Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: MichaelM on January 23, 2023, 10:12:14 AM
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My first indoor net for this season. Only 4 players turned up, meaning each batted for 30 minutes, great way to start the session. No issues with seeing the out of bowler's hand, as background was white.
I batted better than I expected, I planned to bat 'aggressive', what worked out pretty well.
Bowling wise, I was happy with only a couple of wides.
How's your cricket going?
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Sat seething with jealousy at everyone who has already started indoor nets! Ours don't start till February and I'm missing 3 of the first four weeks 😭 least I'll have an excuse for not middling a ball outdoors till June!
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4th Net tomorrow, Hopefully I will be able to sit and stand up on Wednesday :D
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Sat seething with jealousy at everyone who has already started indoor nets! Ours don't start till February and I'm missing 3 of the first four weeks 😭 least I'll have an excuse for not middling a ball outdoors till June!
Ours started in October :)
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Youth junior league winter nets started a couple of weeks ago, with extra sessions for wicket keepers.
All good.
Then the buffoon broke a finger messing around with his school friends, and he's out for 4 weeks :(
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Pre season ankle surgery for me, keeping in shape by watching plenty of the SA20. All being well I'll be good for the start of the year, both sides I play for should hopefully challenge for league titles this year so hoping for a good year!
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I know it's not practical for most people, but I have often thought that 5 nets in the week before the season would be far more beneficial preparation than one net a week for 5 weeks.
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Might work if your fitness is really good but I know for me the gradual build into the season is about the only thing that stops me tearing something.
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I know it's not practical for most people, but I have often thought that 5 nets in the week before the season would be far more beneficial preparation than one net a week for 5 weeks.
imo, 5 session in a week is not beneficial, while once in a week session will get you in match. form
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I know it's not practical for most people, but I have often thought that 5 nets in the week before the season would be far more beneficial preparation than one net a week for 5 weeks.
Batters may benefit from more intensive training prior to the start of the season but bowling requires a gradual and progressive increase in load to build condition and mitigate the risk of injury.
More generally, unless you stay fit outside of the season, a number of weeks training is required to regain fitness levels
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Plus beyond general fitness, there's the flexibility and muscle movements that are pretty unique to bowling.
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Ours started in October :)
A few of my club mates and I have been netting since the end of October every Sunday evening from 19:00 at our club's own indoor net facilities (2 lanes) with about up to 8 of us attending where we have about 15 minutes batting and can often use the bowling machine, I am also the "chairman of selectors" for our indoor cricket team where we play once a fortnight and I have to keep wicket. Our club have not announced when our official indoor training begins but our club's AGM is at the end of February (should be much earlier in my opinion, but my dad needs time to do the accounts) and I am hoping to be nominated as the club's communications/media officer.
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A few of my club mates and I have been netting since the end of October every Sunday evening from 19:00 at our club's own indoor net facilities (2 lanes) with about up to 8 of us attending where we have about 1 minutes batting and can often use the bowling machine, I am also the "chairman of selectors" for our indoor cricket team where we play once a fortnight and I have to keep wicket. Our club have not announced when our official indoor training begins but our club's AGM is at the end of February (should be much earlier in my opinion, but my dad needs time to do the accounts) and I am hoping to be nominated as the club's communications/media officer.
1 minute each seems quite minimal, not sure if it was a typo :) Im getting ready for my first season at U15 level with everyone i know much better than i am, so im going to 3 nets a week.
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1 minute each seems quite minimal, not sure if it was a typo :) Im getting ready for my first season at U15 level with everyone i know much better than i am, so im going to 3 nets a week.
It was a typo!
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Another net today, a lot of fun. Everyone tried hitting hard. I bowled around one hour and 45 minutes. Near it's end, I got tired, but enjoyed today's cricket.
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It was a typo!
It could be a way to replicate a match situation though. Face 3 or 4 deliveries in a row, then none for a couple of minutes.
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Not my club, I am UK based but what a heartening watch about a thriving club in Aus:
https://youtu.be/7NJjFzWs-zY
No doubt some clubs will struggle with getting sides out this year. A motivating watch ahead of the UK 23 season.
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It could be a way to replicate a match situation though. Face 3 or 4 deliveries in a row, then none for a couple of minutes.
Or the fact that I am often next into bat and it is the end of the innings.
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Another 2 hours of nets today, 7 bowlers in each net. I got more tired today than any of the previous ones.
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30 minutes of batting and one hour and 30 minutes of bowling in 2 nets, only 10 turned up, enjoyed today's net.
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Had a full 2 hours bowling machine session today getting j to the grove (trying out all the bats!!!)
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Had a full 2 hours bowling machine session today getting j to the grove (trying out all the bats!!!)
That's great!
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Not at all jealous Dave. Hope you had a good time.
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Early start this season with a wee pre season trip to la manga. Decent start with a 78, but batting for 30 overs, keeping for 20 and bowling a few too was not what my body needed to ease me in. Todays game is going to be challenging :D
(https://i.ibb.co/jRcqvBr/7-E22-C6-FB-6-F8-F-4-CD4-92-D6-5-EF7-AD74-B535.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5FNCWtR)
(https://i.ibb.co/8dLjmhp/5238-D2-AA-23-A1-417-E-86-AA-48-F7-AFD53027.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YyFtNrM)
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Early start this season with a wee pre season trip to la manga. Decent start with a 78, but batting for 30 overs, keeping for 20 and bowling a few too was not what my body needed to ease me in. Todays game is going to be challenging :D
(https://i.ibb.co/jRcqvBr/7-E22-C6-FB-6-F8-F-4-CD4-92-D6-5-EF7-AD74-B535.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5FNCWtR)
(https://i.ibb.co/8dLjmhp/5238-D2-AA-23-A1-417-E-86-AA-48-F7-AFD53027.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YyFtNrM)
Nice
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Having a very strange start to pre-season. It hasn’t been helped by the fact winter nets have been on Saturdays so I’ve only managed to get to 3 of them.
The first and last of the three, I’ve batted like I’ve never played the game before and my bowling has been very hit and miss. The middle one I felt like Brian Lara with the bat and Glenn Mcgrath with the ball.
Had an absolute nightmare last season after moving to the north east - barely scoring a run for the first 7/8 games - before clawing back some form towards the end of the season. Going to be very interesting to see how I start the season in April!
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Having a very strange start to pre-season. It hasn’t been helped by the fact winter nets have been on Saturdays so I’ve only managed to get to 3 of them.
The first and last of the three, I’ve batted like I’ve never played the game before and my bowling has been very hit and miss. The middle one I felt like Brian Lara with the bat and Glenn Mcgrath with the ball.
Had an absolute nightmare last season after moving to the north east - barely scoring a run for the first 7/8 games - before clawing back some form towards the end of the season. Going to be very interesting to see how I start the season in April!
Might be that you prefer or you need more nets per week.
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Last indoor nets today, plenty of batting and bowling. So far so good.
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Been at indoor nets since the end of November for a new club after several years just not really playing. Had some weeks where I've felt OK, then some Godawful ones where I can't do anything right, particularly with the ball and just keeping my head and arm straight. At least with outdoor nets on a weekly basis and and being able to go down there anytime I can work on a few things at my own leisure. Will hopefully get a few games with the 5s and just scratch that itch of playing again.
It's also been good that they're quite a social bunch; joining a new club is always daunting for me, so doing stuff like curry and quiz nights makes it all a lot, lot easier.
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Been at indoor nets since the end of November for a new club after several years just not really playing. Had some weeks where I've felt OK, then some Godawful ones where I can't do anything right, particularly with the ball and just keeping my head and arm straight. At least with outdoor nets on a weekly basis and and being able to go down there anytime I can work on a few things at my own leisure. Will hopefully get a few games with the 5s and just scratch that itch of playing again.
It's also been good that they're quite a social bunch; joining a new club is always daunting for me, so doing stuff like curry and quiz nights makes it all a lot, lot easier.
Enjoy your cricket, playing with good bunch of people, makes more enjoyable
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1st match 22 Apr, with the league starting 6 May. Ive taken over captaincy of one of our teams this year, so looking forward to it even more than usual!
Last indoor net tonight, plus Ive had a few 121 coaching sessions too. We repaired our outdoor nets last week, which are pretty new, but suffered damage in winter storms. All good to go.
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Batted so so indoors with very medium paced outside bowlers trying to bang it in short; which ended with me telling one of them- Bowl that the first weekend of May on a damp Dorset pitch and it’ll end up in the next town, pitch the ball up.
Which obviously went down well with him copping a stop.
I’m a 35 year old batter who used to bowl lovely away swing that for some reason doesn’t get a look in with the ball now, bowled 6 or so overs and tweaked a knee that’s led to the ankle being out of wack too. And now have a compressive knee sleeve and fastener arriving imminently from Amazon. Bloody love getting older!
First game on the 14th pending selection, it’s a 2/3’s game but I’d like the practice and overs in the legs before 2 games across the bridge to Abergavenny CC and Whitchurch CC for Tour the following weekend
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Bowlers all love to pretend we can bang it in at indoor nets 😂 I generally take it as a good sign for line and length if I'm getting driven uppishly, take that outdoor and it's catching practice for cover and extra.
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First pre season friendly Sat with league starting week after however I’ll miss first league game and got a trip to the seaside for my first game late April. Can’t wait
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Bowlers all love to pretend we can bang it in at indoor nets 😂 I generally take it as a good sign for line and length if I'm getting driven uppishly, take that outdoor and it's catching practice for cover and extra.
This is why I hate indoor nets. Bowlers bowling massive no balls and short of a length. They look like Glen McGrath indoors then don't understand why they are shashed everywhere outside.
Same with batters playing millionaire drives on the up...
My son's coach has banned the boys from playing the cover drive in the indoor nets.
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Went outdoor yesterday for the 1st time and it was payback flat deck after only really playing forward defence and on and off drives in door and leaving the rest. After my break from the game feel in good touch but yesterday the short ball didn’t get past my waist and after 3 sessions on the short ball on the machine found it great!!!
Hope this rain clears up north for two more nets this week before two friendlies this weekend.
It great to be back playing
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First game is on tour in 2 weeks against six sixes Stapleton. Looking forward to it!
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Went outdoor yesterday for the 1st time and it was payback flat deck after only really playing forward defence and on and off drives in door and leaving the rest. After my break from the game feel in good touch but yesterday the short ball didn’t get past my waist and after 3 sessions on the short ball on the machine found it great!!!
Hope this rain clears up north for two more nets this week before two friendlies this weekend.
It great to be back playing
Where you playing at this year Dave?!
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First outdoor net, I was finding it difficult picking up the ball without sight screen.
I got cleaned upped twice by yorkers.
Bowling was alright.
Next task will be adjust to outdoor conditions.
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Big changes this year for us. Complete change of committee, senior team leadership and coaching structure after an unhappy season resulting in relegation. We now only have three of us over the age of 25 in the 1s training squad, and as well as continuing with running the midweek and Sunday sides I am head of men’s section and sitting on the selection committee. I had run for the captaincy but withdrew once last years skipper withdrew his candidacy - I was standing to ensure there was someone else but the other two ‘old timers’ (29 and 28 respectively) are taking it on alongside coaching duties with myself. A few faces have exited but we are a better side, fielding especially, without them.
New overseas this year, who was at a div3 side last year in the TVL and scored 900+ runs at 60 at the top of the order, alongside the old three will for the spine and allow the young lads to perform around us.
First friendly on 22nd so looking forward to that. Going into another season privileged to be working with Adam @Neon Cricket and additionally doing my bit for charity through Runs for Research.
Hope everyone has a great season!
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I'm currently navigating finding a good club in the Boston area so that I'm not limited to T20 only. I hope I find something soon.
I'm also thinking of diving into wicket keeping properly while I have the chance to reinvent myself.
A controversial topic for a future Billie now that I'm deep into my transition is to figure out if and when I should start playing women's cricket. I think that's still a couple of seasons away though, and there are very, very few women's teams here.
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First game is on tour in 2 weeks against six sixes Stapleton. Looking forward to it!
Any teams down in the south west able to accommodate us on Sunday 16th April. Our organised tour game is off due to weather. We will be staying in bristol.
Or even has a ground for hire? Maybe we could organise a game?
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First game today pre season friendly against a side 3 divisions above us. They got 276 for 3 off their 50 overs with a few batters retiring.
We returned 96 all out but was good practise for us. Got to face a Aussie left armer that I would not like to face on a non April deck. Had some gas for sure luckily only had to face him for 5 balls before his spell finished but I got in behind it well. Felt good for the 26 runs off 45 balls before crunching a cover drive 6-8inchea off the deck and the guy caught it like it was the easiest chance ever. Guess that’s the biggest step up in levels also he has played plenty of EAPL Prem cricket in the past.
So lost by 170odd runs but one thing I didn’t appreciate I missed as much was the team spirit and chat. They took it like a World Cup final and we were just a bunch of mates meeting up again.
