The Reunion

I really didn't know if today was going to be a good day or not. Let's face it, I'd had reservations about the reunion from the start. Well, today (tonight) we'd find out if they were unfounded or not.

However, it was going to be a full day before we even arrived at that point. Breakfast on the Deck was the first point of call, just to survey the Kingdom of West Kiama and see what a great day it was.
Helen had (coincidentally) scheduled Maddi's 'get together' for today between 11.00am and 1.00pm. Now, when this was first raised with me, Helen said it was just Maddi having a play date with three of her friends. "It's not a birthday party". No worries, I said. Then I discovered that it also clashed with Jessie's first game of hockey - not a big thing, because I did want to watch her, but I also wanted to be at one of our cricket semi-finals to see the first ball, which started at 11.00am. Jessie's hockey started at 10.20am, and the game lasted 20 minutes. That was going to be a squeeze, but it could be dealt with. Then Helen started cooking lots of 'party' food, and buying things to go in 'party' games. And though she never EVER used the words 'birthday party', before my very eyes, Maddi's play date had become a party. She can be very sly, can my wife, and she certainly snuck this one past me. Pretty much like she does on all occasions. I will be very much ready for the next time she tries to sneak this same explanation past me...
The final thing to break up the plans I had made for myself today was that Jess actually had two games of hockey on, not one. So the anticipated 10.40am finish did not actually occur until 11.30am, which meant that my carefully laid plans from a month ago, with plenty of notice to all involved, again had gone down the gurgler.

No big deal. Jessie's hockey was good to watch. Almost all of the Albion Park kids were at a learners level, and though Jess liked to dance around the edges of where the ball was, she was somewhat stand-offish when it came to getting her stick involved. It wasn't until the very last play of the second game, when the opposition made a break from their own half, with no one between the two of them and the goal. The only girl able to chase? Jessica Peters. She chased hard, and was able to stop the first attacker by getting the ball of him, and then doing the same with the second attacker, halting the attack, and the game ended. That was great to see. The only problem now is that she doesn't play for a month because of school holidays. We'll see how she handles that first game back.

Arrived back at home at 11.30am, heard before I saw the 'party' in full swing, grabbed Garry and jumped back in the car, heading for Shellharbour to see our 2nd Grade side play Shellharbour in their semi-final. Our guys had won the toss and batted, but as per most of the season, the batting didn't fire and couldn't get going. To be rolled for 114 was very disappointing. Garry and I both agreed that if they had managed to get to 150 or 160, it would have been a very defendable score, especially given the Kiama bowling line-up of Hart, Reilly, Hook, Hartley and Hudson.
Our guys needed a good start, and they got it, reducing Shellharbour to 3/17 at tea. At this point Garry and I had to leave for the evening festivities, but we were hopeful of a good result, and not just a little bemused by the Shellharbour beer tent set up on the eastern side of the ground. many Shellharbour players and supporters had set themselves up there, and as they drank more throughout the day were becoming louder and increasingly obnoxious. Banter is fine, but this was becoming downright insulting.

Back to home, to ready ourselves for the evening. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Joel, Bono, Fran and Amelia showed up. We had a couple of heart starters on the Deck in the fine afternoon sunshine. After some phone calls we were also joined by Anthony and Kearo and Manette. Helen got a photo of us all together, which was good for posterity's sake. We are all a little older, though Joel and Manette are just remarkably unchanged. A nice quote from former alumni Tim Queripel on Facebook perhaps summed it up nicely:
"Well Kearo's been looking after himself. Tone, Gaz and Big Joel doing OK. Bill and Bono look to have been grazing in the top paddock!"

Karen very kindly dropped us in to the Kiama Leagues Club, where we had a half hour downstairs to have a beer - and catch up with the cricket scores. 1sts are boned, losing two late wickets to finish at 5/92 chasing 217 against Lake Illawarra. 2nds are all but gone, Shellharbour being 6/101 chasing 114. There could be an outright result however, so it looks like that's where I'll be again tomorrow.

