Cricket Australia and homework-gate

So, 4 players have been dropped from the Australia test squad for the in-play 3rd test in India. The reason? They failed to hand in a piece of (for wont of a better word) homework to Mickey Arthur detailing 3 ways in which their individual and team performance from the second test could be improved. The players in question are Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson and Shane Watson. Now before I even get into the positives and negatives of this, the one thing that stood out for me was that 2 of these players, Khawaja and Johnson, didn't even PLAY the second test match. What do they expect to be written? I half imagine Khawaja to have written "individual: 1) get picked. 2) carry drinks better. 3) find compromising pictures of Mickey Arthur. Team: 1) pick me. 2) don't pick Phil Hughes. 3) clone Michael Clarke." It just doesn't make sense to me.
For me, there has to be some other agenda, I don't think I've seen anything like this happen in my 10 years of following cricket (and copious amounts reading up on past games), and I seriously cannot imagine the Australia of yesteryear doing this. Imagine asking Dennis Lillee or Allan Border to do this. Or even Ricky Ponting or Matthew Hayden! Not likely. What I imagine them doing to prepare for the next game is exactly what others would be doing: practising! It must be difficult taking your selectors and coach seriously when they ask for what essentially amounts to homework, especially when they don't even pick the strongest side at their disposal in the first place (Steve o'Keefe anyone?). I seems that Arthur is trying to stamp his authority on his side, yet all it seems to have done is made them the laughing stock of the cricketing world.
However, there have been a couple of positives to come out of the situation. In this third test, runs have been scored by 1 man who would have no doubt been dropped if all were available, and another who probably didn't expect to play at all, in Phil Hughes and Steve Smith. In addition, if Pattinson were available, one of Starc and Siddle would have in all probability sat out, and between them they have taken 7 wickets in the first innings, bringing Australia right back into the game. Maybe homework-gate will turn out to be a master stroke by Mickey Arthur. Only time will tell.

The day's cricketing news...

So, I've not blogged for like, a year. I've also never blogged about anything besides my own cricket experiences before. But I felt as though I had to make my views known on this. I was also unsure how to word the title, so instead I just decided to call it "the day's news...", as I just cannot think of an apt enough way to lead this post.
Now, I can't make any real, informed, insightful comments on the complete ins and outs of the cause/factors of Tom Maynard's death, I only know what I (like most others) have read on twitter/newspaper websites. I only know that Tom had traces of illegal substances in his blood/hair samples. This, in itself, is shocking, but at the same time cricketers are earning more than ever, are playing in an incredibly professional environment, and are under intense pressure to perform and (as is the case with most sports) possibly more-so than any other sort of working environment. And, due to human nature, it is almost inevitable that with all the pressures and expectations, those people will try and find a way to relax. I'm not trying to vindicate or defend Tom's actions by any means. I am, however, trying to shed a little light on why this happens, and making the point that there is not enough help or guidance given to these young sportsmen and women. The psychological impact of the pressures on cricketers (and other sports players, but I shall use cricketers as the example in this blog) has been greatly expanded upon in recent times by Marcus Trescothick, Steven Davies, Michael Yardy and Ed Cowan, amongst others. It is clear that there needs to be a support system for those in cricket, as it appears to me that there isn't anything substantial enough in place. It seems as well that there needs to be more drug testing, even for recreational drugs. The ECB today stated that they currently carry out "around 200 tests a year". This equals about 35-40% of the registered professionals. However, this may need to be increased, in order to try and further decrease the number of cases, and for those that do test positive for recreational substances, some sort of guidance of help (whether within the club, under ECB auspices, or outside help such as therapists or support groups) needs to be in place. It is also maybe worth noting that these sorts of drugs do not enhance sporting ability, but can (and in this case, sadly do) wreck lives, and we need to be made aware of that, as do those in the game. People in other walks of life would be getting proper support, often nudged towards it by their colleagues/employers, it would be fair to say that cricketers/sportspeople should have the same support from their friends/colleagues/employers. I find it difficult to write on such a difficult subject at such a time, because it is so sad, but if this sort of thing happens then something in the system has to change.
This all brings me round to Edwina Currie's comments today after the inquest's findings. Now, once again I am not defending Tom's actions here, but how can anyone with the background that Edwina Currie has (John Major, anyone?) find themselves of a sufficient moral ethical standing to make such a comment on someone that she does not know, and a situation she is barely aware of? What right does she have to comment on and criticise someone for their actions, given her extremely long list of indiscretions and foot-in-mouth comments that she has made in the past? Of course, she is no stranger to controversy, having once stated that "good people do not catch AIDS", but she has once again showed her lack of tact, this in such a sensitive situation, and it has sparked outrage from not only cricket fans, but county cricketers as well, and personally I am genuinely shocked by her words. The phrase "Darwinism at work" in particular is extremely disrespectful, and once again given her background maybe what goes around will come around, and her words may well bite her back. It is a shame that someone feels the need to make such a comment on a day where most just wanted some closure on the issue, and wanted to remember a wonderful cricketer, and (for those close to him) their friend, someone that was most definitely taken too soon.

