This month we caught up with Andy Baggot, a regular member of the Pudong club, and repeat SCC Pirates tourist.
1. How did you start playing cricket with the SCC?
I’d been in Shanghai for eight years before I got the cricket twitch. I googled cricket in Shanghai, emailed the SCC and was opening the bowling for Rak Mistry’s “Hard Dogs” side that same Sunday!
2. What was your first ever cricket bat?
It was a Gunn & Moore, and about the cheapest bat available in 1979. It was a banjo – ruined me as a player!
3. Who would you consider the greatest cricketer you’ve had the seen in action from the stands?
I didn’t get to see much live cricket, but I was lucky enough to get occasionally taken to see Hampshire at their second home ground in Bournemouth. Barry Richards and Gordon Greenwich were our openers, legends of the game and famed for their gradual removal of the member’s pavilion roof tiles! However, it was a young visiting Leicestershire batsman named Gower, who added something I just can’t describe. He only made 37, but those runs were not of this world. Proper ground side demeanour as well – an impressive sporting personality.
4. You’ve had the opportunity to play cricket with your son in Shanghai, was that memorable?
Having been separated from Daniel for most of his life, finding common ground to take the life long relationship further is critical. The fact we both struggle with talent and form just makes cricket even more of a talking point. He may yet live with me here in Shanghai and has stated that he will come back as a Basher, so at least the Bashers and Pudong will be equally disadvantaged!
5. What has been the highlight of your cricket in Shanghai so far?
(See next question.)
6. The Beijing Sixes [has just taken place], what can you tell us about the event last year?
I’d like to answer the last two questions at once. Pudong had just three men, the Bashers four. So we formed the legendary Bash-Dong alliance squad, and despite having to roughly play twice as many games in the truly extreme heat as the other teams, we made it through to the cup final as the Bashers and the bowl final as Pudong. Mike “Tubby” Hall and Manoj “A Trois” Zalpuri were on fire, and when your hitters consistent hit large, a sixes team comes to life and we all lifted our games in response. Apart from Phil “Filthy” Mildenhall, we all held our catches, bowled tightly, and generally played to the best of our ability. Partying all night gave us an even greater sense of accomplishment.
We played 12 games, averaging 12 runs an over, and only lost the final matches through injury and the accumulated exhaustion of playing two finals back to back against sober and well rested opponents. It was a three day endurance test and for those who haven’t experienced it, Beijing is even hotter than Shanghai at the peak of the summer. Joining to honour our clubs, and the SCC, and fighting our way through to the finals gave us all a real buzz. This year the SCC are sending the Pirates, led by Basher, Sameer Jolly, the pick of the bowlers from last year.
That was my best cricket achievement so far, but it’s early days, I’m only 47.