Godber Celebrates 10-Wicket Haul

Beverley cricketer Ashley Godber has revealed the secret behind his remarkable 10-wicket haul  – a two week, self-imposed alcohol ban.

Ashley, 40, of Megson Way, Beverley, joined a select band of bowlers when he took a magnificent 10 for 12 for Cherry Burton CC against Newport 2nds in Division Two of the East Riding Independent League.

And whether it was co-incidence or not, Ashley, the advertising director of Adrenaline Advertising, believes two weeks off the booze was a catalyst for his success.

He told HU17.net: “I decided to stop drinking for a week, for health reasons, and then I just carried it on. Now I have taken 10 wickets!

“I was considering having a good drink soon, but this has made me think I may not drink again.”

In cool conditions at Cherry Burton, Ashley had to rely on line and length rather than his usual command of swing to tear through the Newport batting line-up, who were bowled out for just 42 chasing Cherry Burton’s 111.

But if he had let his aching body rule his head, he may never have even got half-way to his 10 wickets.

He continued: “I had taken two wickets in my first three overs, and I admit I was huffing and puffing a bit and was ready to come off.

“But the captain Peter Charlton asked if I could bowl one more. I did, took another wicket and it kept going on like that.

“Once I got to six wickets I began to think that all 10 might just be on, and I said to the  lads there was no way Peter was going to take me off now.

“We went through a few overs without taking a wicket and our energy levels were dropping, but we got rid of a stubborn batsmen and it set if off again.

“The previous week, our veteran Terry Ventress went on a lap of honour after he took a hat-trick. When I got the final wicket I just dropped to my knees and shouted: Yes!.

“It took a while to sink in, and it was only when I was sat in the changing with my jumper over my head that I realised: ‘Bloody hell, this is something special’.”

His final figures – 12.5-7-12-10 – easily surpass his previous best of 8-31 against the same team. And the fact he has joined the all-10 club after more then 25 years as a cricketer for firstly Beverley and then Cherry Burton has made him shelve his plans to end his playing career.

“At the start of every season, I toy with the thought of retiring,” said Ashley. “It would be a nice way to end my career, but now I really feel as though I want to carry on until my body can’t take it any more.

“I’ve also had a lot of words of congratulations from friends and on Facebook. I even got a message from Neil Carter, the Warwickshire county cricketer whom I met in Antigua.

“My wife Liz was still a bit non-plussed though. When I got back home and told her what I’d done, she asked: Is that good then?”

Above: Ashley Godber tells his story. Below: The grip used to take ten wickets at Cherry Burton