He's a very, very strange man.
[Cricket] The Village / Amateur CRICKET Thread- 2025 Edition
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ROSM
Well-known member
Steve Smith strange or Boycott strange?
48 hours later, a postscript to this…
oh. My f***ing. God. My GLUTES are in agony. Sod wicket-keeping
Ouch...
I can happily report that a winter spent visiting the swimming pool once every 1-2 weeks and doing a half-hour-ish of laps while my son had his swimming lessons has very much done the trick when it comes to avoiding the early season post-bowling agony. Done nothing for preventing my usual winter off-season waistline expansion, though...
OK, now I'm jealous.
Assuming the opposition agree to reciprocate, we're back to providing teas again at Uckfield. Spread is prepared by The Highlands for us. Sandwich selection could be better, but there's usually some excellent baked goods of some description - the lemon drizzle for the friendly weekend before last was amazing.
Peppermint Tea
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2007
- 1,312
Just catching up with this season’s thread. Tremendous work, all. I’m still very much missing my playing days but a metal knee has me cooked for good.
GL to all you active players/relations of active players and keep up the reporting, regardless of standard!
GL to all you active players/relations of active players and keep up the reporting, regardless of standard!
Ooh, that's tough.
He's absolutely committed to his performance, but he is also incredibly competitive so I don't THINK he'd put his average above winning a game. Probably. So in that regard I guess more Smith than Boycott.
I think he'd definitely cheat too, if he had the opportunity. He'd 100% never walk, that's for sure.
ROSM
Well-known member
Definitely Smith then. Boycott was many things but not sure cheat is one of them.
Both
Pressed into playing evening league tonight. Not much of a game, but at least I finally took some wickets.
I removed their first three bats, all for ducks, and they ended up scrabbling to 70, from their 16 overs. Our openers knocked them off in 7.
The other team were the sort of proper works team (Trants) that the Evening Leagues used to be all about - so our fielding a side, with 7 from our 1s was a waste of everyone’s time.
I removed their first three bats, all for ducks, and they ended up scrabbling to 70, from their 16 overs. Our openers knocked them off in 7.
The other team were the sort of proper works team (Trants) that the Evening Leagues used to be all about - so our fielding a side, with 7 from our 1s was a waste of everyone’s time.
Shropshire Seagull
Well-known member
I was fearful that, along with a lot of people, covid had also killed off the traditional cricket tea.
Delighted to see it's resurgence.
I stopped playing in 2016 and now only coach and occasionally score for county squads. 3 out of 3 for teas so far (that's not a rating). It's part of the social element of cricket and has been sorely missed.
I recall in the Birmingham Premier League, captains were asked to rate the panel umpires out of 10. Not to be left out, many 2nd team skippers started rating the oppos teas out of 10.
Marvelous scenes!
Delighted to see it's resurgence.
I stopped playing in 2016 and now only coach and occasionally score for county squads. 3 out of 3 for teas so far (that's not a rating). It's part of the social element of cricket and has been sorely missed.
I recall in the Birmingham Premier League, captains were asked to rate the panel umpires out of 10. Not to be left out, many 2nd team skippers started rating the oppos teas out of 10.
Marvelous scenes!
Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo
I believe in Joe Hendry
- Oct 4, 2003
- 12,846
Another busy week of cricket including 3 matches for my oldest and a first game of the season for my youngest.
Thursday was my oldest boys second slam game of the season. He has a new opening partner and this time he raced to 14 off 14 balls (3 fours). Unfortunately he was then bowled from one that kept low. The team scored steadily but as they only had ten players 127 all out felt short. That turned out to be the case as the other side scored quickly exploiting the missing man in the field and end up 129/5 off 14 overs winning by 5 wickets.
On to Saturday and a second XI game. A tough outing for a very inexperienced side with 4 teenagers and 3 other players in their early 20s. We bowled first the other side scored 198/9. Special mention has to go to our young off spinner (year 9 at school) who took 5/33 in a spell that took their middle order apart.
The boy came into bat down at 6 with us at 99/4 having just lost our captain. Unfortunately he only lasted 3 balls and didn’t trouble the scorers as he was indecisive about a ball that sat up nicely for him to play and because he wasn’t fully committed with his shot he offered up an easy catch to mid wicket. They made 151 in the end so lost by 47 runs.
On to today and games for both the boys. My youngest playing his first hard ball pairs game of the season. They bowled first and restricted the other side to 264/4 (for those who don’t know in pairs you start on 200 and each pair face 4 overs, you lose 5 runs if you lose a wicket). Our boys then started well, but unfortunately kept dropping wickets at crucial times pegging them back, finishing on 240/9 after the last pair saw 5 wickets go in their 4 overs unfortunately.
