Richard Carter

Profile	Into his eleventh season at the club, Magna is another of those bits 'n' pieces cricketers who fill in wherever required. An Aston "Blue" (playing for the 1st XI against Birmingham University), he furthered his cricketing education playing international cricket for Luxembourg (debut in May 1992 vs. Belgium), also playing for Optimists CC in the European Cup-Winners Cup in Paris later that summer. After graduating with an International Business and German degree, Magna was so taken with Birmingham in general and Harborne in particular, that he joined the club and has not looked back since. Most renowned for his unusual run-up (has to be seen to be believed) and loud appealing, Magna has realised that the Hon. Treasurer job needs eight days a week and thirty hours in the day. To do that you've either got to be the Beatles or Mike Taylor to succeed…………
Nickname	Magna
Year joined Harborne	1993 (my first captain, Graeme Voss, triggered me LBW when 2 yards out of my crease and I've never quite recovered from the shock)
Previous Clubs	Billesdon CC, Oadby CC (both Leicester), Optimists CC (Luxembourg), Aston University CC, Marston Green CC (4 games before joining HCC in 1993)
Batting	Right-hand bat: straight- and cover-driving when in form, awful cow-shots to leg when I'm not
Bowling	Right-arm medium pace seam-up: idiosyncratic run-up, generally leg cutter and the odd away-swinger if I'm in the groove (either way, just quick enough for the keeper to stand back, Moreton!!)
Keeping	Never, ever, ever (wouldn't be pretty)
Fielding	Favourite Position? Sent most often?
	Mid-off if I'm skippering a side, long-leg/third man when I'm bowling, sometimes slip if I'm not. Not really my forte………..
Which Cricketer do you most admire?
	It's still David Gower, although Michael Vaughan is starting to run him close). If I had to choose a bowler, I thought Jonathon Agnew was always hard done by in England selection.
What is your favourite Cricketing memory?
	As a spectator: England v Australia, Headingley 1981 (on TV unfortunately) As a player: Opening the bowling for the Optimists against the MCC (that's THE MCC), falling over before starting my run-up for my first ball but then getting up and taking a wicket with that ball (perfect outswinger, nicked to the 'keeper - get back in the hutch!!!!), and Scoring 70 not out against West Malvern on the main ground (it was too wet for the 1st XI) for the Colonel when chasing 160 odd, having gone out to bat at 28 for 6 (which quickly became 30 for 7). Dave Summerfield (No. 9) scored 50 odd as well in one of the more unlikely wins at Harborne. Very satisfying! (Alan?).
If we could play songs as you came in to bowl, which one would you choose?
	Shiny happy people by REM, which is the song played at Leicester Tigers RFC when the team wins. Can't remember what gets played when they lose……………….
What do you like most about playing for Harborne?
	The ground, the location, the people (no particular order).
What's your worst cricketing moment?
	Nothing really springs to mind. Possibly having a slanging match with Moreton snr. from the start of my run-up when he insisted standing up behind the timbers (vs. Amblecote & Wollaston at Dudley Kingswinford RFC, 1999).
Who would you most liek to take your pads off after a long innnings (& why)?
	Kate Beckinsale or Natalie Imbruglia, can't make up my mind…………… why? why not? (Lynn can't read this can she…………?)
If you were PLAYING AGAINST Harborne....
...which Batsman would you most like to bowl at?
	Dean Wattison, because he would mow/moo round his front pad and get himself LBW (again).
...which Batsman would you least like to bowl at?
	Simon Gear, because I got him once in a Sixes match and he wouldn't let it happen again.
...which Bowler would you most like to face?
	I quite like facing Dave Cottam, when we play Harborne Golf Club, but that doesn't count, so it'd have to be Barrie Roberts.
...which Bowler would you least like to face?
	The Colonel (unfortunately I number among his few lifetime dismissals - featuring twice would be cause for retirement).
What's your favourite Pete Stevens quote or favourite Colonel cricketing memory?
	I have a quote for each: Pete saying (in December 2002) to Peter Clarke and Becky Langham (who at the time were quite clearly older than 13): "Were you alive in the Eighties, then?" The Colonel introducing an elderly gentlemen to me at Earl's Croome as Vic Fenney, then asking me five minutes later in the conversation: "Now who do you think he looks like at Harborne?"……… and the Colonel's favourite cricketing memory must be the very satisfying back-to-back wins for the Sunday Nomads in 1996, both in pursuit of 200+ runs.

Richard Carter Player Profile 2000

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