Story Dream To Wear The Baggy Green ? A C2007 Career Story

[Left_Hander]

Unlucky for Australia. Can't wait for the Bushies vs. the Bulls. Should be a beauty. This story would have to be on of my favourites.

,
Left_Hander

 

[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Welcome to the MCG in Melbourne for what has been the most anticipated match of the domestic season so far. The Bulls need to in this match to stay in touch with the leaders of the ING Cup as they have played 5 games compared to the 4 the Bushrangers have competed in. A win for the home side today would see them go to the top of the table and bring them one step closer to competing in both the ING and Pura Cup finals.

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The Pitch Report:

It?s a shame we don?t have perfect weather for this highly anticipated match however it may make it a bit more interesting. A heavy cloud cover over the MCG with have the captain that wins the toss pondering what to do. The pitch however is looking in great condition and as usual it will provide something for both batsman and bowlers with an even to low bounce and a true pace. This may just be a good time to lose a toss with a score of 240-250 par for the course.

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The Weather Forecast:

Overcast skies are expected to hang around throughout the match with sunny patches at times. The tempeature will hover around 19 degrees with a cool breeze throughout the day. A 40% chance of rain is forecast for this match but hopefully we will make it through without interruption.

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The Coin Toss:



Jimmy Maher calls head?s and it is a tail.

Jon Moss ? ?I think the team?s hit a bit of form with winning the toss and im going to have a bowl. The cloud cover isn?t great for batting in so a bit of early swing will hopefully give us a few early wickets. You never know with this Melbourne weather you get 4 seasons in a day quite often so hopefully it will clear up when it comes out turn to bat. Im looking forward to my role as stand in captain whilst Cameron is with the Australian squad and the boys are ready for what is looking like our toughest match of the season.

Jimmy Maher ? ?It?s a bit cloudy overhead but we should be right as long as myself and James Hopes can get through the new ball. I don?t think it?s going to be a really high scoring game as the outfield looks a bit slower then usual so anything we manage over 250 will put us in with a good chance. We?re at full strength today where as I think the Bushrangers have a few out so we wont be holding back form taking full points away from this match.

The Team's:

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The first noticeable change for the Victorians is that they are missing their captain Cameron White who will be a big loss after how well he has led and contributed to their success so far this season. Shane Harwood is missing today?s game with a calf strain that he suffered in the nets which gives a call up to rookie paceman Dirk Nannes. Queensland are lucky enough to have a full strength side in for today?s game, which will be tested with a swinging new ball when we come back to the MCG for the first ball only on Channel 9.

 

[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

The key for the Bushrangers in the first 15 overs was to get danger man and Queensland skipper Jimmy Maher. Swing was evident from ball 1 as the Bulls opening pair had to be on their toes watching for the ball that swung back in. There is often doubt about the captains decision when they decide to bowl first However any doubt was quickly thrown out when Denton mastered the in swinger to James Hopes and soon had him packing for single figures to bring the score to 1/35.

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Martin Love made his way in at number 3 and started to play conservatively whilst Maher played like he doesn?t have a worry in the world stroking 8 boundaries in an unbeaten 41 from 56 balls to the 15 over stage. The fielding restriction are now lifted with however the Queenslanders will be reluctant to attack to hard as it may cause them to lose wickets but they will need to lift the run rate by rotating strike and avoiding digging a hole they can?t get out of later in the match. Right now it looks like Jon Moss?s decision to bowl first is looking like the right one with the Bushrangers on top.

Queensland Bulls 1/66
Run Rate ? 4.40
Projected Total ? 220
15 overs

Maher 41(56)*
Love 13(22)*

Lewis 0/12 (4)
Denton 1/40(8)
Wise 0/14 (3)

 

[surendar]

i think it will be effective to use Slats in this stage... 66 in 15 overs is a steady start and Lewis has improved this game!!!

 

[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Fill in Victorian captain Jon Moss threw the ball to Dirk Nannes for the first time which is a good move as nothing can go disastrously wrong as the Bulls need to conserve wickets by pushing the ball around at this stage. Moss himself stepped up to the bowling crease at the other end to get some quick overs through.

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Jimmy Maher was looking as good as ever before he made a mistake against Moss pushing at a full away swinging delivery that took the edge and went in to the gloves of the Victorian keeper Nathan Pilon. A massive breakthrough for the home side that extends their advantage over the Bulls who?s run rates is starting to suffer still at 4.40 an over with the score standing at 2/70. Nannes and Moss continued until the 20 over stage where Moss has decided on another bowling change this time opting for myself from my favourite southern stand end.

Queensland Bulls 2/88
Run Rate ? 4.40
Projected Total ? 220
20 overs

Love 26(40)*
Perren 8(11)*

Lewis 0/12 (4)
Denton 1/40(8)
Wise 0/14 (3)
Nannes 0/14 (3)
Moss 1/8 (2)

 

[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Jon Moss is always quick to inform you of your place and today the reason why he has brought me into the attack after 20 overs is because we are short of experienced bowlers. My job is to keep the Queensland Bulls from scoring above 4.50 an over like we have all innings so far.

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Slatter's 1st Over Hawkeye​

After my first over I took my cap from the umpire and realised that the sky?s are suddenly getting very dark. If the MCG doesn?t get rain soon we might just be forced off for bad light. Dirk Nannes is into the attack from the Northern end bowling to Clinton Perren who will be needing a torch to see the ball pretty soon.