As it turned out, we didn't get upstairs until 7.30pm such was the conversation downstairs. We walked into a sea of people. It was somewhat amusing. In the upstairs function room, there is a raised area as you walk into the room, where the bar is. You then step down into the auditorium itself, which is full of tables and the such, and the outdoor smokers area is on the opposite side from the bar. All of the people who had arrived, which must have been 50-odd by the time I arrived, were all smashed into the top bar area, and the rest of the establishment was practically empty. So, after about fifteen minutes of say hi to anyone who happened into view, and having grabbed another schooner, I motioned to Bono and Anthony that I was going to make the move down to floor level, and grab the 'punters' tables over on the far side. I suggested that this was to allow everyone who wanted to talk to me could find me. It was more about getting some space and enjoying my beer I think.

So what can I say about the night? It was quite surreal really. It truly is a remarkable fact about the difference between schoolyard and real world. In the schoolyard, you can spend anywhere from six months to 13 years with the same people. You basically grow up together, and learn the principles that become the mantra for your own lives beyond. You don't even know it's happening at the time, it just is.
What is possibly even more amazing is how much people's memories and feelings can change in the years between. there are people who, while you are at school together, would not even give you the time of day, who would hardly know you even exist. Yet suddenly, at a school reunion years later, converse with you like a long lost friend, and want to know all about your life and what you have been doing. Perhaps even stranger, there are people who you were close to when you were at school, who now are trying to keep some distance between you and them.

My reunion experience was all positive. Everyone seemed genuinely excited and happy to see everyone else. I spoke to people I had seen a day beforehand and I spoke to people I hadn't seen in 25+ years. Jason Murrell left at the end of Year 10, and was just the same, and we had a great talk. Rachel Preddey hasn't changed one iota since high school in any way. When she came up to Manette and myself and confessed that in high school she had had a crush on Muz, it cracked us up. The girls in my office at work had insisted I would discover my "secret crush" at the reunion. Well, I didn't (as I insisted to them that one does not exist) but Rach and Jase had. Very very funny.
How many people can you name? I hadn't seen Simon Bowland since his move to Melbourne, nor Mark Curtis in the same instance. I hadn't seen Roger Lienert since about 1988, and we had a great catch up. Mick Taylor I hadn't seen since his one season of cricket with Kiama 4th Grade back in 2000, when he won a premiership in his only season. Bronwyn Gollan and I hadn't spoken for fifteen years, but her first words were to once again remind everyone gathered than I was her first 'boyfriend' (pretty sure we were seven years old) and that I had often been in charge of feeding her Baby Alive doll. Thanks again for that Bron. I hadn't seen Clancy Ford since school, and her first utterance was whether I could remember how rude I had been to her in 6th class when we sat together in Michael Maude's class for four weeks. How differently we all remember certain instances. I was eleven years old at the time and pretty keen on Clancy, but didn't know how to actually articulate that. Obviously, what I tried backfired to the point that I had left Clancy with these kind of memories for 32 years. Wow. Talk about your all-time backfires. How did I ever get married?! Gay Wooltorton, apart from the hair colour, is another who has barely changed - well, maybe she's a little louder now. :)  I hadn't seen Mark Nolan since he had graduated from taking photos at our lowly Kiama cricket games to photographing the NRL and other such events. Yep, still the same too. Julie Murphy and Michelle Elliott, crazy girls that they were, are now sensible women. Who would ever have thought? Laurelle Crowther, another who has not changed at all in looks or personality. Craig Mason still the same guy, casual and at ease with everyone. Who would ever have believed that the "Espo's", Max and Sandro, would have shown up? Not me or Bono, who spoke of the possibility endlessly in the weeks leading up to the event. Ross Harmer, another who has moved to Victoria, is still the same Ross Harmer who I started pre-school with back in 1973. Mark Hedges, the police force still suiting him. Corey Hall and Rod Roberts, Gerringong still suiting them. Deanna Armstrong and I started together in kindergarten in 1975 in Mrs Bala's class. And not to forgot the girls who decided to get this together and organise - Allison Sinclair, Penny Wilson and Kylie Andrews. I could just list everyone, but it would take forever and a day.

