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[tim2000s]

All clubs have them. Guys who turn up to nets week in and week out, are willing to spend 50 overs in the field without so much as a sniff of bowling and who seem to be happy to bat at number 8, but when they do rarely score runs.

What do you do to keep these guys interested, as they are great when you have a fallow patch with people on holiday...

[mattw]

The beers after the game

[Milky Bar Kid]

Ours is the resident wind up. There job is to chirp away all day long. He's become rather good at it!

[PedalsMcgrew]

We have a code for players like that! When our team sheet goes out to the captain our selector writes the players strengths and weaknesses next to their names. Things like LHB, strong arm, bowls medium-fast....etc. For the type of players you mention here it is simply......."Loves the game"!!!

Players like this are massively important so it's important to try to give them as many opportunities as possible. Without them the club dies..to a smallish club enthusiasm is more important than talent...

We can all big ourselves up about a 'big game' coming up and what a high level we play at but the simple fact is that if you are over 18 and haven't been near a county setup the chances are you are only EVER going to be playing for fun! It's not much fun with only 8 players though is it.......these guys are so important.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Top answer that. It's the same for all sports.

[trypewriter]

Number one - remind yourself that you are very lucky to have them (especially as they rarely, if ever, moan)! This will communicate itself to them and they may actually contribute more.
Two - don't expect the impossible - if they seldom get to bat it's not their fault that they couldn't save the game for you.
Three - a piece of advice I was given many years ago about cricket, and it proved to be true. 'Every dog has its day.' As an example, one of these fill in players, who had never ever reached double figures with the bat, went in against a seemingly unplayable attack and cracked 90-odd not out. OK next week it was back to normal, but on that day it was back to point number 1.

[charlie15]

Watch what you're saying guys, you're talking about me , so far so good!!! 

[Wolfie89]

Trypewriter is right in what he says with every dog has his day. Our Mr. Enthusiam is one of the colts dads who played one day as we were short and has loved it ever since. He knows that he isn't the most gifted of players but turns out every sunday just for the love of the game and the banter. Last year he got a 5 for and I don't think there was one person that wasn't genuinely pleased for him.

[trypewriter]

- Charlie - I class myself in this category too!
One thought, although these guys rarely moan, it can become problematic if they suddenly do find a bit of form (with the bat) which coincides in a dip of form for one of the stalwarts, and you have to leave someone out. I well remember being passed over in these circumstances, the skipper saying that 'X' had looked in good nick. I pointed out that he'd only scored five - yes, but it was a good five, was the reply that I got. 

[Nickauger]

- Charlie - I class myself in this category too!
One thought, although these guys rarely moan, it can become problematic if they suddenly do find a bit of form (with the bat) which coincides in a dip of form for one of the stalwarts, and you have to leave someone out. I well remember being passed over in these circumstances, the skipper saying that 'X' had looked in good nick. I pointed out that he'd only scored five - yes, but it was a good five, was the reply that I got. 

That doesn't sound like a problem to me at all! As long as it's justified!

[charlie15]

I think the bit that annoys me is when you have 7 sides out on a weekend (5 Sat 2 Sun), and you don't get a game on either day, whilst others play on both  .

It happened a couple of times last season and it's happened again this weekend, I will always be the first to admit that I will never be a great cricketer, but I've done more than enough to earn myself a place in the 5th XI and proven that I can hold my own in the 3's and 4's.  I also find it particularly galling when you have been netting since January and someone just pitches up and walks straight into your spot on past reputation alone.

Having said that I did vent my anger at the Chariman of Cricket last night and should now be playing on Sunday, not his fault he was away on business when selection took place!!!

[Nickauger]

That I agree with

[alba caerulea]

Good answers there guys. Most of us do play purely for fun (when we're winning anyway!) so these kind of players are vital to smaller clubs especially.

Anyone who has ever skippered a side and has someone who is willing to throw themselves around in the field and is not bothered whether they bat or bowl will appreciate them tenfold!

Any chance for these guys to have a hit or a few overs chuck them in - cup games, dead rubbers, tour matches.

[uknsaunders]

I think the bit that annoys me is when you have 7 sides out on a weekend (5 Sat 2 Sun), and you don't get a game on either day, whilst others play on both  .

It happened a couple of times last season and it's happened again this weekend, I will always be the first to admit that I will never be a great cricketer, but I've done more than enough to earn myself a place in the 5th XI and proven that I can hold my own in the 3's and 4's.  I also find it particularly galling when you have been netting since January and someone just pitches up and walks straight into your spot on past reputation alone.

Having said that I did vent my anger at the Chariman of Cricket last night and should now be playing on Sunday, not his fault he was away on business when selection took place!!!

Change club. So many clubs are struggling for players that any number would be grateful to have you play both days. We, as a club, promise to give guys a game over the course of a weekend or week (if a suitable t20 friendly is available) and it keeps most guys on board. We're mindful of guys who help out at a moments notice or aren't the greatest players - and they deserve a game as much as the next superstar.

[trypewriter]

I think one of the key things is that we aren't talking 1st XI here - goodness - some guys create if they have to drop down to the seconds for a game or two! I suppose most selection arguments revolve around the old adage that 'class is permanent, form is temporary.' As a very 'plinky-plonky' player, I have to take my hat off to the team skippers - it really can be a thankless task. I can speak from experience on that one when I very reluctantly had to fill in. I didn't change - but the dressing room did!