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Slatter's 2nd Over Hawkeye​

The bad news is that the rain has started falling at the MCG just before Dirk Nannes came into bowl. Play has been suspended for now and nobody seems to have much of an idea if it is just a passing shower or a heavy down poor. It?s disappointing to have such a highly anticipated match affected by weather but hat?s the game of cricket I guess. It may even do the Queenslanders some good to get off for a bit as they have been struggling to adapt to the conditions.

​

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RAIN DELAY
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Queensland Bulls 2/98
Run Rate ? 4.26
Projected Total ? 213
23 overs

Love 28(48)*
Perren 16(21)*

Lewis 0/12 (4)
Denton 1/40(8)
Wise 0/14 (3)
Nannes 0/17 (4)
Moss 1/8 (2)
Slatter 0/7 (2)

 

[surendar]

Match is going steadily at the moment!!! Weather has a crucial role in cricket always!!!

 

[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Welcome back to the MCG. The good news is that the rain has stopped after a 2 hour delay but the bad news is that this match has now been reduced to 36 overs a side to make up for the lost time. This may significantly influence the match and take it in a whole new direction as any strategy to consolidate and save wickets for the Queensland Bulls now must be thrown out the window as they now must hit out with just 13 overs remaining in their innings.

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There is still a lot of repair work to be done by the ground staff as the outfield took on quite a lot of water in the downpour and also part of the centre wicket block whilst the covers were being put on. Luckily the superb drainage system here at the MCG and a little assistance from the Super Sopper means play is set to get under way again in around about an hours time. We have also been told that the groundsman?s equipment has no more rain forecast for today?s game, which means we will get a result in today?s game despite the chaos that has been caused at the moment. We?ll see you back here at the MCG in an hour when play will get under way once again.

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RAIN DELAY
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[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Great news from the MCG in Melbourne is that the umpires are on their way out to the middle and they will be followed closely by the players as we get set to resume in what is now a 36 over match. One of the key points is that the officials have not decided to reduce the amount of overs available to each bowler so they will be allowed to go right up to their allocated 10 if that?s the captains wish.

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The Queenslander basically have just one option in these last 13 overs and that is to attack, as wickets don?t matter now they just need to get themselves into the position where the Victorians wont get the better end of the deal and be able to adjust their chasing tactics for a small total. It looks like Jon Moss has brought Mick Lewis back into the attack from the Northern end so let?s go down to the centre for the resumption of play.

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PLAY RESUMES
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[Short Leg]

Victorian Bushrangers Vs Queensland Bulls
The MCG, Melbourne
12th December 2006

Mick Lewis began the resumption of play but it was Martin Love who took the spotlight sending a message to the Victorians of what Queensland intended to do with a boundary off the first ball. However Lewis was the man who laughed hardest when he went straight through Love sending him on his way for 32 and bringing the score to 3/102.

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Shane Watson was the new man in with the weight of expectation lodged firmly on his shoulders. An under performing Watson has his critics doubting his ability to ever play for Australia again. Clinton Perren wasn?t far behind Love on the walk back to the pavilion as the effects of a sticky wicket got him. A length delivery from Wise just held up on Perren and he could do little but chip it back to Wise to make the score 4/114. The Queensland all rounder also gave little resistance and did nothing to silence his critics when he edged to Pilon off the bowling of Wise for just 12 making it 5/114 and the condition of the Bulls quickly deteriorating.

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At this rate the Bulls would be gone for something like 150, which would take Victoria a little over 4 an over to reach at jobbing pace. Yes, it was clear that someone had to step up for the Bulls who had everything including the weather stacked against them. Lachlan Stevens wasn?t that man as he was run out for 4 to bring the score to 6/120. Anyone leaving their seat to buy chips would have come back to see the Bulls in the worst possible position wondering what just happened. Craig Philipson lightened the mood with a massive 6 high into the stands only to be out next ball to Mick Lewis making it 7/136.

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It now looked like the Queensland Bulls would suffer the embarrassing fate of losing 8 wickets in just 13 overs to be all out for a low and easily chase able total when Andy Bichel walked to the crease. Before the match Bichel?s lower order batting was something to be cautious of as he holds underestimated power in his shots which he began to show from ball one clubbing a 4 through cover. Chris Hartley is also held in high regard and he showed his worth with 20 from 19 balls before getting run out a mix up with Bichel to make it 8/161.

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The final over was Andy Bichel?s to take and that he did smashing a six and 3 boundaries in what looks to be the saving innings for Queensland getting them to a very competitive total of 8/189. Bichel finishes with an unbeaten 36 from just 19 balls including 7 boundaries and a six. A solid performance with the ball is all the Queensland Bulls need to restrict the Victorians who will come out swinging. Maybe the rain interruption was a blessing in disguise as what has been built up as the match of the season so far is living up to the standard. Don?t miss a minute of the Bushrangers run chase live from the MCG.

​

 

[Left_Hander]

So much for this game being called 'match of the season so far'. Victoria should win it easily. Very nice presentation I must say.

,
Left_Hander

 

[Cricket_60]

Vics should win easily from here unless it rains or Bichel or Johnson produce something special. Great presentation as usual mate

 

[duffarama]

a very competitive total of 8/189.

How on earth is that a competitive total Short Leg! My grandmother could beat that total any day of the week and she can't even walk properly.
Very comprehensive story Short Leg. Keep it up.

 

[hondeyho]

WOW, I love the presentation. Very neat and tidy

The Bulls should get what they need... should

 

[Left_Hander]

How on earth is that a competitive total Short Leg! My grandmother could beat that total any day of the week and she can't even walk properly.
Very comprehensive story Short Leg. Keep it up.

He was being sarcastic. IMO it makes the story more fun to read.