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

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Draw between Mayfield & St James in Div 2 on Saturday. Was a gorgeous day up in Ditchling, and a decent score of 42 for the lad, chasing St James 260(ish).
Followed it up yesterday by scoring 51 as opener for Sussex u18s away at Berkshire. Sussex chased Berks 100 a/o (off 25 overs), and wrapped up the win after just 11, so it was a nice early finish for once.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

* Obviously depending on exactly what's wrong. I'm hoping it's just muscle or similar, but at the other end of the scale it's possible that I've slipped a disc again and could be out for the season...

Stretching is your friend. I have had 2 prolapsed discs for about 8 months now, and there are some really good stretches for that type of injury easily found online. My back isn't cured by any means, but its really helped doing them regularly, and Im playing baseball weekly without too many problems.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I can, because I had it happen to me 20-ish years ago in Australia. Ducked what was a head-high full toss coming down the pitch, but it dropped like a stone after it went over my back and took the bails. *Both* umpires (same as lower leagues here - players from my side) called no-ball, but succumbed to pressure from the fielding side and revoked the no-ball to give me out. Fielding side relied on the "can't be a no-ball for height if it hit the stumps" argument, but everyone completely forgot that the no-ball is called on waist height as it passes the batter and the ball is perfectly capable of dropping enough from that height to hit the stumps.

Was so annoyed that I never played for them again (to be fair, I'd only been filling in anyway and at the time my focus was on indoor cricket).

I completely accept it can happen, but generally I think batters (and I include myself in this) tend to misjudge how high a ball actually needs to be to be called. "Above waist high" is pretty vague but taken literally means level with your bottom rib, while I think a lot of the time people think of it as somewhere above hip height.

Incidentally, I'm 6'2"-6'3", I realise it's a lot easier for this to happen if you're shorter than that. If I were stood in my crease I'd really struggle to duck under a legal ball that would hit the stumps. Although that says as much about my flexibility or lack of as anything else.

In other news, I'm regretting bowling those two overs (even if I wasn't working my back) on Saturday. Back's not good, now on ibuprofen. Fortunately I'm unavailable for the next 3 weekends due to non-injury reasons, so plenty* of time for recovery ahead of the last 3 matches of the season.

* Obviously depending on exactly what's wrong. I'm hoping it's just muscle or similar, but at the other end of the scale it's possible that I've slipped a disc again and could be out for the season...

Hope you recover alright. Having pinged my back on a building site a few years ago I do empathise/sympathise.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

To be fair, unless he was facing some sort of Spedegue's Dropper style lob (or he's about 4'6", I can't remember how old you said he was), I struggle to imagine a ball that would be clearly high enough for most umpires to give a no ball if it actually hits the stumps.

That said, I feel some sympathy for this, having been given out caught when I was about 16 having taken a wild swing at what I thought would be a no ball. Regardless of whether I was right or wrong, the square leg umpire was a lad of about 14 from our side and almost certainly didn't know the law.

I do agree with what you’ve written. He’s 14 but almost 6ft tall so I don’t see how it would have been over waist height and still hit the wicket (I didn’t see the ball in question so can’t shed any light unfortunately).

Thankfully him taking 2 for 9 with the ball has cheered him up and he’s forgotten about the injustice. He’s very much a part time bowler now as he mostly keeps when playing for our teams.

 

[Audax]

"Above waist high" is pretty vague but taken literally means level with your bottom rib, while I think a lot of the time people think of it as somewhere above hip height.

Yeah, agree that judging it is difficult at times (and widely misinterpreted as being lower than intended). In my case it was definitely over waist height, ball only just took the bails, and I hadn't ducked low enough for my back (that the ball went over) to be below "waist height". I'm only 5'10-ish though, and long back.

Worth remembering though that the "waist high" full toss no-ball isn't solely judged on height. A full toss below waist height can still be called no-ball if it's felt to have been dangerous and posing an injury risk to the batter. When doing so, the umpire should take account of speed, height, direction, and most importantly the skill level of the player. I would argue (while it's not specifically mentioned) it should also take account of age, as inexperienced youth players are potentially less likely to be prepared to handle a fast high full toss appropriately.

