Aloof Theory Part 6: Aloofness run amock

Having survived to stumps last week, I spent the first part of this week imagining going out to bat again and gradually getting more anxious about what might happen. I pictured getting dismissed in the first over of the day after sweating it out for a week. Fortunately, the Wednesday night net session cleared my head. I came out of it resolved to focus solely on picking the line and length as quickly as possible and get my feet into the right position. That and sticking around until we'd chased down the 194 runs required for victory.

So come Saturday, I had achieved a zen state of Aloof Theory when I arrived at the ground. The entire opposition team were there, I was the first to arrive from ours. Three minutes from the start of play, only two other team members had arrived. Finally Willy, my batting partner arrives, pretty much dead on the start of play. He rushes to get padded up and we walk out. As I approach the pitch, one of the fielders calls out to me, "Mate, aren't you wearing pads?" I look down aghast. I'd forgotten to put pads on! Out of all the most ridiculous things I've ever done on a cricket field, this was first, daylight second. Sure, I have to concentrate on the ball but this is aloofness run amock! I rush to the boundary, throw on the pads, run back and arrive at the crease, breathless and flustered as I prepare to face the first ball. Perfect start to the day!

I was disappointed to learn their legspinner was not playing today, replaced by their usual opening bowler. Less spin, more quicks, not a good equation. Their opener was bowling the first over to me. He bowls fast, with outswing, tight line and length. Despite the less than ideal preparation, I manage to defend my way through the first over. Willy defends the next over. We bat out several maidens. The bowlers are giving us nothing but a lot of sledging. Constant chirping between deliveries, particularly from the smart mouthed cover fieldsman (the guy I nearly brained last week). Finally, Willy snaps and swings across the line, trying to smash the ball into the trees past deep-mid wicket. He misses and off stump flies out of the ground. Later, he confesses he'd drank 4 cups of coffee that morning, was all keyed up and the chirping got to him. Sledging and caffeine, a lethal cocktail on the cricket field. 2 for 39.

Our best batsman, Craig, strides in. He immediately starts middling the ball and hits several powerful boundaries over the bowler's head. Meanwhile, I'm happily nudging the ball around for singles so I can sit back and enjoy the fireworks. A new bowler comes on, a young, fit looking bloke. He bowls quick but doesn't move the ball around much. He spears one in at Craig's pads. He tries to turn the ball to the legside but misses. The ball spoons off his pads and dribbles onto the stumps. 3 for 77.

His brother Dan replaces him. Not quite as talented a batsman as Craig but still hits the ball pretty hard. Two balls later, he plays a forward defensive shot, inside edging it onto his stumps. 4 for 77. Okay, now I'm starting to worry. Pappy waddles out. He's old, overweight but a tough character - if anyone can grit his way through this situation, it's Pappy. But I'm surprised to see him struggling against the bowling. He's stuck on the crease, sparring at the ball, playing and missing a fair bit. Finally, he wafts at one outside off and plays onto his stumps. 5 for 84.

The ball isn't moving around much - it's about 50 overs old by now. But they're bowling with discipline, maintaining line and length and not giving us much to hit. I've been out there for nearly two hours but still don't feel like I'm timing the ball. The smart mouth comes in right under my nose, challenging me to cover drive. He's so close, it's a fairly risk-free shot and the next full ball, I drive hard straight at him. It narrowly misses him, flying past his right side, but he's unperturbed. "That's batter 1, fielder nil. Gonna try again?" I drive the next full one, this one flies past his left side. "Third time lucky maybe", I reply. He withdraws back to cover. The exchange keeps him quiet for at least a few deliveries.

Meanwhile, wickets continue to fall at the other end. One of our tailenders come out and I nearly have a heart attack when on his first ball, he backs away and tries to smash the ball over cover. It turns out that's the only shot in his repertoire as he continues to smash everything and manages to connect most of the time. He smashes a huge shot over deep mid-on that narrowly misses six. Our partnership reached 22 and suddenly the runs required fall less than 100. Next ball is a knee high full toss, he mishits it to mid-on who pouches the ball comfortably. 7 for 108.

