In the eighth in the series of profiles revealing what and who makes us enjoy playing or watching cricket, today we hear from a man who has been associated with the club across four decades – Adam Carty.
If you would like to get involved, all players, past or present can give us their take on the sport, at Calmore Sports or otherwise – so please answer the 18 questions and email richard@calmoresports.co.uk.
Name: Adam Carty
Nickname(s): Carts (or maybe Carts Senior now) and AC.
What sparked your interest in cricket: Dad and uncle played a good level. Followed them around a bit. I had a middle school teacher called Jonathan Howard who was a proper cricket badger and a great fella. He was very influential and first introduced me to structured cricket at school. Remember the playground sessions like it was yesterday and not 40 years ago!
Do you prefer the T20, 50-over, county or Test format of the game: As a kid it was all about Test cricket. Cricket offers a great balance of formats today and with it offers three different and equaling appealing concepts that all offer great entertainment. I am a man for all formats.
Cricketing hero: As a kid, it was a toss up between Stu Bailey and Ian Botham both for similar reasons. Both hugely talented and fearless, loved the responsibility to take a game by the scruff of the neck. Both crowd pleasers and three dimensional cricketers. As close to Ben Perry as you get without them being Ben Perry.
Favourite current (professional) player: It has to be Stokes although I think I am going to enjoy watching Ollie Pope for many years to come.
Most admired/best player you have played with: Can’t recall admiring too many. Former ‘more President Terry Chilcott was one I looked up to as a teenager. Mark Ramprakash was pretty decent too.
Most formidable opponent: Paultons CC had a three pronged South African seam attack back in the day lead by Justin McCrory. We played them all too regularly in the late 80s. They came hard, were proper tough and were all very good! I think Calmore and Paultons were two of the top sides in the county back then.
Who would you most like to be isolated with from Calmore Sports – and who wouldn’t you: Like to – if we are sticking with males only …. Ben Perry would be my number one choice. There is so much to learn from this guy! Multi-skilled, multi-layered, highly considered and very bright. Not like to – Chick.
Favourite away ground: Longparish CC.
Favourite/most memorable match you’ve played in: Calmore v Paultons – ’87 Border League Semi-Final at Loperwood … A game we had no right to win. Big local crowd, great atmosphere – favourable contribution and outcome. I also recall fondly a match that led to my being part of the then highest ever CD1 opening partnership (lasted 7 days) and remember scoring a hundred in a game that saw a team first score 400+ in a CD1 42 over match … these events were at a time when CD1 was allegedly second only to SPL Prem!?
Personal highlight/champagne moment: I once got 70red and a 5for in an England U19s Super 4s festival match.
Funniest moment/s in cricket: Can’t be specific but do recall Steve Brandes and Graeme Lyon as team mates that have brought great comedic value to days gone by. The infamous Hungerford away minibus trip home in ’85 lives on long in the memory also. Funniest moment at a game was when a non-playing friend and nature lover undertook a lap with me and some team mates. Having walked half way, and reached the more woodland terrain and setting, we spotted a squirrel laying prostrate and motionless on the grass just inside the boundary. My animal loving friend said, “Poor little fella. He needs to be shown a bit of respect. I am gonna give him a little after life dignity.” He walked over to the squirrel who laid eyes closed with limbs a star like kimbo and gently picked him up with one hand just under the arms pits. His intention was to lay him to rest behind a tree. As the squirrel left the warm green pasture, he awakened in a startled shock and instinctively clamped his razor sharp teeth on to the fore-finger and thumb webbing of the guilty hand. My friend, now screaming in excruciating pain which subsequently drew an audience and stopped the game, was hopping around the outfield looking for salvation and respite from the fluffy tailed rat’s jaws. Following a repeated hand shaking motion, the only feasible outcome was for the guilty arm of the guilty hand to slam the squirrel repeatedly against the chosen tree he’d selected to lay him to rest under. The squirrel clung on for dear life all to no avail. The closing and sorry picture was the left Doc Martin boot of the traumatised nature lover, kicking the dead squirrel in to the woodland if only a little further inland than he had first planned. Lesson learnt that day … not all sunbathing squirrels are dead squirrels!
Best way to relax after the game: Can’t beat Loperwood on a hot and sunny Saturday night on the terrace with a beer, friends and team mates – as Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne once said.
Do/did you have any cricketing superstitions: When batting, I tap the corner of the crease box with my bat at the end of an over.v I tap around the off side crease/cross that aligns the vertical & horizontal axis at the bowlers front foot line a number of times. The number of taps equates to the number of balls I faced in the last over. Not so much a superstition but more about being over analytical!
What will you miss most in cricket during this enforced break: Chatting sh?t, comradery & competing.
Is there anything you’d change about the game: I’d like senior players to self-govern idiots at grass roots level who cheat in general or intimidate and offend the young and/or less combative. Cricket is a game for gentlemen, having fun and showing respect…
If you could invite 3 cricketing celebrities (players, presenters, commentators) round for dinner, who would they be and why: Botham, Freddie & Warney… Fun times!
