The South Africa tour Mike Bovill, our inspirational Director of Cricket, visited South Africa in 2003 as part of his round the world tour. And he managed to find himself the odd game or two while he was out there... A Rest of the World XI (mostly consisting of a few Aussies, Kiwis, the odd member of the Barmy Army and a slightly rusty St. Anne's Allstar) took on Walmer, a township just outside Port Elizabeth. The pitch was regularly used for bonfires and therefore grass was on the sparse side. There was also an ant hill at one end so everyone had to bowl from the other - making life considerably easier for our 20 stone Kiwi keeper. Making 89 for 7 from our 20 overs, the RoW side had their work cut out defending (Bovill didn't bat but did get the beers in, so a pretty vital contribution). But Walmer's openers were subjected to a barrage of aggresive pace bowling by our Aussie secret weapon, Bruce (his real name), who ripped out middle stump with his first ball and repeated the trick with his fourth. Reeling at 3 for 2, Walmer mounted a bit of a comeback until it was decided only an Englishman could save the day. I was the closest they had so up stepped Bovill, with a familiar 7-2 legside field, to do the damage. My first ball bounced twice before being swotted to fine leg for two. The second was dropped on the boundary at long on and then kicked over the rope by the fielder for four. Fuming at my team's incompetence, I decided to unleash my most devastating delivery - the patented AllStars legside full toss. And it worked a treat with the batsman launching it straight down the throat of deep square leg. I finished with figures of one over, 1 for 9 and felt I'd made my mark on the international stage. Walmer managed to hold on to win by 3 wickets but I doubt they'll ever forget during their lives of intense disease ridden poverty just how badly a bunch of hungover, fat backpackers can play the wonderful game of cricket. More Mike Bovill The Allstars' first Test wicket The Daily Mail