 

[Gwylan]

I can, because I had it happen to me 20-ish years ago in Australia. Ducked what was a head-high full toss coming down the pitch, but it dropped like a stone after it went over my back and took the bails. *Both* umpires (same as lower leagues here - players from my side) called no-ball, but succumbed to pressure from the fielding side and revoked the no-ball to give me out. Fielding side relied on the "can't be a no-ball for height if it hit the stumps" argument, but everyone completely forgot that the no-ball is called on waist height as it passes the batter and the ball is perfectly capable of dropping enough from that height to hit the stumps

The law was different 20 years ago. At that time, if the ball was from a slow bowler then it was only a no ball if it went above the shoulder. For fast/medium bowlers it was the waist. The law was changed (I think about 10 years ago) because there was clearly a dispute about what slow and medium meant, so the law made everything a bit clearer.

 

[Audax]

The law was different 20 years ago. At that time, if the ball was from a slow bowler then it was only a no ball if it went above the shoulder. For fast/medium bowlers it was the waist. The law was changed (I think about 10 years ago) because there was clearly a dispute about what slow and medium meant, so the law made everything a bit clearer.

Yep, I remember that. Theory was that slower bowler = less risk of injury, therefore a higher height allowance. But as you say, lots of confusion caused about what counted as a "slow" bowler. I recall one when I was at Laughton that was chest high, and the oppo claimed it wasn't a no ball because the bowler was bowling off a couple paces. It was still quick enough to qualify for the waist-high rule IMO, given there was no loop or spin and he was bowling seam-up looking for swing / seam off the pitch.

Ideally, every clubhouse should have a cheat-sheet for the current season rules pinned up prominently. Seen a few over-head-height bouncers not get called this season (IIRC another rule that's changed a time or two over the years).

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Ideally, every clubhouse should have a cheat-sheet for the current season rules pinned up prominently. Seen a few over-head-height bouncers not get called this season (IIRC another rule that's changed a time or two over the years).

Christ, I wish I could have bowled on a few more pitches where it was possible to bounce a ball over head high.

Over stump high would have been something.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

My boy is gutted. Just had a text asking if he could sub field for the first XI as one of our openers has broken his nose. We are in London for the QPR game. Would have been a great experience for him playing at that level at 14.

 

[Eeyore]

Escaping the burning world. Underneath the shade of a Fittleworth tree.

 

[Dave the OAP]

View attachment 186550
Escaping the burning world. Underneath the shade of a Fittleworth tree.

Oooooh. Once got a ton there

many years ago sadly

 

[Eeyore]

Oooooh. Once got a ton there

many years ago sadly

My team suffered it's biggest ever defeat in living memory there a a number of years back. Fittleworth rattled 200+. We were all out for 30 something.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Shrops u14s completed their Royal London ECB County Cup comp against Oxfordshire today. Our opener did his ACL in January but scored a ton in a comfortable 6 wicket victory - delighted for the lad. One friendly left against Herefordshire week Tuesday brings the u14 season to a close.

Trials for 2025 in November...

 

[hans kraay fan club]

My league game on Saturday, featured the single most embarrassing behaviour I have witnessed, in 40+ years of competitive cricket.

Title chasing opponents (Trojans CC - one of our very big local sports clubs) won the toss and chose to bat. Their opener (the second highest run scorer in the division, after our own gun) took FOURTEEN off my first over. I was invited to take a rest after going for 34 from 5 overs, and they were rattling along well, at 60 without loss.

Then they lost a couple, and I got to feel a bit better personally, after running out the (other) opener with a quick pick up and direct hit from the covers. They built to 170 or so for 4, and looked set for a challenging total. I had a far more satisfactory second spell, and finished up 9/2/40/2, bringing out the oppo's skipper, batting at nine...

Having scored just one, he slices a ball to gully and is caught. No controversy, but for some reason he completely loses it.
He launches his bat across the square, then proceeds to remove his helmet, and launches that 30 yards. Then he picks them both up, lobs up the helmet, and twats it with the bat, another 30 yards. Then stomps off the field, kicking his helmet the rest of the way. We're confused / shocked / hysterical - and on hearing laughing, he spins around, lets off a stream of expletives and offers us (all) a fight. Then he finally leaves the field and starts arguing with the rest of his team.

They succumb meekly to 190 all out, and we go off for a tense 'tea' interval. No teas provided yet again. Lazy pricks.

Mr Angry skipper (he's their 6'4" opener) comes charging in, and having utterly lost his head, is a complete liability. He bowls (genuinely) about 15 wides, and gets us off to a bit of a flier, leading to a comfortable chase. The winning runs, fittingly involve the clown trying for a pointless shy at the stumps, that gifts us four overthrows.

