Final Cricket Update

23rd February 2006

The Light Dragoons were justly proud of their performance against the Bombay Gymkhana Club 1st XI. On a ground on which the first-ever Test Match between England and India was played in 1933, the home team reached 250 all out with Troopers Cameron and Moralee each taking 3 wickets and Richard Jelf taling 4 catches behind the stumps. In their reply of 193 for 9 (in 40 overs), Trooper Moralee also scored the first 50 of the tour - a memorable achievement for the youngest player in the Light Dragoons’ team.

As Cpl Adam Knox said, ‘It is a massive privilege to play against Indians in their own backyard. Many better cricketers than me will never get the chance that we have had.’

The following morning, the Dragoons’ team were honoured to to be guests in the exclusive Members’ Pavilion at the Cricket Club of India. There they watched the full England team win an exciting warm-up match against the CCI team. Some of the Light Dragoons met the England players and had bats autographed by them.

After a flight back to Delhi, the touring team indulged in a day of sightseeing at the wondrous Taj Mahal and other nearby historic sites.

The final game of the tour was played in Delhi against an Indian Railways XI. The game followed a similar pattern to each of the other games in India. The Railways XI batted first and made a crisp 216 all out with Capt Will Jelf taking 3 wickets. The Light Dragoons were never able to match the necessary scoring rate and wickets were thrown away in the attempt to catch up. Their total of 146 owed much to 2Lt David Ansell’s attractive 43.

“We’ve learned that Indians teams score 6 or 7 an over right from the start and then maintain that rate,” said Cpl Jamie Bower. “Typical conditions in England mean that we are used to starting more slowly.”

“Playing cricket over here has been a great experience. The Light Dragoons have never toured India before so this has been a fabulous opportunity.”

However, whilst some of the Light Dragoons had been playing against the Indian Railways, 3 officers and 2 Troopers were at the church of St James in Old Delhi, celebrating the Raising Day of their sister Regiment, Skinner’s Horse.

Last night the officers were invited to the Skinner’s Horse Raising Day Dinner. At the dinner, each British officer was presented with a framed Skinner’s Horse print and, in return, the officers presented their hosts with a bronze statuette of an elephant: a fitting end to the tour of a lifetime.