There just wasn't enough time, firstly to see everyone who was there, and then to properly talk with everyone to a satisfactory conclusion. It felt as though too many conversations were cut off through new conversations with other people starting, or by going to the bar and getting caught up with other people. In any event, as terrific as it was to see so many people from the past, we just couldn't squeeze them all in over one evening.

They finally kicked us out at about 2.00am (I think. Time had gotten a little fuzzy by then). Bono and I went for kebabs, though Bono confounded everyone by ordering a "kebab with salad, no meat thanks mate". They didn't know what to charge him. Hilarious. Allison had loudly proclaimed outside "Everyone can come back to my house!! Plenty to drink!". She even forced me to memorise her address (yep, still remember it. 53 Barton Drive). No doubt she was glad the next day when no one had taken her up on that offer, as sorely tempted as we were.

Taxi's had been ordered, but the queue was lengthy (about 17 jobs in front of most of us). After another half an hour of talking drunkenly with anyone who would listen, Anthony suggested we go with my suggestion from 5.30pm that afternoon - call Karen to come and get us. now, either his phone was dead or he didn't want to call, so (surprisingly) I sent her a text. Which went "This is Anthony. Please pick us up at Leagues Club. Love Anthony". I'll be honest - I have no recollection as to whether Kaz then called Anthony or not, or called my phone. All I know is half an hour or so later, Karen turned up. And we all piled in. Craig, Anthony and myself in the very back, Laurelle, Scott and Garry in the middle, and Bono in the front. Bono closed the door, while we were all talking to Dale in the back. Though the actual time that had elapsed was different in everyone's memories, I reckon it was between 20 and 30 seconds, before Dale, just as an aside in the conversation, suggested Bono might open his door again, as he had slammed Dale's hand in it and it was stuck. Some were horrified at this. I couldn't stop laughing. Hilarious. Bono was apologetic, Dale cried it off, suggesting it "wasn't too bad". The fact it was swollen and bruised for days afterwards probably suggested otherwise, but I found it very funny at the time. Then we got to Scott's house, where he looked towards the front, and said "Wow! $96.50, that's quite a fare!" It was of course the radio station he was looking at (96.5 Wave FM). Good job Mowbes. Craig had made a big shot at Drunkest Person on South Coast, and had slept all the way home. I was glad I didn't have his head on the next day. Not that I think Laurelle was going to be much help either.

We got in the front door after 3.00am. Garry headed for bed, while Bono and I stayed up for close to another hour, drinking some water and talking about the night. In a way, it was fitting that we were the last two standing. 25 years ago, I don't think either of us would have thought that come 2012 we would have been as close friends as we are. 25 years later, I still consider Bono, Anthony, Kearo and Joel as my closest friends. Surely none of us thought at the time that would be the case. Bono and I converse a lot, could probably solve the world's problems together if we were of such a mind. Finishing the night with him just felt like it was right.

Vale Peter Roebuck - One of the Greats

It was a great shock on Sunday morning to hear the news that Peter Roebuck had been found dead at his hotel in South Africa. While the manner and reason behind his demise was still mired in question, it did not detract from the fact that the game of cricket had lost one of its finest writers and observers.

Much will be said of his modest yet effective career as a first-class cricketer, captaining Somerset for a number of years and also being named as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1988, an achievement of the highest standing.
 However, it is his career as a journalist and writer that has delighted, informed and inspired so many people around the world. It is in this capacity that he has been to me a ‘mentor by correspondence’.

