Speldhurst Cricket Club

Name: Ben Brandt

Nickname: Ralph, or Hagrid. Depending on length of hair and beard. At the moment – Hagrid.

Occupation: AV Investment Manager

Cricket Speciality: Any ball can be hit through mid-wicket

Highest Score: 132*

Best Bowling Figures: 5-9

Speldhurst Cricket Club History: Joined in the Junior section circa 2007/2008 and made my debut for the 1st X1 in 2008. I can’t remember a huge amount from those days other than an angry Pierre, coaching Howard Dunmall through a run chase and marvelling at the number of reverse sweeps he pulled out, and wondering just how much chest Matt Glover could show on a cricket pitch.

Since then I’ve been playing most saturdays, through Andy Trace, Hughes, MJ and Muddy as captains, until now when the baton has been passed onto me.

Cricketing Heroes: Flintoff, Ponting, Steve Smith

Favourite Cricket Moments: For Speldhurst: Watching Danby And Renton make a mockery of chasing 286 at Chevening – after the opposition came off at tea suggesting they could “defend a 100 less than that”. We won by 10 wickets with Hughes padded up at No.3 for 37 overs and not getting in.

Non-Speldhurst: The 2005 Edgbaston test and subsequent Ashes win was just phenomenal. In the last 12 months however the World Cup Final was unbelievably nerve-wracking as was the Headingley test.

Song I’d most like to hear played as I walk out to bat: Never Gunna Give You Up – Rick Astley. (How often do you get to Rick Roll people nowadays?!)

Preferred G&D Beverage: Pint of Cider