Arundel Castle hosts cricket fixture for journalists

BBC Radio News journalists took on a team from satirical magazine Private Eye in a friendly fixture on Thursday.

The Eye XI included editor Ian Hislop, who claimed the only wicket in the Beeb’s first innings total of 190-1 declared and then went on to score what was described as an “elegant” 39 out of his side’s 173-9 reply.

Recording of the BBC’s Have I Got News for You? programme meant Ian had to leave for London before the second innings began, and another notable absentee was reporter Andrew Hosken from Radio 4’s Today programme, who first suggested the match, only to be sent to Libya a few days before it took place, and was reporting from Benghazi on the day itself.

The match ended in a draw, and Private Eye journalist Tim Minogue said: “Everyone had a great time. The ground at Arundel Castle is such an idyllic setting for a cricket match and we were made to feel very welcome by Alan Wadey, the chairman of the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club, Joe Hudson, the secretary, and all their staff and members.”

“We would certainly love to play at Arundel again and so a return match is a distinct possibility.”

Even the weather was kind, with just a brief shower.