Name: James, Jimmy, JG, Jimbo Greenidge
Occupation: “Oh, Mr. Holmes, I would love to tell you, but then, of course, I’d have to kill you”
Cricket Specialty: Putting in inconsistent performances week in, week out (or whenever I’m available to play) and having to explain to people that despite my Bajan heritage I am no relation to Gordon Greenidge.
Cricketing History: I have played cricket as long as I have been old enough to hold a bat, getting progressively worse year on year. It all started off quite well, representing Kent at under 11s and under 12s and scoring a hundred in a school under 13s match (against Skinners’ I believe). At this stage I convinced myself I might make it as a pro. I even played a couple of games with the Aussie captain-to-be Steve Smith when he was a 17-year-old overseas player at Sevenoaks Vine before one of us was promoted to the 1st team… My hopes of making it in the big time were dashed at regular intervals after that and I spent a few years in the cricketing wilderness, but I still hold out some hope there is unlocked potential in there somewhere.
Highest Score: 110* in an under 15s school game against Victoria College in Jersey, a couple of other tons. Never a big one though.
Best Bowling Figures: 5 for not very many in a junior game I believe. 3 against Flimwell last year was a nice surprise!
Speldhurst Cricket Club History: I joined the club when I moved to the village last year, which coincided happily with promotion to Division 1. Obviously, I take minimal credit for that, but it was great to be part of some top moments and occasionally contribute.
Cricketing Heroes: Got to be a toss-up between Brian Lara and Viv Richards. I’d probably go for Lara purely because of his records and he was the main man when I was growing up. Bowling-wise Malcolm Marshall was unbelievable.
Favourite Cricket Moments: In recent memory, getting promoted last year was a definite high point, teed up in the penultimate game of the season by Harry Dunmall’s superb 6-for on a flat track against Cudham Wyse. Performance of the season! Ollie Crees’ outrageous flick for 6 from outside off stump over square leg against Marden also sticks out in my mind – so good it almost made up for him running me out a few overs previously. Away from Speldhurst, being present for Walsh and Ambrose’s final test together at The Oval in 2000 was pretty special.
Song I’d most like to hear played as I walk out to bat: I’d like to walk out really slowly to Zorba the Greek.
Preferred G&D Beverage: Larkins of course followed by a shot of whatever Ben Spokes is buying.
Speldhurst Cricket Club 