Story The Blues Cricket Club (True to the Blue)

[Aussie Team]

The Blues had a great night few weeks ago for their triumph against the Victoria Bushrangers. And now, they are predicting to take over the Bulls at Gabba in this 4 day cricket. The team went with 2 changes with deput Joe Mennie given an opportunity to showcase his talent in a high-pressure environment. Meanwhile, other young fledglings such as Nic Maddinson and Tim Armstrong did well in the last couple of games but didn't get to play this match against the Bulls. The 21-year-old Mennie who is known for his performance in the Under-23, in particular, is expected to perform the way he mixed an attacking line with subtle changes of pace to claim 4 for 21 in 10 overs against Victoria Under-23. Captains had made they way to the centre for the toss with Brendon Julian -

"Hello! Very good morning Ladies and Gentlenmen. This is the game eight in the Sheffield Shield. I've the two captains here. Simon Katich and Chirs Simpson."

"Heads."
"And its heads and Katich, what you are gonna decide?"
"uh, we would like to bat first. The conditions look fantastic and hoping for a decent total."
"So did you get plans going on in your mind?"
"The plans has already started. It has to and you can't afford to hang around. We don't just want to consolidate our position in the Sheffield Shield but, we want to make a push for the title."
"And does your team have any changes in this game?"
"Yeah, we have 2 of them. Joe Mennie and Peter Nevill."
"Thanks for having a chat. Have a good game."
"Yah, Cheers!"


"Oh Simpson! lost the toss once again. Really you have to look here to bowl well."
"Yeah we have to perform well and depends on how well the young players coming through. And we knew we were going to lose Harris, and Ben Cutting had called up, but the guys coming in have been exceptional."
"Happy with the performance with the ball in the last game? And looks like your middle order is struggling with the time. So how is it going?"
"We have been really consistent in that game. Our bowlings had been strong. Kruger has been fantastic. And We had a good start but really the collapse has led us down but Symonds has been good as usual, then we have Albie Morkel and he did well. But pretty happy with the performance from us especially with the ball."
"Thanks for having a little chat. Have a good one."
"Cheers mate!"

Interview with The Blues Coach John Dyson​

Greg Blewett - "You probably had a great season was far as now, what does you think about the players?"

John Dyson - "I think the side are playing for kudos rather than cash because their prepared for the high-profile event."

Greg Blewett - "Any particular reason in picking Joe Mennie in the playing eleven for today's game?"

John Dyson - "Yah, look he's fantastic player, has had plenty of success in Under-23, winning the semi-finals with Victoria Under-23 taking over 16 wicket in that competition in 2008, including figures of 5 for 17."

Greg Blewett - "A good move? huh?"

John Dyson - "Definitely it's a good. Compared with the other Rookie he's the only one of the bowlers. So, probably we've to look how he performs in this 4 day cricket."

Greg Blewett - "And you haven't used McCullum in the odd and first class cricket. what is the plan?"

John Dyson - "Well, we had chat with the chief executive and him about the play. He might be playing in the shorter version of the game because he had a knee injure and maybe he can play the odd and first class cricket in a while."

Greg Blewett - "Let's be honest. You think you had a perfect playing eleven and the squad?"

John Dyson - "Yah, We had five to six specialist batsmen and we make sure we had four frontline bowlers and a Allrounder spinner. That was our main weapon, and we had two good part-time spinners (Clarke and Katich) who bowled a few overs."

Greg Blewett - "Thank you for joining us."

John Dyson - "Thank you."

 

[6ry4nj]

What is Dyson wearing? He looks like he's on the campaign trail to become the next Pope!!!

 

[surendar]

Good attempt with the interview, but some suggestions like you can avoid contradicting sentences. In one of the blocks above, question asked was - Middle order struggling but the response to that was like, happy with the performance.

Anyways, good work, and keep it going. Looking forward to it.

 

[Aussie Team]

Middle order struggling but the response to that was like, happy with the performance.

Oh! Forgotten. I didn't written it? but Thanks!

 

[Aussie Team]

(Day I ; Session I)

The start of the first day - The Blues' openers Jaques and Hughes moved into a commanding position by reaching none for 57. It was a quite good bit batting performance from Blues, who still harbour hopes of snatching the first promotion place. Jaques was utterly dominant as he scored his third half-century in 2 games. He got to the milestone with his seventh boundary. Hughes was dropped at third slip on 21, made the most of his reprieve to hit 3 sixes including a couple of boundaries. There was some seam movement with the new ball which was expertly harnessed by South African paceman Albie Morkel, who bowled three of his five victims to Jaques. Ben Cutting stepped in front when he cut on onto his pads on 58 and Hughes was half-forward when he tickled a catch behind after posting 21. Clarke and Katich were at the crease, when the openers fell in the first session at 79. Katich is the biggest beneficiary after a two-week hiatus for the Shield, hitting 143 no in the second game of the Sheffield Shield. With the ball swinging and some help in the pitch Bulls' quartet of seamers, Katich was the only batsmen who look struggled, although he was dropped on 7 by Simpson at second slip. It was one of three sharp chances Bulls put down - the day's worst miss was by Nathan Reardon at cover off Nick Kruger with Katich on 7. A misfield by Walter gave Katich the two runs which took him to fifty in this tournament and a prompted extra jubilation from his team-mates as it brought up the 150.

