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[charlie15]

Having had our oppo cry off last minute yesterday (see earlier post), I decided to go and watch our Sunday 1's play and got roped into playing for them.  Batted at 6 and got a 2nd ball duck LBW on back pad,third time it's happened this season, so atleast I know I need to get my bat and pad together!

We set the oppo 213 from 45 overs in a timed game on quite a stodgy wicket.  By 6.30 the oppo were on 56-1 with 20 overs remaining, I was expecting them to let loose after this seeing as the run rate was only around 8 an over.  They didn't and what followed was probably one of the most tedious 20 overs I have ever played.  They pretty much blocked everything (including an over of pie from me) and finished on 116-6, as much as I wanted to play after the rain over the last couple of weeks, I really feel that the oppo ruined the game as a spectacle by not even trying to make a game of it!

[ianbuchanan]

Your 2s had a good day yesterday! http://bedminster.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11361538

I'm back playing at Minehead now but Bedminster had a good day! The windies only had 9 players which takes the shine off a bit, but still a good effort!

Congrats - time to update your stats

Thanks a lot! Yeah good point, wouldn't have realised if you didn't say!

[PedalsMcgrew]

Having had our oppo cry off last minute yesterday (see earlier post), I decided to go and watch our Sunday 1's play and got roped into playing for them.  Batted at 6 and got a 2nd ball duck LBW on back pad,third time it's happened this season, so atleast I know I need to get my bat and pad together!

We set the oppo 213 from 45 overs in a timed game on quite a stodgy wicket.  By 6.30 the oppo were on 56-1 with 20 overs remaining, I was expecting them to let loose after this seeing as the run rate was only around 8 an over.  They didn't and what followed was probably one of the most tedious 20 overs I have ever played.  They pretty much blocked everything (including an over of pie from me) and finished on 116-6, as much as I wanted to play after the rain over the last couple of weeks, I really feel that the oppo ruined the game as a spectacle by not even trying to make a game of it!

I'm assuming this was a friendly?? If that's the case then that kind of behaviour from the oppo is a disgrace! No honour in a draw on a Sunday unless it happens by accident! I'd rather lose a game on a Sunday going for a win than block out 20 overs and turn the day into a pointless exercise....some people just don't get it do they? 

[trypewriter]

Bit naughty if no points were at stake, and not much incentive for any guys who didn't bat or bowl on their team to want to attend again.

[uknsaunders]

It happens in timed cricket which is why many friendlies are 40 overs per side win/lose. I always liked timed cricket as it allowed a strong side to give the weaker team more chance by declaring early. The oppo in this game may say 213 was too many  given the wicket and the relative strengths of the teams. Valid points from their perspective.

Timed cricket has it's uses in teaching players to think about such things and to train captains to think out of the box in terms of wicket taking and sizing up a declaration. Win/Lose cricket produces  a lot of non-thinking cricket in this regard.

[Manormanic]

its a tough call between the two formats - personally I prefer timed cricket because it teaches youngsters the game the right way, using their brains.  But you're horribly reliant upon opposition sides being honest about their strength and playing the game int he right way - have had a few nightmares taking a team of colts to games only to have strong sides who had advertised as weak run up 300+. 

[charlie15]

I'm assuming this was a friendly?? If that's the case then that kind of behaviour from the oppo is a disgrace! No honour in a draw on a Sunday unless it happens by accident! I'd rather lose a game on a Sunday going for a win than block out 20 overs and turn the day into a pointless exercise....some people just don't get it do they? 

Yes it was a friendly, their skipper said he wanted to give everyone a game which is fair enough, but they barely even attempted to play any shots!  My over went for 4 which consisted of 3 wides (2 of which Harmison would of been proud of) and a no ball beamer!  All my "better" balls were blocked, and give you an idea I barely bowl in nets, unless we have a low attendance!

Our skipper actually managed to ensure everyone got a game, so I'm not too sure how their excuse holds up, I'll have a think about it and let you know if I come up with any answers!

