Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Silver Bullet on September 29, 2014, 05:31:42 AM
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Any of you struggle with free loaders on your clubs ?
There are a few folks on our club that don't own a bat. Half the club relying on one guy for sunblock.
How do you deal with it ?
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I'm the one who ends up with no bat tape left etc. Decided to not bother bringing it to cricket anymore and just sort my bats out when I'm home!
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The biggest problem I had with freeloaders was first team players not paying their membership fees...
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Sun cream, shower gel, bat tape, grips & anything else you need - apparently my bag is a help yourself zone!
What really p*ssed me off one week was when I got back from batting, someone had "hurt my wrist" making a duck, so helped themself to my zinc oxide tape and used a full roll! That left me unable to strap my foot (plantar fasciitis) to field.
Now i have a duffle bag I have an excuse to to carry half that stuff, and anything like that I do carry will live at the bottom of my bag out of sight!
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There's the odd guys you can class as this but there tolerable.
Bat lending is the norm. But then the few off us that are bat badgers don't mind lending them out.
I'd rather lend a decent bat to the college guys or unemployed guys the land them struggle to buy one.
Sunblock and deodorant tend to be items used by many but it's always asked to borrow.
Nobody I know just goes in people's bags and takes stuff. That ain't on.
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At my old club, for some guys, it was help yourself without even asking. Some guys didn’t even own a box. I never mind sharing stuff but when you start borrowing my brand new bat and start dragging it across the pitch, it is not cool. So I was carrying almost two of everything at one stage but later resorted to just saying NO.
There was a guy who will ask for a bat change half way through his innings and ask for mine, first few times I didn’t bother then when I saw him bashing my bat when he got out, I just had to say NO to him next time. It was quite funny because no one wanted to lend him their bat and he kept shouting for one from the pitch.
With the new club, I am yet to see anyone borrowing stuff, club kit is quite rich so they don’t need to really. As for borrowing myself, I cannot remember if I ever borrowed any of the kit, may be pads a couple of times.
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We have club kit that we have purely for this situation. Still, the freeloaders can't be bothered to pick it up for an away game (which they should, because they obviously need it) and then borrow anyone's kit then.
The worst example of this is padding up to bat at 5 and I can't find my strippers anywhere. I assume I must have forgotten them or something and so didn't bother wearing any, only to get pinned by a lifter 3rd or 4th ball. End of the over comes and I walk down to my partner complaining about being stupid enough to forget them, only for him to admit he'd borrowed them without asking and was wearing them right then! I was fuming! Fortunately he got out before I had the chance but I would have called him through for 1 whilst leaning on my bat.
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I'll have to hold my hand up and admit to being a free-loader when it comes to sun cream, shower gel and deodorant... I just keep forgetting to pack them!
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Have been asked by someone to borrow my box before!.. :o
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I just keep forgetting to pack them!
lol a typical free loader excuse.
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Have been asked by someone to borrow my box before!.. :o
I have an emergency box just in case this happens, it's surprisingly frequent...
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We have club kit that we have purely for this situation. Still, the freeloaders can't be bothered to pick it up for an away game (which they should, because they obviously need it) and then borrow anyone's kit then.
The worst example of this is padding up to bat at 5 and I can't find my strippers anywhere. I assume I must have forgotten them or something and so didn't bother wearing any, only to get pinned by a lifter 3rd or 4th ball. End of the over comes and I walk down to my partner complaining about being stupid enough to forget them, only for him to admit he'd borrowed them without asking and was wearing them right then! I was fuming! Fortunately he got out before I had the chance but I would have called him through for 1 whilst leaning on my bat.
Inevitable! Only time I've ever been nailed on the thigh pad was when I loaned mine to a teammate. Never again...
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Have been asked by someone to borrow my box before!.. :o
I keep a very specific Box for when that question gets asked. It is a 1970s hard plastic with perforations and no cushioning. I'll find a picture. People soon learn...
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I keep a very specific Box for when that question gets asked. It is a 1970s hard plastic with perforations and no cushioning. I'll find a picture. People soon learn...
The one I keep to lend out has some ominous stains and pubes from the last person to use it intentionally left in there, it even has a bag so I don't have to touch it and it never comes into contact with anything else in my bag... ;)
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The one I keep to lend out has some ominous stains and pubes from the last person to use it intentionally left in there, it even has a bag so I don't have to touch it and it never comes into contact with anything else in my bag... ;)
Thanks for making that clear, you are still better off sanitising it as lice have wings and can easily travel to your box.
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Might get a spare one and put the tube of deep heat that is in my bag to good use! :D
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lol a typical free loader excuse.
Lol
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Thanks for making that clear, you are still better off sanitising it as lice have wings and can easily travel to your box.
