118     Simon Best

Right-Hand Bat

M	I	NO	R	HS	AVE	CT	WK CT	ST
60	29	11	85	12	4.72	12	0	0

Right-Arm Slow

O	M	R	W	AVE
162.2	3	1182	29	40.76

Batting head-gear: Cap

Tours: 10
Tour Manager: 2010
Tour Joker: 2002,2008
Fantasy League winner: 2008
The CMJ Award: 2008

Debut: 08.07.1998  House: Field  At LP: 1989-1996

Known throughout the club as Granny, a nickname that has attached itself like a limpet to him since the dawn of time, Simon is one of those characters without whom the OLCC simply wouldn't be what it is today. There's little doubt that Granny adores his cricket - indeed, the early signs of this enduring love affair came in the form of a moving piece of poetry entitled Sweet Willow, penned when he was at LP, which is always met with universal joy whenever it gets an airing on tour.

Like your scribe, Granny ventured blinking into the light of the cricket field after serving his apprenticeship in the dark solitude of the scorebox. What emerged was a resolute batsman with the deadest of dead bats who is to saving the game what Michael Bevan was to finishing it off. His none-shall-pass approach has the effect of infuriating opposition bowlers, who then watch agog when Granny throws caution to the wind and unleashes the cover drive.

Simon has enjoyed even more success with the ball - his steadily-launched grenades and mortars have twisted the blood of a number of notable batsmen over the years to the extent that there's not much room left in his kitbag for many more. In one unforgettable marathon 16-over spell at Axminster in 2004, Granny gave the Wessex Stags 108 runs' worth of rope with which to hang themselves, and they duly obliged, as everyone's favourite OAP bagged four glorious wickets. He may have conceded more runs in an innings than any other bowler in the club's history, but my goodness was it worth it. CCS

desert island discs
1) Piano Man - Billy Joel
2) The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel
3) Over My Shoulder - Mike and the Mechanics
4) Nightswimming - REM
5) Faith - George Michael
6) Holiday in Spain - Counting Crows
7) Carey - Joni Mitchell
8) Graceland - Paul Simon

Book: His Dark Materials: Quaker Faith & Practice

Luxury Item: Dressing Gown

Three films
1) All the President's Men
2) Dead Poet's Society
3) Sliding Doors


Favourite Graham Carter nick-name: Dirty

Cheese or Chocolate: Both
Beer or Wine: Both
Tea or Coffee: Both
Boys or Girls: Both
Greenland or Ibiza: Both
Wet Shave or Dry Shave: Both


W.G. or Bradman: Bradman
Botham or Sobers: Botham
Pietersen or Boycott: Boycott
Marshall or McGrath: Marshall
Read or Jones: Someone who can bat and catch
Warne or Murali: Monty!
Hair or Bowden: Hair