Player Profiles

Current Players

Name: David Scattergood
First Season: 1988

High Score: 42
Batting Average: 18.13
Bowling S/R: 16.00
Literally, a giant amongst village cricketers. Founded the Club in 1988 (or thereabouts, but has always maintained this should be the reference year) and was effectively Chairman, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, Captain and Groundsman for much of the period up to 2001. He is now basking in the glory and unquantifiable benefits attached to the role of President of the Club, and despite having vowed to have a complete break from the game is now as active as ever and doing sterling work assisting the Chairman in raising funds for the Club's improvements.

Name: Greg Dix
First Season: 1989

High Score: 129*
Batting Average: 38.55
Bowling S/R: 25.14
This is Greg's ninth season as Captain, which will no doubt feel like an eternity but has been very successful as past results have shown. A natural leader in the field, his cries of "Come on Avebury, I is thirsty" have often stung opposition tail-enders into freak century partnerships. A naturally attacking batsman, he is frequently forced to curb his basic instincts following the loss of early wickets. He weathers any bad runs of form or luck with a stoicism which many others could learn from.

Name: Trevor Startup
First Season: 1990

High Score: 29*
Batting Average: 11.03
Bowling S/R: 28.46
Has been playing village cricket for longer than most of us have been alive, and his experience is always in evidence when playing. A class bowler, he never goes for many runs and always picks up a few wickets, often with a mystery ball known only as 'The Gripper'. Having missed most of the 2004 season through injury, he got right back into the groove in 2005 and was on the button in 2006. Also a skilled carpenter who designed and built our sightscreen.

Name: Martin Fidler
First Season: 1991

High Score: 25
Batting Average: 23.14
Bowling S/R: N/A
Martin is a long time Avebury player and although he doesn't come out as often as he used to he still has a mean average.

Name: Henry Fry
First Season: 1991

High Score: 127*
Batting Average: 42.21
Bowling S/R: 31.23
Not actually our newest under-15 player despite the misleading photo. Like his brother, has been playing for Avebury for all of its glorious 18-year history, and similarly cannot get it out of his system. A deceptively strong left-handed batsman, he has for many years led the all time batting averages, and his mixed bag of left-arm over bowling style has taken quite a few wickets too.

Name: DM Fry
First Season: 1991

High Score: 133*
Batting Average: 39.37
Bowling S/R: 30.05
Ten years in the City have not managed to shake him from the belief that all he really wants to do in life is be a groundsman. Started life as slow-left arm bowler of some promise, until an attack of the yips in adolescence left him with nothing but a moderate ability to bowl medium pace dobbers. Is currently enjoying the grand title of Chairman of the Club.

Name: Rob Gater
First Season: 1991

High Score: 100*
Batting Average: 25.47
Bowling S/R: 30.33
Arguably our most complete all-round cricketer in our side, with a tendency to blow hot and cold through the season. Bats, bowls and fields very well, although will be looking forward to the 2007 season to halt his steady decline down the batting averages. Has skippered the Sunday side with huge success over the past four years, never failing to produce a full eleven.

Name: Guy Perkins
First Season: 1991

High Score: 61
Batting Average: 13.23
Bowling S/R: 32.01

Name: Martin Pletts
First Season: 1992

High Score: 24*
Batting Average: 7.090
Bowling S/R: N/A
Martin has returned to the Avebury team after a long absence. He bats and bowls so should be a handy addition to the team.

Name: Pete Force-Jones
First Season: 1993

High Score: 10
Batting Average: 4.138
Bowling S/R: 25.72
Fifteen years on, and the boy is now a man, but he's still scooping up wickets on both Saturdays and Sundays, although hasn't quite matched his boyhood feat of 9 for 13. His bowling action makes the likes of Paul Adams look orthodox, but certainly gets results. We used to think this kind of bowling would be ineffective against the better batsmen in the upper echelons of the Wiltshire League. We woz wrong! The only man in the side to boast an Italian girlfriend.

Name: Neil Hollister
First Season: 1993

High Score: 87*
Batting Average: 17.85
Bowling S/R: 22.60
A consummate village pro, Neil donned the gloves for our inaugural league match in 2002 and has rarely given them up. Compared with many of the unfortunate souls playing for opposition sides, he's actually quite quiet for a wicket-keeper, and lets his actions do the talking. A useful off-break bowler when we are short of Players, he also has considerable ability with the bat and has many times converted 100-5 into 200-7.