It's kept nowhere near any of my other kit, it has its own micro habitat away from anything that'll get used!
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My club had a player who would fail to pay his match fee and tea money and the following week pay one match fee /tea money rather than two weeks then pay his match fee/tea money each week for a further two weeks and then miss a week and then pay one match fee etc the next week he did this throughout the season.
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^ That's funny. :D
It's the usual helmet, bat search. Gloves and box are just not very expensive and people should have their own. It is silly to use somebody else's sweaty gloves or box.
My escape route is that my bats are too heavy or short for you and I use junior size everything else.
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After years of lending out gear I just started saying sorry its for personal use. So folks then started coming over asking for grips, scuff sheets and it was fine early on but then one day when I needed one no one would help as my 30 scuff sheets were gone in one season and not a single one was on my bats!! now if anyone asks I just say its 5 or 10 bucks most turn around and leave and serious one say ok here is the money.
My personal gloves, pads and helmet are absolutely off limits, I will share my bats but only with the ones who will respect them. Just be upfront and say no sorry...worst was one guy asked to borrow my cup, I said sorry its personal and he say its ok I will wear it on the outside, I made a few more excuses and he kept saying its ok...so I finally said no its not ok, not ok with me >:(
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Might get a spare one and put the tube of deep heat that is in my bag to good use! :D
How well I remember the occasion when a freeloader asked for a tube of germolene/savlon or anything similar, and was given (by mistake) an old tube of deep heat that had all the lettering worn away from rattling about in the guy's kitbag...
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I moved to a heavier bat this season just to avoid this situation.
Last week, one lad borrowed my bat, which is fine. But when he got out, the runner ended up asking for it. By the end of it, my bat ended up being used the whole game.
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It was always sunscreen with me so I ended up buying a 3L tub as a donation to the club hahaha
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We have a few free loaders (3)in our team, eat so much tea there hardly seems to be any left for any other players!! when it comes to collecting money to pay for the opposing team's tea which they laid out they never pay up or always have some excuse!!
Problem is we never have a full playing eleven so end up relying on these types!!
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We luckily only have one cheapskate. Between me and another committee member we don't allow him any special treat,ent he was used too. He kicks up of course but everyone ignores him because of you play, you should pay. This year I've finally got them to agree that if people haven't paid Subs by 1st June then they can be picked for sat league but not for any other game.
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This thread is the exact reason why I don't lend my kit out unless I trust them. My kit is my pride and joy and I'm not lenting people abuse my hard earned purchases. I'm happy to help out if people need bat tape as that's easy to replace.
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The box issues. I can understand if someone asks every week. Buy if someone has genuinely forgot a box would you really kick up a fuss and try to see if he'll go bat without one??
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Don't lend out my bats anymore as one guy borrowed my 275.00 bat at the start of the innings and proceeded to knock the stumps into the hard ground with the top of the handle which is an excellent way of ruining the bat handle and the vee of your bat.
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The box issues. I can understand if someone asks every week. Buy if someone has genuinely forgot a box would you really kick up a fuss and try to see if he'll go bat without one??
No. Problem is if the guys wearing my box without permission and I'm in next to bat (next After him). Do I make him take it off ? A wicket could fall with no one padded up... Or do I risk my life and go on uncovered...
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The box issues. I can understand if someone asks every week. Buy if someone has genuinely forgot a box would you really kick up a fuss and try to see if he'll go bat without one??
This really happened to me once this season, I somehow managed to lose my box and didn't discover until I was padding up to open. Truly mortifying and mercifully a teammate did bail me out :-[
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This really happened to me once this season, I somehow managed to lose my box and didn't discover until I was padding up to open. Truly mortifying and mercifully a teammate did bail me out :-[
That's why I asked as I had similar. Except I was playing for the rep side. So didn't actuallying know any off my teammates. Thankfully a few offered. And I didn't last long to course issues if they needed it. LoL.
I'm glad there are people will to help others out there though.
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Our second team opener doesn't wear a box unless there is someone really quick bowling, only once this season! No thigh pad either, normally just pads bats and gloves!! We all can't wait until he gets hit
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I keep a spare box in my kit for these occasions. I also have my training/net gloves that I don't mind lending. However there is a bloke in my team who specially borrows my pads. I don't mind it on the odd occasion, but it's become a habit. Grates me.
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That's why I asked as I had similar. Except I was playing for the rep side. So didn't actuallying know any off my teammates. Thankfully a few offered. And I didn't last long to course issues if they needed it. LoL.
I'm glad there are people will to help others out there though.
