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[LEACHY48]

So last Sunday, in a freindly against a side of mainly 15 year olds and below, our two opening batsmen reached 50 odd each and were asked to retire by our stand in skipper (our regular skipper was unavailable) to which they refused and said no its our choice, and basically told our skip to do one - so then, someone did end up getting them to retire, they then stormed off and left the ground to leave us deeply in the mire with the teas and umpiring, when questioned on their actions one said i have a target to score 10 50s and 5 hundreds and might not get the hundreds against a good side, and the other said hed only ever got 1 hundred and wanted another. One then refused to take the field under the stand in skipper, and they both only apologised under severe pressure. The two in question are bezzie mates with one of our selectors, and have a whatsapp group chat etc. So tonight the teams for next week were published and it turns out I was not selected on the sunday in favour of these two players despite having played almost every game for the past 7 years. The selection was almost entirely political to my mind and hence I am extremely disappointed, do I have a right to be in your eyes? Id also like to add that I am one of the only one that helps with the teas grounds umpiring etc and the two in question hardly ever do and usually just bugger off after the game.

[Boondougal]

Overall i would say their behaviour during the game is a tad on the disappointing side. A Friendly is what it says and the general spirit of the game would be to ensure everyone has a fair crack at contributing. Stand in skipper or not they are the skipper and ultimately make the calls, any player who storms off because they are not happy surely needs to have a talking too about their behaviour - after all its a team sport in the end irrespective of needing personal / individual performances.

If you think the 2 in question haven't had a proper "punishment" for what they did and as a result you are missing out then i can understand why you feel put out. On the other hand if the chairman or selection committee haven't decided that these 2 are not available due to conduct then the person picking the team has the right to select who they want based on normal criteria.

On balance - based on how you describe it i personally would be hacked off that they can basically throw a strop, distrust the game and the club and then everything be back to normal the following week.

[LEACHY48]

to further add to this the selector said he was looking to give everyone a game - as is the aim with sunday cricket (which i agree with might I add) but the two in question always bat top 3 and always bowl at least 3 overs? giving everyone a go? really?

[LEACHY48]

Overall i would say their behaviour during the game is a tad on the disappointing side. A Friendly is what it says and the general spirit of the game would be to ensure everyone has a fair crack at contributing. Stand in skipper or not they are the skipper and ultimately make the calls, any player who storms off because they are not happy surely needs to have a talking too about their behaviour - after all its a team sport in the end irrespective of needing personal / individual performances.

If you think the 2 in question haven't had a proper "punishment" for what they did and as a result you are missing out then i can understand why you feel put out. On the other hand if the chairman or selection committee haven't decided that these 2 are not available due to conduct then the person picking the team has the right to select who they want based on normal criteria.

On balance - based on how you describe it i personally would be hacked off that they can basically throw a strop, distrust the game and the club and then everything be back to normal the following week.

Id suggest it was more than dissapointing their behaviour but then again maybe im just being harsh. Your closing sentiments are how i feel exactly, they essentially said we are above the club we will do what we want. and then they get selected as if nothing has happened? furthermore the joke of it was that our stand in skip said that they wouldnt be selected and one of the players retorted yes i will I am too good not to be.

[Lumsden]

If I were you I would post that you are available this Sunday in the "I'm Free" section of this website and have some fun playing elsewhere.

[SOULMAN1012]

We all know it's great scoring runs and as an opening bat myself I would hate to be asked to retire as on lots of occasions your back sitting down after 2 overs or less. BUT scoring runs against youngsters or people of a lower standard doesn't feel half as good as a 50 or 100 you have earned.

On to there behaviour for the amount of time you have played at the club by the sounds of things I think you should let the club know what you think and feel and those two should not be playing this week, if they want to strop and go to another club let them in the long run I think you would be better off, should like arrogant guys to me that will play for themselves and no one elsa

[ProCricketer1982]

Sounds like a new club is in order

We now play our friendlies and people know that it's get to 50 and retire (if you're a good player you're expected to get to 50 quickly). Sure it's not great as an opener myself to have to attack early on and retire etc but hey, who wants to hit easy runs ??

