Against such young bowlers you expect adults to be able to show a straight bat and last 40 overs.
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran - After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up' - Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy - Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch - Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
Against such young bowlers you expect adults to be able to show a straight bat and last 40 overs.
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran - After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up' - Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy - Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch - Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
I mean, I'd have gone with "pure shite" as the description, but your way works too!
thought there might be a bit of gloating from AA this morning
excuse me ..you ve already had that conversation -ish
I didn't what to gloat because that wouldn't be kind but did want to say that I was surprised that OC's could only manage 82 against a bowling attack that included two 15 year olds, a 14 year old and a 12 year old.
I'm too kind to mention that though.
I'm completely unsurprised.
I was missing my two best batsmen (Ash, and our keeper, who dropped out on Friday night), one of our openers (scored 63 in week 1), and two of my guys (10 and 11) were impossibly hungover and a specialist fielder respectively.
Also, our stand-in keeper tried to hit everything out the park (as he always does), and our number 6 ran himself out like a headless chicken, while I was terrible. I'd also never played with our opening bat before.
To be honest, I'm just happy we didn't concede the fixture.
Right attitude Paddy ,they are lucky to have you ...if you skipper the lowest team you are on a hiding to nothing losing players at the last minute ...our lot were relying on a chap who lives in West London (who works as an undertaker) who became available at the last minute ..at the last second a few extra people decided to die in Kensington so he didnt show...so we only had 10 ..thats Club Cricket !
It's the way it goes - though I don't actually tend to lose players to other teams so much as to the cricketing ether. My record of not conceding a fixture as captain is a fiercely proud one, and I don't intend on giving it up.
That's amazing that is - did he at least let you know? And ten is relatively par for the course at our level - certainly if you look at other teams in our division (and parallel ones) you'll have sides go out with nine fairly regularly.
thought there might be a bit of gloating from AA this morning
excuse me ..you ve already had that conversation -ish
I didn't what to gloat because that wouldn't be kind but did want to say that I was surprised that OC's could only manage 82 against a bowling attack that included two 15 year olds, a 14 year old and a 12 year old.
I'm too kind to mention that though.
I'm completely unsurprised.
I was missing my two best batsmen (Ash, and our keeper, who dropped out on Friday night), one of our openers (scored 63 in week 1), and two of my guys (10 and 11) were impossibly hungover and a specialist fielder respectively.
Also, our stand-in keeper tried to hit everything out the park (as he always does), and our number 6 ran himself out like a headless chicken, while I was terrible. I'd also never played with our opening bat before.
To be honest, I'm just happy we didn't concede the fixture.
Right attitude Paddy ,they are lucky to have you ...if you skipper the lowest team you are on a hiding to nothing losing players at the last minute ...our lot were relying on a chap who lives in West London (who works as an undertaker) who became available at the last minute ..at the last second a few extra people decided to die in Kensington so he didnt show...so we only had 10 ..thats Club Cricket !
It's the way it goes - though I don't actually tend to lose players to other teams so much as to the cricketing ether. My record of not conceding a fixture as captain is a fiercely proud one, and I don't intend on giving it up.
That's amazing that is - did he at least let you know? And ten is relatively par for the course at our level - certainly if you look at other teams in our division (and parallel ones) you'll have sides go out with nine fairly regularly.
Yes he did let us know ...due to the nature of the job he is reliably unreliable
Against such young bowlers you expect adults to be able to show a straight bat and last 40 overs.
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran - After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up' - Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy - Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch - Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
I don't know if this will be of any comfort to you but, despite his stature, the leg spinner is not the 12 year old - he is actually 14, a technically sound batsman and a District player who has trialled for Kent. The 12 year old was the bowler who came on last who is also a District player and who was making his League debut.
Against such young bowlers you expect adults to be able to show a straight bat and last 40 overs.
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran - After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up' - Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy - Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch - Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
I don't know if this will be of any comfort to you but, despite his stature, the leg spinner is not the 12 year old - he is actually 14, a technically sound batsman and a District player who has trialled for Kent. The 12 year old was the bowler who came on last who is also a District player and who was making his League debut.
Yeah, Harrison got absolutely carved up by one of our quicks last year in a friendly. His dad was umpiring, and given his stature, I wanted to check that Andy the bowler wasn't going to be too quick. Well - he was, and pitched it fairly full, forgetting that the batsman's size meant fairly full became back of a length, and there was quite the hit to the box. Carried on gamely though, so fair play!
Against such young bowlers you expect adults to be able to show a straight bat and last 40 overs.