Could he a struggle this year as a few more lads have had babies in there family units and a couple more expecting late summer, few with new jobs etc and being a small club we don’t have the squad depth so could be an interesting year. However as it stands at Mid April glad the season is back. See how I feel about it mid May as really fit the golf bug badly at the minute
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Preseason friendly cancelled tomorrow and next weeks 1st league match rearranged to July due to a special League rule after all the rain in March. So a bit of a disappointing start
However - the overseas arrives this evening and with a bit of pedigree from the ranji trophy - so we have a 4 hour training session tomorrow which Im hoping will be pretty intense. Followed by a team afternoon with a couple of shandies to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
So our first game will be at home to last seasons 3rd place on 22nd. Followed by a cup game against a club who have just signed a current t20 Blast and former England player. Game on!
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First game today pre season friendly against a side 3 divisions above us. They got 276 for 3 off their 50 overs with a few batters retiring.
We returned 96 all out but was good practise for us. Got to face a Aussie left armer that I would not like to face on a non April deck. Had some gas for sure luckily only had to face him for 5 balls before his spell finished but I got in behind it well. Felt good for the 26 runs off 45 balls before crunching a cover drive 6-8inchea off the deck and the guy caught it like it was the easiest chance ever. Guess that’s the biggest step up in levels also he has played plenty of EAPL Prem cricket in the past.
So lost by 170odd runs but one thing I didn’t appreciate I missed as much was the team spirit and chat. They took it like a World Cup final and we were just a bunch of mates meeting up again.
Could he a struggle this year as a few more lads have had babies in there family units and a couple more expecting late summer, few with new jobs etc and being a small club we don’t have the squad depth so could be an interesting year. However as it stands at Mid April glad the season is back. See how I feel about it mid May as really fit the golf bug badly at the minute
Hi Chris, I saw the scorecard. Who was the Aussie quick for Woolpit?
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Hi Chris, I saw the scorecard. Who was the Aussie quick for Woolpit?
Ryan Clapp lovely action and my betting is he will be a handful. Don’t know if the standard in top division these days but he will cause some damage I reckon if he plays I’m Div 2. Swings it in at pace
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Guys what could be the reasons for toeing? I have done that twice in yesterday's net.
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Guys what could be the reasons for toeing? I have done that twice in yesterday's net.
You're human? 😆
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Ryan Clapp lovely action and my betting is he will be a handful. Don’t know if the standard in top division these days but he will cause some damage I reckon if he plays I’m Div 2. Swings it in at pace
Interesting I wonder if he will play 1's. We have them like 6th or 7th game in.
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Back home for Easter so decided to play a friendly for my old side as they were very short.
They brought their own umpire who was very very generous on wides (for both sides). I think the tone was set in my first over when I nearly didn’t land one on the track and he gave it as byes 😂
We had virtually 0 bowlers and they got something like 270 off their 40.
We were bowled out for 100-ish. I opened and got an agonisingly slow 14 off about 50 as I watched ball after ball sail down my leg side (left-hander) and not get called a wide. I was actually timing the ball reasonably well for the 15 or so balls that landed within 5 foot of me 😂
I’m having enough of a problem closing myself off on the leg side lately and yesterday certainly didn’t help! Oh well - can only get better from here!
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Interesting I wonder if he will play 1's. We have them like 6th or 7th game in.
@six and out think he will be in around it. Woolpit looked strong yesterday. They have Freddie Helreich from Northants CCC for the first 8 weeks of the season as he signed a white ball contract with them for the Royal London and T20 comps plus the usual players etc. they played a Norfolk Div1 side yesterday on main square and hammered them
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You're human? 😆
😀😀
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@six and out think he will be in around it. Woolpit looked strong yesterday. They have Freddie Helreich from Northants CCC for the first 8 weeks of the season as he signed a white ball contract with them for the Royal London and T20 comps plus the usual players etc. they played a Norfolk Div1 side yesterday on main square and hammered them
Yep saw Freddie played. His brother George plays for them regularly. The opening bowler was also new from Foxton Granta I believe. So I think they will be quite strong (Andy Northcote didn't play either). But Halstead still the team to beat with Max Chu back as their overseas pro.
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Guys what could be the reasons for toeing? I have done that twice in yesterday's net.
Perhaps a new bat 😂
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Perhaps a new bat 😂
Hahaha,
Long blade?
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Yep saw Freddie played. His brother George plays for them regularly. The opening bowler was also new from Foxton Granta I believe. So I think they will be quite strong (Andy Northcote didn't play either). But Halstead still the team to beat with Max Chu back as their overseas pro.
Yea I heard he took the off pole out the ground 1st ball of opposition innings. Andy has a muscle injury from marathon he completed a few weeks ago from talking with him
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Yep saw Freddie played. His brother George plays for them regularly. The opening bowler was also new from Foxton Granta I believe. So I think they will be quite strong (Andy Northcote didn't play either). But Halstead still the team to beat with Max Chu back as their overseas pro.
yes best batter in league max chu and Halstead definitely the team to beat again
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yes best batter in league max chu and Halstead definitely the team to beat again
Never seen him play but his stats are unreal. By all accounts next off the block into NZ test side/ ODI side when Blundell retires
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Never seen him play but his stats are unreal. By all accounts next off the block into NZ test side/ ODI side when Blundell retires
He's a classy LH batter. Plays proper cricket shots and was just different gravy to anything else last year. We got him early at our place. But he did this to us when we played at Halstead, along with Josh Wells (who is also very good!) .... luckily I was on holiday!
https://wivenhoetown.play-cricket.com/website/results/5125423
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He's a classy LH batter. Plays proper cricket shots and was just different gravy to anything else last year. We got him early at our place. But he did this to us when we played at Halstead, along with Josh Wells (who is also very good!) .... luckily I was on holiday!
https://wivenhoetown.play-cricket.com/website/results/5125423
Your poor old No3 must have been pissed seeing the other 2 go big boy with there Tons
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Did anyone actually play yesterday?
Only 6 or 7 games got played yesterday in the whole of the Two Counties. We were called off on Tuesday morning!
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First set of friendlies is supposed to be this Saturday - forecast for the whole of the week looks...pretty rubbish
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Yeah we've lost both our first 2 weeks of pre-season now, meant to be playing a league fixture on the 29th but even that looks iffy!
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Yeah we've lost both our first 2 weeks of pre-season now, meant to be playing a league fixture on the 29th but even that looks iffy!
Yep still have puddles on parts of the square - so frustrating :(
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I’ve just called ours off for this Saturday… shocking
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Our ground isn5 ready - it was underwater 2 weeks ago. First friendly sat 22 will either be on the artificial or at our opponents instead.
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Just had our Sunday game pulled :( and if it doesn't start warming up we might loose next Saturday too.
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Tour to Cardiff commences Friday.
We’re playing against Whitchurch Heath on Saturday then a small journey to Abergavenny CC on Sunday.
We had the pleasure of playing at Abergavenny last year. Lovely ground
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Good luck with either of those games being on, the whole of south wales is currently underwater
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Good luck with either of those games being on, the whole of south wales is currently underwater
Beers ahoy then :)
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The whole league's first weekends fixtures were cancelled last weekend, and Oliver's 2nds match was rained off yesterday. Luckily the 3rds had someone drop out for today's game, and he took the spot for his "official" senior debut (he definitely didn't play any of last year under someone else's name). He did, however, refuse to keep, since he had literally finished a football match 45 minutes before the first ball!
Opposition were bowled out for 91 in 30 overs, and to be fair the openers did a cracking job of setting a platform in dreadful conditions. Credit should be given to both sides for completing the game.
When Ollie came in at #3 he had time to play himself in without worrying about the run rate and let the opener keep scoring. He did this really well, scoring slowly but playing authoritative strokes whilst finding the mushy slow pitch hard work. Eventually the other opener fell, as did another couple of quick wickets. Ollie did really well to keep his head and play some nice shots before receiving a gentle full toss which he hit for his first senior 6!
So whilst it was only 15*, it was done in some tricky conditions and he will have learnt a lot. His strike rate of 68 was perfectly respectable (although the 6 helped!)
Glad to finally get the season moving!
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Good stuff! More cancellations here in Sussex. Hopefully a T20 warm up on Friday, then final (only now!) practice game on Saturday. I’ve bought some handwarmers as it’s still only 13C.
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So whilst it was only 15*, it was done in some tricky conditions and he will have learnt a lot.
So apparently what he has learnt is he thinks he is too good for the U15s.
Out for 2 this evening facing a very weak bowling attack. Got a straight one and decided to pull it on the 3rd shot of the innings.
It stayed low.............
I hope he learns this lesson :( :(
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That could have gone better!
Club, first team and league debut for my new club
Lost by 118 runs
Bowled out for 58 chasing 166
Pudding of a wicket, lost the toss asked to bowl
Personally, 8-1-0-15 was ok, should have been much much better, 7 wides and a dropped catch off my bowling, but very very rusty after only a few nets. Took a catch at slip which was pleasing especially off a spinner
Batted at 4, chipped one to midwicket for 3, little early on it, stopped in the pitch slightly, right shot, awful excecution
Glad to be back playing after a long winter
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I'm now kinda ready for the season for either Commonwealth CC or the Boston Bulls CC - still undecided, and it is a tricky decision.
I ordered a thigh guard etc tonight in preparation. I guess it is time to get out of hospital as soon as I'm soon as I'm feeling properly better.
Billie
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I am a broken man....⚰️
I'm going to need a crane to get me out of the bed tomorrow morning.
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First game of the season - dropped a dolly, then lbw to an in swinging full toss for a 🦆. Onwards and upwards! It was a lovely day though - pink cheeks from the sun!
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2nd game of the season yesterday and it was rubbish.
Turned up to oppositions ground to find out that their groundsman had apparently covered the wrong pitch midweek so we are on this awful wet underprepared green top.
We duely lose the toss and get put in on said wicket and in no time are 6-2, including our Pro for 0. We scratch to 162 for 7 off our 50 overs. I got 10 until I genuinely got the worse decision I have got in 30+ years of cricket. The Pro bowling leggies bowled a wrong' un, I went back to pull it and got a huge bottom edge into my pads when it didn't bounce. Only the Pro and keeper appeal and the umpire gives it. As I am walking off, I walk past their skipper he stops me to actually say sorry, I'm like if you know it's not out then do the right thing! But of course he didn't. Then at tea the Umpire comes up to me and says sorry I think I got that one wrong! Bit late by then.
Anyways..... we conceded 17 off our 1st over but then got 2 wickets in the 2nd including thier Pro for 0. But the pitch had dried out in the sun and got better, we didn't bowl well enough after that and dropped a couple of catches and they chased it 5 down with a fair few overs to spare.
Very mixed bag from the 1st 2 games from us, so let's see what next week brings and importantly hopefully I will recover a lot better then last week I couldn't move properly till Wednesday!
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Can't say the forecast for the first league games next week looks great
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Can't say the forecast for the first league games next week looks great
On and off for rain is probably the best case scenario where I live. We had our first proper outdoor training session this week and the outfield was still squelchy in parts but the square was decent. New season, new league but same old creaking carcass.
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Well not selected this week, ha. Guess I'll just have to bide my time and get a little more practice in
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Selected, (well, I’m the skipper 🤣) but game already off as no pitch prepped 😡. The opposition use another teams second pitch, who haven’t done anything to the square yet this year…. Oh well.
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We will have our fingers crossed tomorrow for our first league match at the 4th attempt.
Forecast is for drizzle in the morning followed by sun and heavy showers in the afternoon. After a fairly wet thurs and fri.
Bowlers run ups and most of the square are covered so i do give us a 50/50 chance of starting. Depends where those showers fall!
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Ollie's played twice since his horrible 2 for the U15s.
Last Saturday he opened for the 2nds on a very tricky wicket. He faced about a dozen balls before being out for 2 (again), but this was very different from the previous 2. Here he dug in, made good decisions, was unlucky to hit the fielder a couple of times and then got out playing the right shot to a decent ball that (he says) moved a lot off the pitch. Perfectly content with that performance- he will have learned a lot. Only 4 players in the match reached double figures, so no shame in it.
Last night he was back opening for the U15s. Playing at home, and the groundsman served up a beautiful track. Ollie played one of his best innings. He opened the batting chasing 70, and guided the whole chase perfectly to finish on 27* (35) when they reached 71 with 4 overs to spare. It was an absolute delight to watch him driving into the V for 4s, and punching into the gaps for singles and keeping the strike rotated. Probably the most controlled and elegant innings I've seen him play- even if he was a bit annoyed to not reach 30 and retire :D
Due to open for the 2nds again tomorrow- but the rain is making it look a bit dodgy.
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1st league match of the year washed out :(
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Not playing today but rained off 4 weeks into the league season and played 1 so far. Can’t remember such a wet and cold start to a season. Personally think our season starts too early. League starts 2nd Sat of April and with this year falling on 8th April was never going to be a great start
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September is generally good, so start late May.
