5 Questions with Matty Turnell
(Originally published December 13)
How and when did you first join the club?
I was introduced to the club with my mate Paul Brand by Roy Braithwaite, a long time Acton member and decent opening bowler. Roy was a driving instructor who was my mum's driving instructor at the time. She never passed her test but I so glad she had the lessons, so I met Roy and then made one of the best choices of my life joining Acton CC.
As one of the most sought-after bowlers around, were you ever tempted to try and play at a higher level?
There was just one brief moment in the Mid 1990's when we used to play Richmond on Sunday's and a couple of their players tried to persuade me I might be better off there. Aside from that one time the thought has never crossed my mind. In my mind I was playing for the club where I was brought up and all my mates were at. We had such a great time! In all honesty I always loved the workload and being one of the bowlers a captain turned to.
What have been the biggest highlights of your Acton career?
This is a tricky one to answer. At a personal level I have been lucky to play in a few cup finals and been in a few promotion teams. However, I think the joint promotion of first and second elevens to their respective top leagues in 2009 takes some beating. We had a great night and just looking around at a lot of young players involved such as Matt Reeve, Alex Manning and a certain Alex Brennan amongst others, all of whom I had some input in their early development was great to see!
Who have been your toughest opponents?
There have been quite a few over the years but arguably the toughest was "KC" at Mill Hill CC. A few of the older players such as John and Olly and a few no longer playing such as Steve Baz will testify to what an excellent player (and nice guy) he was.
What is your all time Acton XI?
This is the hardest question of all as I have played with some top players over many seasons. I am going to go with ones who I played with over several seasons. In 1-11 they are as follows;
1. Steve Basterfield - great temperament who knew his game inside out even if not as talented as some in the batting line up. A winner and just a pleasure to play with as well as a great mate.
2. Vernon Angel - not many will know about Vernon. A destroyer of bowling on his day and a useful left arm spinner. His nickname was "Wood" for obvious reasons!
3 Pooran Singh - the best player I have played with, week in / week out! Excellent if unorthodox batsman and useful medium pace bowler and slip fielder (when he didn't split the webbing in his hands)!
4. Steve Jones (Jonah)- lovely bloke, great skipper and fantastic bat anywhere in top 4. How he never played in the first eleven in the first couple of years was a testament to JR's blagging skills!
5. Michael Jadunath - we didn't always see eye to eye but in the main a nice guy and the most elegant left-handed bat you would wish to see.
6. John Reeve - what can I say about John. Fantastic club man who we owe a lot to. John has turned himself into a very canny slow bowler, wicket taker. John was an excellent batsman in his younger days and in particular one of the best I have seen putting away average bowling.
7. Robin Singh - son of Pooran. On his day a devastating bowler and talented lower middle order batsman. "Fat Bob" still turns out ocassionally for the 2's.
8. Dan Lynch- what can I say but just what you want from an overseas player. Top bloke, good bowler, useful bat, great socialiser and legendary parents who knocked back numerous pints of Kronenbourg and lead a Sunday night sing song on their first visit to the club having just come off a flight from Australia!
9. Jav Sahota - breaking my rule book here as I have played with more talented wicket keepers but in terms of someone you want in the trenches with you then wurze is it!
10. Olly Harvey- I can't leave out my old sparring partner. Although a walking advertisement for WD40 these days. Olly was a fact an excellent bowler, great slip fielder and when the mood took him a useful lower order bat.
11. Yours Truly - well I have got to. Include myself haven’t I?! Though Bal Singh and Keith Hunt can also count themselves unlucky not to make the team.
12. Yogi - excellent batsman who has been loyal to the club and lovely bloke. Just pipped for a place by Jonah for his captaincy skills.