1983 and my last season splitting time between Oxford University and Middlesex. My final varsity match and last day before returning to Middlesex was Wednesday to Friday at Lord's, with a dinner and ball at the Oxford and Cambridge club afterwards. I spoke to Don Bennet and asked if I would be needed for the match starting Saturday v Warwickshire at Edgbaston to be told "No" and not to be so cocky – I would have to work to get a place in the first team squad.
Friends will know I was not averse to a party and being my last day involved with Oxford, this was a very heavy one that finished at around 4.30am. No lie-in though, as my then girlfriend's parents were returning to Singapore that morning, and we had to get back to Guildford to say goodbye. Left Pall Mall at 8.30am still drunk and got home at 10.45am to walk into panic.
Barlow and Slack had gone bust that morning and I was needed to play. I phoned (pre-mobile phone days) and told them I was about 125 miles away 15 minutes before the start, only to be told that I had been named in the side and had to get up there.
Set off by car, girlfriend driving, for a horrendous journey involving M1 being shut due to an accident and getting lost  on A-roads (pre-sat nav) arriving at about 3 o'clock. The gatemen would not let me in and when I said I was playing, they said: "We have heard some dodges to get into the ground without a ticket but that takes the biscuit."
A phone call to the dressing room and I finally staggered in. I discovered we had bowled them out and it was between innings, so Gat said get your pads on and open. I expostulated saying that I had been travelling since 8.30am and needed a breather and strong coffee before thinking about padding up, so send Nobby Downton in.
After huffing and puffing, Gat agreed so I went in at 5, to terrific bird from the crowd regarding starting times and so on. Missed my 1st 3 balls from Willis by a yard (Gat said he had heard I was in good nick so what was going on; I rather unwisely said I had been drinking whisky at 4.30am followed by a 6-hour journey, which did not go down well)
Next over slapped a Willie Hogg long hop straight to square leg for nought. Trudged off to even more stick along the lines of thanks for coming and turn up whenever you want if you are as bad as that. I stuck a thumbs up to the crowd as I tried to make the pavilion only for one wag to shout: "I bet that's how you got here mate, hitching up the M1". To add insult to injury we were playing Warwicks in the Sunday League next day... but at Lord's. So it was back in the car to return to Guildford!
2nd dig I opened on a pair and smacked another Hogg long hop straight to square leg where Gunga Din dropped a dolly, and managed to get 30 or so.
Memory added on February 11, 2021
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