With recent successes on the field at Headingley by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer giving England another chance at the Ashes, the British love affair with cricket has been reignited once more.
So much so that batsmen and bowlers took to Bramble Bank, a sodden sandbank of the Solent, a patch of land between Southampton and the Isle of Wight only accessible at low tide, to play in a much more relaxed home game.
Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSYC) and their friendly rivals the Island Sailing Club (ISC) the two teams faced off in the early hours of the cold morning to make a splash...
Water great shot! Cricketers battle it out in the middle of the Solent as the annual grudge match between two sailing clubs takes place during the early morning's low-tide
The annual match on Bramble Bank between the mainland and the Isle of Wight took place at the 6.30am low tide
Teams from the royal southern yacht club and the Island sailing club met on the sandbank for a friendly game
The unusual traditional game is thought to have been started in the 1950s by renowned boat maker Uffa Fox
By John Bennett For Mailonline
1 September 2019
With recent successes on the field at Headingley by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer giving England another chance at the Ashes, the British love affair with cricket has been reignited once more.
So much so that batsmen and bowlers took to Bramble Bank, a sodden sandbank of the Solent, a patch of land between Southampton and the Isle of Wight only accessible at low tide, to play in a much more relaxed home game.
Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSYC) and their friendly rivals the Island Sailing Club (ISC) the two teams faced off in the early hours of the cold morning to make a splash.
Despite what might appear to be a fierce competition, the match's winner is predetermined in the interest of the love of the game and escaping the rising tide.
Last year was won by the RSYC meaning that this year was the turn of the ISC.
Batters took like ducks to water, stepping in puddles, risking wet socks alongside a few bruises to keep the game going, much to the amusement of the crowds that gathered.
Audience members are also known to come by boat, risking running aground to get a closer glimpse of the 'quintessentially British' game.
The game is so important it even received a blessing in person by local reverend Andrew Popp to ensure the sanctity of the match.
The game is believe to have been first organised in the 1950s by British boat-maker Uffa Fox who was known for his eccentric exploits and adventures.
The boat-maker, alongside forming generation-spanning traditions was also the designer of the Britannia, the rowboat used by John Fairfax for his solo-rowing expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1969.
The game began at 6.30am to make the most of the early morning low tide, the low sun adding an extra obstacle for fielders
He's our anchor: Deep pools of water remained on the sand bank forcing batsmen to get their feet wet as a crowd and boats gathered to watch the friendly game
The early morning sun was caught behind the clouds keeping temperatures low letting players keep their cool as they faced off
The soft ground threatened to provide an unfair advantage as one sides wickets appear to be sinking unevenly into the wet sandbank
Players began the match only a little after the sunrise making sure that cricket balls could be easily seen in the low lit dawn
Hitting for six: Despite the serious organisation and annual agreement to play, all involved treat the match more as a friendly game on the beach, with the winner predetermined, alternating each match
Sand-cassock: Before the start of the game the players on both teams received a blessing from local reverend Andrew Popp
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...battle-middle-Solent-annual-grudge-match.html
So much so that batsmen and bowlers took to Bramble Bank, a sodden sandbank of the Solent, a patch of land between Southampton and the Isle of Wight only accessible at low tide, to play in a much more relaxed home game.
Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSYC) and their friendly rivals the Island Sailing Club (ISC) the two teams faced off in the early hours of the cold morning to make a splash...
Water great shot! Cricketers battle it out in the middle of the Solent as the annual grudge match between two sailing clubs takes place during the early morning's low-tide
The annual match on Bramble Bank between the mainland and the Isle of Wight took place at the 6.30am low tide
Teams from the royal southern yacht club and the Island sailing club met on the sandbank for a friendly game
The unusual traditional game is thought to have been started in the 1950s by renowned boat maker Uffa Fox
By John Bennett For Mailonline
1 September 2019
With recent successes on the field at Headingley by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer giving England another chance at the Ashes, the British love affair with cricket has been reignited once more.
So much so that batsmen and bowlers took to Bramble Bank, a sodden sandbank of the Solent, a patch of land between Southampton and the Isle of Wight only accessible at low tide, to play in a much more relaxed home game.
Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSYC) and their friendly rivals the Island Sailing Club (ISC) the two teams faced off in the early hours of the cold morning to make a splash.
Despite what might appear to be a fierce competition, the match's winner is predetermined in the interest of the love of the game and escaping the rising tide.
Last year was won by the RSYC meaning that this year was the turn of the ISC.
Batters took like ducks to water, stepping in puddles, risking wet socks alongside a few bruises to keep the game going, much to the amusement of the crowds that gathered.
Audience members are also known to come by boat, risking running aground to get a closer glimpse of the 'quintessentially British' game.
The game is so important it even received a blessing in person by local reverend Andrew Popp to ensure the sanctity of the match.
The game is believe to have been first organised in the 1950s by British boat-maker Uffa Fox who was known for his eccentric exploits and adventures.
The boat-maker, alongside forming generation-spanning traditions was also the designer of the Britannia, the rowboat used by John Fairfax for his solo-rowing expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1969.
The soft ground threatened to provide an unfair advantage as one sides wickets appear to be sinking unevenly into the wet sandbank
Players began the match only a little after the sunrise making sure that cricket balls could be easily seen in the low lit dawn
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...battle-middle-Solent-annual-grudge-match.html