Name: John Rheinberg
First Season: 1994

High Score: 86
Batting Average: 20.73
Bowling S/R: 20.76
Temperamental, he is capable of superhuman performances with the bat, hitting the ball to all parts with gay abandon. The other side to his batting produces innings that Boycott and Tavare would themselves have been proud of. As a fielder, years of abuse to his knee joints have taken their toll, but he can still be outstanding.

Name: Andy Blake
First Season: 1995

High Score: 90*
Batting Average: 17.92
Bowling S/R: 28.50
Another long-term player for Avebury CC. Rose to prominence as an enthusiastic fielder, but has developed into an obdurate opening batsman capable of anchoring the Saturday innings. Remains an excellent fielder, and retains his enthusiasm for the game despite a wife, young baby, two dogs and assorted other animals.

Name: David Bradfield
First Season: 1998

High Score: 28
Batting Average: 8.765
Bowling S/R: 32.11
Has been a member of the team for many years on and off, but has recently returned to the fold in some style. His lightning reactions make him a great goalkeeper and a handy cricketer to boot, who can bat, bowl and keep wicket when required. However his real strength is in the field where he is one of our most energetic fielders.

Name: Keith Scattergood
First Season: 1999

High Score: 40
Batting Average: 8.037
Bowling S/R: 24.54
Generally plays in our Sunday sides, but has also joined the Saturday team when we've needed him and has shown his usefulness in the field. When Keith strolls to the wicket in a T-Shirt and a straw hat, the opposition seem to sense the presence of a greater being. Unfortunately, Keith's sojourns at the crease do not always last as long as we would all like, but nothing sends ripples of laughter through the pavilion like a well struck K.Scattergood six, usually taking a perfect length ball off middle and off stump and sending it into the car park.

Name: Vince Ogbourne
First Season: 2000

High Score: 12
Batting Average: 10.61
Bowling S/R: 36.15
Opens the bowling for the Saturday eleven, and has turned himself from a wicket taking but expensive bowler into an economical bowler who can also take wickets in the space of the last two seasons. Also an under-rated batsman, more than capable of scoring runs towards the end of an innings, as he has proved on a number of occasions. Despite a hectic social life and having been to more raves than the rest of the team put together, has been a loyal member of our team and is very often the difference between winning and losing. In my opinion Gater and Ogbourne on song are one of the better opening bowling attacks in the Wiltshire League.

Name: Adam Duncan
First Season: 2001

High Score: 25
Batting Average: 8.649
Bowling S/R: 31.20
Adam's been playing for Avebury on and off for the last few years. He's very handy in the field, and bowls right arm over in the Sunday games. He's also useful with the bat and props up the lower order on a regular basis.

Name: Simon White
First Season: 2004

High Score: 10
Batting Average: 2.107
Bowling S/R: N/A
Another regular in our Sunday side, Simon has had a much improved 2007, reaching double figures for the first time and taking catches and getting run-outs to boot. Unlike most other members of the side, his all time average actually went up rather than down this year, and we will be hoping for even greater things this year! His is also the current possessor of the "Best Tea" award which he wrestled from Matt Chatfield this year following a splendid selection of sandwiches which included crayfish and lemon mayonnaise. Mmmmm!

Name: Rob McGowan
First Season: 2005

High Score: 33
Batting Average: 11.25
Bowling S/R: 42.85
By far the most qualified cricket in our team, having played for Hampshire as a younger man. Is also one of the rarest sightings on a cricket pitch in Wiltshire on a Saturday - as an umpire who has actually sat and passed a series of umpiring exams. He also makes regular Sunday appearances, where his strength lies in his bowling but he also shows his class as a batsman. Don't get him started on the vagaries of the LBW law.

Name: Ian Thomas
First Season: 2005

High Score: 18
Batting Average: 3.556
Bowling S/R: 31.50
Contrary to what he may tell you, we don't ask him to play JUST because his son is developing into a talented cricketer! Ian joined the team towards the end of 2005 when he moved to Avebury, and enjoyed a full season in 2006. He bowls, he bats, he fields, and he takes great photos.

Name: Will Thomas
First Season: 2005

High Score: 25
Batting Average: 5.263
Bowling S/R: 24.00
Another new player for the 2006 season (having successfully 'trialled' in 2005!) and is already a great asset to our bowling attack. People try to explain his perfect bowling action by blaming it on the amount of coaching he has received, but at the end of the day that's rubbish - he's a natural sportsman. Pretty sure he gets annoyed by me call him "Bill", so I will stop.

Name: Dan Kubler
First Season: 2007

High Score: 53
Batting Average: 12.84
Bowling S/R: N/A
Dan joins us as another new player this year and has already shown himself to be a useful batter and an excellent fielder.