I understand that but when we provide 4 team kits with each kit having numerous cups available, along with everything imaginable you would ever need for cricket so players don't have to invest in gear, why would you want to use someone's personal one? additionally by the end of the season each and every cup from team kit goes missing due to people who can't spend 15 bucks at walmart for a box and jock strap
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I have a special spare "deep heat" box for free loaders ;)
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I used to take a huge kitbag with a couple of bats, repair stuff such as grips, tape, scissors etc etc.
Now just take a duffle with my spikes, bat, gloves, helmet, box, aero strippers and that's it.
No more borrowing, I'm fairly generous and have done bat refurbs for nothing but not anymore as the gratitude for doing a good job doesn't match my time invested, it's like people take you for granted, hence no more freebies unless your a real good mate.
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Last home game of the season a team mate asked me as I got out 'you've got a nice bat can I use it?' 'No sorry mate id rather you didn't' he was genuinely shocked! He scrounges off of everyone to borrow kit and never pays match fees. Gahhh!!
What's taters ey?
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One guy who used to be my childhood friend until I moved keeps on asking for my bat. It's a good bat and I don't mind lending him it if he's genuinely forgotten his. Thing is he always has his bat on him, I've only seen him use his bat in the nets. Even when we net together outside of training he still uses my bat.
During a match he was in to bat as he's a tailender and I just got out he asked for my bat, I was like 'no, you've got your own, use it', then goes and asks my mate if he can borrow his which he lent him.
Have had one person ask for a box, but he genuinely did forget his and wasn't out for long.
One that annoys me, is people not paying membership or tea fees. Luckily our chairman has adopted the policy of, if you haven't paid for a membership, you aren't playing.
Still needs to sort out the teas though, a fiver for two rolls, packet of crisp and some fruit is not worth it. Buys the stuff from Lidl which will only cost him £25, usually everyone pays and he makes a £30 profit!
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I don't particularly share the use of my gears. I'd be able to count on my hands the amount of times I've ever let anybody use one of my bats. On all occasions it's been my secondary bat as I just can't let anybody near my first choice as I wouldn't ever want to see it break in somebody else's hands. At least if I'm using it when it snaps, I can take the responsibility and not have that little thought in my head that the person in question should be the one replacing it just because it broke in their hands!
Grips used to be the issue, not anymore after I asked for a few quid if somebody wanted one. I think people forget that it did actually cost you money to buy your own things in general?
We have one player who eventually ended up owing around 4 or 5 weeks subs, with their excuse being they forget to get money out before coming to cricket. Ergh! It's a shame that it's rather difficult at times to adopt the policy of if you don't pay, you can't play. I can understand forgetting or not having the right money for one week's subs as I've done that on the odd occasion but I'll always end up paying up at either the next training session or the weekend after.
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You guys have no idea what it is like at school...
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But I go to a public school, so it is the norm
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You guys have no idea what it is like at school...
I suspect absolutely everyone on here knows what it's like at school as it's mandatory to attend..... And while some of us are older than others, we still had to go.
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I suspect absolutely everyone on here knows what it's like at school as it's mandatory to attend..... And while some of us are older than others, we still had to go.
Of course everyone has been to school. The kit situation at my school is horrendous, at one point we didn't even have keeping gear and I am in the 2nd XI!
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I've got another one. I recently visited home in Norfolk (I live in Watford now) and ventured up into the parents loft where I came across all my and my two brothers old kit from school. Mostly still in decent knick, I liberated it from its dusty confines, cleaned it up and brought it in to my club to add to the rapidly wearing out club stuff for the benefit of everyone in the club who might want to use it.
Fast forward two weeks and I notice my mate is using one of the bats I put in there. I didn't mind at all. This is the type of guy who says he doesn't smoke, but he'll have 5 of your cigarettes off you during the day. Always owes his match fee and needs to be chased at the end of the season to pay his accrued fees, usually to the tune of a couple of hundred quid. Anyhow, he's got out and wandered back into the changing room where I kid you not, the bat which I donated to the club which he was using has gone straight into his personal kit bag, where apparently it has stayed since I'd brought it down.
Is this on?
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I've got another one. I recently visited home in Norfolk (I live in Watford now) and ventured up into the parents loft where I came across all my and my two brothers old kit from school. Mostly still in decent knick, I liberated it from its dusty confines, cleaned it up and brought it in to my club to add to the rapidly wearing out club stuff for the benefit of everyone in the club who might want to use it.
Fast forward two weeks and I notice my mate is using one of the bats I put in there. I didn't mind at all. This is the type of guy who says he doesn't smoke, but he'll have 5 of your cigarettes off you during the day. Always owes his match fee and needs to be chased at the end of the season to pay his accrued fees, usually to the tune of a couple of hundred quid. Anyhow, he's got out and wandered back into the changing room where I kid you not, the bat which I donated to the club which he was using has gone straight into his personal kit bag, where apparently it has stayed since I'd brought it down.