There are so many cricket journalists reporting for so many types of publications throughout Australia and the world. Most of these journalists, either through their own personality or ego, or the demands of their publication, write sensationalistic copy, which in the main focuses on the negative aspects of results or incidents. They look for the headline, seize it, and run with it until it is beyond dead. They will jump on a few words in a fifteen minute interview, and turn it into a story where no story exists, just to dredge up an old story that has long been buried. Anyone who recently saw Simon Katich’s interview after scoring a century in the Shield match will see this hypocrisy. He spoke of New South Wales cricket, of his determination to succeed this season, his return to bowling, and other such things. His throw-away line that he did not expect to play cricket again for Australia under the current regime took up less than five seconds of this interview, but it was ONLY this part that then made the headlines by the media. It was a joke, and a disgrace, one exacerbated by Cricket Australia who have since deemed it fit that Katich fronts them to explain his ‘actions’. Once again, the media creates a story when, in reality, none existed, and it is to their eternal disgrace and discredit that they continue to do so.

I spent most weekends through the late 1980’s and early 1990’s reading the columns of Peter Roebuck and John Benaud in the Sunday newspapers. In the days before the internet, before pay-tv, where there was limited television exposure of any cricket that wasn’t Test or International one day cricket within Australia, their incisive words of intellect were a breath of fresh air. They cut through the hype of the mainstream cricket media, able to balance both sides of any argument, and offered an informative insight into the cricket being played both on and off the field.

What was so inspiring about Roebuck’s writing was his unbiased attitude to all his articles. He was not nationalistic. He was an Englishman who played his cricket for an English county, he lived in Australia and South Africa, and worked in both these countries, and could have called them home, yet he never betrayed any bias in his articles to his feelings in this regard.
This did not mean that he wasn’t forthright in his opinions when required. In 2008 his article, which his editor deemed fit to place on the front page of his newspaper, called for the sacking of Australian captain Ricky Ponting after the Test against India at the SCG, which had a number of nasty incidents, not the least being the confrontation between Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Harbhajan Singh. He was constant and vigilant in his calls for the cricket world to embrace the Zimbabwe nation, to root out the evil that surrounded it and to save the nation's cricket, rather than condemn it to oblivion. He was also quite clear in pointing out that Michael Clarke had to make a choice between his relationship with Lara Bingle or cricket, as his off-field saga sapped at his performance on the field.

As with everyone in life, I did not always agree with his positions or conclusions. However, unlike so many other writers, I always came away from having read his articles feeling as though I had learned something about cricket, or found myself questioning my own beliefs on an issue through his thought provoking words.

My love of both writing and cricket had blossomed long before I first read any of Roebuck’s articles. Both had possibly even reached an obsessive stage by the time his first articles began appearing in Australian newspapers.
My desire as a teenager to become a journalist extended to applying for many cadetships at many newspapers, and even studying for a year at Mitchell College in Sydney. By my mid twenties I had been completely turned off the profession, mostly by the fact that serious journalism turned its back on reporting facts, and instead making sensationalism its key phrase. The search for the headline became its goal, and losing the basis of what journalism is - the reporting on events, not creating them to sell newspapers or advertising slots on TV programs.
My love for cricket never waned, even as my own shortcomings as a cricketer became glaringly obvious.

I spoke earlier of how Peter Roebuck became my ‘mentor by correspondence’. What I meant by that is simple. His writing inspired me to become more observant as a cricket watcher, to study the game and the players in a way I may never have done without reading his articles. He also inspired me to give something back to cricket in my own backyard. I began to write the cricket articles for our Club for the Kiama Independent, first for two years before moving away to Sydney, and then again for three years on my return five years later. In the present day, he has been one of my inspirations when it comes to doing the write-ups for our Grade cricket teams each week on our website. He is one of the people behind my decision to attempt the rudimentary Club history I have been dabbling with for the past two years. His writings, his witticisms, and his journalistic integrity have been the things that have inspired me to perform a modest reproduction on and off for twenty years on a much smaller scale, and with a much small readership.