Next comes our captain. Fairly dodgy technique but can hit the ball hard. "Let's save this game," he mutters as he reaches the pitch. Inspiring captain's words, I almost believe we can do it. A couple of overs later, he edges it to the slips, out for a duck. 8 for 111. The final two tailenders both fall for ducks and our innings ends on 115, a gaping 79 runs short. I batted for 3 hours, the longest I'd spent at the crease but only managed to amass 34 runs. It was satisfying being out there for so long but I never felt in, never really timed the ball well. When wickets started falling, I aimed to preserve my wicket, tried to build some partnerships. Maybe I should've batted more aggressively, challenged the bowlers, upped the run rate. Hard to say. One thing I know, I'm going to have to develop more scoring shots than the leg glance and nick through slips.

Before I know it, we're back in the field. We only have 1 hour left to play so the goal is to take as many wickets as possible, score some bonus points. I sidle up to the captain and suggest if we're after quick wickets, maybe some flighty leg spin would do the trick. He says he was actually thinking the same thing. Hmm, maybe you do need to sell yourself a little to get a bowl in this game. Only problem, every muscle in my body is aching, I wonder if I can muster the strength to send the ball all the way to the other end of the pitch. Good thing I'm a donkey dropper, not a fast bowler.

Trev is taking wickets at one end but Dan is getting hammered at the other end. After a 4, 6, 4 in the first 3 balls of his third over, the captain calls out, "Cookie, you're on at Dan's end next over". Gotta feel for Dan but well, someone has to make way for the leggie. To add insult to injury, the last ball of the over is smashed in my direction, I misfield and it rolls over the boundary. Dan does not look happy.

In the next over, Trev dismisses their top opener who had just smashed Dan out of the attack. So two young guys at the crease as I come on to bowl. I fancy my chances. My second ball is a dead set pie, short, wide down the leg side and he rightly smashes it for four. Next few deliveries are well flighted outside off, including a play and miss. For the fifth delivery, I consider the quicker arm ball but as I run in, I change my mind and bowl wide of the crease, attempting to confound him with the different angle. It pitches outside off and he reverse sweeps it over gully's head for two. Dang, should've gone with the arm ball. I try the arm ball next but he defends. That horse had already bolted.

Next over, I try giving the ball more flight, coaxing a wicket. First ball, he smashes it towards long off. Ouch. No, wait, there's a man out there. It's the captain. He's sprinting towards the ball. Can he get there? He gets there! The ball flies through his fingers, into his shoulder and spills onto the ground. Ouch again. They manage to get to two more of my donkey droppers on the full, milking a few twos. Last few balls, they defend and I end my second over with figures of 0 for 12.

The captain brings on spin from the other end, a blood lab technician with the inspired nickname of Dexter. He takes a wicket with his third delivery as the batsman bunts the ball feebly to short mid-wicket. Wickets are falling freely. The opposition captain runs out and offers to end the game early. There's still 10 overs to go but our captain accepts. As we walk off, I mention that the opposition were perhaps concerned about the bonus points we were accruing with the wickets. Captain replies that he was mainly thinking about the beer back at the club house.

So a day of mixed feelings. To carry the bat is a satisfying achievement. To score only 34 runs in 3 hours, not so impressive. And the bottom line, we failed to chase 194 runs and lost the first innings points. We're going to need some good results in the last 4 games to salvage the season.

Final CriciWiki scorecard here...

Posted by JC on Tue 16 Jun

10 comments

Thrilling stuff JC, and about the forgetting to wear pads thing, Inzy forgot to wear his guard once in an international match, so this is probably less extreme...

Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-06-16 23:06:44

Bob Willis got halfway to the wicket before realising he'd forgot his bat once in a Test. Probably Googlable?

Anyhow JC, good going and as articulate as ever! However, I bet they've renamed you 'Boycott' in the shed - or Lawry? Sounds like this match needed a Boycs or Phanto tho'!

I blame the 20-20 meself.

Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-06-17 16:14:45

After the game, a teammate said I had two shots, a big block and a small block (he repeated the joke at net practice last night). I'm waiting for a 'blocker' style nickname to come along.

Posted by JC on 2009-06-18 09:25:17

567657Fitch store in general Abercrombie And Fitch , everything a good matrimony before marriage have nothing to retain the preceding "female mad batch - Abercrombie" part of the two is the first home in new york city a horde promotion sportswear for men and it is a successful lawyer, that is, ezra fitch.Ezra fitch in a charge over a very intricate to read from the Abercrombie And Fitchis obstinate to read and long abercrombie & fitch. He's also very good brand Abercrombie and Fitch Hoodies, including Abercrombie And Fitch Clothing and Abercrombie and Fitch Jeans, Abercrombie and Fitch Pants, Abercrombie and Fitch Tees. Has become a fashionable personage's first choice, Abercrombie and Fitch Sweaters is all over the world, of course, is also expected to Abercrombie and Fitch Shorts.
New Year was coming, everyone wants new clothes to disguise themselves,Abercrombie Clothing is a good choice. BecauseAbercrombie Sale is a well-known brand, Abercrombie and Fitch Outerwearseverywhere, abercrombie is very much a Cheap Abercrombie. There has Abercrombie and Fitch Polos, Abercrombie and Fitch Jeans and Abercrombie SaleShirts. Personally, I'm looking forward to Abercrombie Hollister's 2009 New Arrivals, such as Abercrombie and Fitch Shirts like this style. ASDF AS

Posted by CYJISGOD on 2010-01-26 13:34:02

Fitch store in general Abercrombie And Fitch , everything a good matrimony before marriage have nothing to retain the preceding "female mad batch - Abercrombie" part of the two is the first home in new york city a horde promotion sportswear for men and it is a successful lawyer, that is, fitch.Ezra fitch in a charge over a very intricate to read from the abercrombie is obstinate to read and long abercrombie & fitch. He's also very good brand Abercrombie and Fitch Hoodies, including Abercrombie And Fitch Clothing and Abercrombie and Fitch Jeans, Abercrombie and Fitch Pants, Abercrombie and Fitch Tees. Has become a fashionable personage's first choice, Abercrombie and Fitch Sweaters is all over the world, of course, is also expected to Abercrombie and Fitch Shorts.
New Year was coming, everyone wants new clothes to disguise themselves,Abercrombie Clothing is a good choice. BecauseAbercrombie Sale is a well-known brand, Abercrombie and Fitch Outerwearseverywhere, abercrombie is very much a Cheap Abercrombie. There has Abercrombie and Fitch Polos, Abercrombie Womens and Abercrombie and Fitch Shirts. Personally, I'm looking forward to Abercrombie Hollister's 2009 New Arrivals, such as Abercrombie Ruehl No.925 like this style.sdfsadfsdf00

