Zac Eastwood Joins the Eastwood & FCC Hall of Fame

For the second time this summer, FCC 4th XI came face to face with what must surely be the most outstanding batsman in the 3rd XI division this season, Ellis Taylor. Having scored a mightily impressive 89 in the fixture at St Helens, he went even bigger at Cricket Path with a hugely destructive 133* which included 13 x 4 and 8 x 6. Clearly a man who does not deal in singles, 100 of the 133 that he scored came from boundaries.

Having had recent, first-hand, experience of this young man’s (16 years old) undoubted ability, Captain Steve Dwyer had two scenarios in his mind as to how combat his attacking play.

Firstly, win the toss, put runs and the board and see what happened after that. He lost the toss and St Helens decided to bat first; no surprise there on what was a very hot and stifling afternoon and the run filled FCC wicket looking as splendid as it has done all summer. Compliments, as ever, to Mike & Tony Poole.

With plan A now redundant he resorted to what, I would actually consider to be, plan A+ and a piece of inspired and thoughtful captaincy. Having clearly considered the prospect of losing the toss, Captain Dwyer had given a lot of thought as to how he would operate his bowlers and, instead of opening with the traditional, and well rehearsed, seam attack, he opted for the slow left arm of Mark Sumpter which, on a different day and with a slice of luck, would have reaped huge and immediate rewards.

Having watched him twice this summer, Taylor is a player who has an incredible cricket instinct and an eye for a ball; however, if there is a weakness / room for improvement, it is that he does not move his feet very well and relies on his skill of eye and playing through the ball; I hasten to add, a non-expert cricketing opinion from yours truly; however, a look at his record for St Helens 2nd XI this summer would appear to add a degree of credibility to it but he will only get better.

Perhaps Taylor was surprised by the choice of a slow left arm bowler opening up against him; however, from his very first delivery, Mark Sumpter had him in trouble and, as long as Taylor tried to play outside of his natural attacking instinct, he continued to remain in trouble. Sumpter was able to beat the bat, inducing at least two top edges, just out of reach of the waiting wicket keeper and two slips, and several play and miss shots, and, despite not being able to remove him, in my opinion, certainly had the better of his opening 5 over spell. Not at all bad for a bowler whose age can only really be qualified by Carbon dating.

Despite being dropped on 48 (Andy McMorran, take a bow), Taylor, and St Helens, made hay in the sun with only the ever reliable Arthur Cook (223 FCC wickets now) and, the not too far off as equally reliable, Louis Burt, the only bowlers to take a wicket as St Helens reached 221-2 declared in only 34 overs.

With such an early, and it must be said again as it was at St Helens, sporting declaration, St Helens knew that time would be on their side and realised that, should the game go the full distance, they would have 50 overs to capture the 9 wickets that they required for victory. Only 9 wickets were required as, during the course of fielding, Harry Whitehurst was unable to continue in the match as the ball somehow found its way behind his wicket keeping pad and crashed into his knee. We all wish him a speedy recovery and quick return.

Captain Dwyer opted to open the innings with Andy McMorran and Miles Davies. Despite some very attractive early stroke play from McMorran through the covers the opening partnership was broken at 16 when Miles was run out for 6. Arthur Cook and Greg Last departed in quick succession and, at 20 / 3, an early finish was on the cards.

You could be forgiven that the story of this game had already been written by Ellis Taylor; however, enter Zac Eastwood to join Andy McMorran.

With the first 3 wickets falling in quick succession, the 50 partnership that Andy and Zac then compiled is, even for me, difficult to put into words. McMorran was able to put his slightly more attacking style to one side and, in tandem with Zac, was able to absorb balls and overs; thus, ensuring that the early finish that I had anticipated was never going to be realised. Andy’s stay at the crease was finally ended after a 79 ball (13 Overs faced) 32; however, from here on in it was the Zac Eastwood story.

I will provide the actual numbers now. For his 26*, Zac faced 122 balls (20 Overs). I will even go as far to say that, such was the discipline and self-control that he displayed, he probably only scored another 6/7, having been on 20 for an age, runs for the remainder of the FCC innings. Notwithstanding the previous wickets, Andy and Zac had taken the best part of 33 overs out of the 50 that could have been available and Zac was still not finished.

Coming from the cricketing dynasty that is the Eastwood family, Zac had good cause to be nervous, although he did not give a hint of it, when he came into bat. 20 / 3, the game already beyond winning, an underused batsman in the 3rd XI and with dad, and I think mum, watching, he could have been forgiven for letting his thoughts wander but there was not a bit of it.

Coming into bat when the hugely impressive opening partnership of Cieron Spencer, right arm quick (5 Wickets by the way), and Ian Jenions, slow (ish) left arm round, were still operating, Zac immediately settled in for what was going to be, dare I say it, a rite of passage innings.

Playing with the maturity and responsibility that would have normally been associated with his dad or brother, Zac made his intentions crystal clear by not being tempted by anything that was outside the line but then, more impressively, playing with assurance and true ability to anything that threatened his wicket. In particular, I was an eye witness to the way that he played the left arm bowling of Ian Jenions. A bowler of real quality, not to mention height (Well over 2 meters) figures of: 12.1 – 6 – 14 – 1, need no further explanation.

In an attempt to remove Zac from the crease, Ian employed every single technique that he has amassed from what must be thousands of overs but could not find a way through. Every single ball that Ian delivered tested me as an umpire, not to mention Zac as a batsman, and Zac dealt with them all with a phlegmatic attitude that would make Steve Waugh look like highly strung, panicked individual. Ian’s secret weapon was his faster, gun barrel straight, delivery. Zac just played it back. If ever a testimony was required to a player, when giving him his cap back, Ian said to me, you have a very special player here, look after him.

Through Zac’s efforts, the 4th XI were within 17 balls of securing a draw; having faced 46 and a bit overs. Ian Jenison came back for a second spell at the Cricket Path End and, with his quicker delivery, took only one ball to remove the last remaining FCC 4th XI wicket.

Notwithstanding the result, and the earlier century, for everyone who watched this game it was the Zac Eastwood day.

In my 4 short years at the Club, Zac was the first player that I noticed as having something really special. Cricket is in the Eastwood’s blood; however, as Ian Jenions said to me again when he was bowling, we have a special player here, look after him.

Did I mention, he bowls as well?

From everyone associated with the FCC 4th XI, St Helens Town CC and, I am sure, everyone associated with FCC, let us all welcome, and say hello, to the most recent Eastwood jewel in the crown.

Zac Eastwood has arrived.