Aloof Theory Part 4: Revenge of the donkey droppers
Having lost our first two games of the season, the boys were hungry for a win this week. The opposition won the toss and sent us in. Well, that destroys my theory of club cricketers always wanting to bat first. My teammates were all surprised by the decision too, maybe the theory just applies to our team. Our openers got us off to a great start, putting on 123 runs in 18 overs. With two wickets to fall before I had to bat, an off spinner came on. First ball had heaps of flight, almost as much as mine. Hmm, wouldn't mind facing this guy (I've often wished I could face myself). In his second over, he got our #3 out caught at cover. The next batsman had one sighter, then charged him and was stumped for his troubles. So before I knew it, I was walking out to face the off spinner. Be careful what you wish for.
Craig, the non-striker, offered a quick assessment: "This guy just bowls donkey drops like you". Uh, thanks Craig. His first ball was a long hop wide outside off-stump. I don't bowl those, do I?! I threw everything at it and smashed it forward of point for four. Next ball was straight on a good length, I defended watchfully. Third ball outside off, slightly short, I cut, bottom edged it, dropped by the keeper. Phew, dodged a bullet there. Donkey dropper nearly had 3 wickets in an over. We're a much maligned form of bowler but we do get results.
There's a quick guy coming in from the other end. I'm on strike for several dot balls, can't get him away. Not a big fan of the pace bowling, much prefer the spinners. Then a new bowler came on to replace him. I'm on strike, no idea what he bowls. Keeper stands up at the wicket. Good sign, I'm thinking and hoping spinner. I scrutinise his hand motions as he bowls a few practice deliveries to a fielder. Looks like another offie. I'll take that! First ball, straight full toss, I sweep it behind square for two. Next ball, full toss on the pads, I hoick this one, top edge it and it sails over fine leg's head for a lucky boundary. Spinners from both ends, I'm liking this.
Penultimate over from the donkey dropper. Craig at the other end is in devastating form, hitting a steady stream of sixes and fours. My goal is to get him on strike as quickly as possible. Any good balls, I paddle over mid-wicket's head for a single. Last ball of the over, he bowls one down the leg side. Knowing there was noone behind square, I knew this was a gift and one thought went through my head - "don't miss it, don't waste it". I connect and the ball shoots off to the fine-leg boundary.
Last over, their opening bowler comes back on. I'm on 22 and start thinking about what a red inker will do for my batting average (when you've only been dismissed twice that season, it would nearly double it). But hey, those kinds of thoughts violate Aloof Theory! So I decide I won't try to preserve my wicket. If I get on strike, I'll throw everything at it. Craig is on strike. First ball, cover drive for two. Second ball, smashes for four. Next ball hits him on the pads. I scream for a quick single, he sends me back. In hindsight, a wise move. Next ball, smashed over mid-wicket for six. I never could've done that. Another cover drive for two. Then the last ball of the innings, full on the stumps, smashed over long off for six. Okay, wise to keep him on strike. And I get my red inker after all!
We end up reaching 237 off 31 overs (shortened game due to slow over rate). We figure surely this is defendable. But their openers come out and strike boundaries at disturbingly regular intervals. The older guy is seeing it like a beach ball and the outfield is quick. I wonder how I'll go if I have to bowl to him. Then luck strikes, he chances his arm one time too many and his stumps are sent flying. The young middle order panic, a few quick wickets fall including a ludicrous run-out.
The captain lets me know I'm bowling next. We're deep into the middle-order with two new, young batsmen at the crease. The required run-rate now in double figures. I figure I'm either going to go for heaps of runs or bag some wickets. Hopefully the latter.
First ball, shocker, down the leg side. Keeper fumbles, one bye. Next ball, as I run in, the batsman moves two feet towards point, trying to slog me through the legside. Squirts it to mid-wicket, runs a near suicidal single, just makes his crease as I knock off the bails. Next ball, the batsman charges, smashes the ball cleanly, hard and low, directly into the hands of long-on. The fielder does well to hold onto it. 1 for 1 and my first wicket of the season!
