The 1961 season promises to be interesting and eventful with the visit of the Australian Cricket team to this country. In a slightly lower class of cricket namely the Birmingham Municipal Officials Evening Cricket League, the Bank hope to improve on last year's performance when they finished second in the League Table.

The team should be stronger this season with the return of two former regular members, and the anticipated progress of the younger players.

Unfortunately, the fixtures for this season have not been received, therefore they will be forwarded with the details of the Annual General Meeting to be held in April. New members, especially juniors who have left school recently, and are interested in playing cricket, will be welcome at the A.G.M.

The Golfing Society are to be thanked for arranging their Annual Dinner to the enjoyment of all present. This was a special occasion for the Cricket Club who presented a Cigarette Box to Mr Parsonage from the playing members to mark his retirement as Chairman of the Club.

J.G.E.

CONTACT: Summer 1961

The opening match of the season v Teachers provided the Bank with a good start to the season - a win in a sensational game. At one time the Teachers had scored 3 runs for the loss of 6 wickets, unfortunately the Bank's fortunes have changed, the last three matches have been lost.

The leading batsmen to date are Messrs Alsop, Green, Haslam and Young who between them have scored 180 runs of the 300 runs the team have scored. The bowling this season has been shared between Messrs Eley, Bunten, Alsop and Young. With the exception of the first match the fielding has been well below the standard needed to challenge for League Honours, nevertheless the keenness of the playing members augurs well for future matches.

Once again a cordial invitation is extended to all members of the Staff to spend a pleasant evening at the Sports Ground, Sedgemere Road (off Queens Road), Yardley on any of the match nights.

J G Eyre

CONTACT: Autumn 1961

An enjoyable but disappointing season when it is realised that, with a potentially stronger team than last year, only three matches were won. However, in three other matches the result was in doubt until the final over. Probably the most galling feature was the failure of the middle of the batting order after the invariably good start given by the early batsmen, namely Messrs Green, Whittaker and Alsop. Mr Green finished top of the batting averages scoring 111 runs for an average of 22.2. This season the bowlers were never able to "get on top" and this, allied to fielding which, after the first match, never reached a high standard, made the task harder for the batsmen.

The Bank welcomed Roger Bunten to the team and his performances augured well for the future; he finished fifth in the batting averages with an average of 10.4, and joint second in the bowling averages with an average of 13.6 r.p.w. Mr Alsop finished top of the bowling averages taking 19 wkts. for 254 runs, an average of 13.4 r.p.w., beating Messrs Eley and Bunten by 0.2 r.p.w.

The final League Table is not yet available, details will be sent to members when it is received.

J.G.E.

Season 1961

League Matches: played 11; won 3; lost 8