[uknsaunders]

its a tough call between the two formats - personally I prefer timed cricket because it teaches youngsters the game the right way, using their brains.  But you're horribly reliant upon opposition sides being honest about their strength and playing the game int he right way - have had a few nightmares taking a team of colts to games only to have strong sides who had advertised as weak run up 300+.

you are but it says more about the oppo and the lack of common sense in target setting. We rarely went above 200-250 and that depended on the wicket. In friendlies you need a damn good excuse to spank up 300+. Then again if you can't see that, I suppose you'll be the kind of team who puts yourself down as "weak" when you aren't. Ultimately you lose the fixture as all clubs want is an even game.

[Manormanic]

you are but it says more about the oppo and the lack of common sense in target setting. We rarely went above 200-250 and that depended on the wicket. In friendlies you need a damn good excuse to spank up 300+. Then again if you can't see that, I suppose you'll be the kind of team who puts yourself down as "weak" when you aren't. Ultimately you lose the fixture as all clubs want is an even game.

Worst one I saw was a side whose skipper came in at the fall of the first wicket and made a ton - about twenty short he said "you know, I've never made a hundred" to our keeper, so we gave hima  generous wound of applause when he got there, even though the last 25 came in swipes to a short legside boundary off a 13 year old off spinner in his first senior game. 

You might expect said gent to then retire, perhaps even decalre as its gone four and they're better than 24  for two down....

...nope, he immediately says to the kepper "you know, I've never made 150 either" and batted on until we ran him out backing up on 137.  He wasn't happy about that...he was even less happy when, set 300 plus in no more than 35 we declined to chase!

[charlie15]

Give me 40 overs each any day of the week.  It just saves on all this nonsense, and you end up with a clear result at the end!

[uknsaunders]

Give me 40 overs each any day of the week.  It just saves on all this nonsense, and you end up with a clear result at the end!

makes it worse as teams don't declare at a sensible total and instead bat the overs. It does stop the old trick of bowling first and going at 12/13 overs an hour to force an early declaration ie. timed games you normally finish 1st innings in 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours - that ought to be 45-50 overs.

[uknsaunders]

played a game against Yorkshire Gentleman for Halifax Nomads a few years ago. They said it was a timed game but inquired about when roughly tea might be. Our skipper thinking nothing about it said "4.30ish I suppose". We were making decent progress with the bat when bang on 4.30pm the fielding team walked off. We wanted a couple more overs batting time as it had been wet and we hadn't received that many overs. We didn't have a choice and had to come off. We were seething at tea!. If that wasn't bad enough:-

One of our guys keeled over on the pitch with a suspected heart attack. He was taken by ambulance to hospital but we wanted to continue as it's what he would of wanted. Anyway, we made inroads and with 7 balls left we took the penultimate wicket. The skipper refused to come out and we celebrated a victory. The captain claimed he was shaken by the incident and didn't want to bat. It was only later we saw their scorebook and it read "Match Drawn". Gents, far from it!

[gdb19]

Disappointingly on the nicest night of the season our oppo couldnt get a team last night. Apparently the excuse was that when their team found out where the fixture was they all cried off saying they couldn't get to our ground in time. Bit dodgy really as they've played at our ground in each of the last two years - we think as we're top of the league they just wanted to avoid a hiding.

Gives us the points which means we've won the league but not a good way to wrap it up. We all decided not to tell the other halves that it had been cancelled and went for a rare practice session in the sun and a pint to celebrate.

[ajmw89]

Your 2s had a good day yesterday! http://bedminster.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11361538

68 extras!? Including 44 wides!?  Who was bowling? Steve Harmison?

[ajmw89]

Personally, I don't like timed games, as whenever we bat second, our captain never has any inclination to chase the target unless it is ridiculously low.  Saying that we have had some sunday timed games where a team batted through till half 6, so we only got 20 overs.  Some people really do take the michael...