Carisbrook seating, changing room among pitch’s charms

Taylor’s Cricket Club team captain Edward Taylor  paints the lines at his holiday home in Clyde.
Taylor’s Cricket Club team captain Edward Taylor paints the lines at his holiday home in Clyde.
Andrew Wong, of Wingatui, prepares for a delivery from Anthony Taylor (29), of Mosgiel, at Taylor...
Andrew Wong, of Wingatui, prepares for a delivery from Anthony Taylor (29), of Mosgiel, at Taylor’s Cricket Club in Clyde. Photos supplied.
(From left) Edward Taylor (26),  of Mosgiel, Elliot Taylor (28), of Wylies Crossing, and Andrew...
(From left) Edward Taylor (26), of Mosgiel, Elliot Taylor (28), of Wylies Crossing, and Andrew Wong (26), of Wingatui, are happy with the day’s play at Taylor’s Cricket Club.

Cricket is New Zealand's quintessential summer game and many of of us have adapted it to suit our backyards.

It goes beautifully with hot summer days, barbecues, family and friends. Reporter Rhys Chamberlain tracks down some of the best backyard cricket spots in the region

Taylor's Cricket Club is not your average backyard cricket pitch. Situated at a family holiday home in Clyde, it has all the fancy mod cons and the participants take their cricket seriously, including having numerous ‘‘drinks'' breaks. Mosgiel resident and team captain Edward Taylor explains.

Q What's so special about your pitch?
A I guess we've got a few additions. We've got old Carisbrook seating from the Railway Stand and we managed to pick up a Speight's shed in a competition to use as a changing room. We've also got a full [cricket] scoreboard [and] branded stumps.

Q When does it get used?
A We're all parked around the country. It's a place for me and the boys to catch up over summer.

Q How do you go about preparing it?
A My dad, Kevin Taylor, is the chief groundskeeper. He's got a pretty strict policy. We want the outfield to be green and lush. We mow the pitch. We brown the ... wicket ... with covers. There's a few sort of [variations] in the pace so if you know where to place it you get a bit of purchase.

Q Are there any special rules?
A It's three-on-three. There's two brothers [Edward and Anthony], so we pick the teams. There's unlimited wickets ... with rotating batsmen ... you lose five runs for getting out. Six over the fence. The house [and] spa pool on the full is out. There's no lbws unless you don't offer a shot. Kevin plays as umpire. You don't run ... we have scoring zones. The first 10 overs we have tape on the tennis ball. We have power plays. Each bowler bowls a minimum of five overs of spin.

Q What's a good score?
A I got the first ever 100 last year [but a good score is] 150 for each day.

Q Have you had anyone famous play on it?
A No, I don't know if we can claim that unless Jai Baxter [local Alexandra personality] counts.

-rhys.chamberlain@odt.co.nz

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