Posted by CYJISGOD on 2010-01-29 18:37:22

gfsdfsdfsd.,45566455 The face of increased orders, Fujian enterprises are welcome as long as 5 months of recruitment,abercrombie & fitch, "war" period. Prior to this, part of Fujian Province of Human Resources and Social Security Department of Fujian Province, Center for Labor and Employment Statistics estimates,air jordan 11, the province's shortage of workers by about 15 million people. The January 18,cheap gucci sneakers, 2010, this reporter interviewed found that after the Spring Festival this year,nike free everyday, the province's shortage of workers to have more than 20 million people have been non-suspense,nike free 5.0, because only a big manufacturing city of Quanzhou to reach 153,000 people. The economic rebound is the main reason. Recent Development Research Center of Fujian Province, there are estimates of data, said the province's GDP is expected to be the year 2009 to around 11%,air jordan 5, reaching 11560000000000000 yuan. The next period of time,polo shirts, hundreds of mighty enterprises moved into the central and western Fujian Province,air jordan 13, the number of recruitment scene in turn show. It is reported that Fujian departments and all levels of government are taking a variety of proactive measures to regulate the labor supply and demand gap. Three main reasons for lack of work caused by 150,ugg boots,000 "This year's recruitment lot of pressure!" January 18,abercrombie and fitch, Fujian Southeast Automobile Co., Ltd. Mr. Hu told reporters the Ministry of Manpower manager admits that, due to improved sales in 2009, the company intends to new tactics to frontline workers in 2010 were 2000 this month, has been missing line more than 530 workers. On the same day, Fujian Province,GHD Straighteners, Zhou Ping,gucci sneakers, director of Labor and Employment, told reporters that the current shortage of workers in Fujian Province marked the Chinese New Year will usher in the peak labor. The Center on November 25, 2009 preliminary statistics show that workers missing in Fujian Province about 15 million people. Zhou Ping believes that the current situation of the province's shortage of workers is no sign of improvement. "Structural contradictions are still there." This material shows that the major economic cities in Fujian Province, Quanzhou and Xiamen,cheap gucci shoes, the lack of public 50000 people; Fuzhou and Zhangzhou 20000 workers of all missing people,cheap supras, lack of industrial enterprises are concentrated in the textile,nike free 3.0, clothing, footwear, electronics,cheap ugg boots, resin (pottery) craft, catering and other labor-intensive enterprises,jordan shoes, lack of industrial production techniques in order to front-line workers was mainly produced hats workers, general operatives,cheap timberland boots, ordinary manual labor,cheap uggs, cutting sewing,supra shoes, electronic components manufacturing knitting textile dyeing and printing industry workers to drink.

Posted by daka1230 on 2010-02-04 05:52:53

I like this woman. She included that all voices within those communities, whether it be directly or through local organizations, must be heard. revizyon ile organize matbaac�l�k brnckvvtmllttrhaberi revizyon ile organize matbaac�l�k brnckvvtmllttrhaberi revizyon ile organize matbaac�l�k brnckvvtmllttrhaberi lida oyun oyna oyun oyna film izleare particularly vulnerable to discrimination on any other grounds, including gender, ethnicity, or disability."awsasafs

Posted by tomiallen on 2010-02-18 11:15:06

cheap jeans on sale
cheap jeans
cheap Men's Clothing jeans
cheap designer jeans
cheap rmc jeans
red monkey jeans
cheap red monkey jeans
cheap louis vuitton belts
cheap gucci belts
cheap ed hardy belts
Christan Audigier hoodies
Designer Belts
louis vuitton Sunglass
gucci Sunglass
D&G Sunglass

Posted by michelle on 2010-02-25 15:18:18

This free PDF Converter is the most powerful PDF converting tool to convert PDF files to all popular file formats. Adopting professional technology, all elements in PDF files can be perfectly preserved to the output files. And comprehensive file formats are supported.
AVCHD Converter Mac is a professional but easy AVCHD Converter for Mac OS users which can perfectly and quickly convert AVCHD (*.MTS, *.M2TS) videos to all popular format files.Almost all video and audio formats are perfectly supported by QuickTime Converter Mac and it allows you to adjust the video and audio encoding settings to get output videos suitable for various portable players.

Posted by niuniu2012 on 2010-03-01 17:39:20

n upping

Post New Comment

You need to be logged in to post a comment. If you're new, register here. Existing users, login via the right margin.

Username
Password
Keep me logged in
		New? Register here

CricketBlog.com

Aloof Theory Part 6: Aloofness run amock

replica watches

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Mens Watch 2503.80 For Sale

Discount Longines Dolce Vita Chronograph Mens Watch L5.656.4.79.6

cheap Cartier Tortue Collection CART-152-344 watch replica

watches replica

cheap A.Lange & Sohne Langematic Tourbillon A-LANG-49-60 watch replica

cubic zirconia

fashion Designer Inspired Jewelry

Sterling Silver Sapphire Blue CZ Heart Earrings online sales

Leather Handbags

Leather Handbags

Leather Handbags

New Replica 2009 New Tiffany & Co Necklaces20090825014

omega watches

replica jewelry

ROLEX-M060 wholesale

Replica A Lange & Sohne all kinds Watches For Sale

tag heuer watches on sale

Post New Comment