Just sometimes the wonderful uncertainty of cricket raises its head and gives a well deserved kick.
I'm so short of players I have 4 17 year olds in my top 6. I don't have a keeper, don't have 2 opening batsman and last night recruited a 17 year old called "Fred" to play who was described to me by his mate as a "super utility player" - he likes fielding. I had the best 3rd team bowler refuse to play for me (I'm 2s captain) and had to play with 2 seamers and 4 spinners on a greentop.
The oppo have loads of new players at their club, all matching kit and doing all the drills. Plus plenty of chirp to match. We had enough problems turning up on time and finding the match balls.
Game reduced to 35 overs a side, they were chomping at the bit to play sensing our rag tag bunch were easy prey. They batted first and raced off to 44-0 off 8, and then it all went tits up. Me and our leggie took 5-31 off 16 overs and demolished the top order, who didn't help themselves by not playing themselves in and having a proper look in the conditions . They limped to 125-9 off 35.
Not too upset they chirped our colts and reduced us to 4-17 off 10 thanks to a pretty sharp University Bowler. Not sure if it was arrogance but they probably made a mistake in bowling out both opening bowlers. Two of my 17 year olds rebuilt and started to get stuck into the change bowlers. It all went very quiet and our 7/8/9 chipped in with 20 odds to see us home by 3 wickets.
They'll wonder how on earth they got turned over by a bunch of kids and old guys. It's not what you look like it's what you can do that matters.