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Looking at the forecast for this week in East Anglia reckon there is a 50:50 chance on next weeks games going ahead.
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Tough day for Ollie today.
A fast bouncy pitch made 'keeping very tough. 8 byes is far more than he would normally expect (he'd actually not conceded a bye this season), and that doesn't include a couple of wides which went for 4 that he might have stopped on another day.
He opens the batting. This is always going to be tough for a 13 year old playing his debut season in the seniors. It is because he plays quite well technically, and they think opening will be his batting position going forwards. Part of me wonders if no one else really fancies it ;). The bounce was proving tricky to deal with, and their bowlers were doing a decent job of staying on the off side- so they packed the off side and crowded in. This made scoring really tough. Ollie didn't manage a legitimate scoring shot, but luckily got a nick for a single before being c & b (excellent low diving catch) when the ball was a bit too high for him to get properly on top of. Out for 1 off 23 balls. Really upset with himself, but 2 junior games this week should allow him to get his confidence back up.
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Tough day for Ollie today.
A fast bouncy pitch made 'keeping very tough. 8 byes is far more than he would normally expect (he'd actually not conceded a bye this season), and that doesn't include a couple of wides which went for 4 that he might have stopped on another day.
He opens the batting. This is always going to be tough for a 13 year old playing his debut season in the seniors. It is because he plays quite well technically, and they think opening will be his batting position going forwards. Part of me wonders if no one else really fancies it ;). The bounce was proving tricky to deal with, and their bowlers were doing a decent job of staying on the off side- so they packed the off side and crowded in. This made scoring really tough. Ollie didn't manage a legitimate scoring shot, but luckily got a nick for a single before being c & b (excellent low diving catch) when the ball was a bit too high for him to get properly on top of. Out for 1 off 23 balls. Really upset with himself, but 2 junior games this week should allow him to get his confidence back up.
Two sides to every coin a 13 year old opening the batting and keeping at 13 I was up for that and if he had got a 50 would you be saying the same thing?
Without knowing the context it hard to win in the bad old days juniors batted at 10-11 and fielded and got 10 not out you moved down one that’s how it was even though I was batting top 3 for my county oh them were the days!!!
It a tough one coming through as a junior I would accept the process he getting a go and learning the hard way. If he not enjoying opening and keeping wicket maybe ask why ?
He getting experience and playing enough through the week to keep improving maybe set him a challenge of trying to be involved in the whole game keeping and batting all day. Imagine if he batted 6/7 and didn’t get a go for 3-4 weeks would you be pushing for him to bat higher?
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Not playing today but rained off 4 weeks into the league season and played 1 so far. Can’t remember such a wet and cold start to a season. Personally think our season starts too early. League starts 2nd Sat of April and with this year falling on 8th April was never going to be a great start
Completely agree mate, we definitely start too early. The reason the league give is that they have to fit in 2 weeks of EAPL playoffs at the end of the season (last season played on the 17th and 24th September). However that's only for the winner of Div 1. But with a bit of thought I do think you could start the lower divisions later.
We have had 2 cancelled/abandoned out of the 4.
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There's a lot of it about.
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Two sides to every coin a 13 year old opening the batting and keeping at 13 I was up for that and if he had got a 50 would you be saying the same thing?
Without knowing the context it hard to win in the bad old days juniors batted at 10-11 and fielded and got 10 not out you moved down one that’s how it was even though I was batting top 3 for my county oh them were the days!!!
It a tough one coming through as a junior I would accept the process he getting a go and learning the hard way. If he not enjoying opening and keeping wicket maybe ask why ?
He getting experience and playing enough through the week to keep improving maybe set him a challenge of trying to be involved in the whole game keeping and batting all day. Imagine if he batted 6/7 and didn’t get a go for 3-4 weeks would you be pushing for him to bat higher?
Thanks to everyone for the responses- I was simply reporting his season.
I think this reply reflects the attitude of the team fairly, and their view is he is mentally tough enough to cope and he is gaining really good experience. It can be hard to watch him struggle, and there is an argument that he should be getting more "protection". This might well happen (without any parental involvement) if he continues to find it struggle. Maybe we need to have a quiet word at some point (mum would prefer him batting #3). You're absolutely right we wouldn't be happy if he was batting #11, or we would be delighted if he was making lots of runs.
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Not picked again but 1s and 2s already off here, wouldn't surprise me if 3/4/5s also have it chalked off
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Fun game for me today, playing with my son for the first time he kept pretty wrll for the 40 overs, we restricted a weak team to 180. Little sh!t stood up to my bowling and took a stumping.
We were offered 4 and 7 in the line up so he took 4 and proceeded to cart their bowling to all parts until he was unlucky to get bowled off his pads from one that kept low when on 48.
I got the chance to finish the game with a little 20 not out after scratching around a bit. So all good really.
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Fun game for me today, playing with my son for the first time he kept pretty wrll for the 40 overs, we restricted a weak team to 180. Little sh!t stood up to my bowling and took a stumping.
We were offered 4 and 7 in the line up so he took 4 and proceeded to cart their bowling to all parts until he was unlucky to get bowled off his pads from one that kept low when on 48.
I got the chance to finish the game with a little 20 not out after scratching around a bit. So all good really.
Dad goals mate, and well done Issac and dad with bat & ball. took my youngest to U5’s cricket today after he’s been bashing tennis balls around in the garden all week in excitement. Thankfully I’ve played many games in the same team as my dad and brother over the years and the old man even nudged a 67 today which speak volumes as he turned 70 last year and is still far fitter than me.
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Thanks Tom, you forgot to mention your jug avoidance today...
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Haha I’m hiding the video evidence of me dying with cramp when trying to hit a 6 to get to it!
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Looks like I tore my ACL on Thursday night in my 1st t20 of the year 😢. Hopefully seeing a specialist this week some time. But I have a feeling the season is over before it started.
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Get better soon! Sorry to hear that.
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Haha I’m hiding the video evidence of me dying with cramp when trying to hit a 6 to get to it!
That is going to be on cricket district's video of the week...
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I hate cricket. Stupid sport!
Opened, awful shot first ball of the match, luckily it nipped between bat and pad and missed off stump
Couple overs later, smash one towards cover, hits short extra on the thigh, somehow the bowler catches it by his laces, best I've hit a cricket ball all year, perfect shot to the ball and I'm out!
Livid!
Bowled well, 10 overs couple of maidens 2-25
Including a well worked bowl to a lad who got dropped down form the ones 5 div's higher could have had 5/6 though with some awful decisions and couple of near misses!
Lost by 3 wickets in a tight game
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Yesterday was a day where (at the age of 44) makes me question why I still play.
Played away, wicket was crap, complete soft seamers paradise, duely lost the toss and got put in. Opposition have 2 opening bowlers who are medium put it on the spot, keeper up, nibble it a bit etc... to their credit they are both very very good at what they do and 1 of them plays for England Over 50's.
I walk out to bat in the 16th over with the score 41-5 an over later we were 42-6!!!! The 2 opening bowlers bowled their 10 overs each straight through for 10-5-10-4 and 10-3-29-1!!
Myself and our no.8 then battled for the next 25 overs for an 80 stand in some I scored 21 off 82 balls. Our no. 8 got 50 batting brilliantly. To salvage us to 141 all out.
We had them 20-2 but the pitch was drying out rapidly and when your only chasing 141 off 50 there is no pressure at all. They chased them 5 down off 40 overs.
I know the weather has been really crap but this is division 1 cricket and the oppo have perfect expensive covers, there's no excuse for what we played on.
It was literally win the toss win the game.
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First game of season for me and finally warm and sunny.
Team mates reluctant to open batting so I stepped up- 10 mins getting changed for 1 minute batting as our first ball of innings nicking off to first slip. To rub it in the bowler then followed up by bowling a Beamer next delivery and chucked the rest down leg side . He hardly bowled a good ball again.
But, bowled ok for 8 overs with one dropped off me by the keeper.
Youngest son 14 played and hit a nice 43 so can’t complain too much
Stiff today!
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Looks like I tore my ACL on Thursday night in my 1st t20 of the year 😢. Hopefully seeing a specialist this week some time. But I have a feeling the season is over before it started.
Sad to hear that, get well soon.
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Our 1s game was called off Friday lunch as the outfield was flooded still, which meant I was available for a last minute call to captain the 2s due to the skipper having a family emergency. My first time leading a league side which was a nice moment, even if the result wasn’t.
Won the toss and bowled, had them 40ish/2 after 10 and had also put down their opener twice already which proved the difference. He got 96, put on 160 with their number 4 and it seemed every time they went aerial it just evaded fielders. Personally 0/37 off 9, with a drop off me (one of six in the innings). Oppo ended 227/6 from 45, which was probably 50 above par because of extras and the drops. We were bowled out for 143 in 43.3 overs, with our lads seemingly picking out the fielders with ease, plus a slow outfield. Opposition bowled really tightly, clearly knew how their pitch played and used that knowledge well. 15 from 30 batting at six isn’t my usual style, before dragging on to a long hop that stayed low when trying to up the ante with 120 needed in 13 overs. Only one bat scored higher than a strike rate of 50.
All in all a tough one to start, but hopefully 1s bits back next weekend and back to the ranks.
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Another frustrating day with the bat but pleasing with the ball
And a 3rd loss on the bounce
3-0-12-3 at the death
6 with the bat before top edging a pull to midwicket
Just can't get a handle on the pitches this early season
Feel in good form just not scoring runs... Argh!
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My game was postponed due to the opposition having a ground equipment failure. Our 2nds managed to get their game on but the key phrase for clubs around us is 'high water table'. Our oufield is still squelchy in areas and plenty of games were called off despite the sunshine and 48 hours of dry weather leading up to it.
I will play a game this season, I'm fairly certain of that.
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Played one ..game and 7 balls and already lost interest this season normal that happens mid August
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Ollie got to play a rare game for the U13s today (football and senior games are clashing heavily). He sneaked his new adult bat into his bag without telling me, and we didn't realise until after he'd finished batting. Faced 13 balls to finish on 37*. A wonderfully "Baz ball" destruction of the bowlers. He added 2 stumpings and a run out whilst keeping. Their batsmen were terrified to move! I sat, relaxed, and listened to their parents admiring his play without letting on it was my son. :D
Then, today, the 1st team captain was interviewed about the club for the league. This was part of the journalists report:
Wrathall’s description of a young squad down at Whalley Road begs the question of whether they have any potential stars of the future.
“We’re all pretty much in our early twenties in the first-team,” he said. “But we do have a young 13-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Watson in the seconds, who I know is going to be very good.
“He lives for cricket more than anybody I’ve ever met. The hours he puts in, it’s ridiculous.”
So it was lovely for Ollie to get that level of recognition from the senior players. I've reported here how he is learning to deal with the better bowlers in senior cricket- and this kind of feedback will only encourage him to keep on improving.
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Ollie got to play a rare game for the U13s today (football and senior games are clashing heavily). He sneaked his new adult bat into his bag without telling me, and we didn't realise until after he'd finished batting. Faced 13 balls to finish on 37*. A wonderfully "Baz ball" destruction of the bowlers. He added 2 stumpings and a run out whilst keeping. Their batsmen were terrified to move! I sat, relaxed, and listened to their parents admiring his play without letting on it was my son. :D
Then, today, the 1st team captain was interviewed about the club for the league. This was part of the journalists report:
So it was lovely for Ollie to get that level of recognition from the senior players. I've reported here how he is learning to deal with the better bowlers in senior cricket- and this kind of feedback will only encourage him to keep on improving.
Without sounding stalkerish he be skippered by Warren and play with Rushy in the 2nds a very good club your at with proven player development like Will Driver in the past keep going sounds a bright future. I used to be from around that league.
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Strange one today as we were done by 3pm!
We lost the toss and bowled first. Had them go from 20-1 to 45 all out. Only their opener and number 8 got off the mark! 9 ducks! Umpire was very quick to fire a couple of them LBW but they generally just kept missing straight ones.
We were soon 10-2 due to some decent opening bowling, before I nicked off for 5 soon after. Thankfully our 4&5 steadied the ship and cashed in to get it 3 down.
We currently sit 2nd despite none of us wanting to go up (Div above has a lot of better sides and I’m one of only 2 lads younger than 35 in our side!)
Interestingly I’ve noticed a lot more chat from opposition teams since I moved to the north-east. Generally seems to be them sides who are mostly in their teens/ early 20’s. None of it is ever interesting, just 50 overs of constantly questioning your technique, strike-rate & ability.
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Another loss, thats 4/4 to start the year
Batting let us down again, another silly mistake to give my wicket away
Had to keep today for 20 overs (until drinks) 4 buys, no catches but no chances
Then bowled an over, maiden
Bowling going will this season, batting going awfully!
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Defended 145 on a 2 paced typical Dorset uncovered home pitch against what will be promotion chasers.
Lost toss, asked to bat.
No real partnerships made.
Made a decent 21 before hitting a long hop right in the bread basket of short cover!
