Jan Washbourne’s cricket tea for the Second XI and their opponents
Jan Washbourne continued the club’s high standard of cricket teas with a delicious feast for the Second XI and their opposition, Kempsey, at Hill Close yesterday.
Thanks, Jan, and all those who have contributed teas to the club over the summer. Your efforts are most appreciated!
As traditional as the game of village cricket is the afternoon tea.
Teas are usually provided by the wives/girlfriends/families of the players.
I was truly daunted by my first cricket tea, but with a little help and a bit of practice I now have it down to a pretty fine art.
Here are some tips to get you started:
The tea rota is on the noticeboard in the clubhouse. If you are interested in providing a tea, please add your name to the preferred date and let me know.
My contact details are on the noticeboard or printed in the yellow fixture booklet. Any help is greatly appreciated and really spreads the workload.
If, for any reason, the game is cancelled the team captain or myself will let you know.
I usually shop on Friday evening, having checked the weather forecast first!
I cater for about 30 people (15 on each team), and like to be in the clubhouse setting up by 3.30pm.
Check the number of overs that have been played to gauge how quickly you need to get ready.
If you are in any doubt just ask one of the players waiting to bat. They are always very happy to help!
The first thing I do is put sufficient water in the urn and put it on.
Lay out your selection of afternoon tea, putting a pile of plates at one end, cups at the other. I also have a jug of squash in case not everyone is having tea.
I usually provide a mixture of savouries, sandwiches and cakes.
Savouries might include mini pork pies, sausage rolls, samosas, cocktail sausages, pizzas etc.
Lucy Donovan, right, suggests arriving at the game by 3.30pm to start preparing your tea
Sandwiches – three loaves of bread made into two fillings such as ham, egg, tuna etc. By the way, apparently the crusts are meant to be cut off!
A selection of four family-sized cakes – sponge, scones, traybake.
Sometimes I add a dip with cucumber, carrot sticks and pepper.
Cheese and crackers are popular too.
I always have a plate of fruit (watermelon, grapes, strawberries) and a couple of bowls of crisps.
You will also need a pint of milk.
Once teas are finished and play has resumed the washing up needs to be done.
I do it by hand rather than use the dishwasher, but it’s up to you.
All plates, cutlery, mugs, glasses etc need to be washed, dried and put away. I always take my own washing up kit.
Wipe down all the tables, work surfaces, sweep the kitchen floor if necessary etc.
Please make up two jugs of squash and leave them in the fridge for the next drink break.
Most importantly, don’t forget to be reimbursed your tea money before you go. You will receive £40.
I really enjoy providing cricket teas and hope you do as well. Your delicious afternoon tea will be thoroughly appreciated by all the players, umpires, scorers and spectators.
Should you have any questions my number is available from the clubhouse noticeboard or is printed in the yellow fixture booklets.
Mandy Clements-Hunt has some cracking tips for anyone preparing a cricket tea. Picture: ECB
While our players seek glory on the pitch, Mandy Clements-Hunt will be behind the scenes helping serve up a perfect cricket tea.
But she can’t do it all on her own, and is appealing for volunteers to join her team.
Providing a cricket tea doesn’t cost you a penny, she explains.
“You buy the ingredients and do the work, and your skipper will pay you at the end of the match from the match fees he collects from your team, and the tea money he collects from the opposition.
“The going rate is up to about £40. You can provide a belter for that!”
If you know the club, just call in and make for the roster on the club noticeboard. Pick your date and write your name alongside.
Mandy also welcomes help from those who haven’t previously been involved in the club. If you would like to contact her and find out more just complete the form at the end of this post and she’ll get in touch with you.
Meanwhile, here are Mandy’s six ingredients for a perfect cricket tea, and some tips for tackling what can be an immensely rewarding challenge:
1. Choose the right ingredients for your cricket tea
Four loaves for sandwiches
An assortment of savouries (probably two of each) such as pork pie segments, mini sausage rolls, mini scotch eggs, cocktail sausages.
An assortment of cakes, tarts, sweet items, or those chocolate Rice Crispy things
Some crisps or tortilla chips (emptied into a bowl or two)
Some fruit – bananas, clementines, strawberries (or similar) – usually goes down well
And, of course, tea… and orange squash
You can vary the plot a little:
Bread or finger rolls to do some of the sandwiches
Samosas or onion bhajis as savouries
Scones with jam and butter or cream
Hot savouries such as pizza get devoured, but they’re more effort – your call.
Sandwiches can be as simple or complicated as you want
2. Rely on some staple sandwich fillings
Cheese
Tuna mayo (and sweet corn / cucumber)
Egg mayo
Coronation chicken
Chicken and chutney
Corned beef
Sausage (good in rolls)
Beef
Pate
You can add to any of the above appropriate combos such as cucumber, tomato, mustard, pickle, piccalilli, chutney, lettuce.
3. Use this sample shopping list
With a bit of skill and judgement, you can get all of this cricket tea list at any supermarket (there should be tea, sugar, orange squash in the pavilion, but check and add to the list if you need them).
Sarnies bread (square sliced loaves best): four loaves
Margarine: one 500g tub
Cheese
Ham: pack of 20 slices
Eggs: six large
Tomatoes: six
Medium cucumber
1 Hellmann’s mayonnaise (small jar)
Other savouries sausage rolls: frozen pack of 50/100 cocktail sausages
Two frozen packs of 40 pizzas – thin margherita or pepperoni frozen
Two twin packs of Doritos or tortilla chips
Six-pack mini scotch eggs
One pack cakes ‘n’ stuff bar fruit cakes
Two bar lemon cakes
Two chocolate Swiss rolls
Two packs of 10 jam tarts
Milk: two pints
In addition to the food, you will need:
A bit of time and space. Sarnies for 22 plus a bit of preparation at home will take up a couple of hours the morning of the match/or the night before.
Enough room in your fridge for five trays of sandwiches and anything else you’ve bought or made that needs keeping fresh. Enough room in the freezer for the frozen stuff.
Clingfilm: seal those sarnies quick for best results
Sharp knives
About five sandwich trays. Get them from the pavilion kitchen or use your own
Tupperware or similar container for the sausage rolls and sausages
4. Follow these instruction to make four loaves into sandwiches
Get the fillings ready in bowls. Grate lots of cheese into a bowl, slice up the other stuff.
To make egg mayonnaise for one loaf: hard boil six large eggs. Cool them, shell them and chop them up. Add a couple of spoonfuls of mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and mash it into a light and easily spreadable paste. Don’t eat it all.
Work fast. Cut sarnies diagonally into quarters. With a sharp knife you can do several rounds at once. Stack them in rows on a sandwich tray and when it’s full cover it immediately with cling film and stash it in the fridge.
5. Adopt this plan of action
It’s best to shop the morning of the match.
If there is any doubt, immediately before shopping ring or text the team captain and check the match is still on.
There should always be tea, sugar, and orange squash in the pavilion kitchen (Birlingham, you should please take your own along).
There should be tea towels, washing up liquid, scourers, dishwasher tabs and rinse agent.
I generally start making the tea at about 25 overs, depending on how the game is going. Chat to the players they will tell you if you need to rush! And if the wickets fall too quickly ask them to help you!
Lay out everything, and remember cups and plates/napkins.
Pour the tea!
Put out some squash and tumblers.
6. And finally, smile!
You’ve done as much as you can, and your efforts will be appreciated. Now all you have to do is stop your players eating everything before the opposition have arrived!
Send us your pictures
Were you one of the many people around the cricket-playing world inspired by Mandy’s tips? We’d love to hear from you. Post a picture of your tea on our Facebook page.
