Story A Season in Battrick - The TT Lions Story

[ZoraxDoom]

Birthdays and Increased Salaries
Since it is the start of the new season (Season 6, my fifth) in Battrick, all the players now age by one year. Also, all their wages have been increased accordingly. So the first post has now been updated in order to accommodate these new changes.​

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Ok, now what you all have been waiting for...

Friday Fan's Quiz!!
It's time for the answers, lets see how you fared!​

Q1) In this Sunday's game against the Challenger's XI, which team will win the toss?
Correct answer:
A) TT Lions

Q2) Which player will score the most runs from the TT Lions?
Correct answer:
D) None of the above

Q3) And which player will be the leading wicket-taker for the Lions?
Correct answer:
B) Lennox Rudi

Q4) And finally, who will win the match?
Like it made a difference

And now, the trivia question:

Q) What is Tom Gallagher's favourite type of Ice-cream?
Correct answer:
C) Strawberry

Unfortunately, no one got them all correct! No one even got 4 right! So, I guess there is no winner this week! But don't worry, you can always try again on next week's Friday Fan Quiz!!

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Now, time for everyone's favourite...

Tuesday's Top Player Interview​

With Chris Gamble​

CG: Welcome. Today's interview is with newcomer Andy Finlayson, who starred in his debut game with a brisk 47 and 3 catches behind the stumps! So, Andy, wassup?
AF: Ah, nothing much. Me and my family have just landed here in West Indies, so getting used to the weather and stuff, getting over the Jet lag.
CG: So, Andy, how does it feel, leaving home and everything behind to move here and play for a West Indian team?
AF: Ah, not as bad as I though it would be. Yea. We were actually planning a move to the Windies, my family and I, and when this offer came along, we couldn't resist. The guys and the coach have been great, very helpful and supporting, so it's been a smooth transmission.
CG: Great. How did it feel, performing in your very first game for the club?
AF: Ah, well, when I came out, I hadn't had much match practice, and we needed quick runs. But lucky for me, Ryan was there on the other end. And he really pushes you, doesn't he? We ran all these run, and soon the ball came of the bat nicely. Keeping wicket was a bit of a challenge, y'know, Rudi and Folkes are young, strong lads who get a lot of bounce and swing, so it was a bit difficult. I'm gald I did Okay. And it wasn't much different from playing at home, the pitch was about the same, we were still in England, so it was good, yea.
CG: So, how has your first few days with the club been?
AF: Ah, well, it's been good so far. I haven't had much time in the nets with them yet. But yea, it seems a nice and relaxed atmosphere so far. Dougie (Douglas Whing) has been very helpful, as he had to go through a similar situation as I had, and has helped us find an apartment to move into yea. He's also introduced me to everyone here, and I hope we get along well and have a nice season yea.
CG: I hear you have a baby girl?
AF (Chuckling): Hehe, yea. Her name is Sally, and she's one year old. But my wife doesn't like it when I talk about her, so, I'm gonna refrain from answering this
CG: Hehe. Well, thanks Andy. Just one final question. FOr all the fans out there, who is your favourite singer?
AF: Ah, I'll say Robbie Williams, love his work.
CG: Thanks you very much. Well, there you have it folks. Andy Finlayson. A hard-working, Robbie William's liking family man. And he is this week's Tuesday Top Player.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Ok, time to check out what was supposed to be:

Sunday's Youth​

So, I headed down to the nets to see what budding young talent was coming up through the ranks. I asked the coach to prepare a bowler for me, 12 ITS on Stamina and Bowling, and 11 of Consistency, as the max I could spend was 35. Bit of a shame really. I mean, I did have loads of ITS stored up, and my academy is one of the finest in the game. Anyhoo, here is who popped out:

Carlton Coeries (1057894)
RH Batsman, RM Bowler, respectable batting form, respectable bowling form, fresh
An attacking player with competent leadership skills and worthless experience.

Plays For: TT Lions
Nationality: West Indies
Age: 17 Years Old
Battrick Rating: 4,349
Wages: ?463 p/w

The Coach's thoughts on Carlton here:

Ahh, ee's a good kid. Ee's not very tall, but 'ees got a good runup, nice action, and 'ees very accurate. Ee works hard on ees stamina, ay, and like too 'ake the attack to the others.

My thoughts:

He's decent, not the best trainee, but I'll hold onto him till next week's bowler.

Join us next week to see what the Academy can produce!

 

[ste_mc_efc]

i've never played you have i?


if we have time when we are both out of the cup i challenge you to have a go at my spinning fortress

the last team to beat me there were the falcons, back in mid november

 

[surendar]

Also, all their wages have been increased accordingly.

Attractive scheme

Nice presentation as always! I was expecting Crouch though in Sunday's youth.. oh wait, i guess, he wud be on Tuesday's top player!