Cricket "Pre-Season"...

So... It's been a while! I'm still in the land of Frogs, but I've just finished sorting out my return trip. Since the last post, I've changed clubs, which was always going to happen. I arrive back just before the 2nd game of the season, which is perfect for me, gives me a week of nets to remember how to play! Will have to get into the mode of blogging! That will do for now, will post a fuller blog soon!

Ben

A very long catch-up!

Well, it's been an awful long time since I posted. I'm gonna try and do this fairly briefly, but in that time I've played another 7 or 8 matches. In that time, I've managed to get another duck, hit 28* off 90 balls, take a few catches in the outfield, drop a fairly impressive 7 caught-and-bowled attempts, run through a couple of sides, get pasted into next week against another, And not get a chance to bowl in a game where we only have 10 men... Oh well. I'm on holiday now, in sunny Cornwall, and I go to France for the year on the 31st of this month, so I've only got one match left, against Market Rasen. I want to sign off in style with a win and hopefully some runs+wickets!

That'll do for now!

I'm getting lazy!

This needs an update! I've played 3 games recently (not counting midweek matches). The first was away at Cleethorpes, with a ground a bit like Lords: Balcony, posh facilities, nice deck. Rain was about, but not at Cleethorpes, stayed dry for all but about 10 minutes with a light shower. We won the toss and bowled first. Their openers made 20 before Dan H got one with a long-hop! We then worked away and took wickets at regular intervals, with a top partnership of 40. I bowled from about the 16th over onwards, bowling straight through, and had figures of 14-1-49-1. They were 10-1-25-1, but I bowled at the death and went for a run a ball at the time, which was pretty handy! Kept them to 164-6 off the 45. Teas were awesome, although maybe lacking in the savoury area, nothing like pizza or chicken, or anything similar. Pasta was top-notch though! Our batting let us down, we were all out 126, with only Dave scoring anything of note with a really well-made 59, including some screaming cover-drives. I was out 4th ball to a leggie. And a shit one at that. Playing across the line, it didn't do anything, and bowled through the gate. Bollocks. Oh well, shit happens!

Last week we played at home against Bracebridge Heath. A very good side, with a couple of overseas pros and a couple of ECB 1st teamers. We lost the toss and bowled, and Ben B picked up one of their overseas pros for a 2nd baller, losing his off peg when leaving the ball. Gooooood. A few players scored runs for them, nothing major, their other overseas pro made 49. Before I clean bowled him, through the gate. Silly tosser. Only bowled 3 overs, although to be fair we had 7 bowlers! 3-0-9-1, I've had worse. Kept it tight and they made 168-7 off 40. Decent effort on our part. Teas were awesome, as per usual! We lost our openers with 6 on the board, shit start. Jamie hung around with Deegs but we were soon 38-4 when I came in. At 6. Against the best side in the county... I made 7, but the bowling was just half a yard too quick for me. ended up cutting a short and wide one straight to point. Was gutted! Ben went on to make 60, including a reverse-sweep, 2 scoops over short fine leg, and a dilscoop off their quick bowler. And we were 127-8 off the 40. It was a much improved performance, and their skipper agreed, and asked how the hell we were bottom as opposed to being up the top where he felt we should be. He reckoned it was the hardest match they'd had! That's always good to hear.

We played Hartsholme 2nds at their place on Saturday. This was a hard match. We won the toss and bowled first. Getting into a habit of it, I sorta feel we need to bat first more often. To be fair, we had them 55-5, all of our seamers taking 1 wicket, and Dan H picking up 2. Their skipper came in though, and their vice skip was already there, and they put on 124 against us, belting the seamers about the place, after playing themselves in. I came on in the 30th over (a bit late I feel!) and went for 9 off my first 3 overs. I was brought off, but after Dave got hit about I came back on. I went for 12 off one over, but I tossed the ball up as opposed to going with my gut instinct and darting it in. I duly got my reward, and went for 5 off my last 2 overs, and got their skipper caught at long off. 6-0-26-1, and their batsmen asked me why I was brought off. Always nice to hear! Teas are always good at Hartsholme, and they delivered again, the fruit cake being a particular favourite, although people were equally loving the lemon drizzle. I was content with filling my plate up repeatedly, as per usual. With our batting we really should have won this. But they had 2 bowlers who bowled through. One was a left-arm over bowler who swung it down leg. We couldn't get bat on it. Another thing was that our opener made 30. Off 81 balls. Just too slow. We were 134-7 when I went in, I got us up to 164, in the 6 overs I was there. Made 15 off about 18 balls. 3 4's, ran lots of leg-byes. Gutted to have lost, but picked up 7 points, so it wasn't all bad. Oh well. Had 2 midweek games, bowled against some ECBers again, took 5-0-28-2, in 8 ball overs, and then last week beat my old team-mates, 3-0-15-0 and 2 off 2 balls to win the match. Always nice... And so that's about it for my update! Will update tonight after our midweek game as well. Au revoir!