Funny day. Excellent and unexpected win.

Angry chap very lucky we had no panel umpire on the day, as he'd surely be looking at a significant ban.

 

[Mackenzie]

My two daughters played yesterday, my son has an elbow injury so had to sit out again. Unfortunately it was a one wicket loss for the girls, having got into a good position the opposition’s last pair put on 20 odd to see them home. The eldest daughter 6/1/25/1 bowled well without much luck and my youngest top scored with a breezy 31 coming in at 6. They’re a young team and will improve massively for this season. Hopefully the boy will get to play again soon as well.

 

[Timbo]

All 3 title contenders in the Premier League lost on Saturday! Maybe just lets Middleton in? Still think it'll be Preston Nomads though as long as Sussex don't take too many of their stars.

A bit further down Bexhill have been making headlines with some absolutely massive wins (beat Eastbourne 2's by nearly 400 ) the last few weeks, amazed to see they're only third.

 

[Eeyore]

My league game on Saturday, featured the single most embarrassing behaviour I have witnessed, in 40+ years of competitive cricket.

Title chasing opponents (Trojans CC - one of our very big local sports clubs) won the toss and chose to bat. Their opener (the second highest run scorer in the division, after our own gun) took FOURTEEN off my first over. I was invited to take a rest after going for 34 from 5 overs, and they were rattling along well, at 60 without loss.

Then they lost a couple, and I got to feel a bit better personally, after running out the (other) opener with a quick pick up and direct hit from the covers. They built to 170 or so for 4, and looked set for a challenging total. I had a far more satisfactory second spell, and finished up 9/2/40/2, bringing out the oppo's skipper, batting at nine...

Having scored just one, he slices a ball to gully and is caught. No controversy, but for some reason he completely loses it.
He launches his bat across the square, then proceeds to remove his helmet, and launches that 30 yards. Then he picks them both up, lobs up the helmet, and twats it with the bat, another 30 yards. Then stomps off the field, kicking his helmet the rest of the way. We're confused / shocked / hysterical - and on hearing laughing, he spins around, lets off a stream of expletives and offers us (all) a fight. Then he finally leaves the field and starts arguing with the rest of his team.

They succumb meekly to 190 all out, and we go off for a tense 'tea' interval. No teas provided yet again. Lazy pricks.

Mr Angry skipper (he's their 6'4" opener) comes charging in, and having utterly lost his head, is a complete liability. He bowls (genuinely) about 15 wides, and gets us off to a bit of a flier, leading to a comfortable chase. The winning runs, fittingly involve the clown trying for a pointless shy at the stumps, that gifts us four overthrows.

Funny day. Excellent and unexpected win.

Angry chap very lucky we had no panel umpire on the day, as he'd surely be looking at a significant ban.

If it wasn't you, I would just say that there is no cricket team, you stopped playing years ago, and decided to work on a village Eastenders script.

 

[Brian Fantana]

After playing club cricket regularly for 20+ seasons, I had to step away about 5 years ago as having young kids wasn't really conducive to pissing off every weekend. I now make a return once per season for a weekend. This time, played in a couple of friendly games on Saturday and Sunday last weekend. On Saturday, I was out first ball LBW (although there was an inside edge first that was probably heard several miles away). Sunday, I channeled the anger and scored 114*, which was my first ever century. Quite irritating that it comes in that game and not of the several hundred school, junior county or league games I've played over the years.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

After playing club cricket regularly for 20+ seasons, I had to step away about 5 years ago as having young kids wasn't really conducive to pissing off every weekend. I now make a return once per season for a weekend. This time, played in a couple of friendly games on Saturday and Sunday last weekend. On Saturday, I was out first ball LBW (although there was an inside edge first that was probably heard several miles away). Sunday, I channeled the anger and scored 114*, which was my first ever century. Quite irritating that it comes in that game and not of the several hundred school, junior county or league games I've played over the years.

Congratulations

 

[ForestRowSeagull]

All 3 title contenders in the Premier League lost on Saturday! Maybe just lets Middleton in? Still think it'll be Preston Nomads though as long as Sussex don't take too many of their stars.

A bit further down Bexhill have been making headlines with some absolutely massive wins (beat Eastbourne 2's by nearly 400 ) the last few weeks, amazed to see they're only third.

Having been on the end of a Bexhill battering recently I can confirm they're quite good! Top 3 in the league are streets ahead in terms of quality