Stoke Life Member Alan Wiseman has written to SDCC with a story about our all-time leading run-scorer…

While reading the Dorking Advertiser article on Alistair, I recalled one of his first ever innings for Stoke.

I was Captain of the Second XI at Leatherhead. I’d opened and was going at my usual very conservative rate when a clutch of wickets fell and I thought we might be in danger of throwing the game away. In walked this youngster to whom I had briefly been introduced in the changing rooms.

“What do you do?”

“I bat and bowl a bit.”

As we were batting first I’d had no chance of assessing his cricket abilities so didn’t anticipate much from this tyro.

“OK, lad, you try to keep your end up and I’ll get the runs.”

From then on, Ali played an immaculate straight bat to everything thrown at him, making no attempt to score runs and together we got enough to win. It was only later in the bar that someone told me “You know he plays for Surrey colts, don’t you?” Collapse of stout party!

And there he was! Politely obeying his skipper and making no effort to demonstrate his true ability – far superior to mine. Typical of Ali then – and now.

I wonder if he remembers that game?

Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=10530805

We’ll try and get some comment, Alan!