 

[zainawan89]

Actually youth is what we get out of our Youth Acadmy.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Actually youth is what we get out of our Youth Acadmy.

Yup.
And ste, no we haven't. I should fair decently on your dust bowl, what with Tuckett and all...

 

[zainawan89]

Yeah Tuckett should be really dangerous on dusty.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

The Transfer Market​

We have recieved news from the TT Lions HQ that the following players are in search for a new team:

Anthony Hodge
Age: 23
Nationality: English
Wage: ?620 p/w
LH Top-order batsman

Asif Bolder
Age: 27
Nationality: English
Wage: ?1,179 p/w
LH Lower-order bat, Wicketkeeper

Craig Bunn
Age: 23
Nationality: English
Wage: ?535 p/w
RH Lower-middle order batsman

Nyron Cox
Age: 25
Nationality: West Indian
Wage: ?570 p/w
RH Opener

Thomas Rheams
Age: 23
Nationality: Australian
Wage: ?1,776 p/w
Wicketkeeper, RH Lower-order batsman

The TT Lions will be sorry to see them go. They have all been great players and great friends for the club, and we wish them the best in the future.

It is very sad to see them go, especially Nyron Cox who has been with the team from the start and was key in my early successes. If you play BT and are intersted in buying them, check the Transfer Thread Here for their skills in a while.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means...

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom
From Shaka Nelson​

Hello, welcome to Wednesday's Words of Wisdom, where we give you, the readers, a piece of advice on Battrick every week, delivered by the TT Lion's experienced groudsman, Shaka Nelson. Today's piece of Advice is:

"Stamina is very important. Underestimate it at your own risk. Generally, atleast 9 players in your starting XI should have a minimum of Mediocre stamina, which is enough to score around 30 odd and bowl 5-7 overs well. Competent and Respectable are good levels, but if you want a player who can play the course of an FC game and then play the OD game right after, you need atleast Proficient. Stamina plays a big role in a players performance, so make sure all your players are fit and can last 50 overs."​

​

Thank you, and join us again next week in another Wednesday's Words of Wisdom.

 

[zainawan89]

Good Advise.
To add my opinion.
Stamina needs to play (FC game. OD game and a friendly) every week
All Rounder Strong
Batsman Keeper Proficient
Batsmans Competent - Respectable
Fast Bowlers Respectable
Medium Bowlers Competent - Respectable
Spin Bowlers Mediocre - Competent

Other may have different opion.

 

[surendar]

Nice presentation again with daily shows! nice stuff

 

[ZoraxDoom]

It's Thursday, there are no games, so all you get today is...

Thursday's Tour through History

This is the segment where we visit the historical places and moments in TT Lion's history. Today, we check out Zorax's first day...​

