Story Three Lions on the Shirt? - Match Day: Northamptonshire fight back!!!

When will Tom Baker get his England call up?


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Tuesday 2nd April

With Kent looking in a pretty poor position we really needed a big partnership from Mike and Darren with the score only on 31/4. Up on the balcony I had all my pads on and was expecting to be having to go in very quickly. However Mike and Darren started to play some very sensible cricket punishing the poor balls and keeping out the good deliveries. The score began to move along quite steadily and the partnership was blossoming. Quite a lot of runs had come down the vacant third man region. It was something I had picked up on and would be looking to exploit when I had to go in to bat. The skip came over to me:

"Ok Tom, these two are doing a pretty good job so far but I'm not going to lie to you. You have a lot of pressure on your shoulders. You really have to perform."

"Don't worry skip. There is plenty of time and I'll build up a solid innings with whoever is out there. As long as we use our overs we'll be fine."

"Well it's good to see such a sensible attitude you are conveying to me. Just watch out for Gibson. He has been doing all the damage."

At that point there was a big shout from out on the pitch.

Once again Mike attempted to play the shot down to third man, however he got a slight edge on it and Nixon and Gibson both went up, and the umpire slowly raised his finger. I was in with the score at 81/5. I had to play a very important roll for the team now.


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With an average of 61 I was hoping to be able to make a decent score for the team. I was batting with Darren who had looked in very good touch and if we could build a solid partnership together we could perhaps salvage something and post a half-decent score.

It wasn't going to be easy though. The groundsmen had said it was a flat pitch yet there was variable bounce and the ball was seaming all over the place making it very difficult to judge when to leave or play at it. But as I got my eye in I began to play a few very nice strokes which got my score rolling. Darren on the other hand had crushed a couple of big sixes and was putting up a stern resistance.


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At the end of a particularly good over, we met for a chat,

"We're doing a good job, Tom. If we can keep the run-rate ticking over we could possibly reach 225."

"Yeah that should be a good target to go for. Also Gibson has finished his spell so that's him out of the equation for a bit. He really destroyed our top-order."

"Yeah he is a very good bowler. Anyway keep concentrating and don't do any silly shots and we'll both make centuries ;)"

We were nearing the end of the powerplay overs and the score was 91/5. Was the rookie and Darren going to save Kent from an embarassing total? Find out in the next update.

BTW All entries for the prediction contest are closed. Here is how it stands.

KingCJ: E
Suren: H
Lwkfella1991: G
Tonka: H
KX: D
Order: H
Freddi: H
Jarl: E
Gamer: H

Thanks for the support guys, it is much appreciated :happy :hpraise
 
great update this story is just so original and so great to follow and read hope you do well otherwise the score might be a bit embarrasing for Kent good luck!
 
get my prediction right:p

Naah.. Tom will get a century and rescue his team rather than getting out after a good start.. Team needs you Tom.. Com'on impress the selectors and other fans. :D

Nice works as always :thumbs
 
Tom has started the rescuing operations now ;). Now its time to play a big knock and get his team to a winning position. Fantastic presentation :clap
 
Tuesday 2nd April

With a steady partnership being built by myself and Darren things had begun to look up. We hadn't even passed 20 overs, so there was still a long way to go. With the end of the powerplay overs, it signalled the time for spin to be brought in, namely Jeremy Snape. Snape is a very experienced spin bowler and really slowed the run-rate down. This slowing down of the run-rate obviously got to Darren. The previous over he had escaped when he was dropped by Snape of his own bowling. This time he was not so lucky.

A full spinning ball by Snape outside off-stump, Darren tried to go over the top. It didn't work and went straight to Mongia at extra cover. Darren was out for 31.


"Damn, we're are boned now."

"Yep, you are. :p"

Snape had obviously heard me and was pretty pleased and so he should be. We were now 91/6 and I was stuck with the tail. I had to now try and dominate the strike.

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I still had Jimmy and Cooky left to bat with. For the next few overs, I managed to hog the strike dealing in either boundaries or dot balls and then getting a single of the last ball. This seemed to be working and the score moved into three figures.

Once again Snape was to thwart us. The previous over I had not been able to retain the strike with some sharp fielding by Maddy. That meant Jimmy would be facing the next over against Snape. The first three deliveries he managed to block. The fourth however he attempted to sweep him. He got a top edge and De Freitas at short fine leg took a stunning diving catch.

Things didn't get any better when Cooky was sent back in the next over, for a duck when he got trapped LBW by Willoughby. We were in big trouble now with the score 106/8. I needed to do some big hitting.


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After a few big hits however I was out for 21. There was nothing I could really do. I had to try and go aggressive and had been caught on the boundary by Maunders back pedalling. I was pretty annoyed as I felt let down by the team as I had been in good form and had got out playing a shot I felt I should not have felt obliged to play. With only Martin and Sheriy left there was not much hope for us.

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Sure enough, before I had even reached the changing rooms, Sheriy was out caught and bowled for a golden duck. 113 All Out, a truly pathetic score. This game was as good as lost now.

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Our top order had been a real let down and it had only really been myself, Darren and Mike who had salvaged anything at all. The tail had put up little resistance either and all in all it was a pretty poor innings.

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In the dressing room it was like a funeral. I felt like I was at a funeral. We had been shredded by the swing and pace of Gibson and the spin and guile of Jeremy Snape. My 21 runs had come of 19 balls but it was too little too late. The Foxes needed just 114 runs of 45 overs!!! :eek: at a run-rate of 2.53. The skip tried to cheer us up,

"Ok guys that was a very poor batting display but we are not out of it yet. If they can bowl us out for such a poor total we can do the same to them."

What I didn't know was there was a lot of unrest amongst the players and it finally erupted. Martin and Matty stood up.

"Rob. We are sick of you leading us. You have not performed with the bat and we feel you are holding this team back. We think you should step down."

"I WILL NEVER STEP DOWN!!! HOW DARE YOU. I have put my soul into this club and this is how you repay me. Sit down and stop making a fool of yourselves."


Then Saggy stood up.

"It's not only them. There are quite a few who are pretty dejected about the way you have led us."

At that moment the coach took Rob, the two Martins and David away. 20 minutes later, they came back in. Everyone seemed a lot calmer. The coach spoke up.

"Right lads. Rob is going to lead us out now to have a go at bowling these guys out. It's going to be hard work, but I believe in you. Just make sure you make a fight of this."

The team began to head out. This was a massive event and I had no idea what was said by the coach. However I decided to keep my head down and bowl well. A players revolt was the last thing we needed. I personally felt it was un-called for but the rookie has no say. I hoped this could be sorted out.
 
Team shouldnt get so worked up at each other especially not the captain
and its a bit of a shame that Darren couldn't stay there with you.
Hope the bowling goes well .
Awesome story and awesome writing
KUTGW :happy
 
Thats a shame about both the batting and the players revolt - maybe a little harsh on Key there....

Lets hope you make a good effort in bowling out the opposition - but Im not counting on much...

Great presentation again and frequent updates which is what I like to see! :) Keep it up!

Congrats also on SOTM! Very much deserved! :D
 
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unlucky cricket for kent and interesting revolt

i reckon you guys are gonna win!1

do you play ball by ball
 

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