Bowlers started slow and taking some tap before controlling the swing and ripping through and bowling out Totton for 105.
Great on field friendly banter, and a beer after
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Lost 2 from 2 - not a great start to my new skippership. Inserted twice after losing both tosses. I scored 56, so personally ok, but didn't have enough either week.
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Strange one today as we were done by 3pm!
We lost the toss and bowled first. Had them go from 20-1 to 45 all out. Only their opener and number 8 got off the mark! 9 ducks! Umpire was very quick to fire a couple of them LBW but they generally just kept missing straight ones.
We were soon 10-2 due to some decent opening bowling, before I nicked off for 5 soon after. Thankfully our 4&5 steadied the ship and cashed in to get it 3 down.
We currently sit 2nd despite none of us wanting to go up (Div above has a lot of better sides and I’m one of only 2 lads younger than 35 in our side!)
Interestingly I’ve noticed a lot more chat from opposition teams since I moved to the north-east. Generally seems to be them sides who are mostly in their teens/ early 20’s. None of it is ever interesting, just 50 overs of constantly questioning your technique, strike-rate & ability.
What league you playing in?
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What league you playing in?
Northumberland & Tyneside league mate
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Lucky enough to get to play at Bamburgh Castle today!
Lost by 100 odd runs - grabbed a wicket and 20 with the bat.
Have a look at it on google, certainly the best place I’ve ever played at!
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Friendly one in the New Forest today, bowled first and swung it nicely away from the right handers.
5 overs 1 for 4 with one run being a wide. I really must stop trying to bowl a leg cutter!
Bowled ooooh out for 122 after being 80 without loss.
Batted at 3 and went in 4th over. Talked though a young lad who does some with Hampshire set up. Technically very good, smaller in stature but was happy to leave the ball and played with a straight bat.
His dad was also playing and said Hants are coaching to give the ball a good hit but that’s not this lads game, yet anyway.
I got him to start looking at dropping the ball at his feet to rotate the strike which he picked up quickly.
Ended up 66 not out and hit the winners off 39 balls.
A bit below my Saturday standard but nice to play, get some runs and time in the middle too without having to rush anything.
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Lucky enough to get to play at Bamburgh Castle today!
Lost by 100 odd runs - grabbed a wicket and 20 with the bat.
Have a look at it on google, certainly the best place I’ve ever played at!
Stunning place to play, never been fortunate enough to play there myself but a couple of lads I play with have.
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Good weekend of cricket in very contrasting surrounds.
Saturday away to Hounslow and Whitton, solid 8 wicket win. Bowled them out for 127 in 30 overs, personally 2/28 from 9. 16yo opener and skipper knocked them off.
Sunday playing for Frogs at Stowe School, first time I’ve played there in about 15 years since I was at school. Timed game, we declared 280ish giving them loads of time to chase. Took the first over after tea, after 4 overs had 0/7. After 7 overs I had 7/9, five clean bowled and I ruined my chance at the Frogs best ever figures by taking a sharp one in the gully off the other leggie. All ten wickets fell to leg spin, collapse from 47/0 to 84ao out of nowhere. Straight in at number 4 on the Frogs honours board and career best figures so pretty pleased with my work.
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Felt pretty good this week for 27 before under edging a leggie that more or less rolled and the keeper somehow plucked it off the floor - great take. Meanwhile my opening partner got dropped 6 times, almost all of them simple chances, on his way to 86. Luck of the draw! Good game though, we questionably inserted them on a hot day and flat slow one, they racked up 266-4 off their 40. Helped by their square leg ump looking the wrong way when I threw the stumps down with their no3 out of his ground on about 20, he went on to an unbeaten ton. We chased it for 2 with an over to spare.
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First game I'm available for today (few pitches so league games spread throughout the week) and having been 20+ for a few weeks now and not a cloud in the skies, it's forecast to rain until the toss, and then to be magnificent again from tomorrow.
Oh well, I suppose the farmers will be happy!
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I top scored with 56, but we had a weak side and lost 3 down.
We are really struggling for players across all teams this week - HT & BH a bad combination.
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School cricket for Ollie this week. Captained the Y8s and scored 33 not out chasing down a target of around 80. Today he played for the Year 9s- finished on 11 not out seeing out another run chase.
Solid performances with both bat and gloves. Hopefully his confidence will be high playing seniors at the weekend. We're very excited because Ollie is making his first team debut. We're no fools- we know it's down to a sunny bank holiday and a 90 minute drive each way, but we really don't care. We're not sure if he's keeping or not. The 1st team keeper is playing, but he is happy for Ollie to keep (he coaches him. and has said a) he'll be fine, and b) will field in the slips to support him throughout).
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That's class, hope he has a good game and more importantly enjoys the experience. Brilliant from your 1s keeper to be so active in supporting a young lad.
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School cricket for Ollie this week. Captained the Y8s and scored 33 not out chasing down a target of around 80. Today he played for the Year 9s- finished on 11 not out seeing out another run chase.
Solid performances with both bat and gloves. Hopefully his confidence will be high playing seniors at the weekend. We're very excited because Ollie is making his first team debut. We're no fools- we know it's down to a sunny bank holiday and a 90 minute drive each way, but we really don't care. We're not sure if he's keeping or not. The 1st team keeper is playing, but he is happy for Ollie to keep (he coaches him. and has said a) he'll be fine, and b) will field in the slips to support him throughout).
That's brilliant! Can't tell you enough how much I love this post. As a keeper of almost 35 years now I am dieing to find a youngster to pass on the gloves to at our club and the only way they improve is by playing, hope he enjoys the day.
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School cricket for Ollie this week. Captained the Y8s and scored 33 not out chasing down a target of around 80. Today he played for the Year 9s- finished on 11 not out seeing out another run chase.
Solid performances with both bat and gloves. Hopefully his confidence will be high playing seniors at the weekend. We're very excited because Ollie is making his first team debut. We're no fools- we know it's down to a sunny bank holiday and a 90 minute drive each way, but we really don't care. We're not sure if he's keeping or not. The 1st team keeper is playing, but he is happy for Ollie to keep (he coaches him. and has said a) he'll be fine, and b) will field in the slips to support him throughout).
Absolute quality go well
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No play for me again this weekend. To be honest I'm not surprised, when the 5s put on nearly 300 and win at a canter it's hard to get in. Think I've accepted the fact it might be like this for awhile.
On a better note my calf appears to be getting slightly better - GP said I just simply wasn't doing enough and neglecting also working on my glutes. Managed to bowl reasonably pain free last week in the nets, so hey ho
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Weekend report.
2 games for Ollie. Sunday game for the 3rds. He is having to take a step back from the 2nds because there are so many strong senior players competing for selection. All feels a bit village Ben Foakes/Johnny Bairstow :D. I don't think it will hurt him- he's still getting plenty of game time. The 3rds also contain a number of his U15 team mates, so it's probably a less stressful environment for him- although he has told me he prefers the 2nds as they take the game much more seriously and he can see the difference. That attitude really sums up his approach to sport. Once again he kept solidly- albeit with little in the way of chances to take wickets. Batting remains frustrating. He isn't batting badly, but a combination of inexperience and bad luck are both working against him! He opened the batting again, and lasted 15 balls. He scored 4 in that time- but looked pretty solid before getting a short one and (correctly) pulling it. He mis-timed it and was unlucky to hole out in the deep. I'm confident if he keeps working hard, and keeps making good decisions, then it will all come together.
The big news was obviously the debut for the 1sts on Monday.
He kept for 40 overs. 5 byes, one being the very fast (for village cricket) opening bowler. According to Ollie he blasted one through much faster than the others. Ollie got a hand on it, but it went for 4. I'm not good enough to know- but I think the usual keeper would probably have taken it. But he's not 13- and Ollie did well. Their keeper conceded 6 byes- so that's a win for Ollie. Edit- should have said, players esp. first team keeper were brilliant with him. So many little tweaks of advice, all of which will make him a better keeper going forwards.
Batting was interesting. Simply- Ollie was going in at #10, and didn't get a bat. Why is this interesting? First of all- he really didn't want to bat. Despite his resilience and commitment, he does worry about letting people down. There's been a bit of chat in the thread about the difficulties of both keeping and opening. Although there is the fatigue factor, once he is batting as an opener the job is simple. Stay in and build a platform. What was very clear until our #7 & #8 saw off the total was Ollie might have to go out to bat needing to chase down 10-20 runs with a few overs to do it and the whole match balanced on his performance. That is real pressure- and he wanted nothing to do with it quite honestly. We can all sit here and (correctly) say that a 1st XI relying on a 13 year old debutant for a win can't blame him- and they wouldn't have. They would have given him 100% support. But he would have blamed himself and felt he was responsible.
The other reason it was interesting was he ultimately didn't get a bat. If this was the normal situation when he was playing senior cricket, I think we would be incredibly frustrated. Obviously it's not a binary choice- open or don't bat- but I think we (and Ollie) would prefer to open than not bat. Even if it's tough.
He needs a slice of luck and a juniors match!
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Ruled out for the season now with a dislocated shoulder and some damage in there tears, burst bulsa & other bits. Note to self, when the lads on 130* and knocks one to long on off your bowling, let him have the single. Don't dive to stop the 1.
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Ruled out for the season now with a dislocated shoulder and some damage in there tears, burst bulsa & other bits. Note to self, when the lads on 130* and knocks one to long on off your bowling, let him have the single. Don't dive to stop the 1.
Very sad to hear this.
Get well soon.
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Thriller on Saturday. We set 302/3 off 50, opener got a class 127*. In return the oppo were 9 down and chased it with two balls left. Personally had a good game, 1/48 off 10 so going less than 5s on a 6/over game was satisfying, as well as taking a catch at fine leg off one of our young quicks.
Our young lads are looking class and learning every week. Currently we have 3 bats averaging over 100 in the league, though only two games played, but it’s a promising start especially from the 16yo opener.
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A 30 odd and a 20 odd in my last two games, felt a million dollars in the first and like i'd never played before in the second.
Got yorked in both games, the first was a cracker, just as I was probable picking my hands up a bit higher going into the last 5 overs. 2nd was a good ball but should have kept it out.
Not sure I've ever been out yourked in my life before, but now worrying if I have an issue. :( :D
Hopefully just got two nuts that were too good for me on the day, guess it happens.
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Really poor start to the season with 13, 6, 7, 6, 17 so far opening the batting. What's worse is that actually I've been close to top scoring in a couple of those games, as a team we have been very poor with the bat. Didn't even chase down 110 on Saturday despite us making a decent start and being 30-0 or so.
We've lost a few players over winter, mostly batsman, and some of the teams in the league spend a lot of money on ridiculous bowling attacks. Relegation fight for the rest of the season, but honestly being relegated from the Prem and rebuilding again with a better pathway for the youth team probably isn't the worst idea.
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Our club is finally in the works of setting up some regular Sunday XI games from the middle of June off the back of availability being so strong and having so many players miss out - bit of a relief and might finally get a game or two. Glad they've taken the initiative
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Played my first match yesterday,been a long time since I’ve played,
The club I play for had a totally new to me team, so was a bit weird, but a good bunch of lads so was a good day tbh
Batted ok considering,my lack of any cricket for a few years now,,,was a bit early on a few, and seeing the ball nicely
Just need to sort myself a bat as mines well past it now after a good 6 or 7 seasons use
Bowled 7 or 8 overs and felt very good,, maybe a long lay off has helped the old bones? Picked up a few wickets for not many,so and ended up an easy win after we posted 214, and they were a long way short so ,happy days
Oppo were a good bunch too
Was a weird one for injuries tho,, a young lad playing for oppos had one pop up whilst fielding and caught him full on the nose,,scary tbh
And the umpire turned his head on one driven straight back at, which luckily caught him on the side of his neck,,,that could have been a lot worse..
Good to be back out there tho, and I’d forgotten how much I love playing
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Finally got a win! That's 1 from 5 games
Batting is still a shambles, missed a full toss to be bowled for 1 opening the batting, cannot score a run to save my life!
Bowling on the other hand! Best I've bowled in a long time! 9-1-25-3
Oppo went from 83-1 after 22 and drinks to 131 all out in the 42nd, myself and our offspinner bowling in tandem with some excellent fielding really dragged it back to win by 76
It's nice having 2 strings to my bow but it's frustrating to not be contributing with my favoured suit!
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Still searching for our first win. Batted first, all out for 180. About 60 runs short. They chased it down in about 40 overs, losing 3 wickets in the process. Their overseas batted well and their pro bowled well, showing the difference between the two teams. A common theme for us this season unfortunately.
Personally, tried to protect the middle order and got us to 70-1. But, the #3 and myself were out the over before drinks, leaving us in a less healthy position. I'd also taken 20-odd overs to grind out 20. Which is all well and good if you bat through and anchor the innings, but puts too much pressure on the middle order if you waste it like I did.
