edladd
New Member
Re: Edladd's Blog
Rising Damp?
Bit of a disaster this weekend!!
It's been raining pretty much constantly for the last couple of weeks over here - and it's finally managed to do some real damage to our pitch!
We put in a mat at the start of last season when we moved grounds, and on Saturday the firsts game was called off because the top layer of the mat had lifted from the underlay. There was basically a 4 foot square bubble on a length that killed every ball that bounced near it. Then on Sunday morning it was even worse, with a load of standing water on and around the mat and both ends lifted from the ground
As it turned out, the games probably would have been off anyway due to the weather (though sunday evening was very nice). But still, I don't know how likely it is that the pitch will be playable by next weekend. We might have some interesting fixture conjestion over the next few weeks!
The thirds managed to get in a half game on Saturday at an away ground. I'm definitely going to have to post some pictures of this place - it's on the grounds of a school that looks a lot like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films - no kidding. The setting was great - but the pitch was a mess. It was damp and mucky - and it wasn't even really a wicket ... basically just a strip of grass cut short. It didn't even look like it had been rolled! Not that rolling would have helped - it wasn't even level to begin with. There were some odd bounces off it. One coming up at your head if it hits a ridge, and the next skidding through even though it seemed the same length - nightmare.
We lost the toss and were unsurprised to be put in to bat - but then we managed to get the score to 190 in 39.3 overs. I came in at 11 and was involved in a 15 run partnership, of which I put on 0
The important thing was to survive until the last over so as not to give the opposition extra ones - which we did. I faced 6 balls, 3 of which were decent yorkers that I managed to jam down on, and the rest I just left or tried to defend. In the last over my batting partner hit one to square leg and started running without calling. I was a bit confused, but started to run - until he stopped in the middle of the wicket and turned to look at the man picking the ball up! After that it kinda went slow motiony ... he tried to get back to his ground, but slipped and ended up in a heap. So then it was up to me to try to beat the ball to the strikers end. Luckily the throw wasn't good and the keeper was busy trying to pick the ball up when I made it in - but unfortunately, my batting partner was too slow getting up and didn't make it to the non-strikers end before that wicket was put down
So I ended up with 0* for the third innings in a row ... even after a suicidal attempt to save the other batsman
I think all out defense is the way to go with my batting for the moment. Our teams tend to have spectacular collapses meaning that when I come to the wicket we have lots and lots of time. I reckon if I get some time at the crease just getting bat on ball and content not to score, eventually I'll get a better eye and be able to hit out at the ball should the occasion arise.
Also, I'd a taverners match on Friday in Trinity College - a fantastic ground (pics to follow). I batted fairly poorly trying to whack the ball - the idea being to score some runs or get out and let someone else have a go. But kept just missing it. I got two runs off the edge, but never felt remotely comfortable. In the reply, trinity chased 91 with the loss of only one wicket. I bowled my two overs getting 1 for 11. Should have been less runs, but our fielding was poor to say the least. I'm no exception - having let a catch bounce just in front of me and then go for 4
Ah well, hopefully we'll have a pitch next week!
Added 41 minute(s) and 13 second(s) later...
Nearly forgot! The wicket I took on friday was a first for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I noticed a flaw in the batsmans technique and was able to expose it. And secondly because it was the first time I intentionally swung the ball!
I spotted that the batsman took guard about 3 inches outside leg stump :? and it occurred to me that the only reason someone would do that was because they were crap off their legs. So I adjusted accordingly and started bowling at his pads. Sure enough he had trouble getting it away. So then I started bowling with the ball angled for outswing, and on the third attempt - it moved late - he missed it - and it hit leg stump
I'm sure it won't be every week that the batsman will give a clue that big, but it's progress for me that I'm actually looking for these things.
Rising Damp?
Bit of a disaster this weekend!!
It's been raining pretty much constantly for the last couple of weeks over here - and it's finally managed to do some real damage to our pitch!
We put in a mat at the start of last season when we moved grounds, and on Saturday the firsts game was called off because the top layer of the mat had lifted from the underlay. There was basically a 4 foot square bubble on a length that killed every ball that bounced near it. Then on Sunday morning it was even worse, with a load of standing water on and around the mat and both ends lifted from the ground
As it turned out, the games probably would have been off anyway due to the weather (though sunday evening was very nice). But still, I don't know how likely it is that the pitch will be playable by next weekend. We might have some interesting fixture conjestion over the next few weeks!
The thirds managed to get in a half game on Saturday at an away ground. I'm definitely going to have to post some pictures of this place - it's on the grounds of a school that looks a lot like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films - no kidding. The setting was great - but the pitch was a mess. It was damp and mucky - and it wasn't even really a wicket ... basically just a strip of grass cut short. It didn't even look like it had been rolled! Not that rolling would have helped - it wasn't even level to begin with. There were some odd bounces off it. One coming up at your head if it hits a ridge, and the next skidding through even though it seemed the same length - nightmare.
We lost the toss and were unsurprised to be put in to bat - but then we managed to get the score to 190 in 39.3 overs. I came in at 11 and was involved in a 15 run partnership, of which I put on 0
The important thing was to survive until the last over so as not to give the opposition extra ones - which we did. I faced 6 balls, 3 of which were decent yorkers that I managed to jam down on, and the rest I just left or tried to defend. In the last over my batting partner hit one to square leg and started running without calling. I was a bit confused, but started to run - until he stopped in the middle of the wicket and turned to look at the man picking the ball up! After that it kinda went slow motiony ... he tried to get back to his ground, but slipped and ended up in a heap. So then it was up to me to try to beat the ball to the strikers end. Luckily the throw wasn't good and the keeper was busy trying to pick the ball up when I made it in - but unfortunately, my batting partner was too slow getting up and didn't make it to the non-strikers end before that wicket was put down So I ended up with 0* for the third innings in a row ... even after a suicidal attempt to save the other batsman
I think all out defense is the way to go with my batting for the moment. Our teams tend to have spectacular collapses meaning that when I come to the wicket we have lots and lots of time. I reckon if I get some time at the crease just getting bat on ball and content not to score, eventually I'll get a better eye and be able to hit out at the ball should the occasion arise.
Also, I'd a taverners match on Friday in Trinity College - a fantastic ground (pics to follow). I batted fairly poorly trying to whack the ball - the idea being to score some runs or get out and let someone else have a go. But kept just missing it. I got two runs off the edge, but never felt remotely comfortable. In the reply, trinity chased 91 with the loss of only one wicket. I bowled my two overs getting 1 for 11. Should have been less runs, but our fielding was poor to say the least. I'm no exception - having let a catch bounce just in front of me and then go for 4
Ah well, hopefully we'll have a pitch next week!
Added 41 minute(s) and 13 second(s) later...
Nearly forgot! The wicket I took on friday was a first for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I noticed a flaw in the batsmans technique and was able to expose it. And secondly because it was the first time I intentionally swung the ball!
I spotted that the batsman took guard about 3 inches outside leg stump :? and it occurred to me that the only reason someone would do that was because they were crap off their legs. So I adjusted accordingly and started bowling at his pads. Sure enough he had trouble getting it away. So then I started bowling with the ball angled for outswing, and on the third attempt - it moved late - he missed it - and it hit leg stump
I'm sure it won't be every week that the batsman will give a clue that big, but it's progress for me that I'm actually looking for these things.
not having smiley and then 
helped and ur update has been