[Cricket] The village / amateur 2024 CRICKET thread...

[hans kraay fan club]

Quiet here - everybody rained off...?

We were really lucky with the weather, and because we batted so badly, got home for the second half of the football

Won the toss and chose to bowl. My first 8 deliveries conceded TEN and I feared a repeat of last weeks' nonsense, but found some good rhythm, and finished up 9/4/20/3. Our other (elderly metronomic) opener was even tighter, and after the opening 18 overs, they had crawled to 28/4.

Then a guy came out at 6, who we later discovered, had been a late inclusion after their first team match had been rained off - playing down three divisions. He rebuilt their innings, and they finished up 172/7.

Our innings never really fired, and we ultimately capitulated for 145, with best part of ten overs criminally unused.

I plumped for the trusted 20-year old boots in the end and was rewarded with a tidy spell.
Then changed into the brand new ones to bat, and got a first ball duck. Clearly the BOOTS' fault.

 

[ROSM]

My son (who suffered a dislocated/broken) thumb is now back in training and potentially playing this weekend. Wasnt due to be back until mid August but youthful stupidity and a fast healer has got him back quicker

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I think Mayfield played - but my lad was away for a few days having a break anyway, after 5 days solid with Sussex 2nds / U18s.
Back in action today at Horsham, then Hants tomorrow - back with Mayfield Saturday.

 

[Audax]

I wasn't meant to be available to play with my Mrs up in London, but the MIL stepped in to take my son for the afternoon. Was still a late arrival (fortunately only 2 overs) as we'd agreed with our opponents (Alfriston) to start an hour early to allow extra time to watch the match after.

Came on to bowl after drinks with them 4 down, our openers and 1st/2nd change bowlers having kept them quiet. Didn't quite have the rhythm I had two weeks ago after a match off, but hit a purple patch in the middle of my 5 overs. Picked up my first wicket off a stinker of a delivery - well outside leg stump, but the batter managed to get a leading edge that floated back over his head to where 1st slip would normally be with plenty of time for the keeper to get to it. A few balls later (a series of deliveries on or outside off that went away with the wind), I decided to try an off cutter. Pitched about a foot outside off, batter shouldered arms ... only to watch in horror as it cut back in and took the off bail. First ball of the next over decided to see if I could repeat the trick. This one floated up a bit fuller, dipped at the last minute, yorked the new man and again took the off bail. Hattrick ball went down in the channel outside off, batter was initially tempted to nibble at it but ultimately made a good leave.

Ended with 5-0-15-3

In the end we lost by 10 runs. I went in at #7 with the top order having failed (again) with just 50-something on the board. Made 8, was feeling good, then got one from an offspinner that pitched short but didn't bounce. Turned just enough to hit my pad low on the shin, absolutely plumb LBW.

 

[Badger]

A rare bit of village cricket here yesterday. There's a park not too far from me which has an artifical pitch. My partner and I went for a walk last night and there was a match on. We put a picnic blanket down, opened a couple of beers and watched for an hour or so. I tried my best to explain the rules but I'm not sure how much she understood!

The quality wasn't bad. They had some decent fast bowlers and the spinners were obviously getting it to turn. The batting side was bang average and could barely hit the ball off the square. No helped by the outfield being quite long and the boundaries up a hill. It reminded me of playing in Rottingdean in their bowl of a field.

 

[ForestRowSeagull]

I think Mayfield played - but my lad was away for a few days having a break anyway, after 5 days solid with Sussex 2nds / U18s.
Back in action today at Horsham, then Hants tomorrow - back with Mayfield Saturday.

my team played v Mayfield 2's on saturday. Seems they're a little weak this year? They had a couple of young quicks who were very sharp, but couldnt really control it. I think was 40 extras in our innings of 102! (chasing). Looking forward to playing Mayfield away at the end of the season - such a lovely ground

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

my team played v Mayfield 2's on saturday. Seems they're a little weak this year? They had a couple of young quicks who were very sharp, but couldnt really control it. I think was 40 extras in our innings of 102! (chasing). Looking forward to playing Mayfield away at the end of the season - such a lovely ground

I honestly have no idea. Really have nothing to do with the club at all, and only been along for the first time this season to watch a few overs at Buxted Park a couple of weeks ago with the 1's. I dont even know anyone's name up there!