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Not sure if I'm quite over Saturday. I opened the bowling took a good wicket first over, tight 2nd over. Had a bad 3 balls in my 3rd over (4,6,4). 1-20 off 3. Only found out I'd been taken off when I saw the 1st change marking their run up as made my way from fine leg. Didn't bowl again despite the 2nd wicket batting the rest of the innings and the majority of the bowlers getting pumped.
I then batted 10 and scratched around for a red-inker.
Skipper had no explanation when I asked why I didn't bowl again.
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Few updates as Ollie is playing so much cricket.
U13s interleague.
Went in #3. Scored 17 off 10 and looked simply imperious. Then got himself in a tangle trying to dig out a yorker and out of the blue it was over. I was chatting to one of their parents later, and he said he'd just told his mate Ollie was going to score a hundred! :( Couple of catches and no byes, so happy behind the stumps.
U15s.
Ollie opened the batting chasing a decent total. Scored 30 off 19 and retired. Looked brilliantly in control- you can see him improving match by match. Ended up coming back in at the death needing 15 off the last over. Tried to hit it too hard to be honest, which led to him missing a couple, but a massive 6 on the penultimate ball meant he needed 3 off the last one. He swung and missed. :( He said afterwards he thought about ramping it- I wish he had. :D Ended up 43*
3rds
2 catches, no byes and a steady 13 before a poor shot led to him being caught was enough for him to be put into the development league team of the week as 'keeper. Must have been a quiet week for everyone! :D Seriously though, it was lovely for him to get some recognition and a sign of his continuing growth as a player.
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3 more games to report.
U13s- mentioned in my other thread, so 68 off 15 balls of unbridled destruction! Hopefully more of the same on Thursday.
Sat 2nd XI fixture.
I actually missed this game- his first senior game I haven't seen live. Luckily I managed to watch it on the stream. I missed him keeping, but from the numbers there was no byes and he took a catch- so all good. Ollie opened the batting again, against a team who's first XI have apparently dominated our league for years. Chasing 200, he was rattling along very nicely, with 20 off 15 balls when he became a little becalmed. It was only a couple of overs without scoring, but this is where his background in pairs cricket really came back to bite him. You can't allow 2 overs to just pass you by when your pair have 4 overs to bat. You can when you have 45 overs to work with. They were all good leaves/defensive shots, facing a grizzled old 1st/2nd team veteran with 800 league wickets to his name. The honest truth is, he got worked out and bowled as the pressure/frustration got to him and he played a poor shot. I don't mind if he's out trying to play the right shot, and mis judges it- he's learning. I didn't mind this time because he said straight away that he chose the wrong shot. He's 13 and learning. He normally claims an unplayable delivery for 2 days before we can talk about dismissals :D. This is actually his highest score for the 2nds, and you can see how much he's learning. Out for 20 off 27.
Sunday and a 3rd XI game.
He's more and more at home playing for the 3rds. Again we bowled first, and it was 2 catches and 3 byes (nightmare erratic spinner!)- so a really good weekend behind the stumps. Not sure why, but he went out #3 this time. I think we like him going in #3- but he insists he prefers opening. Chasing 156 with 40 overs, Ollie again made sensible, but well paced progress. I could immediately see he had learned his lesson from the day before (for 24 hours at least :) ), and in spells where the runs weren't flowing he waited it out in safety. After a total of 22 overs the incessant rumbling thunder turned to lightening and a torrential downpour. Match was abandoned with Ollie on 42 not out off 45 balls. We won by D/L, and I can't help but feel he missed out on his maiden half century! Ah well, I'm sure he will have plenty more opportunities.
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All rather quiet here tbh
Think I'll have to look at finding somewhere else next year - played 3 friendly games all season and just getting a look in seems pretty hopeless. Kind of get that they seem to have had a crazy spurt of youngsters coming through the pathways, but when you're turning up for practice on a midweek and twiddling your thumbs at the weekend it's a bit of a downer. Didn't realise it but in hindsight have probably joined one of the stronger clubs - 3 sides all in the title/promotion hunt. It's a shame beause of the people in charge are pretty good folk.
So, err, if anyone knows of any clubs in North/East London that I can maybe get a game let me know!
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3 games all season is absolute murder, with the number of clubs up and down the country crying out for players I'm sure you'd have no bother finding somewhere you'd fit right in.
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I should probably state (again, ha) I am not a brilliant player by any means, and I've had a few niggles this year as well as the weather playing havoc, but feel like my military medium bowling has improved a bit. Was chatting with the head coach on Sunday (who's a really good guy) and he'd said there probably aren't many clubs like this where they've brought up four full time pros (who still turn out when they're available) as well as youngsters/colts in various county pathway setups. Always been mentioned that they've had really good availability all season as well; when I saw a club ad on Gumtree back in November it certainly wasn't something I was expecting at all.
So yeah, all in all, bit disappointing, and I probably need to look at elsewhere where public transport (I don't drive) isn't also an issue
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Will add my update in for anyone whos interested:
First season playing again after a 15 year break (enforced due to seperation and having the kids weekends). Tried playing for my old club a couple of times (where i used to be captain of the development side but a fairly average player) but due to only being available sporadically i could never get a game. Decided to make more of an effort to play this season as my kids are getting older and i reckon my knees only have a couple of seasons left in them.
Contacted another local club (in a different league as i dont want to play against my childhood team!) on the off chance of getting a game in every now and again, turns out i went to school with the captain of the 2's (havent seen him for 25 years!) turned up for my first game and said i was just happy to play whatever role needed, worked my way up to opening the batting (havent done that for years and years!) and got selected for the 1's. Gradually worked my way up to now opening the batting for the 1's as well now and am 3rd top scorer at the club (played less games than most too!)
Obviously loved scoring a couple of runs and stuff but I cannot overstate how amazing it is to be involved with a club again, the team craic, the beautiful 'villageness' of it all, the gobshite who always talks a much better game than they play, the post match pint, the aches and pains..................i have missed it all!!
What a game we play!!
p.s thanks to all those people on here that have sold me amazing bats/pads/gloves/bags all sorts over the years :)
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Played my 2nd Sat league game of the season and 8th overall but 3 of those have been evening T20’s.
Been messed around a lot over the past couple of seasons in terms of selection and batting/keeping position but to a degree I understood as only playing every other week at my most available.
Basically with 3 children now, 2, 4 & 17 time is precious and iv just fallen a bit out of love mainly with the pointless, boring banter, abuse, chat call it what you want depending where on the fence you sit with this kind of stuff.
Anyway onto the game we were 5th going into the game playing 6th and after basically just playing some Sunday and T20 games I forgot how bad the banter, abuse, chat on a Saturday was. Keeper and bowlers just constantly making snide comments maiming about every wide, LBW appeal etc but anyway batted at 6 and came in at 145-4 after we got to 120-1 off 18 I came in during the 25th over started slowely with a couple of singles other chap going well until he got out and shepherded the tail to get us to 214-8 off 45 I was out caught trying a big boy shot I just can’t play for 20 which is one of my best returns in a while. They went off all cock a hoop telling anyone that would listen we were 80 light etc etc.
Now I’m not a bad little Darren Stevens type of bowler and skip asked iv I’d mind bowling first change at tea. No worries
Openers did a sterling effort knocking over 2 in the first 5 overs and then another couple so when I came on to bowl in the 15th over they were 60-4. Caught and bowled 4th bowl which was a decent return grab at the second attempt and bowled nicely finishing with 3 for 35odd from 11.3overs. They had a really good partnership of about 75 odd between 6 and 8 until 8 had a rush of blood and was stumped, 6 skied one next over to leave me to polish off 10 and 11 and we bowled them out for 155odd and took 20pts which puts us in 4th.
Loved being back with the lads and my mates but hated the chat and dribble during the innings so back in a bit or a quandary. Recently really taken up golf again with a club membership and started to make new mates at the golf club so will see where my free time desire takes me. I had planned this week to make this my final game for a while but maybe just maybe I’ll wash the whites and make another appearance when back from holidays in a couple of Saturdays time. Loved Sunday cricket for the calm
Nature but the standard is poor
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@SOULMAN1012 I really think the crack is what you make it to be, I'm quite a quiet person normally but hate boring crack on a cricket pitch so I male sure I am the loudest person in the field in all areas. I shout nice shot when oppo plays well, praise bowlers and makemup stupid nick names for everyone. Always gonna be a few bellends on your team/oppo team that don't play with the spirit of the game but just be louder than them and you will soon find the others follow suit.
Don't take for granted being actually able to play cricket, I've played golf and it's ok but that's something you can move onto when you finally call time, just don't do it prematurely :)
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I've not posted here before but I've had an interesting season, to say the least...
The first 4 games (2 league 2 friendlies) for our 2XI were rained off (typical British weather)
In the 5th game I played in the 2XI, I broke the middle finger on my right hand in the 17th over of the first innings (keeping) I finished the game and got 11 with the bat (I don't think I nicked it)
In the 12th game, I return to the 4XI with 2 wickets a catch, and 52 with the bat (not bad)
The next game I was promoted to the 3XI where I was hit in the jaw with a beamer broke my jaw in 2 places and had surgery, got 2 plates in the chin (Thank you to the NHS!), and was told not to touch a bat or ball for 6 weeks
I'm hoping I can play the last league game (2nd September) but not 100% just yet
I've played more golf this year that cricket, but the swing feels great so I'm not complaining too much
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I've not posted here before but I've had an interesting season, to say the least...
The first 4 games (2 league 2 friendlies) for our 2XI were rained off (typical British weather)
In the 5th game I played in the 2XI, I broke the middle finger on my right hand in the 17th over of the first innings (keeping) I finished the game and got 11 with the bat (I don't think I nicked it)
In the 12th game, I return to the 4XI with 2 wickets a catch, and 52 with the bat (not bad)
The next game I was promoted to the 3XI where I was hit in the jaw with a beamer broke my jaw in 2 places and had surgery, got 2 plates in the chin (Thank you to the NHS!), and was told not to touch a bat or ball for 6 weeks
I'm hoping I can play the last league game (2nd September) but not 100% just yet
I've played more golf this year that cricket, but the swing feels great so I'm not complaining too much
Wow thats an eventful season so far!!! Hope you're recovering well!
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Wow thats an eventful season so far!!! Hope you're recovering well!
I'm recovering well thank you!
I was on a liquid diet (not the fun one) for 3 weeks and now onto softs which is better!
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I'm recovering well thank you!
I was on a liquid diet (not the fun one) for 3 weeks and now onto softs which is better!
Sounds brutal matey! I'm currently sat drinking whisky woth am ice pack on my stupid (No Swearing Please) knee after todays cricket. No game like it for injuries and niggles, hope you're playing again soon :)
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I've not posted here before but I've had an interesting season, to say the least...
The first 4 games (2 league 2 friendlies) for our 2XI were rained off (typical British weather)
In the 5th game I played in the 2XI, I broke the middle finger on my right hand in the 17th over of the first innings (keeping) I finished the game and got 11 with the bat (I don't think I nicked it)
In the 12th game, I return to the 4XI with 2 wickets a catch, and 52 with the bat (not bad)
The next game I was promoted to the 3XI where I was hit in the jaw with a beamer broke my jaw in 2 places and had surgery, got 2 plates in the chin (Thank you to the NHS!), and was told not to touch a bat or ball for 6 weeks
I'm hoping I can play the last league game (2nd September) but not 100% just yet
I've played more golf this year that cricket, but the swing feels great so I'm not complaining too much
Crikey mate hope you're alright and get to play again this season!
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Played first game in a while for a new club as have just moved.
I’m stiff!
Decent win but man was I rusty.
Also, still convinced I jiggled a fair catch at first slip- I caught the ball in my armpit.
However, apparently the batter missed it and it somehow reached me at first slip after hitting the block hole. Still feel like I was robbed of a decent catch.
But good to be back on the field of play, oppo were a decent bunch with some real characters
I scored 9 before missing a full bunger from a an Asian leggie who walked in just like the late great Shane Warne (he even had the sweatband)
The ball lodged in the back of my pad.
Ah. Cricket.
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I've not posted here before but I've had an interesting season, to say the least...
The first 4 games (2 league 2 friendlies) for our 2XI were rained off (typical British weather)
In the 5th game I played in the 2XI, I broke the middle finger on my right hand in the 17th over of the first innings (keeping) I finished the game and got 11 with the bat (I don't think I nicked it)
In the 12th game, I return to the 4XI with 2 wickets a catch, and 52 with the bat (not bad)
The next game I was promoted to the 3XI where I was hit in the jaw with a beamer broke my jaw in 2 places and had surgery, got 2 plates in the chin (Thank you to the NHS!), and was told not to touch a bat or ball for 6 weeks
I'm hoping I can play the last league game (2nd September) but not 100% just yet
I've played more golf this year that cricket, but the swing feels great so I'm not complaining too much
Jesus Christ, definitely take up golf!
I'm so sorry and hope you recover as swiftly and painlessly as possible.
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Thank you all for your kind wishes!
