Day 1: the advance party
Zaf, JT, Pete, Smudge and Smidge all got up to no good on Sunday night in Ye Old Bell in Dursley playing poker with the locals. Apparently, Gloucestershire is now bankrupt, and Zaf has a new car!

Day 2: a 35-over game vs Stone CC
I couldn’t make this one for domestic reasons (!) but three of us played for the oppo and many runs were scored with Aryan, JT and Smudge and Majid amongst the big hitters. Apologies for any omissions. The problem was some of these guys played for Stone, so technically we lost, but I’m sure cricket won the day.

Day 3: a 20-over game vs Frocester CC
I joined the tour on this day and met in one of the pubs in Dursley, the Old Spot, at 2pm.  A few were playing golf (Pryank, Zaf, JT, Smudge and Smidge), and they joined us at about 4pm, before we went off in a convoy to Frocester - a lovely ground. They batted first scoring (from memory) about 140 in 20 overs.
 
Majid scored quite a few, as did Smudge. We had 12 players, so there was an on-going fight to be the substitute - mostly between H and Pete.
 
Anyway, the highlight of the day was our overseas signing Hayden scoring the winning runs on the very last ball - quite a good shot over midwicket’s head. Bizarrely, the ball before, he let a long hop go by outside his leg stump. Umpire Pete wanted to call a wide, but he didn’t want to upset Frocester!
 
We all stayed for a few hours in their bar, and they fed us sausage and chips which was great. I finally met their President who I had been talking to for a few weeks organising the fixture.

After the game, a few went home including Smudge and Smidge, Majid and Loz.

We found out on the Wednesday that Smudge had to go home to play in a Hertfordshire over-50s quarter-final, which they won. So it’s a party bus to the final to watch our director of cricket I reckon …

Picture gallery: 2024 Gloucestershire tour

Day 4: a 20-over game vs Oldbury on Severn
Pryank and JT took on the captaincy jointly, and it was decided that Oldbury would bat first. Their team looked very strong. We had 10 men.
 
They scored 198 off their 20 overs on a lovely pitch in the middle of nowhere with an amazing view of the Severn, with Wales further on. They had a lovely modern clubhouse but on one of the boundaries, the last five yards was a steep hill. This would lead to some hilarious fielding later on.

So having to score at 10 an over, we had a good go, but wickets were soon falling with El Presidente going first, after a couple of drives over mid-off, closely followed by Aryan. JT in particular and Legs put on a few runs but we had to admit defeat when H was involved in two runouts in two overs! Sid then batted valiantly with Pryank to bring the score up to 120.
 
A left-hand spinner was ready to bowl, and Sid did ask where the bowler was, and he was six foot and 20 stone. A genius tour moment, where everyone was in hysterics!
 
The following over I couldn’t help but ask him how long he’d been five stone!
 
They were a great bunch of lads, we had a few beers with them at the clubhouse, then later at the Anchor pub a few hundred yards away in the village.
 
Final reflections
What a great week, with Stavros our host only charging £35 per night, which includes unlimited breakfast and a bar open 24 hours a day!
 
JT got given a key for room 9, and there wasn’t a lock on the door! Piers and Legs had no lights in their room, but they are so well acquainted, they both knew where everything was!
 
On the last night, Hayden had the whole (cheaper) dorm to himself. We need to see that full for next year's tour!
 
We all missed tour for the past five years because of Covid, but it was lovely catching up with old friends in Gloucestershire. And playing some very good cricket, some very bad cricket, but always having unbelievable, good fun.

The legendary 2024 Gloucestershire touring squad was: Abhi; Sid; Aryan; Hayden; Tommy; Smudge; H; Zaf; JT; Pryank; Loz; Piers; Legs; Majid; Pete

Piers Jenkins: 10 things you didn't know