Cricket

Tesla · February 23, 2018

Debating joining a local cricket team. wondering if there's anyone on here who does it or has done in the past?

Always enjoyed playing cricket with friends in a field or in garden (although we weren't allowed to whack it!)

jdoyle · February 23, 2018

I joined Purton Cricket Club a while back. Found I wasn't that good at cricket (or interested in standing around for so long) :-(

Did the ECB Scorer Level 1 course as well

My youngest still plays for the team; he's not a bad player.

Seb1780 · February 23, 2018

We formed a team at our local pub, our motto was "A Drinking Team With A Cricket Problem"

We used to play local village sides to help with their pre-season practice and post-season celebrations.

Quite enjoyable whilst it lasted

ICTDirect_Dave · February 23, 2018

We play it in the car park every day here.

A euro pallet for stumps, stress balls instead of a Duke and a couple of old bats.

I played briefly after i'd finished school and a bunch of the lads here play regularly for local clubs.

Our own John Graham (a sucker of an inswinging slower ball) is a coach for his local team in Northwich, Cheshire.

I'd suggest looking for the wednesday leagues. Up here, its T20 on a weds evening with very flexible squads. It's for old timers who don't want to commit to a full season and part timers who want to have a go.

Great fun!

DalekSec · February 23, 2018

Used to play for a local team from 16-19ish (now 25), got a job at Tesco and had to work Sats so had to stop playing.. got my Sats back and then decided i dont want to spend 1 day of my 2 free days stood in a field!

Was tempted to go back to it, but i have to work every 3rd Sat here so would be a pain..

AJWhite1970 · February 24, 2018

Have played in the lower echelons of the Hampshire league for a few years, rubbish batsmen, slightly better leg break bowler. Retired/dropped and then umpired for a bit. My son played in the same leagues for a couple of years, very fast bowler who scared more than his fair share on uncovered wet green wickets but he's now drifted away from playing.

Best I do these days is look after the lower school cricket team when they play the odd t20 or sixes match

Tesla · March 6, 2018

Well I had my first training/nets session last night. For my first go at bowling on a full size pitch i thought I did quite well (kept drifting to the right of the stumps mind..), and it took their second team bowlers about 20 minutes to bowl me out in the nets. Can't believe how much the gear weighs you down though.

That's gonna be the next step now, buying the equipment... don't wanna spend a fortune buying new stuff and then have to stop playing for one reason or another...

also, my back hurts!

DalekSec · March 6, 2018

Well I had my first training/nets session last night. For my first go at bowling on a full size pitch i thought I did quite well (kept drifting to the right of the stumps mind..), and it took their second team bowlers about 20 minutes to bowl me out in the nets. Can't believe how much the gear weighs you down though.

That's gonna be the next step now, buying the equipment... don't wanna spend a fortune buying new stuff and then have to stop playing for one reason or another...

also, my back hurts!

All i can say is... WEAR A HELMET!!!!!!!!!! and a box obviously...

AJWhite1970 · March 6, 2018

That's gonna be the next step now, buying the equipment... don't wanna spend a fortune buying new stuff and then have to stop playing for one reason or another...

If you have a SportsWorld nearby they are very good for cricket gear on a budget but as the Dalek suggested, a good protective tin can around the head is a must these days either for pub cricket or intergalactic time wars

Tesla · March 6, 2018

Yeah, I'm leaning towards Sports Direct (Although I hate handing money over to Mike Ashley, but as a Newcastle fan that's another story!)

A lot of stuff from there is available from the 2nd April, might see if they have any old stock as there's a lot on clearance etc, don't think id buy a bat without having a feel for it.

ICTDirect_Dave · March 6, 2018

Your best bet is to find an outlet soon and buy it. When the season starts you'll not find nearly so many deals.

Tesla · March 6, 2018

Theres two large Sports Directs near me, one on two floors, one on three floors, between the two of them ishould find something. (though it'll probably be stacked 3 meters up)

Tesla · March 12, 2018

obviosuly spent £130 on equipment at Sports Direct to then a few days later find that on their app they're offering 20% off everything.