Name: Alex Millward
First Season: 2007

High Score: 87*
Batting Average: 26.16
Bowling S/R: N/A
A new player for 2006. Although Alex has picked up the bat for Avebury in past years as a casual sub he is fully committed to the cause this year.

Name: Scott Nelson
First Season: 2007

High Score: 3
Batting Average: 1.667
Bowling S/R: N/A
[Not yet available]

Name: Nathan Bliss
First Season: 2008

High Score: 7
Batting Average: 6.500
Bowling S/R: N/A
Nathan is a specialist lower order batsman and fielder and we're hoping to see more of him this season unless the RAF take him off somewhere else.

Name: Ben Ellbogen
First Season: 2008

High Score: 0
Batting Average: 0.000
Bowling S/R: N/A
Having lived in the village as a child, Ben returns to Avebury as an all-rounder and useful spin bowler. We hope to see more of him in the 2009 season.

Name: Chris Howard
First Season: 2008

High Score: 2
Batting Average: 1.000
Bowling S/R: N/A
An originally occasional player who has rapidly cemented his place in the Sunday side, Chris achieved fame in his first season by winning the double wicket competition (with Guy Perkins) on his first attempt.

Name: Tim Jephson
First Season: 2008

High Score: 14
Batting Average: 5.667
Bowling S/R: N/A
Agressive middle-order batsman, useful change bowler, and one of the most exciting fielders to have joined the club in a long while. Also well known for "Tim's tins" which are very much appreciated.

Name: David Liddiard
First Season: 2008

High Score: 16
Batting Average: 21.00
Bowling S/R: N/A
David moved to the area a few years ago and so far has only managed a couple of games for Avebury. He is a good all rounder and in particular a fine spinner of the ball. We look forward to seeing more of him in the future.

Name: Rob Minton
First Season: 2008

High Score: 29
Batting Average: 13.66
Bowling S/R: N/A
One of a new breed of exciting young cricketers to be playing at Avebury these days, Rob is a fine swing bowler and if we can ever persuade him to give up his Saturday job he'd be a dead cert for League games.

Name: James Neve
First Season: 2008

High Score: 4*
Batting Average: 2.500
Bowling S/R: N/A
Like many of our cricketers, James began his Avebury career as an in-fill for the odd game but is now a regular for the Sunday side. He's a generalist batsman and fielder.

Past Players

We haven’t lost many in the last six years, but one or two sheep will inevitably desert from time to time. Here are our lost souls:

Name: John Collie
First Season: 1990

Batting Average: 26
Bowling S/R: 17.09
Has been a member of the team since the days of black and white television. Continues to knock the shape out of the ball as an opening or middle order batsman on Sundays. Has looked after the finances of the Club for many years and does a grand job. One of the foundations of Avebury cricket - if he ever gives us up, a small part of this Club will go with him.

Name: Mike Pearse
First Season: 1997

Batting Average: 27
Bowling S/R: 6.695
Our Club statistics do not (unfortunately) record the number of matches a player plays year in, year out, but if we had ever had the foresight to do this then M.A. Pearse would be a long way up on the all-time list. He continues to improve as a batsman and as a fielder he is capable of lulling batsman into thinking that he's asleep and then pulling off a blinding stop or catch. He was the original bowling inspiration behind Operation Starfish before injury forced him to hand this mantle over to the Saturday skipper G.Dix.

Name: Mike Milton
First Season: 2001

Batting Average: 16
Bowling S/R: 5.333
A steady right arm medium pace bowler and middle order bat who has played for Avebury on and off for the last five years. Mike always has the biggest fan club as he brings his wife, three children and their cricketing friends along to the games (see supporters page for photos!), and has recently been helping out on another labour of love, namely the drawings for the new pavilion.

Name: Simon Nash
First Season: 2003

Batting Average: N/A
Bowling S/R: N/A
Alas, the allure of downhill mountain biking proved too much for him, and so in 2006 we bade farewell to one of our most enthusiastic Sunday Players and someone who for many years made the Young Player of the Season award his own. Injured or not he was by far the most enthusiastic fielder to grace our side. Snashie, when you get tired of planting your head into trees on hillsides around Europe, do pop by and say hello.

Name: Matt Chatfield
First Season: 2006

Batting Average: 72
Bowling S/R: 19.09
Don't let him tell you he simply chose to live in Wiltshire - we approached him whilst he was still struggling to secure a place in the first eleven of Cornish Champions Werrington, and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Has been a great asset to the Saturday team as he knows how to bat, and has 'bought' the odd wicket or two on a Sunday as well. In his rookie season managed to pull off quite a coup by winning the inaugural "best tea" award, though no-one will actually come clean as to whether this was awarded in irony.