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Played my 2nd Sat league game of the season and 8th overall but 3 of those have been evening T20’s.
Been messed around a lot over the past couple of seasons in terms of selection and batting/keeping position but to a degree I understood as only playing every other week at my most available.
@SOULMAN1012 Chris, I was looking at some of the stats for division 5 of the two counties and saw that some bloke had played 14 innings, scoring 1051 runs with 7 hundreds!!!! What on earth is he doing playing division 5 cricket?
How does bat making compare to playing? I have a reoccurring injury (hamstring) and I'm worried that my playing days may be over (at 46). I'm going to see how I go over the winter but if I start next season and keep getting the same/similar injuries I am going to call it a day and finish up for good. Anyone got any ideas on what to do if/when I give up. I have my ECB level 2 coaching but to be honest I don't especially enjoy coaching. Don't feel my decision making is good enough to be an umpire. Maybe I need to take a scoring course. The thought of not playing again is a bit depressing so I need something to move onto.
JT
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I really wouldn't be happy if a 3rd XI seamer had broken my jaw with a beamer. :o
Get well soon.
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Played first game in a while for a new club as have just moved.
I’m stiff!
Decent win but man was I rusty.
Also, still convinced I jiggled a fair catch at first slip- I caught the ball in my armpit.
However, apparently the batter missed it and it somehow reached me at first slip after hitting the block hole. Still feel like I was robbed of a decent catch.
But good to be back on the field of play, oppo were a decent bunch with some real characters
Deary me!
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Played my 2nd Sat league game of the season and 8th overall but 3 of those have been evening T20’s.
Been messed around a lot over the past couple of seasons in terms of selection and batting/keeping position but to a degree I understood as only playing every other week at my most available.
@SOULMAN1012 Chris, I was looking at some of the stats for division 5 of the two counties and saw that some bloke had played 14 innings, scoring 1051 runs with 7 hundreds!!!! What on earth is he doing playing division 5 cricket?
How does bat making compare to playing? I have a reoccurring injury (hamstring) and I'm worried that my playing days may be over (at 46). I'm going to see how I go over the winter but if I start next season and keep getting the same/similar injuries I am going to call it a day and finish up for good. Anyone got any ideas on what to do if/when I give up. I have my ECB level 2 coaching but to be honest I don't especially enjoy coaching. Don't feel my decision making is good enough to be an umpire. Maybe I need to take a scoring course. The thought of not playing again is a bit depressing so I need something to move onto.
JT
Tom Whiteman is a serious player. Scored most of his 50 off tons in the Prem and I played with his for a year at Woolpit. He had a break for a year or who when kids came along and has gone back to playing with his mates. They came up last season basically on the back of his 8 or 9 tons in Div 6. They get blown away when he doesn’t play or fails but they sit top and the whole team basically bat around him.
The bat making keeps my interest in the game and allows me to meet new people and still talk club cricket etc.
Injury wise iv been very lucky across my career but I do ache a lot more now than I remember from the last few years.
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Deary me!
Indead old bean!
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Felt sad hearing you may call it a day at 46
Injuries after 40 do catch up , it just seem to Happen
Although you would not associate cricket or I did not being a sport which would be so injury prone
Standing in the field for 3 .5 hours , running and throwing sporadically , actually is not easy
Hamstring instrung injuries creep up although tears I believe would be better there than the shoulder
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Tom Whiteman is a serious player. Scored most of his 50 off tons in the Prem and I played with his for a year at Woolpit. He had a break for a year or who when kids came along and has gone back to playing with his mates. They came up last season basically on the back of his 8 or 9 tons in Div 6. They get blown away when he doesn’t play or fails but they sit top and the whole team basically bat around him.
The bat making keeps my interest in the game and allows me to meet new people and still talk club cricket etc.
Injury wise iv been very lucky across my career but I do ache a lot more now than I remember from the last few years.
Chris carter gets lots of runs for them to
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Main season summary so far... rain. Played way more t20s and LMS than Saturday league, which to be honest suits me just fine these days! Shorter games are definitely the future imo.
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Chris carter gets lots of runs for them to
Not seen or heard of him, not that I really follow anyone these days just knew as soon as @JTtaylor145 mentioned Div 5 player with that amount of runs although one of our lads must have 700+ I reckon
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Really chuffed that I set my PB on saturday with 133 not out.
I'd been promoted to the 1st team as opener at the start of the season. I'd done ok with several 20's and 30's, but not managed to go on an convert any into a big score. So after a few low scores I'd been sent back to the 2's for the last few weeks; Worcs Div 8. One of those days where you just time nearly everything and even managed to hit some 6's, rather unlike me.
We batted first and I opened facing the first ball. There was some tennis ball like bounce in the wicket, so took some getting used to. They actualy bowled quite well, but their heads dropped later on as they filed to take many wickets. We cashed in and finished 332-2 off 45, with me also facing the last ball of our innings.
We took some early wickets, but their no.4 batted very well and regularly smashed boundaries. We dropped him 4 times and we started to get a bit worried, despite them still needing 12 an over. We picked up a few more wickets, and them ran him out for an excellent 159. They young tail didn't last much longer after that and we bowled them out for 266. A great win and personally really happy.
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Found myself offering to play again this Sat as we always struggle around Harvest time of year. Played away against top of the league and was mentioned a little way back in this thread against a side that’s got a lad that’s played 14 games this season with 9 hundreds and averaging over 100 so was always going to be a challenge as he really is a top player.
Anyway we lost the toss and they batted and we started well. Said player played a huge drive as his first scoring shot that flew through 2nd maybe 3rd slip waste high but Div 5 we don’t have 2 or 3 slips lol just out of my reach with a full dive but this was his only false shot of the day, even his defensive shots came off the middle lol. He was aided by a left hander who had a lucky day playing and missing a lot and could have been caught 6-7 times but was always 5yrds over a fielder or to the side and they got to 156-0 off 30 before we got the leftie. The gun batter soon bought up his ton before falling for 137 after really stepping on the gas. Now we didn’t bowl well after the 30th over which may sound silly given the score but this lad is in a different level. Got lots of Prem hundreds. Personally bowled 11 overs 2 maidens 1 for 77.
Then the wheels came off with them finishing 337/4 and number 3 hitting 91 off 35 balls with a lovely sounding Vulcan bat @Vulcan Cricket
Our reply started poorly losing one of openers in the 2nd over for 0. Couple of decent partnerships and at drinks we were on par and actually a bit in front of the run rate. Our opener made 125 from 28 overs but when he was out the slim hope we had vanished and the plan went from trying to give it a go to ensure they didn’t get 20pts as we were 3rd before today and in with a chance of promotion. However we have a long tale with some good hitters but unlikely or unable to spend time at the crease and we will need up 237-7. Personally finished 33* which after the season iv had with the bat I was happy with and my 2nd highest score of the season.
Oppo were a top bunch of lads and game was played in a great spirit which was a totally contrast to the league game I played a few weeks ago. Think that’s our promotion hopes gone now but glad I’m starting to enjoy league cricket again. Still not sure I won’t be on the golf course for good next year but we will see.
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So, league ended with no games at all and just a handful more Sunday affairs.
Had a real motivational mindset to put myself in a good place for next year and not just considered an afterthought - have started running a bit more seriously, and getting myself ready to go to the gym once a small shoulder niggle is dealt with. Also looking at getting some coaching - see that the MCC have a winter group thing at Lords that may help with getting some (probably) simple errors fixed, but am not against doing a 1-1 thing instead if I can find it
The final one is whether to find a new club or to hang around where I am - thankfully have a little bit more time to decide but if anyone knows of anywhere in the North/East London area then by all means let me know
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Last game of the season today and must have been one of the hottest games iv ever played in. Batted first and after a decent start by openers we limped to 45-4 losing both openers and 3 & 4 in the space of 8 balls. Came in at 6 and left the first ball with a general leave that nailed back a touch and flicked the pad que a massive appeal turned down as umpire believed wasn’t coming back enough to hit the stumps. Anyway que a torrent of abuse firstly aimed at me calling me a cheat etc etc well I can’t walk on a LBW mate and then turned to the umpire. Unfortunately just another reminder of why I no longer enjoy league cricket. Bowler by all accounts was a lad who started in the oppo 1st team who play in Div 1 and has bounced between that and our Div 5 so anyway hence all his little followers started and the next 10 overs where to be honest just nit enjoyable. Anyway this just made me absolutely sure I wasn’t getting out for love nor money and anyway was the last recognised batter capable of getting to double figures given the harvest time, start of football seaosn and being a single Sat side club with quite a small squad. Finished with 21 off 89 balls and saw us up to 125.
Oppo are third and in with chance of promotion and we got opener 4th ball and other opener after 9 overs with them at 39-2 at 10 I came in to bowl and bowled tidy, couple of fought half chances went down and then there No4 nicked off so loudly and obvious but was turned down. Then it clicked that the top 4 where also 4 of the 5 that bowled so will never know what there middle order was like. Anyway they won with 14 overs spare and fingers crossed they go up just so we don’t have to play them again next year.
Really have found the chat is so pointless, relentless and boardering on abusive when we have played the big clubs 2nd and 3rd teams whilst the sides like us that are single Sat sides of the smaller clubs are a much better experience.
So a disappointing season with the bat comes to an end. 7 games 145 runs at an avg of 24 with high score of 49, 2 ducks so can’t remember the last time I didn’t make a 50 in a season. 11 wickets at 17 was a decent return with the ball at an economy of under 3 an over im quite happy with
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Don't there were proper 1s bowlers as there ones time sheet had a few of there normal twos in and looked a little weaker
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Agree with Dean, bang average Halstead bowling attack however one of their opening bowlers really does rate himself! Thinks hes quick but would get found out very quickly if he played at a higher level.
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@SOULMAN1012 I was surprised to read that Chris as I've always found the Halstead 2XI a great bunch of lads. I then had a look at the scorecard for the match and couldn't see any of the blokes I knew and played against. Halstead 3XI must be a great set of lads now. Shame, it doesn't have to be like that.
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Second last game of the season just gone.
I’ve been playing adult cricket for 14 years now and FINALLY I’ve hit my first century. For the past 5ish weeks I’ve been opening the batting. Last week I was run out on 9 and then watched No. 1 and 3 hit a 200 partnership. This week I hit 136* off 121 balls including 18 4s and 2 6’s leading our team to 232/6 off 40 overs.
We then bowled and had our opponents 110/9 off 40 overs and we were crowned champions of the league.
Staffs Div 5.
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Second last game of the season just gone.
I’ve been playing adult cricket for 14 years now and FINALLY I’ve hit my first century. For the past 5ish weeks I’ve been opening the batting. Last week I was run out on 9 and then watched No. 1 and 3 hit a 200 partnership. This week I hit 136* off 121 balls including 18 4s and 2 6’s leading our team to 232/6 off 40 overs.
We then bowled and had our opponents 110/9 off 40 overs and we were crowned champions of the league.
Staffs Div 5.
Fantastic effort! Well done. What a brilliant end to a season. Just time for one more?
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Agree with Dean, bang average Halstead bowling attack however one of their opening bowlers really does rate himself! Thinks hes quick but would get found out very quickly if he played at a higher level.
They bowled well tbh even the lad that I assume you’re talking about Read or Reed from memory bowled well. He bowled a god ball to get our beat batter out but his attitude and behaviour was awful. And they way the younger players of which I reckon where between 15-17 joined in just made it even more annoying and not enjoyable.
Even a few of their own players started getting bored of it.
They finished 3rd as overall I would say from what iv seen they are the 3rd best team although the top two have A) a lad that’s played most of his cricket in the Prem and finished as the highest run scorer in two counties cricket with an avg of 100 and the 2nd placed team had a paid pro.
I would say a bit more than bang average but no superstars either and if we had made another 50-75 runs would have been interesting but wouldn’t have been any more enjoyable
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Summary of my season:
Felt and looked amazing on the baseball field - I have been really getting into batting and I've been teaching myself to be more aggressive (though I wish I could bat like it was a test match). I've been working on bowling really hard - learning how to bowl consistent offspin with the occasional huge leg-break thrown in. That means I've had to create my own action and everything, but I think it is decent - should probably start videoing myself so I can 'edit' it and make it better. A good thing is that I can turn it nicely both ways - just need to work on getting my fingers up the side of the ball so I can turn it more consistently with off-breaks (and use the alternative as a variation). So yeah, lots of hard work, but it has been good for my absolutely disastrous mental health - for a long time this year, I thought I was never going to hit a cricket ball again. I'm doing a little better now. And thanks to @The Cricket Boutique I have an awesome H4L kit.
The Bad Stuff
Can't find a club. The club with probably the best fit has not responded to emails or Instagram messages. Most of the other clubs are far, far less likely to accept someone like me. I gave a local guy 3 free bat covers the other day, and when he pulled up in his car he literally parked it as far away as he could so that his kids couldn't see me, and he acted like I was an alien from another planet. and I honestly look pretty good as a transwoman relatively early in her transition! In hindsight, shouldn't have given him the bat covers. The discrimination I have faced has been pretty obvious.