ICTDirect_Dave · March 12, 2018

obviosuly spent £130 on equipment at Sports Direct to then a few days later find that on their app they're offering 20% off everything.

Return it all for store credit and buy it again?

Tesla · April 23, 2018

Update for anyone interested. Should be playing my first game on Saturday!

Had my best training session last week (imo), bowling seems to be getting a lot more consistent (although it's still taking me a good 10-15 minutes of bowling to find my range)

Batting in the nets quite well, though I seem to struggle to attack a fast ball, much better at defending (which isn't my style!)

ICTDirect_Dave · April 23, 2018

Update for anyone interested. Should be playing my first game on Saturday!

Had my best training session last week (imo), bowling seems to be getting a lot more consistent (although it's still taking me a good 10-15 minutes of bowling to find my range)

Batting in the nets quite well, though I seem to struggle to attack a fast ball, much better at defending (which isn't my style!)

You'll get used to finding your range inside of an over before you know it.

In less-serious cricket news. I just took ten wickets in 15 minutes on the car park. I capped it off by slotting a lucky six into the side of our pallet lorry driver's head through the windows of his cab.

I can now retire content

DalekSec · April 23, 2018

Best wicket i ever got was first ball i bowled in a game i got a wicket... the batsman? My old man

Tesla · May 9, 2018

As per the cool things thread...

Played my first cricket match Saturday, and we won, just, after posting a seemingly measly 69 runs, but we bowled them out for 65, so all is well (Although they were at 27-0, and at that point we thought the game was beyond us)

I happened to bat against their best bowler, which didn't help my nerves, edged behind for a single, and then after a few more deliveries sent the ball back to the bowler for a dolly of a catch (those cricket balls don't fly off the bat like tennis balls do....)

Due to the other teams' quick start, and their subsequent collapse, i unfortunately didn't get the chance to bowl (which makes sense, me getting my eye in bowling on a wicket for the first time probably would've cost us a few runs)

Hopefully get some more outdoor wicket experience at training tomorrow (The match was my first time playing outside, everything else was indoor nets previously)

DalekSec · May 9, 2018

As per the cool things thread...

Played my first cricket match Saturday, and we won, just, after posting a seemingly measly 69 runs, but we bowled them out for 65, so all is well (Although they were at 27-0, and at that point we thought the game was beyond us)

I happened to bat against their best bowler, which didn't help my nerves, edged behind for a single, and then after a few more deliveries sent the ball back to the bowler for a dolly of a catch (those cricket balls don't fly off the bat like tennis balls do....)

Due to the other teams' quick start, and their subsequent collapse, i unfortunately didn't get the chance to bowl (which makes sense, me getting my eye in bowling on a wicket for the first time probably would've cost us a few runs)

Hopefully get some more outdoor wicket experience at training tomorrow (The match was my first time playing outside, everything else was indoor nets previously)

I once batted vs an ex county bowler who could bowl at 100mph+.... i was out for a golden duck, didn't even see the ball

ICTDirect_Dave · May 9, 2018

I once batted vs an ex county bowler who could bowl at 100mph+.... i was out for a golden duck, didn't even see the ball

I'm guessing you mean kmph as there are only around 5 bowlers in history recorded as hitting 100mph!

@Tesla great job on your first win! Your bowling will improve as the season goes on as I'm sure you'll get plenty of opportunities to throw down a few overs.

DalekSec · May 9, 2018

I'm guessing you mean kmph as there are only around 5 bowlers in history recorded as hitting 100mph!
@Tesla great job on your first win! Your bowling will improve as the season goes on as I'm sure you'll get plenty of opportunities to throw down a few overs.

Pretty sure my old man told me he used to / could bowl at 100mph, maybe he was lying to make me feel better going out first ball!

ICTDirect_Dave · May 9, 2018

Pretty sure my old man told me he used to / could bowl at 100mph, maybe he was lying to make me feel better going out first ball!

Hate to say it, but probably sparing your feelings, unless it waa one of these:

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