The Stella Select XI

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Contents 1 The Stella Select XI 1.1 History 1.2 Local Rules 1.3 Standard of Cricket 1.4 Grounds 1.5 Touring 1.6 25th Anniversary Celebrations 1.7 Website 1.8 Humour 1.9 Stella Moments 1.10 Stella's Fantasy Cricket 1.11 The 2008 Season 1.12 The Future 1.13 Links

[edit] The Stella Select XI

A Cricketing history

[edit] History

Formed in 1981 by two members at Hampset cricket club, in Bloomfield Rise Odd Down, Bath. Hampset is a well-known and respected club in Bath, formed after the war. The idea was to create a social team to complement the activities of the First, Second and Third teams, which all played in various local leagues. The concept was very loose to start with, with odd occasional games during the season. Indeed, more than a few players were drafted, begged or borrowed form the second and third teams to play for ‘The Stella’s, as they quickly became known. The team rapidly gained a full fixture list, often having up to 20 fixtures a season, as in the present day. The first fixture was against Bathampton (in 1981,) the Stella’s oldest rivals, and what is deemed to be the Ashes match in the 2 or three times the teams meet in a season

[edit] Local Rules

The Stella’s ethos is to ‘try your best’, but have fun whilst doing so. This is seen as an antidote to the competitiveness of league cricket. Thus, to eliminate the law that would create most controversy at this level, the LBW law is abandoned entirely, though on a few famous occasions, Certain Stella batsmen have been given out deemed LBW when it was felt merited by the umpire at the time. Each team plays twenty overs, with all team members bowling 2 overs each. Wides are judged generously. When batting, usually the rule is that in the over the batsman reaches 25, he is requested to retire by his teammates. Umpires are usually recruited one from each competing team

[edit] Standard of Cricket

As stated, the emphasis is on fun, and a range of all cricketing abilities is encouraged. The Stella’s consider themselves to be a bit of a nursery for young up and coming cricketers, from the age of about 14, who are considered Stella academy players until they reach the age of 18, when they are also allowed to go on tour, and as a sort of active retirement home for those players who are in the twilight of their career, have become unfit for whatever reason, or just simply aren’t very good at cricket.

The Stellas usually win about 40-50 % of games in a season, having a mixture of close games, easy wins and heavy defeats.

[edit] Grounds

Early season- Dunkerton,a superb setting in a valley, that seems to miss most of the bad weather. Indeed there have been matches played there whilst a Thunder storm rages all around. The pitch can be very variable though.

Odd Down Playing fields. A municipal gorund, huge and windswept, famous for the highest scoring over ever conceded by a Stella of 32 runs.

Late season - Hampset CC, The home ground, usually available later in the season once regular Hampset first team nets have ended. A nice pitch with a very short boundary from the Stella's wicket. Nice if you are batting.

The Rec in Bath- Usually as an away game, this is the ground where Somerset CCC play in the Bath festival. Occasional one off games played there

[edit] Touring

Since 1998, the Stellas have toured different locations to play two 40 over games over a weekend in July. The locations are as follows;

1998 Bridport. Shirts white.

1999 Bridport. Shirts white with red Stripe

2000 Bridport. Shirts Blue

2001 No tour

2002 Bridport. The ‘Tosspot’ Tour. This is the first officially named tour. Shirts white with big red 'IF' on back

2003 Bridport. The Treacle Tart Tour. Shirts yellow

2004 Minehead. The No-Nonsense Tour. Shirts white with blue collar and cuffs

2005 Minehead. The Deliverance Tour. Shirts cerise

2006 Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Jam Butty Tour. (Named in retrospect). Shirts orange

2007 Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Brumfest 07 Tour. Shirts grey

2008 Isle of Wight '10 years of Drunken Horror' Tour Shirts Black

Generally, two games are played ( though for 2008 there will be three games) , normally against similar and better opposition. Results can fluctuate wildly, and LBWs and higher retirement scores come into play. A tour shirt is produced each year, which has seen pink and yellow shirts being produced some years. The ‘Jabba Trophy’ is played for each year, and presented to the winner of; initially a pitch and put, then putting, and in 2007 ten pin bowling. This is usually a hard fought contest, and winning this title is highly prized.

[edit] 25th Anniversary Celebrations

2006 was the silver anniversary of the Stella’s, and a range of activities was arranged. Skittles and a quiz provided a run in to a very special match, a forty over game pitting the ‘Current Stella’s against the ‘Silver Stellas’, featuring past Stella heroes. In an entertaining match, the Silver Stellas’ came out convincingly on top in a match that was reported on in the Bath Chronicle

[edit] Website

This was a new innovation in 2006, and it provides a wealth of information, archives, match reports, statistics and averages. In 2007 a forum was introduced for the slightly faster dissemination of information, chat and ideas. It also makes the chairman of selectors job slightly easier.

[edit] Humour

An integral part of life in the Stella’s, much stall is set by all kinds of humour, from dry one-liners to somewhat childish pranks and childishness. The attempting of accents is a current favourite, as is the continual regurgitation of 1970’s Humour, particularly around Bovril jokes. The team also sledges itself whilst on the field to a high degree of withering sophistication. Nicknames are de rigueur.

[edit] Stella Moments

Happenings usually during a game that become classic moments in the history of the team, and are repeated year-on-year to be compared with previous stella Moments. Such examples; being hit on the knee by the ball whilst falling over and the ball making an explosive sound on the knee. Getting very angry about being stared at in an increasingly aggressive manner in a cafe, threatening injury to the starer, then finding it was a reflection, falling over a flat pavement, being bowled by a member of the fairer sex.

[edit] Stella's Fantasy Cricket

Initiated for the 2007 season, a competition loosely based on fantasy football. Entrants can chooses a team of 5 players for up to a set fee, with points scored for cricketing prowess and blunders. returning for a second year after a successful inaugural season, it has been tweaked to allow a panel to award points for what are termed 'Stella Moments'. This is particularly good news for those Stella players for whom cricket is secondary to the after match soiree.

[edit] The 2008 Season

Has just begun. 2 matches were casualties to the weather. the First match (played at Dunkerton) resulting in a 45 run loss due to a less than average batting performance. there were notable contributions in the field, especially a future Stella moment of palming a certain catch over the boundary for six. The next three matches were played, with the first a resounding loss, followed by a tense win against The Ram, followed by a more assured victory agains the Royal Oak Cavaliers.

[edit] The Future

Presently the Stellas are thriving, with over 25 squad members, all eager to play, and an ever-increasing fixture list. The Stellas always happy to accommodate touring teams who wish to visit Bath, and welcome contact in this regard.

[edit] Links

http://www.stellaselectxi.com The Stella's Website and Forum

http://members.aol.com/Hampset/ Hampset Cricket club

http://www.thisisbath.com/ The Bath Chronicle

http://www.sleepy-hollow.co.uk/ The Royal Oak Cavaliers Cricket Team