We then jumped in the car and took the 30 min drive to the game my oldest was playing. Thankfully I’d only missed two balls and our side were opening, my lad bats number 2 for this team opening with his captain. He put in one of his best ever batting performances. It’s a small pitch so he was able to find the boundary regularly and scored his first adult cricket 50 (2 months short of his 15th birthday).
He ended up getting caught out on 78 (10 fours, 1 five, 3 sixes). His team put on an impressive 285/7 off 35 overs, one of his team mates who also plays with him in the slam and second XI scored 73.
The guy who normally wicket keeps decided that he fancied a bowl today and let the boy wicket keep. Turned out to be a master stroke. The boy made 3 stumpings and the normal wicket keeper took 4/49 as they bowled the other side out for 178 securing a 107 run win.
3 games scheduled next week with a slam game on Thursday, second XI on Saturday and a development game on Sunday that will see my boys team up for the first time at that level.
Thursday was my oldest boys second slam game of the season. He has a new opening partner and this time he raced to 14 off 14 balls (3 fours). Unfortunately he was then bowled from one that kept low. The team scored steadily but as they only had ten players 127 all out felt short. That turned out to be the case as the other side scored quickly exploiting the missing man in the field and end up 129/5 off 14 overs winning by 5 wickets.
On to Saturday and a second XI game. A tough outing for a very inexperienced side with 4 teenagers and 3 other players in their early 20s. We bowled first the other side scored 198/9. Special mention has to go to our young off spinner (year 9 at school) who took 5/33 in a spell that took their middle order apart.
The boy came into bat down at 6 with us at 99/4 having just lost our captain. Unfortunately he only lasted 3 balls and didn’t trouble the scorers as he was indecisive about a ball that sat up nicely for him to play and because he wasn’t fully committed with his shot he offered up an easy catch to mid wicket. They made 151 in the end so lost by 47 runs.
On to today and games for both the boys. My youngest playing his first hard ball pairs game of the season. They bowled first and restricted the other side to 264/4 (for those who don’t know in pairs you start on 200 and each pair face 4 overs, you lose 5 runs if you lose a wicket). Our boys then started well, but unfortunately kept dropping wickets at crucial times pegging them back, finishing on 240/9 after the last pair saw 5 wickets go in their 4 overs unfortunately.
We then jumped in the car and took the 30 min drive to the game my oldest was playing. Thankfully I’d only missed two balls and our side were opening, my lad bats number 2 for this team opening with his captain. He put in one of his best ever batting performances. It’s a small pitch so he was able to find the boundary regularly and scored his first adult cricket 50 (2 months short of his 15th birthday).
He ended up getting caught out on 78 (10 fours, 1 five, 3 sixes). His team put on an impressive 285/7 off 35 overs, one of his team mates who also plays with him in the slam and second XI scored 73.
The guy who normally wicket keeps decided that he fancied a bowl today and let the boy wicket keep. Turned out to be a master stroke. The boy made 3 stumpings and the normal wicket keeper took 4/49 as they bowled the other side out for 178 securing a 107 run win.
3 games scheduled next week with a slam game on Thursday, second XI on Saturday and a development game on Sunday that will see my boys team up for the first time at that level.
Away to Lyndhurst in the New Forest.
They were very good, and we were well beaten. They made 291/8 (45), and we never really got firing in reply - always well behind the rate, and finishing 202/8. My figures of 9/1/42/3 were comfortably our tidiest. Our other main seam bowler, went for 88
Got to bat for the first time this year, and made a scruffy, dogged 10 not out, to see us from 170 to 200, and secure a couple of extra batting points. A total of 10 points in defeat (max for a win is 24) wasn't the worst outcome considering we were very much second best.
On the plus side, the ground is absolutely beautiful, and I made some new friends...
They were very good, and we were well beaten. They made 291/8 (45), and we never really got firing in reply - always well behind the rate, and finishing 202/8. My figures of 9/1/42/3 were comfortably our tidiest. Our other main seam bowler, went for 88
Got to bat for the first time this year, and made a scruffy, dogged 10 not out, to see us from 170 to 200, and secure a couple of extra batting points. A total of 10 points in defeat (max for a win is 24) wasn't the worst outcome considering we were very much second best.
On the plus side, the ground is absolutely beautiful, and I made some new friends...
