As anyone who has ever toured knows, finding the right area and right locations is a delicate matter. Historically if not traditionally ACC4 tours in the Brighton area. This has been for a cocktail of reasons that includes ingredients such as friendly weather, friendly people, and it being the number one location for Hen nights in Britain. This year however, ACC4 has ventured out to Oxfordshire, in fact the author is sitting in Oxford as we speak

Is it that we prefer brains over beauty? Not so. Beautiful grounds are the backbone of any succesful tour, and after two matches we have already been stunned and spoilt. Challow & Childry is a minor county ground on top of a hill that gives you stunning views from the crease of rolling hills for miles around. However good views have a dangerous side. We have learned that  our batsman had better keep their eyes on that little red thing, as it was 23-5 within embarassingly few overs. Luckily we have an Englishman in our ranks, Marvin, who quite used to these luscious spectacles, accepted them with his characteristic shrug and belted only his second century of his career. In fact things were so dire that as Marvin walked out to the crease the opposing skipper  offered their New Zealand pro (just short of test level he said) to cross over and bat with us. However he was basically midsentence when Marvin cracked his first six and his players were running down that hill to bring back up that little red thing in a way reminiscent of old Sisyphus, as soon as the ball was up the hill they could start all over again. After a few of those our opposing skipper's voice called out in a very different timbre: "consider the offer revoked." Now we were playing a declaration or timed game and that was a first for ACC4 and the skipper of the day we had brought out, The Gimp, was fed with many different views of what a good declaration would be, I think in fact we ended up asking the tealady as she was a professional in these matters. It turned out to not be enough, but iit must also be said that their pro, who is the best batsman ACC4 have ever bowled to, played a big part in making it look a puny total indeed. He retired after a flashy century but the damage was done. Victory went to the South Oxford Amateurs. A most enjoyable game and the next day was perhaps even better but more of that later.