Coming out of retirement Part II
Having just come out of a 20 year club cricket retirement, I played my second game earlier today. After being clean bowled for 1 off 3 balls in my first match, I was desperate to atone second time around. However, the opposition won the toss and batted, proceeding to tonk our bowlers around the park. They lost only a few wickets reaching 250 and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon. Suddenly, a dramatic late order collapse had them all out for 293 and our side had 40 minutes to bat out before stumps.
The captain asked if I wanted to bat at #4, a dramatic (and unwarranted) promotion from my previous #9 spot. Casually, I muttered "yeah, no worries" while internally stressing out about a shiny, new ball and fresh, fast bowlers. Errol and Josh rattled along at 6 per over and I started to feel comfortable when their #1 quick clean bowled Errol. When he returned, I casually asked him what the bowling was like. He described their spearhead bowler as quick with sharp inswingers - exactly what I didn't want to hear (quick inswingers are my fatal weakness). A few overs later, as I watched nervously, our other opener Josh was bowled by the same guy. I walked to the pitch, fervently praying I could last the 20 minutes till stumps and promising myself if I did, I'd buy myself pads, gloves and a thigh pad before next weekend (I was using another guy's equipment).
However, I did have a plan this time, somewhat more substantial than the feeble dangling of the bat with leaden feet I employed last week. Ajesh Nag posted a comment suggesting I bat out of my crease last week so I thought I'd give that a crack. Also, the Pro Cricket Coaching Academy submitted their website to my links page during the week so as I added their link, figuring these were professional coaches, I asked if they had any tips to handle inswingers. They recommended I take guard on off stump rather than middle. So armed with my newfound knowledge, I took guard on off stump, a foot outside the crease as their #1 quick bowler steamed in.
His first ball was almost identical to the one that sent my middle stump somersaulting last week. However, this time I got my front foot right down the pitch and smothered the swing. Next ball was on the pads and I turned it to fine leg for a single. The next bowler was much easier to negotiate, bowling medium pacers with a hint of outswing. I blocked a few, turned another around the corner for a single and achieved my first goal for the day - to better my last effort of 1 run off 3 balls! Next was to make it to stumps.
My partner farmed the strike and I was quite happy for him to do so. In between overs, there wasn't much to talk about as we were just intent on surviving (any tips on between overs small talk?) And eventually, with me regularly asking the umpire for the time, we made it to stumps. I was and still am totally chuffed. On the drive home, I had a contented smile on my face as if I was Steve Waugh notching a century off the last ball of the day at the SCG. All I did was survive for half a dozen overs and score 2 runs! But the main thing is I survived and have a week of anticipation before next Saturday. My initial goal is just to make it to double figures - if I do that, I'll be happy. Or at least last longer than Steve Waugh who was dismissed in the opening overs of the morning after that "One Perfect Day".
| Posted by JC on Sat 20 Oct |  11 comments |
I'm glad my advice helped you,if it really did!Credit to you mate,first for researching,taking good advice and doing all the small things right(like pestering the umpire)
So,this week you did the defensive part of it right...next week its your turn to get agressive.So lets hope you show your full arsenal to those blokes! Get out those booming cover drives and fullblooded cut shots....100 of 40 balls next week?
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2007-10-20 20:00:39
Posted by JC on 2007-10-20 21:28:39
Listen mate; I'd spend the week just thinking of a special knock by another Aussie, Jason Gillespie!!
Think of yourself as a specialist night watchman. Who knows what might happen.
Good luck! Am actually envious of your situation (and a bit nervous for you!!)
Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-10-20 21:46:42
Posted by TA on 2007-10-20 23:08:04
Cheers
Mahesh
Posted by Mahesh on 2007-10-21 04:53:30
Posted by JC on 2007-10-21 07:06:44
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