. Although Meraloma’s Third XI did play on the Lower Brocton pitch and his wife was present to see parts of both the MCC game and the Meraloma’s games. Cliff Cox had begun his playing career, after coming from Lancashire to Canada , with the Vancouver Rowing Club but subsequently switched the Meraloma club. So it was fitting that a team from the Meraloma’s club was in action on the lower ground.

During the afternoon, Meraloma’s third team posted 257 runs for the loss of seven wickets in a British Columbia Mainland Cricket League game on the adjacent Lower Brockton ground. Many of the runs came from numbers 7 and 8 in the batting order: Stuart Gills with 64 not out, and Warren Ackhurst, bowled for 86.

Balls continued to be struck high into the light blue sky and into the trees beyond the pavilion when Surrey Warriors batted. The pace of balls into trees increased such that the Warriors had won the day’s cricketing battle after the first ball of the thirty seventh over. Surrey Warriors 258 for six wickets, and winners by four wickets. Details of the names of leading run plunderers for the Surrey Warriors were not available online when this report was compiled.

The Lower Brockton ground is down a grassy bank from Upper Brockton, but the whoops of joy from as the ball was thrashed around, and as some wickets fell, left no doubt that the players were enjoying their cricket in the sun.

Presentations and Memories

There were tributes to Cliff Cox from British Columbia Mainland Cricket League President , Mr. Alex mmm, Meralomas Cricket Club President, Mr. and the MCC touring party’s manager. Mr. Steve Salisbury. Mr. Salisbury mentioned he had not personally met Cliff Cox, but the news that Clifford Cox had died was received with great sadness at Lords Cricket Ground Cliff had been such an ambassador for Canadian cricket, and as a representative for the MCC in North America. His planning skills and abilities were highly respected by those within the MCC.

There were concerns in the MCC ranks about who would fill the gap left by Cliff Cox in Canadian cricketing administration. However, early signs on the present trip to Canada were an indication of continuity of good relationships with people involved in the Canadian cricket scene.

Various presentations were made, including the best bowler (Tom Harvey, MCC) and best batsman (Dilpreet Dhillon, BC President’s XI) of the memorial match, commemorative gifts were exchanged between the MCC and the hosts. Special memorial tokens were given to Cliff Cox’s family, including one given to his wife of fifty-five years, Doreen.

In receiving this award, Mrs. Doreen Cox spoke of Cliff’s passion for the game, but in doing so underlined her passion for cricket and life. But it was not just some kind of passing passion for cricket that could be turned off and on, like using a light switch. It was an integrated part of life and thinking, to plan, prepare and do things well. To do things properly, and with a purpose. Then all can benefit from a shared relationship and friendship. A greater good.

Mr. Jeff Ryan, President of Meralomas Cricket Club, recalled the enthusiasm in a “Lancastrian voice over the phone last year that kept repeating ‘The MCC are coming, the MCC are coming….’. Eventually, the words changed to to state ‘we’ve got to start planning NOW!’ “

Mr Ryan stated that Cliff Cox had been a member of the MCC, which in itself can be an achievement, and was MCC’s representative in North America. Cliff had organized many tours and made such contacts with the leaders of cricket in different countries “He was an amazing, an amazing man.” Due to Cliff’s influence and contacts “we (in British Columbia) managed to play in places where we had no right to play.” Mr. Ryan ended “We all miss him so dearly.”

The MCC’s touring manager, Mr. Steve Salisbury, concluded his tribute on behalf of the Club with words from W. B. Yates: “There are no strangers here, only friends we have yet to meet.”

A tour, such as this by the MCC, involves meeting and bumping into many people in parts of the world where the individual tourists may not have previously been. A lot of faces are met and the chance to get to know people can be difficult, given the hustle and bustle, especially at the start following a long flight from one time zone in the UK to a much different time-zone on Canada’s west coast. Placing, and remembering names and faces in transforming from strangers to friends can have many steps. Indeed, we might even learn from such experiences how little, at times, we know about ourselves, and our friends. The balance, as well, of the real and the unreal.

Did someone really pick up the ball and run off with it on Friday afternoon? They did. What could the crowd have been if all those on two large cruise ships – cruise liners – that left the Vancouver docks and passed the ground while the President’s XI were batting? There were no end of tourists to Stanley Park that someone might entice to come, watch and be entertained by cricket, provided that someone took the time to explain the game. Or made use of handouts explaining the game, either as a standalone sport, or as a comparative guide between cricket and baseball. Or a bit of both. It could be done. Some of the cricketing folk at the ground do try and explain the game to the passing strangers. Passing strangers who could become friends.

Perhaps we can best keep Cliff Cox’s memory alive in Canadian cricket by addressing the priorities of proper planning, preparation and doing things well. Setting standards that might be hard to achieve, but without high standards, expectations and commitment, the game will not improve, thrive and prosper in Canada like it could and should. Coxey certainly wanted Canadian cricket to thrive and he lead by example, by doing things; not flimsy mission statements and pretty logos.

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