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran - After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up' - Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy - Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch - Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
I don't know if this will be of any comfort to you but, despite his stature, the leg spinner is not the 12 year old - he is actually 14, a technically sound batsman and a District player who has trialled for Kent. The 12 year old was the bowler who came on last who is also a District player and who was making his League debut.
Yeah, Harrison got absolutely carved up by one of our quicks last year in a friendly. His dad was umpiring, and given his stature, I wanted to check that Andy the bowler wasn't going to be too quick. Well - he was, and pitched it fairly full, forgetting that the batsman's size meant fairly full became back of a length, and there was quite the hit to the box. Carried on gamely though, so fair play!
Harrison is a tough kid but has had to learn how to be that because of his size. Plays rugby for Dartford GS and Dartfordians and is bright as well as being a lovely lad.
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Strange that @Addickted2TheReds has not reported back on the weekend’s proceedings.
Maybe this is why:
Beckenham 1s: 90 all out (lost by 137 runs) 2s: 156-5 (lost by 6 wickets) 3s: 81 all out (lost by 8 wickets) 4s: 74 all out (lost by 137 runs) 5s: 42 all out (lost by 154 runs)
This degree of synchronised carnage would take some beating.
Strange that @Addickted2TheReds has not reported back on the weekend’s proceedings.
Maybe this is why:
Beckenham 1s: 90 all out (lost by 137 runs) 2s: 156-5 (lost by 6 wickets) 3s: 81 all out (lost by 8 wickets) 4s: 74 all out (lost by 137 runs) 5s: 42 all out (lost by 154 runs)
This degree of synchronised carnage would take some beating.
It appears that Beckenham are going through a period of transition as they have lost a few players from the top two sides through injury and departure and that has affected those teams lower down. When Bexley played their 2s they had no colts playing (in fact I reckon that they only had one player under 25 although Harry Jones, who is the same age as Seb, has played for them since) whereas we had half a dozen. Beckenham also probably have a fair number at private schools and Uni who will, no doubt, return.
I was speaking to someone who is heavily involved in the Colts section who says that they have had a big drop off from playing numbers at the upper age groups but that they have no less than FIVE U11 sides so there should be a resurgence in adult playing numbers in a few years time.
This is all reflected in the fact that their bottom four sides have actually only won one match between them this season.
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Unlikely that CMJ would have approved of the word "cricketspeak" either.
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Unlikely that CMJ would have approved of the word "cricketspeak" either.
I don't think there is such word so he wouldn't need to approve or not and he certainly wouldn't read CL. Really don't see your point.
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Unlikely that CMJ would have approved of the word "cricketspeak" either.
I don't think there is such word so he wouldn't need to approve or not and he certainly wouldn't read CL. Really don't see your point.
Then why would he give a toss about the phrase "back of a length", given 1) I've used it on CL; 2) he's not the custodian of the English language; and 3) it's part of common cricketing parlance at the moment, anyway?
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Unlikely that CMJ would have approved of the word "cricketspeak" either.
I don't think there is such word so he wouldn't need to approve or not and he certainly wouldn't read CL. Really don't see your point.
Then why would he give a toss about the phrase "back of a length", given 1) I've used it on CL; 2) he's not the custodian of the English language; and 3) it's part of common cricketing parlance at the moment, anyway?
Really don't see your point.
I am a traditionalist, really sorry about that. I have seen the game I love gradually destroyed over the past 20 years or so and "back of a length" is part of that. Along with umpires not placing the bails from their pocket at the start of a session and removing them at the end and putting them back in their pockets, why did that change? WHITE cricket clothing instead of cream. Bats the size of railway sleepers. Other silly phrases like "chase down" and batsmen with "good hands". Bowlers bowling "nicely". I could go on and probably will later.
It is an annoying phrase that has crept into cricketspeak over the past 10 years or so. Mainly down to Nasser. I am a great student of the wonderful game both as an enthusiast and former player. I am a staunch traditionalist and the phrase "Back of a length" really irks me. CMJ must be turning in his grave.
Unlikely that CMJ would have approved of the word "cricketspeak" either.
I don't think there is such word so he wouldn't need to approve or not and he certainly wouldn't read CL. Really don't see your point.
Then why would he give a toss about the phrase "back of a length", given 1) I've used it on CL; 2) he's not the custodian of the English language; and 3) it's part of common cricketing parlance at the moment, anyway?
Strange that @Addickted2TheReds has not reported back on the weekend’s proceedings.