 

[Audax]

Uckfield 1sts hosted Nutley 1sts yesterday. Nutley dismantled our bowling in the first match of the season, winning by 10 wickets chasing a modest total.

Different story yesterday. We lost the toss and were asked to bat on a green and slightly damp pitch. Slow going initially, but we kept wickets in hand and accelerated after the drinks break. 136/5 after our 40, with 25 coming from the last 2 overs.

Things looked grim after 3 overs, as their opener who tore us apart last time was looking in fine form again (off the back of making 142 last weekend). I was brought on early for the 5th over. I recalled that he'd miss hit the only decent ball I sent down at the start of the season (an offcutter), so immediately went to off cutters. A quiet first over went for 3. My second I suggested we put an extra fielder leg side for a miss hit. Kept him quiet with 5 dot balls from cutters, but in the middle ofvthe over i tried one seam up and got launched into the tennis courts. Third over, kept it tight with cutters again. Dropped a cutter short mid over, his eyes lit up again, but it gripped and didn't bounce. Toe ended up, ball flew high and the trap was sprung with a fine catch in the deep.

From there they kept chasing, but we kept chipping away. Bowled them out for 134 to register our first win of the season.

I ended with figures of 6-3-19-1. Could have been better, but a difficult skied catch was put down.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Another defeat Saturday - third on the spin -and all to sides we were well capable of beating.

Won the toss, and chose to bat - despite my protestations. Pitch was damp, and the sky grey.

The gun was yorked for a duck in the first over, and we never really got going. All out in the 40th over, for 165. The oppo's first change bowler was a Uni lad making his first club appearance of the season. He was the quickest bowler I've faced in about ten years. Finished with 5 for not many, and bowled me third ball. Unusually, I wasn't even annoyed - it was just way too good for me - what can you do?

They came out with a very clear plan to just swing at everything, and ultimately it worked.

I nicked off one opener with the score on about 20, then castled the other (two balls after he'd failed to walk after edging our spinner - leading to lots of accusations and grumbling). I then had the number 4 dropped badly, at cover - which would have left them 50/4. It went downhill from there - he made 60-odd, and after a little late collapse when nearly home, they settled and won by three wickets.

Frustrating

 

[Eeyore]

Another defeat Saturday - third on the spin -and all to sides we were well capable of beating.

Won the toss, and chose to bat - despite my protestations. Pitch was damp, and the sky grey.

The gun was yorked for a duck in the first over, and we never really got going. All out in the 40th over, for 165. The oppo's first change bowler was a Uni lad making his first club appearance of the season. He was the quickest bowler I've faced in about ten years. Finished with 5 for not many, and bowled me third ball. Unusually, I wasn't even annoyed - it was just way too good for me - what can you do?

They came out with a very clear plan to just swing at everything, and ultimately it worked.

I nicked off one opener with the score on about 20, then castled the other (two balls after he'd failed to walk after edging our spinner - leading to lots of accusations and grumbling). I then had the number 4 dropped badly, at cover - which would have left them 50/4. It went downhill from there - he made 60-odd, and after a little late collapse when nearly home, they settled and won by three wickets.

Frustrating

Good to see you've still got it as a bowler.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Good to see you've still got it as a bowler.

I have an appointment this afternoon with the lower-back specialist at the physio, and on Wednesday morning I have a consultant appointment for him to administer a (second) cortisone injection in my right wrist

 

[Eeyore]

I have an appointment this afternoon with the lower-back specialist at the physio, and on Wednesday morning I have a consultant appointment for him to administer a (second) cortisone injection in my right wrist

You should try and keep it for bowling during the summer season. #TapIn

 

[Audax]

I have an appointment this afternoon with the lower-back specialist at the physio, and on Wednesday morning I have a consultant appointment for him to administer a (second) cortisone injection in my right wrist

Sounds like me. Spent the last two seasons bowling using painkillers due to having had a frozen hip. 2022 was weird, as it was still frozen, which meant I was bowling "over the top" of my hip instead of rotating. All of a sudden my natural outswinger was an inswinger, took a while to get used to that. Last season got enough of the rotation back and the outswinger returned, but the first over of any spell was still a painful affair.

