Brothers in arms (and sons, uncles, fathers, nephews …)

BOWLER’S name? Jolland. Yes, but which one? Pity the poor scorer keeping tabs on Newmarket Midweek Second XI on Wednesday night because the team was made up entirely of one family – the Jollands.

Even one of the umpires was a Jolland, too, when the side played Thurlow & Old Mill Greenians Seconds in division five of the Haverhill & District Midweek Cricket League.

The team was captained by Jimmy Jolland playing alongside his brothers Mark and Nick. Jimmy’s sons Henry, Freddie and George played, as did Nick’s sons Jack and Archie. Son of Mark, Ryan, played and the XI was completed by nephews Brandon and Daniel. Stephen, father of Jimmy, Mark and Nick, umpired. The family mostly live in Wickhambrook in Suffolk and have played for four years for Dullingham village team before it merged with Newmarket.

“One of their bowlers got Mark out early and said ‘Oh I’ve got a Jolland out,’” Jimmy Jolland said. “We have had seven or eight of us this year but last night was the first time we did get the whole XI, the youngest being 12 yearold George. My youngest was too young to play until this summer because you have to be 13 but he now plays county cricket for Cambridgeshire. He was allowed once we got permission from them and it all fell into place. It all worked out for this one match.”

The family connection worked because Newmarket won the match by six wickets. “We bowled them out for 84 and we got them within 12 overs,” said Jimmy.

Mill Green made 84 in their 20 overs with Mark Jolland taking two for eight and George two for nine. In reply, Ryan Jolland top scored, retiring on 26.