In a few short years Brook has become one of the Mog's most treasured fixtures - not least due to its status as the traditional season opener - and with the sun shining and the Harvey's flowing there was simply no better place to be at 1pm on an April Sunday.
The team was a Mog-spotter's dream, with Richard 'Long-ball' Brown making a welcome return after a 9 year absence alongside a refurbished Peter Furner exhibiting what he described as Lords pad-rash from a rainy day on MCC duty at HQ.
In fact the Furner lower limbs were to dominate an eventful first half hour, firstly stopping a certain 4 overthrows with a resounding thud then trapping a superbly judged chest down (or dropped catch depending on whose account you choose to believe) presenting our new pace ace Tom Hornsey with his maiden Test wicket to follow up on a nicely judged run-out of Ray Mears lookalike (and former Mog Ringer - Ed) Sam Kier the ball previously.
'The Hornet' was to bowl beautifully in his first outing for the Mogs for figures of 8 overs 1 for 16 although with more luck and a few more nibbles at his numerous bat-scraping out-swingers it could have been better.
His quality turned up the pressure to boiling point and was well supported by Abbot and Freeland before the cork blew off with a wicket for Brown's deceptively appalling first ball.
There followed the familiar slow-strangulation of the opposition innings by the Python/Boa constrictor combo of Lewis and Hewitt - the latter picking up 3 for 19 off his 8 overs featuring a superb caught behind from 'Colonel' Parker recovering well from an unfortunate pre-match shower incident.
Brook called a halt at 168-9 and presented the Mogs with an unusually healthy tea-combo of fresh bread, radishes, cherry tomatoes and little gem lettuce that was largely ignored in favour of more traditional Pork-based products and cake.
With the ball nipping around and tea weighing heavy the total was a test, and losing their opening dynamo Charlie 'Lee Lee' Lee left the Mogs with a steep hill to climb - in stark contrast to the Brook opening bowler from the Annoying Dutch Child End who used the distinct slope to his advantage.
However - inspired by the presence of the most treasured Mog of all Peter Martin - the remaining top order embarked on a relentless run-chase led by top-scoring Furner (39) complimented by Freeland (31) Tharp (36) and Brown (23 off 3 balls). A panoply of sixes lit up the chase - one through the score box hatch from Freeland, a giant over the tennis courts from 'Death Paddle' Tharp and the pick of the bunch - an even bigger blow from Brown into the secret garden to the right of the pavilion.
After the pyrotechnics the skipper and his vice gently steered the Mogs to a 41st over victory against the tricky flight of Ashworth and as the sun slipped behind the Dog and Pheasant the day was put to bed over a variety of hop-based products.
Jamie "Wordsworth" Freeland
MWCC Stats