Absolute shocker on Saturday for Uckfield 1st XI, at home against Buxted "3rds". We went out with a bit of a make-shift team including some who'd normally play 2nd's due to low availability with some regular 1st XI taking the weekend off with the 2nd's season not starting until next week.
We were more or less forced into fielding first, with 2 of our XI having to leave early. Buxted brought a very strong batting line up (including players who'd normally be in their 2nds (who play Div 5, we're in Div 10).
To compound the problem of the gulf in levels, the council finally figured out how to prepare a quality pitch and we were bowling first on an absolute belter. Bounce was true, and while there was a bit there for the bowlers with a little nibble off the seam, the batsmen got excellent value for shots and the ball raced to the boundary once through the ring.
Long story short: we shipped 312 from 40 over. I personally came on to bowl late in the day after the damage was already done. My first over was good - dot, dot, 1, dot, 1 ... then a wide (fair enough, we play to the marked lines, but it was only just over the line on the off side). The extra ball then too the outside edge from their centurion and went for 4 to the 3rd man boundary. Second over was also ok in the grand scheme of things ... a single boundary, the rest singles, but spoiled a little by a full-toss no ball from a failed slower ball attempt. Third over ... ooof. Line and length was perfect if I'd been opening the innings. 6 balls pitching on off, angling in and would take middle ... except they were disappearing into the legside at pace. 17 runs shipped, and figures starting to look terrible. What was already bad went far worse when the captain failed to communicate clearly and I started a 4th over when he'd intended to change things. 2nd ball into the over, groin failed me in delivery stride, and that was my day done (and several weeks ahead I suspect) as far as bowling was concerned.
Our innings in reply never got going. One of their openers was bowling accurate but gentle outswingers, and bagged a couple caught behind flashing at his odd wide ball outside off. Wickets fell at a regular basis through a combination of ok bowling and really bad shot selection. I went in at 10 (in light of my injury). Saw out 5 balls just sighting and getting a feel for a small change in my batting stance. Exchanged some light hearted banter with the short mid-wicket field who saw a lot of amusement in my after-the-ball-went-past reheasals of cover drives for full wide balls. Wicket fell at the other end in the next over, meaning I was now batting with our 11. Got the last laugh in the next over with 2 boundaries executing what had been rehearsed in the previous over. Unfortunately, the #11 couldn't survive the next over, being drawn out of his crease and stumped. All out for just 81 on what was a beautiful batting pitch.
We were more or less forced into fielding first, with 2 of our XI having to leave early. Buxted brought a very strong batting line up (including players who'd normally be in their 2nds (who play Div 5, we're in Div 10).
To compound the problem of the gulf in levels, the council finally figured out how to prepare a quality pitch and we were bowling first on an absolute belter. Bounce was true, and while there was a bit there for the bowlers with a little nibble off the seam, the batsmen got excellent value for shots and the ball raced to the boundary once through the ring.
Long story short: we shipped 312 from 40 over. I personally came on to bowl late in the day after the damage was already done. My first over was good - dot, dot, 1, dot, 1 ... then a wide (fair enough, we play to the marked lines, but it was only just over the line on the off side). The extra ball then too the outside edge from their centurion and went for 4 to the 3rd man boundary. Second over was also ok in the grand scheme of things ... a single boundary, the rest singles, but spoiled a little by a full-toss no ball from a failed slower ball attempt. Third over ... ooof. Line and length was perfect if I'd been opening the innings. 6 balls pitching on off, angling in and would take middle ... except they were disappearing into the legside at pace. 17 runs shipped, and figures starting to look terrible. What was already bad went far worse when the captain failed to communicate clearly and I started a 4th over when he'd intended to change things. 2nd ball into the over, groin failed me in delivery stride, and that was my day done (and several weeks ahead I suspect) as far as bowling was concerned.
Our innings in reply never got going. One of their openers was bowling accurate but gentle outswingers, and bagged a couple caught behind flashing at his odd wide ball outside off. Wickets fell at a regular basis through a combination of ok bowling and really bad shot selection. I went in at 10 (in light of my injury). Saw out 5 balls just sighting and getting a feel for a small change in my batting stance. Exchanged some light hearted banter with the short mid-wicket field who saw a lot of amusement in my after-the-ball-went-past reheasals of cover drives for full wide balls. Wicket fell at the other end in the next over, meaning I was now batting with our 11. Got the last laugh in the next over with 2 boundaries executing what had been rehearsed in the previous over. Unfortunately, the #11 couldn't survive the next over, being drawn out of his crease and stumped. All out for just 81 on what was a beautiful batting pitch.
