Obviously inspired by the unbeaten half-century being scored at the same time by Essex and England skipper Nasser Hussain for our national team, Essex FM sports presenter Roger Buxton's X1 made short work of their Hadleigh and Thundersley hosts in their traditional Boxing Day cricket match.

It has to be said that the cricket, not the conditions at John Burrows Ground in Hadleigh, was not quite of the serious nature being played out in the Third Test between England and South Africa in Durban, but there was plenty of honest toil and endeavour in the local affair, being staged for the 27th occasion.

Apart from a chilly wind, weather conditions were bright with sunshine. However, heavy rain in the days leading up to the clash had left the outfield pretty muddy - although a mat pitch was, as usual, laid down for the main action.

As ever, the match was a 12 eight-ball-overs-a-side affair, but Hadleigh could only manage a 52-7 total, one of their lowest for years, with only Tim Lowes (14) and Keith Klein (10) getting into double figures.

Klein, an Aussie, would obviously have had cricket at this time of year in much warmer climates in his memory, but he looked to be in for a decent knock here until he was dismissed by a fine catch in the deep by Robert Pearman. George Gosling was top Buxton's bowler with 2-6 in his two overs.

There was never much chance that Hadleigh would be able to win from such a position, but Glen Geeson did cause problems with 2-7 before Buxton's men triumphed on 53-3 with one-and-a-half overs to spare.

Peter Wright was top run-scorer with 20, while Peter Barnes weighed in with 13. Mike Pearman, after son Robert's outstanding catch, gave evidence that the family still had plenty to offer in the older age group with an unbeaten 10.

So Buxton's men left with an emphatic victory under their belts and all players left the field to catch up on latest news from South Africa and contemplate that, in four short months, they will themselves be getting set for a new English season.

Geoff Sawyer, a Buxton's X1 regular whose feat of having played in every one of these Boxing Day games is believed to be unique, said: "The match has become a great tradition and conditions this year were far better than some we've experienced previously.

"Yet in all the time I have been playing the fixture I can only remember one occasion when the match had to be cancelled and that was when snow was so deep it was just impossible to play."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.