No matter what may come out in the following days of the reasons why he took his own life on Saturday, world cricket has lost one of its greatest orators, and it is with profound sadness that I greeted this news. One wonders if we will ever be able to replace him.

Debuts of Differing Degrees

Last weekend provided two players making their own debuts in the same 1st Grade match, but their fortunes couldn't have been any further apart, even if they had been stalking the poles at opposite ends of the world.

Brodie Billett has played 1st Grade cricket before, for his previous club of Oak Flats. The match against Lake Illawarra was, however, his first match for Kiama, and therefore his 1st Grade debut for Kiama. In his role as new 1st Grade keeper, he had done his work behind the stumps last weekend as Lake Illawarra batted through out the day. This week was his turn to do the job with the bat.

Walking out at 6/102 is not an easy proposition. 47 runs are still required to avert the follow on. Last season in 3rd Grade, Brodie scored over 700 runs. As anyone who has played 3rd Grade in recent seasons can attest, it is not a strong competition at the moment. Those runs were well made, but 3rd Grade is not 1st Grade, and facing Mark Ulcigrai is not like facing medium paced 3rd Grade attacks. Facing his first ball for Kiama, Brodie found it crashing into his pads, and the dreaded finger was raised. A golden duck on debut. Not one for the scrapbook.

Later in the day, Kiama are getting a second chance at the crease thanks to Lake Illawarra's generosity at enforcing the follow-on. This time, due to Ryan Gunning's injured toe, Brodie steps out at 5/70, and with some work to do to tie up the day. He walks to the crease, and looks up to find Mark Ulcigrai at the top of his run. No doubt thoughts of his dismissal from a couple of hours previous start flashing in his head. You tell yourself to play this ball differently, to avoid the mistakes you have made in that first innings. Then, before you know it, "Ulci" is at the umpire, and the ball is upon you. The ball again crashes into your pad, and no doubt Brodie is fearing the worst as the Lake team goes up in unison. Looking up at the umpire, seeing the finger rise into the air, did he instantly realise that not only has he picked up his second golden duck of the day, that it now transforms into a King Pair? Is there a worse feeling in cricket? Who can say. One thing is for certain - Brodie won't forget his debut for Kiama for a long time, nor will he be allowed to forget it by his teammates.

A king pair on debut, both dismissals LBW. That's got to be difficult to take. Or would you consider it to be a worse situation for Josh Elliott? In both innings in that 1st Grade match, Josh walked to the wicket following Brodie's dismissal, and both times had to face a hat-trick delivery. Certainly he would have copped some ribbing in the first innings, but you can only imagine the jovality that was happening on the field as Josh walked out to "Groundhog Day" in the second innings. "Don't drive angry Josh! Side of your eye... side of your eye..."

One person who knows all about being dismissed leg before wicket is Greg Norris. In the 2010-11 season, Greg was dismissed LBW nine times, a Club and possibly word record. Having received some gentle serves about this during the off season, no doubt Greg was looking forward to keeping away from any such jokes in the new season. This was unfortunately put to rest in the first innings of the 2nd Grade game against Lake Illawarra, when he was dismissed... yes... LBW... for 9 runs.

Last weekend, after a great bowling effort, Kiama required only 15 runs to win their match outright. Opening the batting, with little to gain and plenty to lose, Greg was the subject of two huge appeals early on, both of which were denied by the umpire. However, when yet another ball stayed a little low and again found its target (Greg's front pad) it was more than the umpire could withstand, and he indicated to all yet another LBW against the G-Man.

Is the record in danger? After one round, two batsmen have two LBW dismissals - although if a countback is held, then surely Brodie will win for his two first ballers. 

The competition this season looks as though it will be fierce. Perhaps a new trophy will need to be struck on Presentation Night to record this great competition.