Is this on?
If it belongs to the club, then it is a fairly straightforward case of theft. But whether the club wants to call it that is a different issue.
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we have had that with a couple of players taking helmets, pads and bats into there own kit for the season.
After being caught they were told if they wish to buy it off the club they could otherwise it needs to be left in the clubhouse after use.
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How about this a few years ago the club I used to play for had 7players join in April there history was they moved to a new club each season but as the club needed players they were allowed to join.
No annual subs were paid and throughout the season they rarely paid a match fee at the clubs monthly committee meetings the accounts were presented which included players monies outstanding but the committee decided on the advice of the clubs captain not to push it to hard as to do so could lose the club these players so effectively these guys were allowed to play mostly throughout the season for free and at the end of the season they left the club anyway.
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How about this a few years ago the club I used to play for had 7players join in April there history was they moved to a new club each season but as the club needed players they were allowed to join.
No annual subs were paid and throughout the season they rarely paid a match fee at the clubs monthly committee meetings the accounts were presented which included players monies outstanding but the committee decided on the advice of the clubs captain not to push it to hard as to do so could lose the club these players so effectively these guys were allowed to play mostly throughout the season for free and at the end of the season they left the club anyway.
At which point the club should of taken all 7 to the small claims court.
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My main experiences as a cricket players and ex-football manager have been lack of payment of week/annual subs. I wouldn't mind, but our club does a great deal - £30 per season + £5 per game and for that you receive a personalised baggy green, adidas shirt and trousers with embroided sponsors, hoody, personalised T shirt, shorts and this season 3 x net sessions with ex-pro cricketers. And still we're chasing players for their subs at the end of season bash!
I don't lend out my bats any more after I lent a skipper (at a different club) my bat some years ago. He got triggered and threw the bat once on the way back then clattered it against a metal railing. The same guy also borrowed a helmet and gave it back to me dripping with sweat (I don't have a problem with that) but also the grill was dripping with his phlegm, from where he'd been gobbing. I like my pads and gloves to mould to me so I don't like lending them out either and I've never had a problem with anyone taking anything without asking.
However, being a kit badger I've sold at stupid prices a couple of surplus helmets and gloves to current team mates who need new kit - I get arguably more than I'd get on ebay without the hassle and they get some decent relatively unused kit. Will probably do the same with some cast offs next season...
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Tend to get asked by players to borrow one of my bats but normally because they are genuinely interested in buying the same bat. I tend not mind as the lads I play with are all decent players and decent lads so respect the kit etc. I did have one instance this year when the oppo wicket keeper dropped out last minute so when they fielded a lad asked to use my kit which I was fine with until he started dropping to his knees all the time and throwing the glove off every time. When I got the kit back it looked like it was 5 years old so I said "thanks for looking after it" or something to that effect his response was its bought to use. So won't do that again.
On the reverse though one of the lads in our 2nd team borrowed a A61 I have and it cracked through the splice. He gave me the. Bat back and £200 that day and refused to take the money back as I know these things can happen he was just honestly like its broke in my hands so I pay for it. I got it repaired via Kember and have it to him.
Also gets a few of my bats match ready lol.
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I want that Nash bat Chris 😢
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On the reverse though one of the lads in our 2nd team borrowed a A61 I have and it cracked through the splice. He gave me the. Bat back and £200 that day and refused to take the money back as I know these things can happen he was just honestly like its broke in my hands so I pay for it. I got it repaired via Kember and have it to him.
Class Act
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I want that Nash bat Chris 😢
I have first dibs and anyway its too light for you [emoji3]
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If it belongs to the club, then it is a fairly straightforward case of theft. But whether the club wants to call it that is a different issue.
No. He is what is technically known as a 'scumbag'.
Urban dictionary describes this type of person as;
"A person of poor judgement and no class."
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Tough One!!
I have everything but my organisational skills always mean I misplace things!
I think I have borrowed just about everything in my time, though I do own it all!
Does this make me a bad man??
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Played last week as to when a bloke has come up to me, and said "I'm in next and using your gloves" without the courtesy of asking. Ergh.
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Played last week as to when a bloke has come up to me, and said "I'm in next and using your gloves" without the courtesy of asking. Ergh.
Think I would have given him an interpretation of go away...
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Played last week as to when a bloke has come up to me, and said "I'm in next and using your gloves" without the courtesy of asking. Ergh.
You should have told him, "No you aren't!!!"
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Worst all of was that he was a number 11 who only had a bat with him, so he had already nabbed somebody else's pads in similar fashion I'm presuming! Couldn't believe the cheek..