One of the old guard of our team came out to bat in what was his 50th year at the club, as he made his way the crease the opposition formed a guard as our captain gave a tip of before the game. He walked out and they cheered etc. But one lad on the end who's locally known as the 'nutjob' said " don't worry old'yin, we'll have you back in the home just in time for your flu jab or your pants to be changed'. He smiles and takes his mark.
A few overs on the nutjob comes onto bowl.
Old locky, rocks back and nails him over his head and into the side screen.
He cooly replies "lucky you dodged that, at the speed that was traveling, I think you ought to change your whites son"
Brilliant, should never give abuse to anyone still playing into old age, they've heard it all before and know how to deal with it.
I'm going to be honest i'm not proud of the below (some words have been changed to popular confectionery choices and the below happened to the best of my memory, albeit some wording and times may be inaccurate but you get the idea) but....
It was a scorching hot day last year, 1pm start time, my lot were there at midday, stumps out, field set up etc.... 12.30 we're warming up, no sign of the oppostion. 12.50 comes and still no-one, call the captains phone, no answer. 1pm comes and four lads casually stroll up.
Me: "Where's your skipper?"
Rude Youth 1: "Dunno"
Me "Well the game was supposed to start a couple of minutes ago"
Rude Youth 2: "Yeah, right.....*just looks at me*
Don;t lose my cool easily so just wandered away and said to my lot get ready to field, 1.10pm comes - a three more of them turn up.
Me: "You're a bit late, we've been waiting for you"
Them " Yeah"
No apology. Still kept cool, pulled out league handbook "Well, you're late so you forefit the toss, we'll field, can you get padded up please as we're behind time already"
Take my lot into the field and set positions, five minutes go's past, they've barely got any pads on, just chatting with their mates.
"Sorry chaps, would you please mind coming out to bat?"
Another 5 minutes, a few more turn up, two of their young 16 year olds finally come out to bat, their skipper who's also just turmed up, in his 40's (Stil no apology) comes on to umpire at square leg. By this time I had pretty much lost the plot, the sheer rudeness of this lot got to me.
I field at first slip as standard and as he was taking guard I gave him a little bit of mouth as there's two things I hate, rudeness and lateness. Our Bangladeshi swing bowler comes in, rearranges his timbers with a yorker first ball. As he wanders off I give him both barrels "Good, you fudging deserved that you Twix, now fudge off and send the next Twix in and be fudging quick about it or I'll time the crunchy out"
Their skipper starts coming over and says "They're young lads, there's no need for that, completely out of order!" ..... My exact retort was "And you can fudge of too mate" an argument proceeded where I demanded an apology from him. Yet another good advert for the Middlesex league.
Like I said, I'm not proud of it and in hindsight I viciously gave a young lad a send off and feel guilty but I have never seen any club in any sport show so much total disregard for another club in my life. The good neqs is we gave them an absolute hiding and I scored a rage induced 47....