Fignon's Ponytail
Well-known member
Good win for Roffey against promoted Ifield CC this weekend. Frankie got the important overseas wicket who was bedding himself in for the afternoon, and knocked a rapid 27 himself, so he was happy.
Its really nice to see him enjoying his cricket again, and not having pressure on him. I remember him saying when he was 16 that he was feeling like cricket was just a job, and that he felt like he HAD to perform all the time for everyone. He had been in the pathway since he was 10, and every summer was focused on club and Sussex games every weekend, so I feel he missed out of a lot of his teenage years because of it. Its great to see him just enjoying it now with his mates at Roffey (there are a few there who were at the Academy and BACA with him) and not worrying about things. Turn up, play, have fun, and not stress about the Director looking over your shoulder if its a bad day at the office.
Its really nice to see him enjoying his cricket again, and not having pressure on him. I remember him saying when he was 16 that he was feeling like cricket was just a job, and that he felt like he HAD to perform all the time for everyone. He had been in the pathway since he was 10, and every summer was focused on club and Sussex games every weekend, so I feel he missed out of a lot of his teenage years because of it. Its great to see him just enjoying it now with his mates at Roffey (there are a few there who were at the Academy and BACA with him) and not worrying about things. Turn up, play, have fun, and not stress about the Director looking over your shoulder if its a bad day at the office.
Seagull on the Hill
Well-known member
- Jan 22, 2022
- 900
St James and Montefiore under 9's aka "the furys"( for whom my grandson plays) beat Preston Nomads under 9's on Sunday morning.
St James home ground is a lovely setting with a great view of The Downs.
St James home ground is a lovely setting with a great view of The Downs.
ForestRowSeagull
Well-known member
We have them in our league this year - looking forward to that away game!
Decent start for us with 2 wins from 2 (after being relegated to div 5 last year). Huge difference in standards it seems between 4 & 5.
Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo
I believe in Joe Hendry
- Oct 4, 2003
- 12,846
Another Slam game and another narrow defeat. Although they won by 5 wickets they only had 3 balls to go. They were helped massively by having some wickets in hand and being able to go aggressively at the end when they still needed 50 with 5 overs to go.
However the positives were another excellent batting performance by the boy. I said to him afterwards that today was the most intelligent performance so far. Sensible shots and aggressive running without taking risks. He scored 45 off 37 balls and unusually for him only 22 came from boundaries. He was also part of a fantastic 78 run partnership for the third wicket that came off just 43 balls (his batting partner did hit 3 consecutive sixes in that run).
After a disappointing 3 ball duck last Saturday he’s now got 123 in two innings and I’m hopeful he can continue that form on Saturday.
However the positives were another excellent batting performance by the boy. I said to him afterwards that today was the most intelligent performance so far. Sensible shots and aggressive running without taking risks. He scored 45 off 37 balls and unusually for him only 22 came from boundaries. He was also part of a fantastic 78 run partnership for the third wicket that came off just 43 balls (his batting partner did hit 3 consecutive sixes in that run).
After a disappointing 3 ball duck last Saturday he’s now got 123 in two innings and I’m hopeful he can continue that form on Saturday.
Billy in Bristol
Well-known member
As well as weekend Cricket, being a big city we have a lot of opportunities to play midweek 'franchise Cricket but too many teams not enough players. So I am now 4 games into an eight game stretch playing for eight different teams...
Yes I am single.
Yes I am single.
- Apr 5, 2014
- 28,415
- Thread starter
- #59
Whenever Albion played at Bournemouth I used to drive down and stop off in Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst and take the New Forest route to the match. Wonderful countryside although you had to drive slow in some areas for the reasons above.Away to Lyndhurst in the New Forest.
They were very good, and we were well beaten. They made 291/8 (45), and we never really got firing in reply - always well behind the rate, and finishing 202/8. My figures of 9/1/42/3 were comfortably our tidiest. Our other main seam bowler, went for 88
Got to bat for the first time this year, and made a scruffy, dogged 10 not out, to see us from 170 to 200, and secure a couple of extra batting points. A total of 10 points in defeat (max for a win is 24) wasn't the worst outcome considering we were very much second best.
On the plus side, the ground is absolutely beautiful, and I made some new friends...
View attachment 202175
View attachment 202176
I remember when Bashley reached the FA Cup 2nd round. I hoped they would get through if only to imagine Liverpool getting lost in the wilderness driving down.
Still been picked to play with the 1st's this weekend. Looks like the 2nd's will play with 10 only. Those boundaries I hit on one leg last week must have impressed, as I'm definitely not fit to bowl at all.
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