The trials of probably being the only trans cricketer in America, I guess. I literally just want to be treated like anybody else. I feel so much fear now about even trying to find a club and playing in a team. I'll rip the plaster off one day, but I don't think this year is the time anymore. I have had pretty much the worst year possible, spending so much time in hospital that you wouldn't believe it.
Anyway, I have plenty of distractions - pretending to be at grad student at Harvard and starting to enjoy Cambridge (the American one) and Boston a little more. and every time I time the pants off an on-drive, I get to pretend I'm Marnus Labuschagne - timing the ball is therapy in itself.
Keeping it honest because it is important.
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Summary of my season:
Felt and looked amazing on the baseball field - I have been really getting into batting and I've been teaching myself to be more aggressive (though I wish I could bat like it was a test match). I've been working on bowling really hard - learning how to bowl consistent offspin with the occasional huge leg-break thrown in. That means I've had to create my own action and everything, but I think it is decent - should probably start videoing myself so I can 'edit' it and make it better. A good thing is that I can turn it nicely both ways - just need to work on getting my fingers up the side of the ball so I can turn it more consistently with off-breaks (and use the alternative as a variation). So yeah, lots of hard work, but it has been good for my absolutely disastrous mental health - for a long time this year, I thought I was never going to hit a cricket ball again. I'm doing a little better now. And thanks to @The Cricket Boutique I have an awesome H4L kit.
The Bad Stuff
Can't find a club. The club with probably the best fit has not responded to emails or Instagram messages. Most of the other clubs are far, far less likely to accept someone like me. I gave a local guy 3 free bat covers the other day, and when he pulled up in his car he literally parked it as far away as he could so that his kids couldn't see me, and he acted like I was an alien from another planet. and I honestly look pretty good as a transwoman relatively early in her transition! In hindsight, shouldn't have given him the bat covers. The discrimination I have faced has been pretty obvious.
The trials of probably being the only trans cricketer in America, I guess. I literally just want to be treated like anybody else. I feel so much fear now about even trying to find a club and playing in a team. I'll rip the plaster off one day, but I don't think this year is the time anymore. I have had pretty much the worst year possible, spending so much time in hospital that you wouldn't believe it.
Anyway, I have plenty of distractions - pretending to be at grad student at Harvard and starting to enjoy Cambridge (the American one) and Boston a little more. and every time I time the pants off an on-drive, I get to pretend I'm Marnus Labuschagne - timing the ball is therapy in itself.
Keeping it honest because it is important.
Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry to hear about what you go through, it must be tough. There has been a massive rise for equality in cricket in recent years, both internationally and at grassroots level. Some clubs are really good with things like this but there are many who are lacking behind, same thing could be said for people in general really.
I have little doubt you will find a club that you feel comfortable playing at, as I understand cricket in the US is on the rise! Personally having played for a few teams where it did not feel like I truly belong there, I would rather not play at all. I do hope that you have a better season next year.
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I joined a new club this year and it was my first season playing weekend cricket for about 5/6 years (I play a bit of midweek 8-a-side last year for work). Even though I only played around 7 games, I really enjoyed my time and it was probably the first season I have genuinely enjoyed in around 10 years. The club is incredibly social and is a breath of fresh air from the competitive league cricket I grew up playing.
My form on the pitch was a bit sketchy, I had a few 30s and 40s but could never kick on. I’ll hopefully play and train a bit more next year and my performances will improve slightly.
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Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry to hear about what you go through, it must be tough. There has been a massive rise for equality in cricket in recent years, both internationally and at grassroots level. Some clubs are really good with things like this but there are many who are lacking behind, same thing could be said for people in general really.
I have little doubt you will find a club that you feel comfortable playing at, as I understand cricket in the US is on the rise! Personally having played for a few teams where it did not feel like I truly belong there, I would rather not play at all. I do hope that you have a better season next year.
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words and support! I hope I find a good cricket team at some point soon, but I'm okay with it being when we eventually relocate elsewhere in the US. Maybe things will be better one day. In good news, it sounds like there is a chance I could play for Harvard, which would be pretty cool! I would be more protected because it is a university, too. Fingers crossed!
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I enjoy reading how other people have got on, so thought I'd my add a bit for my season too. Overall, I think I did better than last season, and would put it down to just not thinking too much. I'll explain.
2022 was my first season back after not playing for 20 years. Because of that, and from joining a new club, I spent the winter before it watching a LOT of coaching videos about batting. I was trying to learn and remember all the things that top batters do (trigger movement, balance, head position, etc.) that I had never done, but without getting to practice them. 10-15 minutes in the nets once a week wasn't enough. The result was that I was just swamped with stuff to think about when I actually did get to bat in a game, and ended up not doing anything well. I don't get to play every week, so ended up with 8 innings, a total of only 88, average of 11 and a top score of 25. I was really disappointed.
For 2023 I just stopped watching the videos, and went back to playing my own game. It is a long way from perfect, but it served me pretty well before I stopped playing. I tried not to think about my own style, but just the game - what do we need to do to win? What is the bowler doing with it, and what should I do in response? How can I convince the junior at the other end to stop running threes?! :) I've got to say that I felt a lot happier when batting as a result. Again, I only had 8 innings, but got a total of 290, average of 41, and a top score of 99 (walked on a caught behind when the umpire hadn't heard it). Much happier with my contribution to the team this season, especially as a rotator cuff impingement meant that I couldn't throw overarm for most of the season. It's also nice to do it with a bat I shaped myself, after at least (hopefully!) getting better at that process over the last few years.
I realise that some of the improvement could just come from an extra season playing again. But the freedom that I've felt from not worrying about all the things I couldn't improve (without a very long time in the nets) was good. It was way more fun too. I'm also grateful to have still been picked after doing so badly the season before! Now I just need to get my first ever 100 before the old bones finally give up.
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Thank you, I appreciate your kind words and support! I hope I find a good cricket team at some point soon, but I'm okay with it being when we eventually relocate elsewhere in the US. Maybe things will be better one day. In good news, it sounds like there is a chance I could play for Harvard, which would be pretty cool! I would be more protected because it is a university, too. Fingers crossed!
Best of luck with it! I hope it goes well.
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I stopped updating on here through the season as Ollie was playing so much cricket it felt like I was spending a lot of time here, and updating myself! So I have gone for the season summary.
2023, 13 years old and a first season in the seniors.
Under 13s.
This has been tough, for surprising reasons. As I have posted before- it's a weak squad with Ollie as a stand out player. They play pairs cricket in a weak league. Ollie said he wanted to play when he was available as he gets to play with his friends. He played 5 games, out of 14 played. He scored 246 runs with a strike rate of 332. League top scorer. Wicket keeping stats not available. So why was it tough? Parents. Opposition parents complaining about him (despite having their own interleague players playing), and even some of our own have been a bit snotty about it. The problem is we don't have enough for an U11 team, so they are playing up in the 13s; and there is a loud and complaining parent of an U12 keeper who seems to think Ollie playing his own age group is disadvantaging his own son somehow. I've seen him hit a 6 and there be silence around the ground. To be completely fair- the coach was always good with him (I know they had some pressure applied), and the other players (at least on our team) enjoy playing with him and look up to him as a role model. To be honest, I'm glad he's leaving this behind, but he enjoyed the freedom to have fun with his friends.
Under 13 interleague
He made the best of the interleague team, which we were all delighted by (and a bit surprised by). He finished as the top keeper in his league (6 games, 5 catches, 4 stumpings), but was probably lighter on runs than he wanted to be with 93 runs. The higher quality bowling exposed weaknesses in his technique that he is working on. Meeting players of his own age, that are as good as he is, has been excellent for him. It's forced him to refocus and think bigger than the village cricket club. He's fit in well to a group that (despite being a new group) were effectively the interleague team for a different league last year and all knew each other. He's become part of the group, and fits in well.
Under 15s.
League champions!
Unfortunately play cricket stats are very incomplete for the season. I think Ollie finished top scorer in the team, or was at least close. His performances behind the stumps were consistently high quality. This is probably the area where Ollie enjoyed his cricket most. The boys are all good friends, having played together for 4/5 years as a small squad, but being older means there is also a level of challenge he enjoys. The team breaks up this season, as the boys go over age, and it's a shame there's no sensible U18 option open.
3rd XI.
League champions!
Top scorer for the team! 3rd top scorer in the league. 9 matches played, 208 runs scored at an average of 35. Strike rate of 75. 8 catches as wicket keeper.
This has been a great first season for Ollie. It was tough at first, with him both keeping and opening. He has moved to #3, and things seem to be better- although he insists he wants to open. What has been seen this year is his resilience and determination to improve, and you can see his scores reflect his gradual adapting to senior cricket. His scores have improved through the summer. What has been fantastic to see is his evolution from going out there and struggling to survive to an attacking batter looking to dominate bowling. He has hit 3 sixes, and 24 4s. His contributions have won games for the team- which has been incredible to watch. Most of the U15s also play in this team, which makes it a fun place to play cricket for him.
2nd XI
9 innings, 78 runs at an average of 10, with a top score of 23. Strike rate 46. 14 catches and a stumping.
This has been a tough summer in the 2nds. Saying that, Ollie loves it- he says he likes it better than the 3rds, but that might be ego talking! He really enjoys the extra focus and commitment from this group of players- he likes to take things very seriously sometimes! Similar to the interleague- the better quality bowling has challenged his batting technique. There have been a couple of times where you could see a bowler laying a plan against him. Less bad balls to attack (although 2 6s show he's capable), and tougher fielding is slowing his scoring. Luckily for him he is being incredibly well supported by those around him, and he's very happy. On the positive side, his glovework has been exemplary so it doesn't feel like there has been any pressure on his position in the team, with the club being happy to allow his batting to develop in time. He's bouncing around the order a little depending on player availability- from opening to as low as 7; but he seems fine with that.
1st XI
2 matches, did not bat.
A long drive to away cup fixtures made a number of 1st teamers mysteriously unavailable! Ollie was very nervous, but kept to the 1st team!
Overall, it's been a wonderful summer of cricket for Ollie. It's been tough in places- both socially as a 13 year old in teams of strangers (interleague) or adults (only junior in the 2nds most of the time). However there have been real highs- his interleague selection and subsequent county training. His keeping was already going well, but it's improved to even greater heights. Every challenge he has faced, his keeping has been up to the task- and he's pushing himself to get better all the time. Batting, has shown areas for improvement. He's perfectly at home against the 3rds, but quality can work him out. He is also making mistakes. But he's recognised this- and wants to work hard in the nets to get better. This is one of Ollies great strengths- he's not afraid to put the work into improving. I was watching him at club training last week, stood off to the side chatting away with a 20 year old student who plays in the 3rds. I don't think he would have done that last year.
This season has really fired him up. For the first time he is thinking about pushing for the county squad. Personally, I'm not fussed if he gets there or not, although I'd love him to get exposure to the quality of players and coaching to help him be better himself. From there he can do whatever he wants.
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I stopped updating on here through the season as Ollie was playing so much cricket it felt like I was spending a lot of time here, and updating myself! So I have gone for the season summary.
2023, 13 years old and a first season in the seniors.
Under 13s.
This has been tough, for surprising reasons. As I have posted before- it's a weak squad with Ollie as a stand out player. They play pairs cricket in a weak league. Ollie said he wanted to play when he was available as he gets to play with his friends. He played 5 games, out of 14 played. He scored 246 runs with a strike rate of 332. League top scorer. Wicket keeping stats not available. So why was it tough? Parents. Opposition parents complaining about him (despite having their own interleague players playing), and even some of our own have been a bit snotty about it. The problem is we don't have enough for an U11 team, so they are playing up in the 13s; and there is a loud and complaining parent of an U12 keeper who seems to think Ollie playing his own age group is disadvantaging his own son somehow. I've seen him hit a 6 and there be silence around the ground. To be completely fair- the coach was always good with him (I know they had some pressure applied), and the other players (at least on our team) enjoy playing with him and look up to him as a role model. To be honest, I'm glad he's leaving this behind, but he enjoyed the freedom to have fun with his friends.
Under 13 interleague
He made the best of the interleague team, which we were all delighted by (and a bit surprised by). He finished as the top keeper in his league (6 games, 5 catches, 4 stumpings), but was probably lighter on runs than he wanted to be with 93 runs. The higher quality bowling exposed weaknesses in his technique that he is working on. Meeting players of his own age, that are as good as he is, has been excellent for him. It's forced him to refocus and think bigger than the village cricket club. He's fit in well to a group that (despite being a new group) were effectively the interleague team for a different league last year and all knew each other. He's become part of the group, and fits in well.
Under 15s.
League champions!
Unfortunately play cricket stats are very incomplete for the season. I think Ollie finished top scorer in the team, or was at least close. His performances behind the stumps were consistently high quality. This is probably the area where Ollie enjoyed his cricket most. The boys are all good friends, having played together for 4/5 years as a small squad, but being older means there is also a level of challenge he enjoys. The team breaks up this season, as the boys go over age, and it's a shame there's no sensible U18 option open.