My First Day​

"Well, let's see. I heard of this fabulous world called Battrick from a thread here started by Pakcricketer. At the time, I really wanted to manage my own team.
So I decided that I would like a team by West Indies. Probably was the best decision of my life. And the only reason I chose it was due to the fact that the waiting list was short! But honestly, it was a great decisions. All home games are played at convient times for me to view when I'm not able to travel to the ground, the players are great, and the atmosphere is fabulous. Don't forget the great beaches :cool:! The community is very closely knit and friendly, and I am indeed very proud of our performances in the recent BT World Cup.
Anyways, back to the topic. I heard my application had been accepted, and I travelled down to the ground. On the trip there, I read up on all the rules, as well as people management books, coaching books, and financial management books. Must have gone through a library. I reach the groud at aroud 4PM. The players had just been told that they had a new manager, and were scheduled for some net practice till 6. As I arrived in the office, the aide greeted me and asked me what I would like to do first. I was overwhelmed for the first time. So much to do, so little time to the first game. The gravity of the situation hit me. "I am the manager, I am in control". It was my team. I owned it, I was responsible. I was single handedly responsible for the fate of the club, and It was invigorating.
I turned to the aide, and said, "Take me to the players."
As I reached the pitch, I looked around me. The ground was good, but not great. Not as it is now. I had ideas, I had a vision at that stage. I wanted a arena, kinda like the Celtic football stadium. But that would have to wait till I found out how many funds I had, the statement from the bank was on the way.
Meanwhile, the players arrived. I introduced myself, sat down, and watched. First up to bowl was Runak (o Atkinson), bowling to Ny (ron Cox). I was impressed first up by Atkinson, bowled good lines, quick, and got bounce. Drayton bowled afterwards, and it struck me that they both are very similar, expect Drayton had a bit less pace and swung the ball more. Ny impressed me with the bat, very technically correct, but lost concentration at times and played horrible shots. I figured it could cost him his wicket against good deliveries, but he could battle through. Delop was another good one. He was young, only twenty, but looked seventeen. He was a cheeky batsman. Terrible technique, but wonderful hands, eyes, co-ordination, footwork and timing. Played some of the most hideous and audacious shots, but rarely missed. Arthur Dennis really impressed me too. He pretty much managed the practice sessions on his own. He was a natural leader. The players respected him, and so did I after a while. He had to be my captain. Not only due to his leadership abilities, but as I later found out when he broke my car window in the parking lot, his brilliant power-htting. There was this bloke, Duane Christopher, wiry kid who tried hard to bowl spin and bat, but didn't do either quite well. Billy Greenwood was another kid, good bat an fielder but very lethargic, didn't seem to want to improve. He played a mean guitar though, but was always dopy and all. I think he has a career as a musician now, quit cricket. Anton kept wicket, was a nice kid, very intelligent and a hard worker. He took a break halfway though, and Mitchell Johnson took over. Was a bit clumsier and lazier than Anton, left no doubt in my mind who should be in the first eleven. There were two nice guys, Matthew Wilkerson and Mike Leonard. They were allrounders, if you can call them that. Not very good cricketers, but nice guys.
But, after thinking that was my squad, three guys pull in in a convertable. They were and hour late. All three of them were dark, tall, and partly bald. One was well built and a little fairer, he intorduced himself as Ryan Crouch. Chris Gamble then introduced himself, seemed very laidback and not worried about being late, and the driver Charles Griffin, or Charlo as he called himself apologised for being late. I figured discipline could wait for now, and told them to get ready and head down to the pitch.
Griffin was first to bat, and was terrible. I asked him to bowl, but he didn't do that too well either. After wondering why he was in the squad, I saw him take a magnificent running catch to 'dismiss' Dennis. Was a belter of a shot, went like a rocket, and it was a brilliant catch. Easily was the best fielder in the team, probably in the country. Gamble took the ball, and suprised me with his extreme pace. He lacked control, but had enough speed to scare the wits out of any batsman.
But, after all I saw, the treat of the day was yet to come. With 45 minutes to go, Ryan grabbed a bat, strapped on two pads, and strode to the middle, full of confidence. First to bowl was the very impressive Runak. It was a terrific delivery, good length, on the stumps, pacy, with a hint of swing. But Ryan dismissed it. A causual flick off the wrists, and the ball soared out of the ground over midwicket. I was stunned! Duane was next, and bowled his best ball of the day. Flighted, good length, nice loop. But Ryan placed his front foot down the track, swung, and sent yet another ball out of the ground. I was dumbstruck! The third ball, from Mike Leonard, was a half-tracker, but Crouch jumped down the pitch in two steps, and clubbed it as it pitched over long-off and out of the ground yet again!
He then unpadded, was tossed a ball by Arthur, and jogged in to bowl off 6 paces. First ball was a snorter, swing, bounce, cut. Cox got nowhere near it. He proceeded to bowl on, no batsman got bat on ball bar Anton, who nicked one which was dropped by Cox. It was fabulous, I had to have him in my team.
My watch beeped six o'clock, and was about to call the session to a close. I had seen all I had needed to see, and had a plan, a vision, formed in my head. My Aide came running up to me, he had the bank statements. We had 200,000 stored up. "I want an extension on the ground, call the contractors. I especially want to do something with that giant clock-tower there," -I pointed to where Square Leg would be- "it just seems to be missing something." I dismissed the Aide, and gathered the troups, prepared to give my first ever speech.
Slowly, I gave my speech, stressing on each word.
"Well guys, you all really impressed me. There is definately talent here, and I feel with my management and your skills, we can go to the top. My style of play includes not backing down, being brave and aggressive, fighting hard and remaining positive no matter what the situation may be. I see that fighting ability in all of you. I think...we can make it to the top.
But I'll need your co-operation. When I arrived here, I thought this was a wonderful place.."
"Yea," piped up 'Charlo', "We all here love it. Were are all born and raised here in TT, we think it's the best"
"That's good to hear. Anyways, as I am saying, I thought this was a wonderful place. The people here are great, but most importantly, they like their cricket. And it's up to us, not only to satisfy them, but to Not-Let-Them-Down. We will epitomise the West Indian flair and represent the West Indian brand of cricket, daring, brave and entertaiment. I don't mind if we lose, as long as we play hard, to our best, work as a team and entertain those crowds! Now, all of you get some rest, we have plenty to do tommorrow."
Just as I was to leave, Charlo spoke up again "But Coach, what's the name of our team?"
I had never really thought of that, but all of a sudden, it hit me in a flash on inspiration. I turned to him, and said -
"The TT Lions"
The legacy had begun.

Join us next week for another Tour through History !
Sorry for that long post. Kudos if you read it!

 

[plympilgrim]

wow great updates zorax really attractive work