Here you can find the details of the modern day behemoths that have brought us to where we are today. The analogy of lies, damned lies and statistics is as true in cricket as it is anywhere else and the numbers quoted below are based on what we have available and what we can glean from elsewhere, so when Shaky comes and tells you it's all a load of b******s because it doesn't include the million runs he got against Stonehenge CC at the beginning of the Iron Age season, just smile politely and tell him well done!
The Runs (BRCC) and Wickets (BRCC) are from all league matches since and including 2004. The figures after them (in brackets) are what are recorded by the Cherwell League and go back to 1994. These are only recorded for batsmen over 3,000 runs or bowlers over 200 wickets. They are all accurate for those time periods. High scores and best bowling figures are also accurate back to 1994.
The averages are calculated from all league games since 2011.
To get into this catalogue of greatness, you need to have scored 1,000 runs or taken at least 50 wickets for the club. This page lists the batters, click here for the bowlers and here for the all rounders.
The Run Machines
Martin Middleton
Debut
Runs BRCC (CCL)
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
Jurassic Period
5,935 (9,552) @ 29.291
150 vs Chalgrove 2021
1st/4th
3 (9) / 7 (61)
Profile: LHB, occasional left arm medium. When the phrase 'living legend' was coined, the protagonist might just have had Middsy in mind. The 4th highest run scorer in the Cherwell League with the second highest number of half centuries, and he basically didn't play for 4 years from 2014-2017. A bit more frequent in the 2s these days, he proved in 2021 that the hunger for runs is no less diminished in bringing up his highest ever score. Has been known to don the gloves on occasion and has turned over the arm very occasionally with 7 wickets on the 21st century list, although still claims to have taken a 5 for back when colour TV was just a fanciful notion.
John Rolfe
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
1st Saturday after the Big Bang
5,631 @ 20.552
101* vs Kingston Bagpuize 2019
2nd/51st
1 / 16
Profile: RHB. Club captain and veteran of over 200 innings for the club, Rolfie's consistent accumulation of runs has seen him climb to 2nd in the all time run makers list including 13 50s and a hundred, the majority of which were made in 1st team cricket. He is a more athletic fileder than many half his age and a keen student of the game who is not averse to a field change or several. Has captained the 2s through several seasons and stood in as captain of the 1s on occasion. The grandee of the club, his tireless work behind the scenes has been a huge part in getting the club into the position it is in today. Bowling highlight came in the middle of the last century with a 4 for playing for High Wycombe U16s but after a 16 yer warm up got on against Buckingham in 2022 and scooped his first wicket for a mere 49.
Phil Brooks
Returning Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2008
4,412 @ 21.938
111 vs Horspath 2008
3rd/87th
2 / 12
Profile: RHB & WK, occasional right arm slow medium. The 1st team's Mr Reliable, Brooksie plays a lot and scores a lot, averaging a whisker under 300 runs a season and this has seen him climb steadily to no. 3 in the all time list. Bats anywhere from 1-8, but always for the team, he features in nearly half of the 1s top 30 parnerships (since 2015). Equally at home behind the stumps as in front of them, he has 58 catches in the same period, second only to Sam Rolfe. His super slow seam bowling was rediscovered in 2022 and the 6 wickets he took in the last few games pushed him up to 19 at 18.800 including a 5 for against Charlbury in 2018.
Steve Bird
Returning Debut
Runs BRCC (CCL)
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2007
3,237 (4,237) @ 38.736
106 vs Garsington 2021
6th/89th
1(2) / 6
Profile: RHB & WK. The man that medical science has written off more times than the cure for the common cold, Birdy still manages to get a few games in every season before collasing in a heap. An accumulator rather than a slogger, he has been known to bully attacks viciously as the innings comes to an end. Can take the game away from any side when he gets in and did just that when opening against Garsington in 2021 to bring up his most recent hundred. An accomplished wicket keeper, prevented from doing so too often by the knees, he has taken 22 catches in the last 7 years. Generally batting lower in the order in recent years has boosted the average with a 36% not out rate, nevertheless capable of batting well in any company.
Sam Rolfe
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
1st Saturday after Yr 6 (c. 199?)
