Saturday, April 24. Away v Caistor

First game of the season, and I have one question: How the f**k did we lose that?! 15 hours afterwards I'm still asking it!

We won the toss, and the skipper (God knows why) put us in the field. We didn't find that out til after teas though, typical! So in 27 degree heat, we got going. One of the openers was a bit expensive/erratic, and came off after 5. Dan at the other end was finding quality areas, and our veteran seamer came on at the other end. He got 2 breakthroughs, leaving them about 40-2 after 15. Drinks couldn't come quickly enough! I got lose after about 18 overs, came on start of the 21st. Cue this big lad coming down the track and taking me for 4,0,4,2,2 off the first 5 balls of my over. Bugger. Godd'im with the 6th though, down the track, foot out the crease, beat the bat, stumped. May have gave him a send-off. Dick shouldn't hit me for 12 off 5 then should he?! Found my rhythm after that, with a maiden next over, and 2 off the next 2 overs to put me at 4-1-14-1. Really put the squeeze on after that, bowling this lad through the gate in my 5th over. Bowled through until the 43rd over, picking up another wicket, to leave me with 9-4-20-3, which is handy. They were all out 121. My fielding was good, hung back on one where they snook a single but made up for it, saved about 5 runs in "quick singles" at backward point. Standaaard.

Teas were quality, and as usual I ate far too much. Glad I bat down the order...

Batting was a calamity, to say the least. 4/0 became 8/3, became 24/4, 40/5, 56/6, 75/7. After 35 overs! I walked in, not sure what I was gonna do to be honest! Kept out their skipper for 3 balls, then got an outside edge (all along the floor, soft hands and all) for 4, silly bugger didn't have a 3rd man in! Leggie on at the other end, and my tactic of taking a step down the track to make them drop it short worked, took 7 off 6 balls against him over 2 overs. They brought back this dreadful seamer, took him for 4 off the first 4 balls of the over, and then played all around one that was even slower than his usual dross on an even slower wicket! Thought it was going down, with me batting on leg, but understandable given the shot I played, and that I ask for middle not leg... Silly bollocks! After that, we lost our last 2 wickets for 10 runs and were all out 10 short. Cat got 22 off 36, batted very sensibly for him!

Game today against Scunthorpe, gotta get us off to a start this season! 'Mon the Owmby!

Easter Holidays!

I've been quiet on the posting front recently, mainly because there's not been a lot going on! I've spent a bit of time at the nets, but I've been visiting people as well while I'm off so that's understandable. On to the cricket!

My bowling is coming on, had 3 net sessions and in all 3 I've consistently found a good area, with a bit of turn and, more surprisingly, a bit of bounce, although that may be because of the nets that I play on! I've been beating the bat quite a bit too, which is always comforting. Not a lot to say on my finger spin really. I was experimenting with Chinaman and Seam-up last night, and both were very effective. I got a lot of turn with my "leggies", and I got my topspinner and googly going quite nicely. Obviously I dropped it short a few times, but that was very interesting to see, and if a lefty comes out in a match I may be convinced to give it a go! I was bowling genuinely quick with my seamers, quite skiddy, couldn't get a bouncer going like the other lads but it was sharp, with late inswing, and I bowled 3 or 4 people out with late inswinging yorkers. My control isn't brilliant, I think my action is like Mitchell Johnson (and my accuracy!) but it was fun to bowl, and if we need someone to open the bowling I may even get a shout for that, and then going on to bowl spin!

My batting has really improved, in 3 sessions I've been bowled out once, and that was a terrible shot, trying to work it to leg, but taking it off off-stump, I must have lost my guard because it was a filthy shot. I was hitting the ball wonderfully last night in particular, pulling off Jamie (he must be late 60's, early 70's mph) and hitting really nicely off my legs, which I've never done before! Things are looking up!

My fielding was good in the one fielding session we had, dropped one absolute skier but it went higher in the air than I've ever seen, I'll practice that though.

First game of the season (competitively) on Saturday, exciting times ahead! Will blog again after the weekend! Ciao!

A quick catchup

It's been a while, been a bit busy with Uni assignments but thought I'd bring you readers up to speed. I've had 3 net sessions at Uni, where my bowling has been strong, and my fielding as well, my batting has been a bit hit and miss. Getting more into line, but some of the Uni bowlers are still a little quick for me. Oh well, we'll get into it sooner or later.

Had a friendly match on Sunday, wasn't too bad a game. green pitch, stayed low, but decent enough for me. Got a bit of purchase now and then, but was bowling with just my index finger gripping, as opposed to the index and the middle finger, mainly through confidence because it was the first game of the season. Control wasn't too bad. Took a catch as well, fielded quite well, some chasing, some standard stuff coming straight to me as well. Lost by 2 wickets, should have pushed them closer, but it was just good to be out in the field to be honest!

Back at home, had my first net with my mates. Bowling was good, considering the net is built on concrete! Got bounce, but more importantly, got turn. Beat the bat on a few occasions, got a lot of turn to beat people in the flight and get catches to go to (hypothetical) fielders. Batting was, as well, a MASSIVE improvement. everything felt right! Hit some lovely cover drives, played straight, waited for it, defended tightly, and leathered everything short. Had a couple of short balls that were quick, that I sort of struggled with, and then got cleaned up when I had a slog, but apart from that it was a top session!

Absolutely drained!

Had 2 sessions yesterday, a fitness/fielding one at 7.30am(!!!) and a normal net at 5pm-7pm.

Morning session was good, but I was absolutely dying of tired! Really good session, my fielding was much improved, and by the end I was drenched in sweat. Lovely way to go to your 9.15 lecture. Not got much to say on the morning session!

Evening session was a whole different kettle of fish. Bowling was okay, line was a bit everywhere though. Got a little turn, didn't make too much of an impact though. My batting was going in reverse. The seamers were using new balls, so it was swinging round corners, but I should have accounted for that in my batting, but I didn't. I wasn't getting my front foot across, I wasn't waiting for the ball, and I was flailing outside my off peg. When will I learn?! One of the Old Boys is gonna be down on Monday, hope he'll give me a few tips on my batting. I think I just need to pick my shots, play each ball on its merits!