Thankfully it's not frozen at all now, got nearly all of the rotation back. Unfortunately ... it's now got arthritis. Will be interesting to see how many more seasons I can carry on bowling, early-onset arthritis is a thing in my family .

Had some back spasms last week, suspect I tweaked something in our loss to Alfriston. Still waking up a bit sore in the mornings, but it didn't affect me on Saturday. Just one to keep an eye on. Do need to be careful, though - gave myself a right scare about 25 years back. Played a lot of league indoor cricket in Australia. One Thursday night before an easter long weekend, I bowled my first over and went to field and thought "got a funny little niggle in my lower back" and then promptly forgot about it. Bowled my second over later in the match, was still fine. Came out of the nets after the game and was asked if I could play another game to fill in for another team playing in a lower league. Bowled my 2 overs, no problems. Walked out after the second game, sat down, and knew immediately I was in trouble. Managed to get home (on motorcycle!), woke up the next morning barely able to move. Good Friday. Dragged myself into a GP on the Tuesday morning, and after being referred for scans was diagnosed with a pair of "slightly slipped discs". And that was the end of my indoor cricket career, right as I was starting to get a sniff of some opportunities to play at a higher level (furthest I got was a couple of training sessions with the ACT squad not long before the injury, the next year a guy I'd played with a lot with very similar stats to mine got some matches).

 

[Simster]

I really need to add my input from Saturday's game, the most ridiculous game of cricket I've ever played:

Oppo put themselves in and quickly set about scoring runs freely. A small mercy that the outfield was slow and batters weren't getting value for their shots with hardly anything reaching the boundary. After a fast start, we reeled them in and not long after drinks they were struggling a bit at 72/6. However, their 7th wicket put 50+ on and they reached 132/6. Not helped by us dropping SIX catches FFS.

Now I was one of 3 openers in our side, but made way to bat at 3. Not that it meant much, as our #1 went first ball. What then happened was an 87 run stand between me and the other opener. We were ahead of the run rate, we were coping comfortably with everything they bowled at us. Crucially though, in the league we were playing you have to retire when you've made 50, so Josh made his way off with the score 87/1. I stayed as I had been playing the anchor role but a steady stream of wickets began to clatter at the other end. Nevertheless, by the time I had been caught for 40, we needed 8 runs off 3 overs, 5 wickets left including Josh who could come back from retirement if required. I was a bit pissed off at spooning a catch so close to the end, as I really wanted to carry my bat and see it out.

By the time I was changed out of my whites 5 minutes later, we'd lost 4 wickets, scored 4 runs and Josh (who had got changed himself) was hastily putting his whites and batting clobber back on! He had one ball to face in the penultimate over with a rabbit at the other end - so either get a single or smash it to the boundary. He got a single - huzzah! Three runs required off the final over, one wicket left.

First two balls were dots, next ball was a streaky edge but they hared off and Josh ran back looking for a second. He failed. Run out. We lost by a run.

We lost. From 87/1 chasing 133 to win. With eight runs to get off the final 3 overs and 5 wickets in hand. And we lost. FML.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I really need to add my input from Saturday's game, the most ridiculous game of cricket I've ever played:

Oppo put themselves in and quickly set about scoring runs freely. A small mercy that the outfield was slow and batters weren't getting value for their shots with hardly anything reaching the boundary. After a fast start, we reeled them in and not long after drinks they were struggling a bit at 72/6. However, their 7th wicket put 50+ on and they reached 132/6. Not helped by us dropping SIX catches FFS.

Now I was one of 3 openers in our side, but made way to bat at 3. Not that it meant much, as our #1 went first ball. What then happened was an 87 run stand between me and the other opener. We were ahead of the run rate, we were coping comfortably with everything they bowled at us. Crucially though, in the league we were playing you have to retire when you've made 50, so Josh made his way off with the score 87/1. I stayed as I had been playing the anchor role but a steady stream of wickets began to clatter at the other end. Nevertheless, by the time I had been caught for 40, we needed 8 runs off 3 overs, 5 wickets left including Josh who could come back from retirement if required. I was a bit pissed off at spooning a catch so close to the end, as I really wanted to carry my bat and see it out.