Upppdate!

Well it's been a while, so I thought it best to update. We'll start off with Saturday 4th June, when we played Nettleham. We bowled first, and it was a bit of a one-man show from their part. One lad hit 60, and the rest made 15s and 20s, and a few single figure scores, to get them up to 193, I had their opener stumped when he got to 60 with a nicely flighted ball that turned a decent amount, and had one of their middle order caught by Sam at cover. I got a bit of tap, but I bowled in the slog overs at the end, and came out with figures of 12-1-58-2. Expensive, but they were going for it. Bowled a few loose ones, but as a general rule I was very good. Teas were very good, and then we came out to bat. The openers put on 100, before Sam was stumped playing a silly shot for 43. Andrew made it to 59 before tiring and being bowled heaving across the line, and Kev followed soon after. Deegs and Edwin put on about 30, before Edwin was bowled, and Si Clark followed soon after, not without hitting a massive 6 though. I walked in 186-5, needing 8 off the last over. I faced, and got 4 off the first 2 balls, and then Deegs called me through for a bye, and he was ran out well short. Joe walked in, knocked the first one back to the bowler, and then called me through for a leg-bye, leaving me on strike needing 3 to win (déjà-vu anyone?!) My ex Uni president was bowling, and he bowled a length ball on the pads which I pulled away to deep-midwicket (they had 6 boundary riders, even though we needed 3 to win, it didn't make sense!) and slipped coming back for the 2nd, but I started legging it, and the throw came in... 10 yards over the keepers head! Nobody was backing up properly, so I scrambled in, and ran back for the 3rd! We'd done it, we'd finally won a game! Smashing! 7* off 4 balls, nice way to end the game!

Sunday's game was a decent effort, we batted first and thanks to Sam and Ben, who made 63 and 59 respectively, we made it to 155-3. Our opening stand was 43, but off 20 overs, so we really kicked on in the 2nd half. Teas were outstanding as always at home, and we went out to defend it. It didn't help that we dropped the openers 4 times, one was me, a caught+bowled chance they hammered back at me. Should've caught it, but since fucking my finger up I've been a bit hesitant with all catches, and I shelled it. They put on 107, and although I got rid of them both quite quickly, we never really stood a chance. They knocked it off, 4 wickets down. I ended up with 7-2-23-2. Decent, but not earth-shattering. Just not good enough really!

Had a midweek match we won, bowled 5-0-33-3, decent enough, dropped a very tough catch at backward point, full stretch, but 2 years ago I'd have been taking them for fun! REALLY need to work on catching.

On Saturday we were at home against Stamford Homes. Batted first, a slow start again. I came in at 98-3, but Kev was retired hurt, so at the time it was basically 98-4. 12 overs left, me and Deegs put on 20-odd, before he was out for 46 to a shot that he just didn't hit hard enough, by his own admission. Me and Dan H put on another 20, before he was bowled, and we eked out the remaining runs, another lad was cleaned up but we got to 155, I was 17*. Should have been so much more, but pre-meditated slogging took over! Teas were brilliant again, as usual! In reply, they made it to 67-2, with Clarkey getting both wickets, and then they just collapsed. Me and Deegs took 8 between us, I took 2 wickets with my worst 2 deliveries of the day, as usual. Beat the bat more times than I can count, but they just kept missing them, so I got them with a knee height full toss, and a half-tracker. All out 110, I picked up 12-5-34-3, Deegs 11.1-4-19-5. Quality work, 2 wins in 2 games! This is getting worrying!

2 more midweek games this week, Monday night we won, bowled first, kept them to 110, I went 3-0-14-0 (8 ball overs as well!) Dropped a toughie at backward point but ran the guy out off the same ball! Last night was... Terrible. Went for 1-31 off 3, dropped their main batsman off my own bowling, a sitter, on 40, he went on to make 81* and win the game. FML.

But hey, shit happens, move on! Sunday we have a Saturday-league game, roll on the weekend!

Back on the field!