(Day I ; Session II)

After the first session, Clarke made the vast majority of the 50 runs added in his time in the middle. Fustration for Bulls as this pair moved to 90s when Clarke hit a six over wide mid off from Morkel. He's half-century spanned 93 deliveries but he was able to accelerate late on as Symonds, with his gentle off-spin, and Swan concentrated mainly on getting through the overs as quickly to ensure Blues were not penalised for a slow over-rate. In an error of judgement, Katich offered no stroke when Doran clipped the off bail. It was turgid fare after the dismissal of Katich as Blues scored 31 runs from 25 overs before Moises Henriques got out by the spinner Simpson. Ben Rohrer was ably supported by Michael Clarke, who made 76 not out. Clarke and Ben Rohrer, who was on a pair, then put on fifty run stand. Having posted a half-century in the last game, Rohrer represented a huge shift from a dire position on the afternoon session - he brought up his fifty within 78 deliveries which fustrated Bulls. Clarke added 32 to pass the previous best aganist the Bulls. Rohrer finished unbeaten on 85 as Blues added 60 runs in the end of the second session with Clarke unbeaten 96 as it was the stand of 200 and the total of 4 for 316.

(Day I ; Session III)

Their partnership ended in unfortunate fashion when Rohrer was caught behind of Cutting. He had claimed the previous wicket of Rohrer to complete his best figures in FC cricket with 3 for 28. They took the score to 5 for 325 when it was drinks with 29 overs remaining. Daniel Doran produced a tight spell frok the pavilion end after the drinks and made the breakthrough when Peter Nevill edged to Lee Carseldine at first slip. Clarke's first objective was to break a century, and he did so. he hit his first century for Blues this year on an absorbing first day. He's 107, including 14 boundaries and two sixes, as Blues finished the day at 6 for 342.

RTA Speedblitz Blues 6/342 (Michael Clarke 107 no ; Ben Rohrer 86 ; Phil Jaques 58)

​

 

[gutterman]

i would just like to say in the first line of your update. you said feeble batting performance yet you were acknowledging how good they were going. feeble means low, little or they were going really bad. you could have said it was a great batting performance or superb batting performance to concur with your statement of them batting so well.

 

[Aussie Team]

The second day in the Sheffield Shield - Blues last night scored 6 for 342, now Clarke, who played his last Test in Nz, and Stephen O'Keefe romped to a 50-run stand as Blues reached 400+. An enthralling 126 from Michael Clarke and a superb half-century from Stephen O'Keefe helped Blues just about get their noses in the front. The home team might have even established a vice-like grip on proceedings had it not been for Ben Cutting, who claimed three wickets. Those who were looking forward to seeing the Australian batsman spend time in the middle were kept waiting until 135th over as they declare for 6 for 427 as Clarke unbeaten 129 not out and O'Keefe with an impressive half-century.

After reviving their side to bat, the opening pair were swept up by Stuart Clark and Joe Mennie in spirited response by Blues' injury-hit attack at lunch. At on stage the home side had looked to be plummeting to below-par total. They stumbled to 2 for 43 and then to four for 133 - Clark was on for the six over of the innings and conceded 9 in five before lunch. There was a wide in his first over of this spell, but with the score at none for 41, he suddenly got it right in his second over. Hopes push forward and edged to Rohrer at second slip and 5 balls and an over later, perfectly pitched on leg stump, bounced steeply he got Simpson for 24, as the home side were 2 for 43. A stand of 42 between Reardon and Symonds was broken by Joe Mennie, who won the lbw decision from umpire to finish with 1 for 12 from 6 overs before lunch. Clark was injured when he was bowling his ninth over before he led himself out with back pain.

Clark was easily the most impressive of the six-man Blues attack. The right-arm seamer took two for 14 in nine overs before he left the ground. In the second session, Bulls lost 2 wickets as their move up to 4 for 136 - Morkel had scored 35 of Bulls' 88 runs when, in 21st over, he pushed forward to a ball from Starc and snicked a low cath to Hughes at mid-off. The home side produced some pitiful batting earlier in the evening with only Morkel, who top-scored with 47. Morkel was utterly dominant as he scored his first half-century in his first game with Bulls. He got to the milestone with his fifth boundary and at the same time helped Bulls to 3 for 100 from 43 overs. The Blues picked up the wicket of Carseldine when he tried to go over top with the spin but he didn't time it well and he was c&b by O'Keefe. At the end of tea, Bulls were 4 for 136 with Morkel at the crease with 59 and Hartley just came at the center.

