>'Plenty in common Soldier' / Jack Russell
‘Have you been awarded a benefit ‘Soldier’? Have you been on the scene that long already? My, how the years have flown!

It mustn’t seem that long ago for you that you were told by a county coach, that you would never make a first class cricketer? That’s one thing we have in common, because early in my career one of my senior team mates told me, that I would never be good enough to lace (former wicket keeper) Andy Brassington’s boots!

Another thing, as the crow flies, we live relatively close to each other. That means we are still officially traveling partners. You deserve more than a benefit for putting up with my traveling habits for those millions of miles we travelled together. Keep it to yourself, and I won’t mention that you are the worse navigator of all time. The reason being, that you spent most of those miles asleep on the job!

But nobody can accuse you of that when you’re fielding. In that department, you are definitely in a league of your own. So much is your love for fielding, you’ve named you son Jonty after on of the greatest fielders of all time. Jonty junior should be proud of the fact that his Dad is definitely in the Jonty Rhodes league when it comes to saving runs.

I can’t give you a bigger compliment than that ‘Soldier”. That’s how fantastic you have been at the job. I know from first hand that your remarkable standards are a combination of amazing natural talent, and a relentless dedication to achieve perfection.

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot. You score runs aswel!!!

Tales, you’ve been world class. Not just on the field, but the way you have conducted yourself off it. You are a credit to yourself, youe team and your family. Have a brilliant year all round.

You deserve it!

Jack Russell

Ps: And you’ve kept wicket first class!!!