Well this weekend saw me finally get back on the field, after 2 weeks of fucking about due to my finger. It's still not completely fixed, it's still swollen, but I can bend+move it without pain so I felt I was ready to go back on. We lost the toss on Saturday against Caistor and were put into bat. It was a very green pitch, and we were 2 down within about 2 overs, losing Rak and Sam in that order. Andy and Kev put on about 40 to get us to 46-2, albeit off about 21 overs. What came next was a collapse of Sri Lankan proportions! 46-2 became 46-4, then 48-6, then 53-7. I walked in at 9, with the previous 3 wickets falling for ducks. I saw out the over comfortably enough, and hung around with Edwin, chipping in with a 4 through mid-wicket . Edwin fell for 7 at 61-8, and after myself pulling a 2 through midwicket, we lost 2 wickets at the other end for no runs. All out 63, me 7*. I could have done with keeping the strike on the last ball of the previous, but there was no single on offer really. We had 6 ducks, 5 of which occurred in the last 6 wickets that fell.

Teas were good, Caistor don't mess about when it comes to food! We walked out there knowing that we needed to take early wickets. Unfortunately, we didn't have that luxury. The first and only wicket fell on 49, I took a fairly simple catch off Deegs, their opener trying to sweep a ball and top-edging it to short-fine leg. I bowled 5 overs, the first 3 of which were all maidens. At one point my figures were 3.3-3-0-0, but in my next over and a half I bowled a wide ball which the batsman cut for 3, and a lovely full bunger the batsman put away for a boundary. The captain took us off, in pursuit of wickets, and brought on a couple of part-timers but it didn't help, we lost by 9 wickets. Picked up fielder of the match though, decent return for my work in the field!

On Sunday the match was a different affair. Well, sort of. We headed to Reepham, where I knackered my finger in the first place. Needless to say, everyone told me that if I did it again they wouldn't forgive me! We lost the toss and bowled first, And Ben B set about trying to run through the opposition. We had them one down fairly quickly, Ben picking up a wicket in the 7th over. After that, their opener and no.3 laid the foundations for a decent innings, before Lenny picked up the latter for a decent 25. The opener went on through to make 50, and I came on with them at about 80-2 in the 24th over. I got a breakthrough fairly early on in my spell, and continued to bowl fairly well throughout, not giving anything away. Ben came back at the the other end to take a couple of wickets, and I picked up another 3 to leave me with figures of 7-1-21-4. Reepham ended up at 156-8 off their 40.

Teas were once again decent, the home-made scones in particular going down like a house on fire.

With the bat, we started off well enough, lost a couple of quick wickets in the first 15 overs but we were on about 70-2, with Ben B going well again, hitting 20 off about 7 balls, before playing a loose shot and skying one. Once again, that led to a procession of wickets, and ended up with me walking in at 100-7 with about 15 overs remaining. 4 an over, doable normally, but with only 3 wickets left...? I headed in, saw off the first couple of overs for not many runs, before losing Pete at the other end, leaving us 110-8. Lenny came in and held an end up for a couple of overs, hitting a decent 4 and a 2 as well. At the other end, I was playing well! Picked up a couple of 4s through the leg side, and rotated the strike well, before Lenny got out to a pitched up delivery, leaving us on about 125-9. Gooders walked in at 11, no Chris Martin with the bat, so I felt a bit better about it. We started to work the strike, and I picked up another few runs, as well as running the extras and wides. With 29 needed off 3 overs, Gooders picked up a 4, as did I, and we were left needing 12 off the last over. Gooders ran a single off the 2nd ball, and I hit 2 4s in 3balls, leaving us with 3 to get off the last ball. Unfortunately, the bowler (also a left-arm spinner) speared it in short and quick, on the leg stump, and with 6 (yes 6!) fielders on the leg side, I couldn't get it away, and Gooders was ran out trying to force the fielder into making a mistake. Absolutely gutted. All out 154. Left on 26*, a personal best, with 5 leg side 4s and a total of 2 scoring shots on the off side. Was chuffed with the effort, but having dropped 4 catches in the field (including their opener who made 70, when he was on about 30), and collapsing so rapidly, we shouldn't have even been in the situation we were. A good effort though from the lower order considering where we were at!

My stats for the season are:

Batting: 6 innings, 5 not outs, 61 runs, top score of 25*, average of 61 (one for the scrapbook!), strike rate up at 70 (apparently, I'm unconvinced!)

Bowling: 45 overs, 10 maidens, 138 runs, 10 wickets, best of 4-21, strike rate of 27, average of 13.8. 1 catch in the field.

Decent enough start, need to get some more runs, wickets and catches mind. And a few wins would be nice too!