Coming out of retirement Part VII
We started this week's game needing 234 runs to avoid an innings defeat. When play started, only four of our team had arrived. Lucky we were batting! It meant I had to bat first drop. In just 6 innings, I've batted at number 9, 4, 2, 5 and 3. Eventually, they'll find a spot for me where I'll score some runs.
That morning, keen to develop some run scoring options, I practised on-driving in the nets with Gaz (who showed much improved bowling form one week into his own come-back). So I kicked off my innings pushing one through a vacant mid-on for two. They immediately plugged the hole, choking off my main scoring shot. Back to Plan B - blocking.
However, I did unveil a new scoring shot - the snick! I scored two boundaries nicking through the slips. The fielding captain persisted with one slip, strange considering they had a 230 run first innings lead. When I nicked another that narrowly evaded first slip, the bowler nearly popped a vein. It's great when the bowler loses his nut.
Finally, Piney and I managed to see off the opening bowlers. First change was a gentle left-arm medium pacer. Piney warned "you DO NOT want to get out to this guy" which was meant to reassure that he was nothing to worry about. It actually got me sweating that he might get me. After blocking out his first over, his second over featured a slower, full ball that I drove hard at and missed. At the end of the over, Piney advised "he bowls the slower ball with the arm".
Now I've never been able to detect those subtle signs from the bowler like how they grip the ball, arm speed, where the shiny side is. I'm awestruck that Gary Sobers could immediately pick the length of a delivery based on the position of the bowler's arm when he releases the ball. So when Piney talked about the bowler's arm speed, I nodded thoughtfully, as if he was giving advice I could actually use.
Next over, lefty bowled a full toss outside off stump (I think it may have been the slower ball again). After being penned up with good line and length, I gave this a full blooded drive and succeeded in hitting a catch straight to cover. Out for 16. My batting average creeped up to a paltry 12.5 - still tail-ender stuff but as our tail starts at around #6, that makes me middle order. At least I managed to get us past our first innings total, departing at 2 for 89.
The good news is we avoided an innings defeat. The bad news is we set them a whopping 11 runs to win. As the chances of taking 10 wickets were fairly slim, the captain decided to open with spinners and I took the opening over! My second ball was a Stuart Macgill special - a high full toss down the leg side that was sent for six over square leg. The next ball was a wide outside off, missing the pitch. Crap, I'll be lucky to get a spell next week! The match could've ended that over but the non-striker complained he'd miss out on a hit. So the rest of the over was blocked out (at least I didn't bowl any more pies) and the winning boundary was hit off the second ball in the next over.
So we lost by 10 wickets, I only got 16 and bowled two pies in my only over. Other than that, a great day! Piney got a ton, we put on 240 and had a lot of fun sledging our own players. And I'm told our consecutive 10 wicket losses were against the top two sides so hopefully next week will be a little more competitive. Go the Cavs!
| Posted by JC on Sun 25 Nov |  6 comments |
Bad luck about the pies. Are you getting Gaz to strap on the pads on Saturday mornings and rolling your arm over too? I've got a feeling you should nurture those leggies.
Posted by TA on 2007-11-26 11:06:06
Re the opening bowlers, one of them was very close to getting me with his nippy outswingers. Then he'd bowl the occasional yorker which I'd dig out, he'd groan, curse and put his hands to his head which always made me smile. I love it when the bowler considers it an affront when you don't give them your wicket.
Posted by JC on 2007-11-26 12:00:30
--
OxenShizer
Posted by Moses on 2007-11-26 13:54:24
Posted by JC on 2007-11-26 14:30:41
Anybody out there help us two old codgers?
I'm looking at a Kookaburra Brett Lee-endorsed practice ball which is 156g with a plastic outer - any experience?
Yes I am strapping the left pad on to face the mighty JC but, as a well documented #11 since '77, I make Murali's batting seem like Viv Richards. While JC's line and length has improved markedly, my bowling has now gone from woeful to 'ordinary' - at least I can get them down to the other end with only one bounce! That's the last time I leave it 26yrs between overs!!!
Posted by virtualgaz on 2007-11-26 15:51:18
Posted by T11 on 2007-11-28 19:40:42
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