Maybe this is why:
Beckenham 1s: 90 all out (lost by 137 runs) 2s: 156-5 (lost by 6 wickets) 3s: 81 all out (lost by 8 wickets) 4s: 74 all out (lost by 137 runs) 5s: 42 all out (lost by 154 runs)
This degree of synchronised carnage would take some beating.
It was my 21st celebrations on the Friday. The Kent v Surrey game was not very beneficial for Beckenham Cricket Club, let me assure you! Our gun player, who got a good score for the Kent 2s yesterday, got no runs and no wickets, which gives you an indication of how his friday night ended up.
As for the rest of the sides, we're in a massive transition period at the moment. I would be surprised if 2s to 5s won another game all season!
Belated congratulations on your 21st, Joe! Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
Belated congratulations on your 21st, Joe! Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
The congratulations aren't belated - I'm not 21 until the 26th July! But we thought we'd make the most of smashing Surrey by getting smashed ourselves and thought I'd do a hospitality job!
So essentially the 2s really struggled last year and we lost about 7 players from them, and then we lost three for the 1s. So ten players from the top two teams is pretty catastrophic.
That, combined with the fact that all of the other teams got promoted last year, plus we added another team into the league system, leaves us in this situation.
It's no biggie, we're not the first club this has happened to - we'll bounce back. There is no way the 1s will be relegated, which is the main thing and the rest of us are just enjoying the beer!
Belated congratulations on your 21st, Joe! Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
The congratulations aren't belated - I'm not 21 until the 26th July! But we thought we'd make the most of smashing Surrey by getting smashed ourselves and thought I'd do a hospitality job!
So essentially the 2s really struggled last year and we lost about 7 players from them, and then we lost three for the 1s. So ten players from the top two teams is pretty catastrophic.
That, combined with the fact that all of the other teams got promoted last year, plus we added another team into the league system, leaves us in this situation.
It's no biggie, we're not the first club this has happened to - we'll bounce back. There is no way the 1s will be relegated, which is the main thing and the rest of us are just enjoying the beer!
I think Hartley said that last year...and Bromley the year before that!
Belated congratulations on your 21st, Joe! Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
The congratulations aren't belated - I'm not 21 until the 26th July! But we thought we'd make the most of smashing Surrey by getting smashed ourselves and thought I'd do a hospitality job!
So essentially the 2s really struggled last year and we lost about 7 players from them, and then we lost three for the 1s. So ten players from the top two teams is pretty catastrophic.
That, combined with the fact that all of the other teams got promoted last year, plus we added another team into the league system, leaves us in this situation.
It's no biggie, we're not the first club this has happened to - we'll bounce back. There is no way the 1s will be relegated, which is the main thing and the rest of us are just enjoying the beer!
I think Hartley said that last year...and Bromley the year before that!
Speaking of Hartley, anyone know why/when Andy Tutt stepped down? Doesn't seem to have played at all this season...
Belated congratulations on your 21st, Joe! Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
The congratulations aren't belated - I'm not 21 until the 26th July! But we thought we'd make the most of smashing Surrey by getting smashed ourselves and thought I'd do a hospitality job!
So essentially the 2s really struggled last year and we lost about 7 players from them, and then we lost three for the 1s. So ten players from the top two teams is pretty catastrophic.
That, combined with the fact that all of the other teams got promoted last year, plus we added another team into the league system, leaves us in this situation.
It's no biggie, we're not the first club this has happened to - we'll bounce back. There is no way the 1s will be relegated, which is the main thing and the rest of us are just enjoying the beer!
I think Hartley said that last year...and Bromley the year before that!
Speaking of Hartley, anyone know why/when Andy Tutt stepped down? Doesn't seem to have played at all this season...
Probably because age, combined with being a CAFC fan, has got the better of him! It comes to us all - eventually.
Seb was invited to trial for the annual fundraiser for Leigh Academy against the PCA (used to be against Lashings) on the 29th June at Bexley. Whilst he doesn't go there, the side to play the PCA comes under the Academy banner and is made up of local school and club cricketers.
The good news for Seb is that he has made the team (and is the youngest to do so this year) and whilst he probably won't keep, as that will probably be an 18 year old who has done it for the last couple of years, he is due to bat at 5 against a PCA side with the following confirmed so far:
Mark Ramprakash Owais Shah Adam Hollioake Alex Tudor Min Patel Dominic Cork Mal Loye Ali Brown Matthew Hoggard
It will be a fantastic experience for him to play against that lot especially with a number of them being former England internationals - and I wouldn't mind betting that the likes of Cork, Tudor and Hoggard are still pretty useful with the ball.