2,529 @ 21.247
132 vs Sandford 2018
9th/NR
1 / 7
Profile: LHB & WK. Left arm medium. Sam's senior cricket career started as teenager but was interrupted by university and latterly a two year sabbatical in Spain which are the only reasons he does not yet feature on the CCL all time run makers (3,000+). A busy and positive middle order left hand bat, when he gets in he scores at pace. A highly accomplished wicket keeper (57 catches in the last 7 years) who would be first choice at most teams in the league (where Pezza wasn't playing), 2021 saw him take up the noble art of bowling. It's a steep learning curve starting in the 1s, but his 7 wickets at 54 will surely improve going forward.
Martin Harris
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
Cretacious period
2,228 @ 13.253
65 vs Banbury 2016
11th/NR
0 / 1
Profile: RHB. A long time stalwart of BRCC, 'Sniff' has done most jobs that come up in a village cricket club, groundsman, fixture sec, 2nd team captain, etc etc. A steady accumulator of runs for the most part, when the 'Sniff attack' is unleashed, the ball can go to all parts. In the field, often shows up players half his age with some brave stops and excellent catches. Captained the 2s from 2018-2021 and managed them through consolidation and finally promotion. A great supporter of bringing younger players through and giving them a chance to play, sometimes at his own expense.
Dave Bird
Debut
Runs BRCC (CCL)
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
Week prohibition started
2,084 (3,671) @ 17.392
84 vs Banbury 2012
12th/107th
0 / 3
Profile: RHB, occasional purveyor of filth. Largely retired now for health reasons, 'Dickers' still makes the odd appearance and remains technically as good a bat as ever. The runs tend to have to come from boundaries now, but if he gets in, carnage can ensue. A long standing member of the club who was hitting runs for fun before anyone was worrying about the millenium bug. Has been known to turn the arm occasionally when a wicket is for sale.
David Wells
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
The day the Beatles broke up
2,075 @ 36.824
122 vs Kimble 2022
13th/NR
4 / 5
Profile: RHB & WK. Something of a 'bit part' player over recent years, Wellsy re-engaged in 2020 and is now the driving force behind the player development program along with Chesh. A very solid top order batter with a couple of hundreds in the 1s, he is capable of going through the gears and creating carnage at the end of the innings. As a wicket keeper, he takes a lot of pressure off the skipper with his astute field setting.
Paul Cheshire
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2014
1,727 @ 21.588
120* vs Stokenchurch 2022
17th/NR
1 / 8
Profile: RHB, occasional WK and very occasional off spinner. A man for all seasons, Chesh bats, keeps when required and has chucked down some pies as recently as 2021. Had an outstanding 2021 with the bat however where he makes his biggest contribution, outscoring everyone else in the club. Steady rather than spectacular, his 4 50+ scores in 2021 took his total to 7 all time. There is not a more reliable batter in the club and in 2022 startd mototring through the gears to record his first ton against Stokey. His 4 wickets all came in 2018 at a cost of 28.5 each, with a subsequent outing pushing that up to 35.75. Captained the 2s prior to an Australian sabbatical and vc'd the 2s for the last 3 years.
Alex Perry
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2019
1,427 @ 33.976
111* vs Shipton 2019
20th/NR
2 / 9
Profile: RHB & WK. The fastest player to 1000 runs since we started recording this sort of thing (for which there is no trophy, much to Alex's chagrin), getting there in just 28 innings and batting predominantly in the top 3, that average is real. If he couldn't bat for toffee, would still make the side as the wicket keeper and in a short stay has already pouched 28 catches. Stands up to all bar Cooperman as a default and the characteristic bail flick after every delivery keeps all but the most adventurous batters entrenched in their crease.
Mike Winson
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2020
1,240 @ 40.000
157 vs Thame 2022
25th/NR
3 / 5
Profile: RHB. Pinched the title of fastest to 1000 runs (in 27 innings) from AP by bringing it up in one innings less (whilst batting with said same in a partnership of 280). Renowned for his 'pretty little 30s', has also gone on 3 times in three seasons to make pretty little hundred and plenties. Could be described as the most passive aggressive batsman in the team with a quiet demeanour at the crease, but a Larkinesque "if it's up, it's off" approach to the bowlers.
David Maunder
Debut
Runs BRCC
High Score
BRCC/CCL Ranking
Hundreds/Fifties
2011
1,090 @ 17.491
137 vs Stokenchurch 2022
30th/NR
1 / 2
Profile: RHB, occasional RA medium. The most educated man at the club with almost as many degrees as he has runs. Scampers between the wickets like a whippet but has a full array of shots. Only makes a handful of appearances each season and would undoubtedly have a more considerable weight of runs if time had allowed. Once took a 7 for and immediately retired from bowling citing a shoulder injury.