End of Term Report for Coton, Form J3B

Overall Assessment/Results - Coton is a troublesome pupil that is failing to produce consistent results. We feel that with a little more application that this pupil could prosper however that could depend on solid practice in the close season. The impact of new on-field leadership is yet to be seen but could be critical.

• Attendance - B+ - would have been an "A" except for some late arrivals. There will be delays on the M11 on Saturdays and 2 dogs are insufficient to pull a bike at more than 5 mph: these are known facts and should be accounted for. Changing in cars on the way to games should also be discouraged.

• Appearance - B - generally well turned out with a few execptions. Younger members of the team should be encouraged to keep their shirts on.

• Batting - C+ - despite the loss to injury of the team's best batsman and the frequenct unavailability of the captain, an improvement over previous years. Only one calamitous collapse and regularly batting through the full 40 overs. Next year emphasis should be on scoring a few more runs during those overs and better pacing of the innings.

• Bowling - C - oh dear, a distinct dropping off in standards in terms of the runs allowed per wicket and the totals achieved by the opposition. Some mitigating factors in better pitches and an equivalent improvement in the scores achieved on the batting side.

• Fielding - C+ - there is an old adage that senior members of the team should be positioned at slip to avoid the unedifying prospect of watching them lumber after the ball. Unfortunately that would mean Coton deploying 6-7 slips, and their bowlers have not proved worthy of this. Some spectacular catches and not too many comedy moments. Could do better.

• Captaincy - A - perhaps an unfair assessment given the author of the report. During the season Coton tried a tactic of taking to the field with 11 captains despite evidence that this rarely, if ever, succeeds.

• Umpiring - B - a commendable desire to be honest which is out of line with many teams in the league and more members of the team volunteering to stand. With a little more "benefit of the doubt" applied better results could be achieved.

• Scoring - B+ - attempts to computerise the scoring were only partially successful due to the affects of sunlight (yes, there was some) and power. More successful was the late season introduction of legibility and couloured pencils to the scorebook.

• Pitch Preparation - A - Much improved this season. Thanks to all the crews that turned out during the week and at weekends to prepare the wicket. The hard work is reflected in higher scores, longer matches and less injuries. At least one visiting captain gave the pitch a "good" rating.

• Catering - B - some last minute scrambles (and I don't mean eggs) but always got there in the end. Balance of sandwiches and cakes about right. Coton and its visitors were never underfed as evidenced by the team profiles.

• Drinking - B- - a weaker performance than in previous seasons. Perhaps due to longer matches meaning later arrivals and a higher percentage of out-of-village players. This trend must be reversed otherwise action will need to be taken.

• Chuntering - A - If Leagues were won by how good a game a team can talk then Coton would have been challenging for promotion rather than struggling at the lower reaches of the division. An area that needs no improvement next season and a solid pass in prospect.