Great news for Seb! There's going to be some class in there - a former England ODI captain, no less!
Strange that I can't seem to find records on Play-Cricket for Min Patel (last I knew he was at Gravesend?) and Alex Tudor (who's at Spencer in the Surrey Championship IIRC), but nonetheless, I expect they'd all give Seb a pretty tough time out there, even if they've probably lost a few miles per hour.
I hope he bats relatively selfishly for the experience!
Seb was invited to trial for the annual fundraiser for Leigh Academy against the PCA (used to be against Lashings) on the 29th June at Bexley. Whilst he doesn't go there, the side to play the PCA comes under the Academy banner and is made up of local school and club cricketers.
The good news for Seb is that he has made the team (and is the youngest to do so this year) and whilst he probably won't keep, as that will probably be an 18 year old who has done it for the last couple of years, he is due to bat at 5 against a PCA side with the following confirmed so far:
Mark Ramprakash Owais Shah Adam Hollioake Alex Tudor Min Patel Dominic Cork Mal Loye Ali Brown Matthew Hoggard
It will be a fantastic experience for him to play against that lot especially with a number of them being former England internationals - and I wouldn't mind betting that the likes of Cork, Tudor and Hoggard are still pretty useful with the ball.
Comments
The dismissals of the other batsmen after I came in at 7:
- Hit the ball straight to backward point and ran
- After looking somewhat competent, received a long-hop from a very slow and small legspinner (who otherwise bowled well) and given a broad range of options to smash it wherever he pleased, chose 'directly up'
- Backed away to aforementioned legspinner's half-volley and acted like Shane Warne had just unleashed the impossible when it defeated his crooked-bat waft n.b. I love you really Paddy
- Attempted to defend aforementioned legspinner; typically defensive shots aren't completed with the bat in the follow-through while the ball is still yet to pitch
- Hungover and incapable. I stupidly ran three first ball of an over and realised instantly that I had played my last shot of the day. That it took three further balls to confirm this was mere divine cruelty. We should have all walked off when he bat-padded the first one to slip
That's amazing that is - did he at least let you know? And ten is relatively par for the course at our level - certainly if you look at other teams in our division (and parallel ones) you'll have sides go out with nine fairly regularly.
Maybe this is why:
Beckenham 1s: 90 all out (lost by 137 runs)
2s: 156-5 (lost by 6 wickets)
3s: 81 all out (lost by 8 wickets)
4s: 74 all out (lost by 137 runs)
5s: 42 all out (lost by 154 runs)
This degree of synchronised carnage would take some beating.
I was speaking to someone who is heavily involved in the Colts section who says that they have had a big drop off from playing numbers at the upper age groups but that they have no less than FIVE U11 sides so there should be a resurgence in adult playing numbers in a few years time.
This is all reflected in the fact that their bottom four sides have actually only won one match between them this season.
Really don't see your point.
As for the rest of the sides, we're in a massive transition period at the moment. I would be surprised if 2s to 5s won another game all season!
Both surprised and sorry to hear from you and @Addick Addict that Beckenham find themselves in a rebuilding phase - especially after the successes the club enjoyed last season.
So essentially the 2s really struggled last year and we lost about 7 players from them, and then we lost three for the 1s. So ten players from the top two teams is pretty catastrophic.
That, combined with the fact that all of the other teams got promoted last year, plus we added another team into the league system, leaves us in this situation.
It's no biggie, we're not the first club this has happened to - we'll bounce back. There is no way the 1s will be relegated, which is the main thing and the rest of us are just enjoying the beer!
The good news for Seb is that he has made the team (and is the youngest to do so this year) and whilst he probably won't keep, as that will probably be an 18 year old who has done it for the last couple of years, he is due to bat at 5 against a PCA side with the following confirmed so far:
Mark Ramprakash
Owais Shah
Adam Hollioake
Alex Tudor
Min Patel
Dominic Cork
Mal Loye
Ali Brown
Matthew Hoggard
It will be a fantastic experience for him to play against that lot especially with a number of them being former England internationals - and I wouldn't mind betting that the likes of Cork, Tudor and Hoggard are still pretty useful with the ball.
Strange that I can't seem to find records on Play-Cricket for Min Patel (last I knew he was at Gravesend?) and Alex Tudor (who's at Spencer in the Surrey Championship IIRC), but nonetheless, I expect they'd all give Seb a pretty tough time out there, even if they've probably lost a few miles per hour.
I hope he bats relatively selfishly for the experience!