One of the better stories of the week involves Anthony Mortimer. Having last weekend - and let's not mince words here - carried on like a goose in a trial match at Northern Districts, Morty received a dressing down over his actions during the week. While it was acknowledged that he had the skills to be a very good cricketer, his attitude in certain situations was becoming his downfall. Morty accepted the consequences for his actions, apologised and promised to do better.

On Thursday, with other players proving unavailable, Morty was chosen to replace Ryan Price for the second week of the 1st Grade match, in essence being picked for his 1st Grade debut. He repaid the faith of the selectors and the board by putting in a very credible effort. He took a catch in the field, and then backed that up by scoring 29 in the first innings (3rd top score) and then another 20 in the second innings (2nd top score). What was even more impressive is that everyone spoke positively of his attitude and determination during the day.

Through this unusual set of circumstances, perhaps Kiama has not only found a good 1st Grade cricketer, but a good cricketer has found out just how to make himself into an asset for his Club, both on and off the field. For everyone involved, let's hope this is the case.

Why Was Ian Bell Recalled?

There have been innumerable occasions in the history of cricket that a batsman has been out, but has been reprieved by an umpire's error or the leniency of the opposition's appeal. But it has been a long time since I have seen a batsman who has been given out - correctly - under the Laws of Cricket, and yet has been able to resume his innings all thanks to the newly popular term of the "Spirit of Cricket", which apparently can overrule the Laws of the game.

Did anyone else see this? The following link from CricInfo gives an overview of the incident at hand:http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-indi...ory/525477.html

In the humble opinion of this highly prestigious column, I would suggest the following is true.

1. Bell doesn't pay attention to the game - in reality, didn't value his wicket highly enough - and he is dismissed. Out. Correctly, in accordance of the Laws of the game. Most sources have claimed that Bell was NOT attempting a further run, but the replay of the batsmen running between the wickets suggests otherwise, as he sets off for a fourth run, then glances to the boundary to see the fieldsman prostrate over the boundary line. Bell assumes, with the lack of haste coming from the fielder and the roar of the crowd, that the ball has reached the boundary, and moves from a jog to a walk toward the dressing room for tea.

2. At no stage did umpire Asad Rauf signal a boundary had been hit, nor did he verbalise it. At this point it is the batsman's responsibility to either return and make his ground at his end, or enquire with the umpire if it is a four or not. By doing neither of these things, Bell has effectively left himself with no defence in simply walking off the ground. The ball is still "live" and the fielding team has every right to remove the bails and appeal for the wicket to be given out.

3. If India were 'against' the decision having been made, why didn't they change their minds on the field before the tea break? If it hadn't been the last over before tea, they would have HAD to have made that decision before the next batsman arrived at the crease. Highly unlikely that it would have been overturned in that scenario.

4. What the hell are England's captain and coach doing visiting their opponents dressing room during the break to try and convince them to 'reverse their appeal'?! That is surely not on. That to me is coercion at its worst. If India wished to change their decision, they should do it without being seen to do so at the behest of the home country.

5. If you can only have 20 seconds to decide if you use a video referral, the why do you get 15 minutes in the dressing rooms to change your appeal/decision? If it wasn't done on the field, the standing umpires should have held firm and said that the decision could not be reversed.

6. This "Spirit of Cricket" bullshit is just something that gets flung around when it suits certain parties. Ian Bell is quoted:
"Probably naïve on my behalf, but taking into account the spirit of cricket and everything, this was probably the right decision".
Well Ian, you can stick that response straight up your Khyber Pass - it was the right decision for YOU, and YOU were the one who actually did the wrong thing in the first place!

It didn't affect the outcome of this match, but this is just another example of how the tide has turned for English cricket, and that everything is running for them. Can anyone imagine the outcry if Shane Watson had done this (and he's always likely to), and Ricky Ponting had gone to the English dressing room and asked them to change their decision? Not a snowball's hope in hell would they have changed their appeal.

