Story Club Life - The Diary of a County Cricketer [C2007]

[evertonfan]

In a Spin​

April 20th 2007 - Today wasn't as memorable as yesterday for me as I didn't perform with the bat at all. There is a definite weakness in my game; Playing spinners. Now Jamie Dalrymple may not be the most frightening of spinners but to me on this pitch it was like facing Warne, Murali and Kumble all in one. I really struggle reading him and he caused me immense trouble in the first over that I faced him, having two very close LBW shouts turned down.

Lucky boy; At least one of these should have been given out.

I was batting with Mal Loye who was playing beautifully. He was taking the pace bowlers to the cleaners and played Dalrymple with consumate ease. Then it was my turn again but unfortunatley, I was facing Dalrymple again. His first ball of this over was wide and I feasted on it. I hit it as hard as I could and raced away to the boundary rope. "Phew, that's a relief!", I thought to myself as I saw the umpire signalling 4, but that was about as good as it got for me in this innings.

Smashed through the covers; I'll go after anything wide from a spinner.

My brief innings ended with the very next ball as I stupidly shouldered arms to a Dalrymple straight ball. I thought he was turning it away from me but it came on straighter and quicker and my off-pole was knocked back. I walked the lonely road back to the pavillion after making just 12 and crossed paths with Chappers on my way back. "Don't worry mate, with the way you bowled you won't be out of the side for a very long time" he said to me.

Not such a lucky boy after all; A complete misjudgement costs me my wicket.

Despite my dismissal, Lancashire went on to post 339, resulting in a 1st innings a lead of well over 200. Mal played brilliantly for his 107 as he showed the aggressive instinct which has made him one of the best batsmen in the county circuit and i've always thought he's been unlucky to never play for England. Dalrymple had the last laugh though as he got him out shortly after bringing up 3 figures, and an early tea was called when last man out Murali departed. Time for me to bowl again.

A lead of over 200 puts us in a very strong position to win this match.
​

 

[aussie_ben91]

Thus far, you're having a better allround game then Andrew Flintoff. So you're not doing to badly.

Keep up the great stuff.

 

[plympilgrim]

unlucky to get out to dazza, hopefully your batting against spinners will improve.

NOTE: How did you create your bat or did someone do it for u?

 

[evertonfan]

Burma did it for me Plym; I requested it in his thread.

 

[plympilgrim]

this is story is great evo, its a real good read interetsing and makes it feel real, well done

 

[GrayNicolls]

Nice work by the MC. Only 12 with the bat. But more than made up for it with the ball.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

It feels realistic for me too. Batting atleast. Bowling wise, highley unlikely...
Atleast you aren't getting picked for England after only one match ay?
Nice presentation too.

 

[evertonfan]

Persistence Pays Off​

April 20th 2007 - As soon as we finished eating our tea we were greeted with some beautiful Lancashire rain and headed straight back were we came from. This was good news for me because it meant that I could go to toilet because to put it bluntly, I needed to 'launch a torpedo' and quickly. The rain washed away a large portion of the evening session but by the time it stopped we still had about 20 overs to use. It was important that we tok as many wickets as possible because rain was forecast for the whole of tomorrow and that would scupper our chances of victory.

The Middlesex openers frustrated us though and Dom and Jimmy just couldn't find a way through. Nor too could Chappers and Fred, and even Murali was struggling to create any chances. I came on in the 21st over which I thought was a bit late to be honest but who am I to complain about the captains tactics? I didn't take look like taking a wicket until the very last over of the day when I bowled a vicious bouncer to Ed Smith which hit him right on the grill and he was down for the count.

Cricket Hurts; Go hard or go home sunshine.

Smith was clearly softened up and 2 balls later - the last ball of the day - I hit him on the pads and I roared a mouthy appeal at the umpire. "HOOOOWWWWIIISSAAAAYYYYYYY" I screamed at the umpire, as well as pointing both fingers at him and giving him an almighty stare. It was almost as if time stopped as I looked him in the eye, pleading that he'd raise his finger signalling the wicket that me and my teammates so desperatley wanted. He sure as hell did raise his right arm and Ed Smith was a goner.

"You'd better give that one out.."; I'm not the friendliest when i'm appealing.

What a feeling that was. To take a wicket with the last ball of the day is something of a rareity but i'd managed to get Ed Smith out. We knew this was a massive wicket as Ed likes to make big scores when he's in and he was most certainly in today until I hit him in the face.

There was no interview for me today, Tim Abraham decided that centurion Mal Loye was the main focal point. I wasn't bothered at all wity that, I needed to head home for a well deserved rest after a hard day's work.​

Just the one wicket for us today as Middlesex batted really slowly.

Everyone bowled fantastic today but only I was fortunate enough to get a wicket.​

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Whooo! Nice description of the appeal there

 

[Jaztheman]

great story evo, great realism.

 

[evertonfan]

Whooo! Nice description of the appeal there

Had to make it realistic didn't I?

 

[GrayNicolls]

Nice bowling by the Lancastrians, especially MC. Nice work, Matt.

 

[plympilgrim]

well bowled again, you should have been brought on earlier after your frst innings display

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Well done.. Its always nice to get a wicket at the end of a day.

 

[Deleted member 13648]

That bouncer looked like a beamer from the pictures, I wouldn't like to face you in this form you're looking red hot.

Nice writing too, very casual like yourself