At the end of the day their went up with 4 for 263 when Morkel and Hartley had made a partnership of 156 from 210 deliveries - Morkel ended the day with unbeaten on 117 having hit 13 fours and 4 sixes, with Bulls 4 for 263 with trailing by 98. Neither Hartley or Morkel had much trouble in the advancing to contrasting half-centuries. A single off Starc gave the keeper Hartley his 73-ball half-century and Morkel smashed 64* from 124 deliveries he had faced. Morkel, who took sixes of all the Blues frontline bowlers, to restore Bulls' dominance. Instead of digging in, Albie Morkel and Chris Hartley treated the crowd to some impressive stroke play as they added 116 in just 27 overs for the fifth wicket. Morkel hit his first century of the club as the Bulls reached to 250.

XXXX Gold QLD Bulls 4/263 (Albie Morkel 117 not out ; Chris Hartley 76 not out ; Chris Simpson 35)

 

[Roofrom50]

Clarkey is holding this total together. A good opening partnership between Hughes and Jaques, but no luck with Katich. 3 opening left handers must of made it difficult for the bowlers. A good knock from Rohrer and a helping hand down the order from Steve Okeefe.

Good stuff with this story mate, keep up the good work

 

[Aditya]

I haven't been following this story recently but I must say that I can clearly see the efforts being put into the updates. Your writing is improving, Aussieteam. Presentation is good. Keep it up.

 

[Meet]

Good write up and presentation.KIU

 

[Dipak]

They presentation is top class buddy

 

[Dutchmen]

Top class batting from Clarke but right now they seems to be in a conform place while the Bulls has to bat at least for one-fourth to get themself out of the trouble.

 

[Aussie Team]

They presentation is top class buddy

haha! I think you mean 'The'

 

[Aussie Team]

Resuming at 5/263, Morkel plundered an unbeaten century last night - He went on to add an other milestone in 284 deliveries. He and Hartley had put on an unbroken 169 for the fifth wicket to propel Bulls to four for 263. Bulls began the day on 4 for 263 and Blues turned for a while to the spin of O'Keeffe and Hartley helped himself to a couple of boundaries. The double-century stand came in 83 over - The stand overtook the previous record for the fifth wicket at Gabba of 205 between Morkel and Hartley. It had reached a massive 313 when Morkel finally departed for 156 from 284 deliveries with 14 boundaries including three sixes after occupying the crease for 84 overs. he failed to connect while trying to hit Henriques through mid-wicket and was caught by Katich. Bulls making steady headway in the first session with another fifth run stand between Hartley and Doran, before the seamers finally found some swing either side of the lunch break.

In the second session, Hartley had time to compile an even 100 to settle Bulls' nerves following a brief wobble in the afternoon session. Hartley century came up in about 174 deliveries which means the result wasn't a big disappointment for them, who were able to pick 4 points. stand of 59 from 84 deliveries has been broken by Mennie after Doran making just 16 before he was bowled, with a delivery which kept low. His far from convincing stay lasted for 32 deliveries. Now the tail can't able to hang around they so the last three wickets were shared by the spinner O'Keeffe and Starc. They were able to reach 412 and now by trailing with 15 runs with 1 day remaining.

Blues in the second innings, Jaques made an obdurate unbeaten 42, but they lost three wickets in about 13 balls - Kruger began the second innings on a hat-tick but Clarke survived without alarm although the wickets were soon tumbling as Kruger and Swan foun plenty of movement in the surface. Hughes was the first of four wickets to fall in 24 deliveries, edging an arrested drive to Symonds at cover before Swan outswinger had Jaques lbw for 48. then had Katich for a golden duck which was a straight forward caught by Carseldine. Clarke soon got out for a single when he was bowled by Kruger. He added three quick wickets in his trio to completer his best innings haul. Blues were in trouble themselves after stumbling to four for 72 at tea.

Henriques survived some early scares in his innings - and two dropped chances in the slips in consecutive overs. even through he reached his second fifty in the tournament with 54 not out. Blues were leading by 206 and it was stumps at day third.

RTA Speedblitz Blues 4/72 (Moises Henriques 54* ; Phil Jaques 42 ; Phillip Hughes 11)

 

[Roofrom50]

Andrew Symonds? Gee haven't seen that sorry face for a while. Good innings from both Albie and Hartley. Both wonderful centuries. The Blues have a good lead here on day 3, and i look forward to seeing what will happen on day 4