Coming out of retirement Part XI
It's been raining in Queensland pretty much since the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. Great for the water catchments. Sucks for the cricket. However, while yesterday's ODI was rained out, the more important result was the rain held off long enough for us to play a full Saturday afternoon's club cricket. Good thing too - the result was in doubt right to the last ball of the day.
We were 30 runs in arrears after first innings so we needed quick wickets. My fingers were still aching from last week's drop in the slips cordon so when we took the field, I made a bee-line for the relatively safe cover position. In the 4th over, their opener skiied a high ball between cover and mid-off. I jogged half-heartedly towards the ball, hoping mid-off would get it. He didn't call for it so I quickened my pace. As the ball started to come down, I was sprinting when I realised I hadn't called for it either. Thoughts of Jason Gillespie breaking his leg in a collision with Steve Waugh flashed through my mind as I stretched out and grabbed the ball in my fingertips. Thankfully, no collision as mid-off wasn't even going for it. I'm not sure what would've hurt more - a collision or another grassed chance.
Our opening bowlers devastated the top order, at one point having them reeling for an extraordinary 6 down for only 10 runs. I began to think the game would be over several hours early and actually hoped their tail would wag to ensure a full afternoon's play. Be careful what you wish for!
The next two batsman dug in. In fact so deeply, they didn't score for a dozen overs. Steve's bowling figures were 0 for 1 off 8 overs, the 1 run from his last over (conceding a run must've been why he got spelled). At first, we weren't concerned. We had 4 and a bit hours to knock over the tail and chase a few runs. But they stubbornly survived. Anything off the stumps was left, straight ones stoutly defended. After the first hour, I was looking forward to having a crack - surely a few loopy leggies would tempt them out of their crease. But no call from the captain. After the second hour, I confess getting frustrated (maybe even feeling the D-word). Long, fruitless spells from the other bowlers were having no impact. Surely some speculative overs from the erratic yet wicket taking legspinner was worth a go! Finally, he called me on last over before drinks.
My first over was nothing special apart from one good length ball edged just wide of silly mid-off. Eric finally took a wicket first over after drinks. Next over, the new batsman charged me but nicked it to the keeper. 8 down! When I wasn't bowling, I was fielding at square leg. The tall Sri Lankan was square leg umpire at the time, giving me bowling tips and critiques of my previous over between deliveries. His main criticism was I gave the ball too much flight and I needed to make the batsmen play more. One of the batsman lightheartedly told him to shut up and stop helping the opposition.
In my fourth over, a long hop to the #10 was pulled straight back at me for a caught and bowled. In my fifth over, a full toss was hit to the mid-wicket boundary. The non-striker commented he'd only seen one other person bowl with more flight. I'm not sure it was meant as a compliment. The erratic fifth over was enough to spell me but figures of 2 for 16 (and 4 for 40 for the match) was satisfying apart from the lack of consistency. It helps bowling at tailenders.
We finally dismissed them for 69 - low but not as low as it should've been. We needed 108 to win in just over an hour's play. With the grass still at paddock level, it wasn't easy scoring - even Piney was having trouble getting runs. I went in at #4 with the team at 2 for 13. My partner Errol was a strong hitter of the ball so the plan was simple - get me off strike as quickly as possible and let Ekka go the tonk. It worked nicely - we rattled along at around 4 per over. When we crossed the 50 mark, we decided to accelerate the scoring.
I quit nudging and started swinging hard at the ball (while still playing the line). We took 13 off one over. They brought on the tall Sri Lankan who I was looking forward to facing. His first ball was dead on and I defended. Next ball was slightly down leg and whipped to one of the 3 guys hovering on the leg side boundary. He was accurate with tricky changes of pace but if I used my feet quickly, getting singles was easy with such a spread field.
Then a new fast bowler came on at the other end who I hadn't seen before. He bowled two full balls I couldn't get through the covers. The next ball was a yorker I played over, narrowly missing the stumps. Three dot balls, pressure building. Next delivery was again full and straight, went through bat and pad and bowled me. Out for 21, the team 3 for 74.
The wickets continued to fall regularly as we desperately chased the 108 runs in the dying minutes. Finally in the last over, we needed 19 runs with 3 wickets in hand. Second ball, a run out. Fifth ball, bowled! Phil, the 7-for hero of the first innings, went out to face the last ball of the day, one wicket in hand. The bowler delivered a straight one on the stumps, successfully blocked. Match drawn!
| Posted by JC on Mon 4 Feb |  9 comments |
Posted by TA on 2008-02-04 16:10:47
Current batting average 19.4 (215 runs from 11 innings)
Current bowling average 15.2 (10 wickets from 27 overs)
So the season goal of a batting average greater than my bowling average is still on track. Would like to get the batting into the high 20's though by the end of season - I don't think I can maintain a bowling average of 15.
Posted by JC on 2008-02-04 17:31:01
Too bad Bucknor or Benson weren't there...then there would've been a result for sure!
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-02-04 17:52:42
Why not third man or fine leg? :)
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-02-04 20:14:58
Posted by JC on 2008-02-04 21:14:27
That explains why Indians are never good divers. Apart from the hard surface, you risk getting your face smashed by some wicked bounce because of the squillion number of stones on the ground!
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2008-02-04 21:31:34
JC you are really really lucky if u have good grass in the outfield.like ajesh said stones are spewed all over the place.if your fielding at covers or point, even if ur going on your knees(diving is certainly ruled out)to collect the ball when you get up ppl might think your wearing red stockings under you white tracks.
the pitch i played on last Saturday was atrocious.we played on a matting wicket(jc i wud be surprised if u know wht matting wickets r)cause of which im bandaged around my ribs thanx to a delivery that jumped from around good length.
Posted by vishnu on 2008-02-05 02:53:14
Posted by vishnu on 2008-02-05 03:07:44
Posted by JC on 2008-02-05 07:41:56
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