The sad news of the sudden and unexpected death of Chris reached the club today; Wednesday 30th April 03. He was just 30 years of age. Without doubt this news is a total numbing shock to all those that played and remember him during his years with Kings Cricket Club. Paul Bygrave introduced Chris to the Club in its first season. He made his debut in the away game at South Park on July 3rd 1994. Unfortunately for Chris his debut with the bat resulted with a 'duck'. However it was clear to all that saw him that day that he had a lot to offer the Club, and we were more than happy to welcome him. Chris was a slightly built, blond haired bundle of energy. He was never content to be sat around not participating. Before matches he would always be seen either with bat or ball in his hand, or would be the instigator of a 5-a-side match. He was never happy unless he was doing something. On the pitch he was a natural athlete, quick across the ground with great agility, speed and strength. Chris showed what he could deliver on the pitch in his very next game for Kings when against the Presidents XI he scored 54* and this was followed with a match winning performance against Bedfont 62 CC, where he scored 34 and returned bowling figures of 16-6-36-3. As
a batsman he had undoubted talent and could take any bowling attack
apart. He was particularly strong on the leg side punishing anything
short and was also a good driver of the ball. His highest score
for Kings was a swashbuckling 63 at Surrey Ovalites on 28th July
1996. But it will be as a bowler that Chris may well be better remembered. Despite a lack of height he generated great pace from a smooth flowing run up that had a characteristic leap as he arrived at the crease. With a quick arm and powerful follow through he would give little opportunity for the batsman to think about their shots. His speed was sometimes too fast for the taste of some of his opponents and on more than one occasion the batsman would have to leave the field with a suspected broken finger. Having announced his arrival with his 3-36 at Bedfont he followed it with an equally impressive 4-37 the following week at Graveney CC and finished the season with 4-36 at Battersea Ironsides. Into the next season he took 4-29 at Beddington Village on the 6th August 1995, but his best performances were yet to come. In the first game of the 1996 season he blew Reigate Heath away with a performance of pure aggression with figures of 15-9-16-5. To this day I still rate it as one of the top 4 greatest ever Kings bowling performances, who knows what figures he would have returned had I not taken him out of the attack. Less than a month later he took his second 5for when he took 5-24 at Warren Row. Sometimes though his lack of variety could be his downfall, on a good batting track a good batsman could score freely against him, and this would make Chris pitch it shorter and shorter and the ball would go faster and faster to the boundary. Yet, on the whole, Chris rarely came out second best.
In the field his superb athleticism was a great asset and we often saw him take some outstanding catches. He also had a great throwing arm, but at times his concentration would wander in the field. If not involved in the action all the time he would drift and lose the edge that his talent provided him with. For years Chris had been a student, and claimed reduced membership fees because of this, but in 1997 he became a trainee solicitor, based in Swindon. This curtailed his playing and in that season we only saw him on two occasions, since then 'Gash' has always been trying to get Chris to come back to Kings but to no avail. As good as he was, Chris was no saint, and was not an easy player to Captain. He was a young twenty-something and strong headed, He would have his own ideas on how things should be done and how he wanted to play the game. I remember having one huge run in with him against Rail Nomads CC, when he was taking a lot of tap and demanded more protection on the offside, too much in my view. When I pointed out that if he pitched the ball up more the batsman would not be able to play the square drive and cut, he went into a rage and started shouting and screaming. He was having none of it and pitched it shorter still. I had to take him off much to his annoynance. Yet this made him the player he was, full of fire and determination. But he could also be a great laugh, I remember on one occasion having a wager with him against Graveney. He was next batsman in and we were coasting to victory. Suddenly Steve Brown got out with us needing six to win. Chris bet me a fiver that he could hit the six needed off his first ball, I took the bet, and watched in disbelief as he smacked the ball down to long-on, fortunately for me it dropped a foot short of the rope, but it was good enough for Chris to demand half the stake money! I also remember the day Chris was sporting a brand new cricket coffin for his kit, bought for him by his girlfriend. The trouble was Chris had left the key at home and refused to break the lock open - he went out to field in a pair of my borrowed whites, which were at least 3 sizes too big for him and a borrowed pair of trainers, he still took wickets. All in all he delivered a lot to the early years of Kings CC, both on and off the field, a huge talent, an exciting player and a fiery character both on and off the field. Today you would have to give serious consideration to including Chris in an all time Kings XI, certainly the day we were able to field Nick Tighe, Scott Hart and Chris in our attack was superb and there was no better new ball partnership than that of Nick and Chris. Despite not having played for Kings since 1997 Chris is fondly remembered by all those at Kings who played alongside him as a talented all rounder and free spirit who always wanted to be at the fore front of whatever was going on. Kings CC send our condolences and best wishes to Chris' family and friends. Rob Young - Captain Kings CC Chris Andrews - Kings CC Career: Debut:
3.7.94 v South Park CC
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