Two balls later, I'm bowling to twinkly toes, two feet guy. I decide to try an arm ball, hopefully catch him out if he tries some more creative footwork. However, I completely forget to bowl with the same arm speed and it comes out as a fast, knee high full toss. The batsman slogs, top edges it high into the air towards long on. As the ball swirls down, I think "it's getting big on him, he's gonna put it down". He takes the catch, grasping the ball over his shoulders. 2 for 2!
Next delivery is the last ball of the over. I bowl a stockball legspinner, pitching on leg stump. The batsman lofts me over mid-wicket. Hang on, Craig's out at deep mid-wicket. He runs in, faster than I'd seen him move all day, and takes the catch. Three wickets in my first over. Figures of 3 for 2! On a hattrick!
One of our opening bowlers comes on at the other end. There's only one wicket left in the innings so I call out, "no wickets this over, Smithy". He laughs and calls back, "if it comes your way, you better not drop it". The batsmen safely negotiate the over and I'm coming on for a hattrick ball. I decide to go with flight, as much flight as I can muster. And it really is, I throw it up at an angle of around 45 degrees, ridiculously high. The ball lands straight on a good length, perfectly pitched to tempt him into charging. He just stands there, lets it spin and bounce past him at shoulder height. Oh well, no dream hattrick for me.
Next ball, slightly short, he punches it through the covers for four. Ouch. Next ball, he smashes it straight into the hands of mid-wicket who drops it. Next ball is on the stumps, the batsman paddles it over mid-wicket's head, this one dribbles out to the boundary. The over isn't proceeding well at all, ends up going for 10 runs.
Batsman survive the other end so I come on for a third over. In the nets, I've been experimenting with bowling the odd ball wide of the crease, angling it across the batsman then spinning it across them. The change in trajectory often had the batsman playing and missing. So I try this first ball of the over. It comes out perfectly, lands on leg stump, the batsman swings, misses and the ball sails over the off-stump. Damn bouncy synthetic grass. On a turf pitch, that would have been a perfect Gatting ball. Still, I'm learning that spin bowling isn't about big ripping Gatting balls. It's about using variations in pace, trajectory and spin to prevent the batsman getting settled. That's the theory, anyway. Not so easy to put into practice.
Second ball, batsman charges, lofts it high to long on. Like his last catch, it gets big on him - this time too big and he drops the catch. I bowl one at the pads, he sweeps for four. As we wait for the ball to return from the boundary, the umpire comments that was the best shot of the day. Oh well, better to get hit for four from a quality shot than from bowling a pie. No, I lie, they hurt equally as much.
Next ball even further down the leg side, another sweep for four. Things are going pear shaped after that glorious first over. Final figures 3 for 22. Three wickets and two dropped catches in 3 overs. The captain comes on at the other end and takes the final wicket. Victory by 72 runs.
Ironically, my bowling was of better quality last week. It seems like legspin, more than any other form of bowling, is at the mercy of chance - will those lofted shots find fielders (and at my level of club cricket, will the fielders hold onto the catches). Plus it really makes a difference bowling to the lower order. As I've said before, I'm Warnie to crap batsmen, Bryce McGain to good ones.
So our first win of the season. Not just a win, we smashed them. I know Aloof Theory is all about process, not results, but it's good to finally get on the board with a win and some wickets.
The CriciWiki scoresheet of the game can be found here...
| Posted by JC on Tue 26 May |  6 comments |
Best read of the week as always!
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-05-28 19:48:32
This weekend just gone, match was cancelled. We were playing on a turf pitch and there was a brief but heavy rainfall the previous night. Despite covers, there was too much moisture. And Saturday had beautiful weather - all day, the blue skies taunted me. But this upcoming weekend is played on a synthetic pitch so less chance of a few drops cancelling the game. First two dayer of the season too.
Posted by JC on 2009-06-01 07:43:00
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-06-02 19:23:33
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