By the time I was changed out of my whites 5 minutes later, we'd lost 4 wickets, scored 4 runs and Josh (who had got changed himself) was hastily putting his whites and batting clobber back on! He had one ball to face in the penultimate over with a rabbit at the other end - so either get a single or smash it to the boundary. He got a single - huzzah! Three runs required off the final over, one wicket left.

First two balls were dots, next ball was a streaky edge but they hared off and Josh ran back looking for a second. He failed. Run out. We lost by a run.

We lost. From 87/1 chasing 133 to win. With eight runs to get off the final 3 overs and 5 wickets in hand. And we lost. FML.

That really IS rubbish.

Good knock personally though, so there's that

 

[ROSM]

I really need to add my input from Saturday's game, the most ridiculous game of cricket I've ever played:

Oppo put themselves in and quickly set about scoring runs freely. A small mercy that the outfield was slow and batters weren't getting value for their shots with hardly anything reaching the boundary. After a fast start, we reeled them in and not long after drinks they were struggling a bit at 72/6. However, their 7th wicket put 50+ on and they reached 132/6. Not helped by us dropping SIX catches FFS.

Now I was one of 3 openers in our side, but made way to bat at 3. Not that it meant much, as our #1 went first ball. What then happened was an 87 run stand between me and the other opener. We were ahead of the run rate, we were coping comfortably with everything they bowled at us. Crucially though, in the league we were playing you have to retire when you've made 50, so Josh made his way off with the score 87/1. I stayed as I had been playing the anchor role but a steady stream of wickets began to clatter at the other end. Nevertheless, by the time I had been caught for 40, we needed 8 runs off 3 overs, 5 wickets left including Josh who could come back from retirement if required. I was a bit pissed off at spooning a catch so close to the end, as I really wanted to carry my bat and see it out.

By the time I was changed out of my whites 5 minutes later, we'd lost 4 wickets, scored 4 runs and Josh (who had got changed himself) was hastily putting his whites and batting clobber back on! He had one ball to face in the penultimate over with a rabbit at the other end - so either get a single or smash it to the boundary. He got a single - huzzah! Three runs required off the final over, one wicket left.

First two balls were dots, next ball was a streaky edge but they hared off and Josh ran back looking for a second. He failed. Run out. We lost by a run.

We lost. From 87/1 chasing 133 to win. With eight runs to get off the final 3 overs and 5 wickets in hand. And we lost. FML.

This collapse sounds reminiscent of England v west indies 1979 world cup final at lords

 

[Audax]

We lost. From 87/1 chasing 133 to win. With eight runs to get off the final 3 overs and 5 wickets in hand. And we lost. FML.

Ouch. The retire at 50 rule sounds a bit harsh personally, especially when it completely turns a game on its head like that. The sorts of pitches we've been playing on this season, batters need to take a bit of time to get in before trying to score. Lose a set batsman and the game can change rapidly (as ours did - the final 5 wickets in our win were taken cheaply once we extracted their #5 who'd done well to make 37) as it's difficult to get started.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Ouch. The retire at 50 rule sounds a bit harsh personally, especially when it completely turns a game on its head like that. The sorts of pitches we've been playing on this season, batters need to take a bit of time to get in before trying to score. Lose a set batsman and the game can change rapidly (as ours did - the final 5 wickets in our win were taken cheaply once we extracted their #5 who'd done well to make 37) as it's difficult to get started.

I've come across it plenty of times in some social games (to give everyone a game), and in some kids' / youth cricket (to prevent one really good kid dominating games, to the detriment of the development of the others). Never heard of it in any adult league.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Our club's U11s are into a County final. It was their semi-final last night, and they were made by the league to actually physically travel 80 minutes, in the pissing rain, with no possible chance of playing, just for the two captains to conduct a coin toss to decide the result.

Amateur sports administrators can be such absolute WEAPONS.

 

[Eeyore]

This collapse sounds reminiscent of England v west indies 1979 world cup final at lords

Perhaps not. There is a reference to 'ahead with the run rate'. Boycott and Brearley would have had to have asked what 'run rate' was that day. They thought they were playing a Test match.

I'd say it was more Leeds 1992. 290-2, 320 all out.

Although Wasim and Waqar were probably a tougher proposition.