Coming Out Of Retirement Part X
It's been a long Christmas break since the Cavs played their last club cricket game in mid-December. A glut of engrossing Test cricket managed to fill the void but I was eagerly anticipating finally getting back onto the field on Australia Day. Over the last six weeks, I've practised hard in the nets with VirtualGaz, working on my legspin. While I've taken wickets fairly regularly (a strike rate of a wicket every 16 balls in case you asked), my leggies are so inconsistent, I inevitably get smashed out of the attack after a few overs. So my sole goal for Australia Day - don't get hit out of the attack!
We lost the toss and the opposition batted. Normally bad news but today, excellent! The batting side started well - eventually our off spinner Phil was brought in and immediately started taking wickets (his final figures - a season best 7-for). Soon the captain asked me to warm up. Offspin from one end, leggies from the other, a stiff breeze blowing across the pitch. I was nervous and keyed up, hoping I could land the ball well.
The first ball came out beautifully. Nice trajectory, good length, on the stumps, stoutly defended. The non-striker, a tall Sri Lankan, exclaimed "well bowled!" Later in the over, he was not so generous when I bowled a loopy full toss - he sent it into the trees over the mid-wicket boundary. The next ball was another full toss - this was also sent to deep mid-wicket but straight to the fielder in the deep. A wicket off a pie! Lucky thing too, another six and my spell might've ended after one over.
The next over was tighter. I was bowling to their opener who was well set. The best ball of the over came out sweet, pitched on a good length on leg stump but he wound up and connected beautifully - another six over mid-wicket. Now that's just unfair!
The third over was pure genius from our wicketkeeper/captain Josh. The opener had been watching wickets fall while he played an anchor role, notching his half century. I bowled one short of a length that pitched straight, he let it spin past off. Josh looked meaningfully towards the newly vacated third man. The opener cursed himself for not playing it into the gap. Two balls later, I bowled a similar ball. He played the cut shot, nicked it and Josh took the catch. As we gathered to celebrate, Josh confessed he wanted the batsman to cut - the leggies was rearing and he fancied a top edge. Great gamesmanship. So my first 3 overs featured 3 sixes and 2 wickets. Never let it be said leg spin is boring!
The next two overs were tight - conceding one run each. At the end of my fifth over, Josh spelled me. I was disappointed not to bowl a longer spell but hey, I did achieve my goal - not to get hit out of the attack. And 5 overs is my longest spell.
Next, I managed to snaffle a spot in the slips cordon, the cushiest position in the field. You get to hang out with the seasoned players, chat about the game and none of that running around the boundaries between overs. The only problem is when a nick comes your way. I was at second slip, practically under the batsman's nose. Our quickest bowler extracted a nick that hurtled to my right. Appropriately on Australia Day, I adopted standard Australian procedure and dropped it. The ball struck my right hand awkwardly and my fingers swelled up - it's still painful several days later when I give the ball a tweak.
When it came time to bat, most of our top order were away so I was relegated to opener. In the 3rd over, I hit across the line at a short of a length delivery, trying to push through vacant mid-on. Instead, it flew off the leading edge to point and I was out for a duck. Ever since that big hitting 84, I've tried to be more Sehwag than Dravid. The problem is poor shot selection (and a lack of ability), hence my last two innings have been cheap dismissals to ill advised shots. Time to put up the shutters and play each ball on its merit, I think. After I got out, the tall Sri Lankan came on and decimated our middle order with his off-spinners. I love the challenge of facing spin - I hope to get a crack at him in the second digs.
At the end of the day, the Sri Lankan asked if I wanted to arrive a little earlier next Saturday and he'd show me a few tricks. A pleasantly surprising (and intriguing) offer - I like this guy. Hopefully he'll show me something to help dismiss his teammates!
| Posted by JC on Tue 29 Jan |  4 comments |
Engaging JC.
Just thought someone should comment on this post. More of a bowler than an opener but only just. Goodluck with your Sri Lankan practice...
And better luck next time a NICK comes your way
Posted by Nik Wood on 2008-01-31 15:18:10
Just thought someone should comment on this post. More of a bowler than an opener but only just. Goodluck with your Sri Lankan practice...
And better luck next time a NICK comes your way
Posted by Nik Wood on 2008-01-31 15:18:10
I was missing your tour diaries JC, nice to see that the entertainment has resumed...
Mate, you should be high up there for best strike rates and must be creating ripples around Australia for your uncanny ability to break partnerships, crucial ones that too!
Still waiting for that maiden ton JC, maybe that Sri Lankan knows Murali and can give you some inside tips on how to play spin, or maybe wants to learn a thing or two about taking wickets from you!
Keep the details coming, I'll admit, I'm hooked. Your matches for the Cavs seem to be as engaging than the Indo-Aus series just gone by, sans the controversies.
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-01-31 20:44:22
Mate, you should be high up there for best strike rates and must be creating ripples around Australia for your uncanny ability to break partnerships, crucial ones that too!
Still waiting for that maiden ton JC, maybe that Sri Lankan knows Murali and can give you some inside tips on how to play spin, or maybe wants to learn a thing or two about taking wickets from you!
Keep the details coming, I'll admit, I'm hooked. Your matches for the Cavs seem to be as engaging than the Indo-Aus series just gone by, sans the controversies.
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-01-31 20:44:22
Thanks Ajesh, the fact that noone was commenting made me think everyone was over my Cavs diary. That doesn't mean I was gonna stop doing them - I'd keep blogging about my club games just for the sheer pleasure of talking about them.
A phrase in the 'Beyond the Backyard' film gave me pause to think. The captain was complimenting one of his better players, saying 'he bats like it doesn't matter'. The one time I did bat like that, I got my highest score. Maybe I should go out and tonk Roy style, break up the field, then build an innings. Better than nudging and nurdling. If I can establish myself as the team leggie, I might give that a crack. :-)
Posted by JC on 2008-02-01 12:45:11
A phrase in the 'Beyond the Backyard' film gave me pause to think. The captain was complimenting one of his better players, saying 'he bats like it doesn't matter'. The one time I did bat like that, I got my highest score. Maybe I should go out and tonk Roy style, break up the field, then build an innings. Better than nudging and nurdling. If I can establish myself as the team leggie, I might give that a crack. :-)
Posted by JC on 2008-02-01 12:45:11
Wow!
Interesting reily interesting post.... I agree with JC...
http://www.bigwicket.com
Posted by ffarhann on 2008-06-25 21:19:48
Interesting reily interesting post.... I agree with JC...
http://www.bigwicket.com
Posted by ffarhann on 2008-06-25 21:19:48
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