3rd XI.
League champions!
Top scorer for the team! 3rd top scorer in the league. 9 matches played, 208 runs scored at an average of 35. Strike rate of 75. 8 catches as wicket keeper.
This has been a great first season for Ollie. It was tough at first, with him both keeping and opening. He has moved to #3, and things seem to be better- although he insists he wants to open. What has been seen this year is his resilience and determination to improve, and you can see his scores reflect his gradual adapting to senior cricket. His scores have improved through the summer. What has been fantastic to see is his evolution from going out there and struggling to survive to an attacking batter looking to dominate bowling. He has hit 3 sixes, and 24 4s. His contributions have won games for the team- which has been incredible to watch. Most of the U15s also play in this team, which makes it a fun place to play cricket for him.
2nd XI
9 innings, 78 runs at an average of 10, with a top score of 23. Strike rate 46. 14 catches and a stumping.
This has been a tough summer in the 2nds. Saying that, Ollie loves it- he says he likes it better than the 3rds, but that might be ego talking! He really enjoys the extra focus and commitment from this group of players- he likes to take things very seriously sometimes! Similar to the interleague- the better quality bowling has challenged his batting technique. There have been a couple of times where you could see a bowler laying a plan against him. Less bad balls to attack (although 2 6s show he's capable), and tougher fielding is slowing his scoring. Luckily for him he is being incredibly well supported by those around him, and he's very happy. On the positive side, his glovework has been exemplary so it doesn't feel like there has been any pressure on his position in the team, with the club being happy to allow his batting to develop in time. He's bouncing around the order a little depending on player availability- from opening to as low as 7; but he seems fine with that.
1st XI
2 matches, did not bat.
A long drive to away cup fixtures made a number of 1st teamers mysteriously unavailable! Ollie was very nervous, but kept to the 1st team!
Overall, it's been a wonderful summer of cricket for Ollie. It's been tough in places- both socially as a 13 year old in teams of strangers (interleague) or adults (only junior in the 2nds most of the time). However there have been real highs- his interleague selection and subsequent county training. His keeping was already going well, but it's improved to even greater heights. Every challenge he has faced, his keeping has been up to the task- and he's pushing himself to get better all the time. Batting, has shown areas for improvement. He's perfectly at home against the 3rds, but quality can work him out. He is also making mistakes. But he's recognised this- and wants to work hard in the nets to get better. This is one of Ollies great strengths- he's not afraid to put the work into improving. I was watching him at club training last week, stood off to the side chatting away with a 20 year old student who plays in the 3rds. I don't think he would have done that last year.
This season has really fired him up. For the first time he is thinking about pushing for the county squad. Personally, I'm not fussed if he gets there or not, although I'd love him to get exposure to the quality of players and coaching to help him be better himself. From there he can do whatever he wants.
Wow, what an amazing season! I loved hearing about how he has matured and changed as a person over the season too. That must be a delight to witness as a parent. It sounds like he will go far in the game for as long as he enjoys it. Congratulations, Ollie! I look forward to next season's review. :)
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End of the season and another successful league champion finishing unbeaten all year.
Final stats 451 runs average of 34.7 in 18 innings. Strike rate of 89.05 and high score of 136*
Bowling: 13 wickets in 52 overs, economy of 3.7 and an average of 15.
A successful season all round even though bowled much less then I’d of liked.
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Ended the season playing for The Metronomes, a wandering side who play cricket to have fun and raise money for charity.
I made my debut last Sunday against The Degenerates and played at St Albans CC.
And what a joy it was! I honestly haven’t felt so at ease in a club since my youth days in Surrey.
Oppo batted first. We were due to play 2X T20’s in a test match format, over two innings. However rain intervened.
Oppo played shot roulette and were 7-4, but got up to 139, before declaring their innings after 18 overs!
I was next in at 3, with a new bat in tow, before the heavens really opened. As the umpires inspected the wicket, and then wandered off for a somewhat bizarre and very intense private convo, they came back to inform us that as 5 overs had been bowled, (it was only a friendly!) The Metronomes won by 6 runs on Duckworth Lewis!
As they announced the result, the sun peaked out.
We, The Metronomes have had good luck messages on social media from Adam Hollioake and Simon Doull.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw1v53UIl4g/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cw1v53UIl4g/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)
I had so much fun and bowled one over and didn’t bat! :-)
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Bit of a disjointed season for me. Missed two league (and two Frogs) due to injuries at different times, plus all the rain. Ended up spending a lot of my first season as club captain playing twos after my first injury as the young leggie who took my spot came in and performed the two weeks I was out at that point. Back in the 1s last game of the season and got the thumb on my bowling hand broken in my 4th over, knew it was bad but not how bad so finished my ten overs and fielded.
Season highlights are my first league 50 for Beaconsfield, career best figures of 7/3/7/9 and a new Frogs PB of 80. Couple of 50s in the season, a few 40s, one five fer and a load of 4fers. Had the privilege of playing for the Runs4Research side at Sarisbury as well. For me though, the true highlight was seeing how a club that was in a really bad way, under fresh management this year, has trusted youth and turned fortunes around. Proud as punch that in my first season as club captain, 3/6 senior XIs have been promoted - men’s 1s and 3s plus ladies 1s. Ladies 2s and mens 4s came might close to going up as well.
Onwards and upwards! Also thanks as always to @Neon Cricket for looking after me one again with some ridiculous kit. Rest assured there will be several of my colts applying for the scheme for 2024 having seen how good the bats are!
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I'm officially in the Harvard Regionals squad! We will play Yale, Northeastern, and MIT in October. I really hope the weather holds!
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Well... that didn't go to plan. No hard feelings towards the team, I think. I'll hopefully play for them again in the near future.
It somehow ended up being a special day though - you might like the story.
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A very late final season update.
Friday saw the inaugural NWCL presentation evening.
Ollie won the Development division (3rd XI) batting award!!
So that's a senior league award to go with a senior club award and a literal armful of junior awards.
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I've been training, playing, and coaching (a bit) with the Harvard Cricket Club for much of the winter. Each session has been in a bubble within Harvard's historic stadium, which is definitely the coolest place I've played cricket.
It looks like this outside:
(https://i.postimg.cc/bYZxJHqX/Aerial-West-View-Copy-copy-story.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)host image online (https://postimages.org/)
and it looks like this inside:
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPfzPCrT/PXL-20240205-021503822.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w7YTwQnj)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mk4vp6gq/PXL-20240212-005549857.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r0hZKjWC)
It has been fun, and in the last couple of sessions I've started to feel the part, too. Not enough to justify calling myself an athlete/player/coach to the parking staff to get a discount, but I do it anyway :D. There's been a few moments of discomfort with the rest of the athletic world there, but the people at the club have been kind to me for sure.
I was part of the squad for the US-wide nationals tournament, which would have been an awesome experience playing against other quality college sides from across America. I really wanted to play, but unfortunately the tournament is being held near Houston in Texas. Texas is a fundamentally scary, unsafe place to be a trans person now, and so I had to decline. Which sucks, right?
There is some sort of regional women's team called the Boston Lobsters that is being established here later this year. I'm hoping to contribute, maybe helping out with coaching. It would be cool to train in a safer environment, too.
Finally, earlier in this thread I posted and then deleted a link to my blog about a strange but wonderful day where I went to play cricket, did not play, and then something pretty amazing happened. I'm posting it here again because I think it is meaningful, that you might enjoy it, and that it might help some kid out there. Read gently!
https://billieburton.medium.com/a-predictable-disaster-an-unexpected-miracle-96381fcae26c?sk=efc1dc9c36d2583fa2733b7874320374
Billie
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And with that, my time on this forum comes to an end.
I have been here for more than a decade in which I have bought far too many bats, fawned every year over the new season’s offerings, and learned far, far too much about the industry. I have seen many brands come and go, and a stalwart few flourish in all weathers. I have seen more repeated arguments about the England test side than you can imagine (is Ollie Pope a young Ian Bell?), and I have lived vicariously through members who have been to the games and through those that are just far, far better than me at cricket. Hasn’t it been fun?
At the start of my decade on this forum, I was an extremely depressed trans kid with no support, no way forward, and only one way out. Yet on this forum, I discovered Robert Pack and his pink-stickered New Wave bats. I bought a very nice one - it was my tiny act of rebellion in a dark time. I loved that bat and it helped a bit too.
When I carried that pink bat to university, far away from home, I earned a place in a Cornish Prem side for the first game of the season. I was more free there, and I was slowly - very slowly starting to make steps to being who I have always been. The night before the first game, my first XI captain texted me to say that if I wanted to play in the first XI again, I would have to perform sexual favors for him. It killed cricket for me and it killed me too.
Almost exactly a decade later, I finally got access to gender-affirming care in Boston, Massachusetts - the world leader in such things. It has been wonderful to access high-quality therapy, medication, and in the future - surgeries. At the same time, it has been exquisitely painful - the lost decade was extremely traumatic and it burns away at me inside even now. It has profoundly affected my life, and it resulted in unpleasant but necessary mental health treatment.
This has all taken place during my time on this forum. Cricket is a sport that I have always loved, but it has never loved me.
I am writing here, though, because I know that in the future some transgender kid is going to stumble on this thread as they search for their place in this beautiful sport too.
Firstly, I want them to know that everything they are feeling is valid, and that it is going to be okay. I want them to know that they are never alone, for there is a whole world of people ready to nurture and love them unconditionally in there trans-ness and on their journey. I want them to know that things do get better. These are really hard times for our community, for you, and for me, but we will get through this together. We are here for you, we always have been, and we always will be.
Secondly, I have played a lot of club cricket. I have played in great teams, good teams, bad times, and even nasty teams. I have been inspired by good leaders and I have been infuriated by bad ones. Every trans person is on a journey, and I want to encourage you to try to find a kind, supportive dressing room and team. I encourage you to see that the level of cricket is secondary to that. I am not discouraging you from pursuing your cricketing dreams - if you think you are the second coming of Alastair Cook or Sarah Taylor, go for it!
I just think that cricket could and should be a fun, accepting space away from the real world - where you can grow as a person and an athlete. If you find that - supportive people, a supportive team - do not trade it for anything. It isn’t worth playing at a higher-level if that team does not accept you - protect yourself.
Cricket has never been that for me, but I know it can be for you. Finally, I know that a few LGBTQ+ sides are popping up in England - the Graces Cricket Club (London) and the Birmingham Unicorns, with more on the way. By definition, they will be welcoming, supportive spaces - get in touch with them! I’ve even considered making a Trans World XI to play those teams, but that might be a little complicated. And for what it is worth - I now have a beautiful Hell 4 Leather bat in pink with a pink grip. I love it.
So, trans cricketers (and all queer cricketers). I love you, and I hope you have so much fun on the cricket field. Just like everyone, you deserve that. My mental health treatment over the past year has taught me that I 'should not search for love and support where it will not be found'. Remember that. Friends, I am out here, waiting for you to shine. I am not hard to find so that I might help you one day. You've got this - see you on the field!
Forumites, I know many of you play roles of leadership as captains or within your clubs. Please foster an accepting, inclusive environment for all - you might just save a life. You must challenge those who discriminate - that is your duty as a leader, as with any minority. Don’t let them be hurt as I have been, and don't let them fall off the edge like me.
And forumites - it has been a pleasure. If you are open-minded, you might learn a lot about mental health, transgender life, and more at my blog here: https://medium.com/@billieburton/the-day-after-the-night-before-b1c94faf6ef1?sk=0b0a1391901959736c30d077bf33122c
If you aren’t, it has been a blast anyway.
Thank you for having me, and I wish you all nothing but the very best.
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That's some set up, beats a high school sports Hall hands down! 😆
Hope things continue to work out at Harvard CC for you @Billie. Sport is for everyone, so hope you can continue to enjoy cricket and find some happiness. All the best.
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Great read, @Billie.
Cricket is such an infuriating but amazing game. I gave up for a number of years because I was only finding clubs that I couldn't align with. I play cricket for an escape from the day to day - gorgeous settings and good people over standard these days. Now back playing (very) village Cricket with a drink at the end of the match as both sides catch up on life and their clubs' latest activities.
Hugely impressed by the likes of the Metronomes. Cricket played for the right reasons and encouraging everyone to get involved.
Best wishes for all life brings you. We are lucky to be involved in this silly, crazy, inclusive and brilliant sport.
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Just seen this shared on social media. From a few weeks ago but captures the magic of winter nets transitioning to early rain soaked wickets. Enjoy:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/13/dusting-off-kitbag-cobwebs-and-limbering-up-for-the-cricket-season-spin (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/13/dusting-off-kitbag-cobwebs-and-limbering-up-for-the-cricket-season-spin)
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I wasn't expecting such kindness! Thank you, everyone.
With that, I really am gone.
See you out there!