We have a few oppo teams who have the odd player who is obviously happy beating on lesser bowlers but it's obvious and sad and they generally find they don't get spoken to, clapped etc. If someone chooses to be greedy then there isn't much that can be done other than either join in and be greedy or exclude them. People love beating up lesser bowlers for stats sadly

[OllieWalker39]

If they feel they're good batsmen from scoring runs against kids and against a lower level opposition, then clearly they aren't good enough.

We had one senior who had a rather poor turn -  a kid was umpiring on an evening game (best place for experience is when it matters a bit less); said kid then triggered him LBW. He proceeded to call the kid a F**king W**ker - amongst other things. This earnt him a 5 week ban - regardless of how many wickets he could have taken or runs he could have scored. If they can see further than the next game, they'll understand that the future needs building - you can't expect a kid to go from junior cricket to the 1st team with no mens experience etc. So, get rid of them pair and get a happy team.

Or move ship - you'll soon see others doing the same if recent events continue.

[smilley792]

Find another sport. Crickets dying. It's not what it was and there seems to be a higher percentage of idiots left, due to all the decent blokes getting fed up with it.

[jamielsn15]

I sometimes wonder why people play the game. Absolutely no respect for the game, their club, team mates, skipper and opposition. Also illustrates how some people.react when they get a little bit of power. Sadly way too much self interest in local sport...

[Buzz]

Seems odd that you have not been picked, is this a totally unrelated to the guys not retiring?
Absolutely the guys should have accepted the request to retire.

But if you were unreasonable in putting pressure on them to make them retire have you been totally faultless? Just looking at this from a different angle.
If you didn't get involved then you have a right to be very grumpy!

[LEACHY48]

Seems odd that you have not been picked, is this a totally unrelated to the guys not retiring?
Absolutely the guys should have accepted the request to retire.

But if you were unreasonable in putting pressure on them to make them retire have you been totally faultless? Just looking at this from a different angle.
If you didn't get involved then you have a right to be very grumpy!

I wasn't involved at all - the skip asked them and then one of the spectators related to one of the batsmen got involved but I just stood in amazement. Apparently it was due to rotation - however the club chairman also admitted it was an oversight on the committe members' part. Oh well I've got another game anyway!

[LEACHY48]

We all know it's great scoring runs and as an opening bat myself I would hate to be asked to retire as on lots of occasions your back sitting down after 2 overs or less. BUT scoring runs against youngsters or people of a lower standard doesn't feel half as good as a 50 or 100 you have earned.

On to there behaviour for the amount of time you have played at the club by the sounds of things I think you should let the club know what you think and feel and those two should not be playing this week, if they want to strop and go to another club let them in the long run I think you would be better off, should like arrogant guys to me that will play for themselves and no one elsa

Obviously it is a little annoying being asked to retire week in week out - but everyone at the club has to do it and I personally stand by the policy because it takes the enjoyment out for the other 9 players watching you cart kids around. The way you describe them in the last line is totally appropriate - arrogant and only playing for themselves.

[LEACHY48]

Sounds like a new club is in order

We now play our friendlies and people know that it's get to 50 and retire (if you're a good player you're expected to get to 50 quickly). Sure it's not great as an opener myself to have to attack early on and retire etc but hey, who wants to hit easy runs ??

We have a few oppo teams who have the odd player who is obviously happy beating on lesser bowlers but it's obvious and sad and they generally find they don't get spoken to, clapped etc. If someone chooses to be greedy then there isn't much that can be done other than either join in and be greedy or exclude them. People love beating up lesser bowlers for stats sadly

I would move club - I already play some games for petehosk's club - the only issue with them is the distance - and because I can't drive it becomes a big hassle, and I don't really think there are any better clubs around here - the problem with living in an area where being arrogant is commonplace.