Why should the so-called Spirit of Cricket be over-ruling the laws of the game, and rewarding the stupidity of a player? Ponting spent years as a captain trying to get opposing teams to agree to accept a player's word when it came to disputed catches, something that would have been a true upholding of the Spirit of Cricket. Not once - that's right, NOT ONCE - in all those years did an opponent agree to his request. One wonders just where this particular incident could lead to in the future.

Local Derby II: Blue v Gold 12-3-11, Revenge of the Nerds

It has been said that revenge is a dish best served cold. Well, once again Bonaira Street served up a 30+ degree day to perhaps thwart the efforts of the Kiama Gold Academy team in their quest to exact revenge for their second-last ball loss to their Kiama Blue counterparts in the first round.

It is probably not worth recording anymore that Joe Murphy won the toss for the 72nd consecutive occasion, and chose to bat for the 72nd consecutive occasion. Having lost two regulars in Jan Haubruck and Gavin Hartley to 2nd Grade the Academy side was again not at full strength, while the Blues were fielding possibly their strongest contingent.

The Blues got on top early, thanks to their regular opening partnership of Mark Thistlethwaite and Michael Hook. Joe found himself adjudged LBW to Hooky early on, new number three Frej Ulfsson deceived by Thissy, and Matt Clapham also falling to the sliding deliveries of Michael Hook.
At 3/25 the innings was decidedly shaky. Matt Price arrived to restore some stability and substance to the innings. Anthony Mortimer was introduced from the Kendall’s end to replace Hooky and Ethan McIntosh arrived at the East’s end to replace Thissy. It was my first time to face both.
Morty was immediately impressive. He has a good run into the wicket, good power at gather and release, and excellent shape away with the ball. His first over was too wide of off stump which cost him a couple of boundaries, but he quickly realigned his radar, and homed in on the stumps. At good pace and that shape that didn’t fade throughout his ten over spell, he was the most impressive of the Blues bowlers on the day. Very handy.
Ethan I’d seen a bit of in the nets, but never actually faced. When his first ball swung in and thumped into my pads before my bat had reached halfway on the downswing, it was an eye-opening beginning. His first couple of overs, though, were also wayward, and his figures suffered initially because of it. However, as he is wont to do, he produced an absolute cracker from out of nowhere, a ball that pitched on middle and cut in viciously to cartwheel Matt’s leg stump, ending what had looked like being a dangerous partnership.

John Watts strode to the crease at this point. It had been probably close to 16 years since I had last batted with John, and I can only say that I had been looking forward to the opportunity. You can’t learn more about batting than sharing a partnership with Wattsy.
Meanwhile, the Blues continued to frustrate themselves, with some close decisions going to the batting team (correctly, may I say, though some may consider me to be biased on that point) and a rash of catches going begging. Perhaps it was like boy scouts being kind to senior citizens, because chances were being offered, which the fielding team felt obliged to politely turn down on numerous occasions.
As the partnership continued to blossom, so did John’s stroke-making. It is a delight to watch John when he is in full flight. His technique remains as solid as ever, and his shots are just classical. There weren’t so many of the glides through gully or cover driving as there was in his halcyon era, but the off and on drives for four and six, and the pulling to the square leg boundary was magnificent to watch. While some hack at the other end swung like a rusty gate, John just flowed into his strokes and made the art of batting look like a breeze.

After the culmination of the fifth wicket partnership that realised 110 runs, John continued on with the effervescent Reece Conley who played the best innings I have seen from him this season. With only a few overs to face, he looked to get John on strike, but also played some terrific attacking shots of his own, striking the ball immaculately. It was exactly the finish the team needed, and he can be proud of his short and undefeated innings. Reece finished not out, while John continued his rich vein of form, remaining not out for yet another half century for Kiama in a master class of batsmanship. Kiama Gold had rallied to post 5/192 off their fifty overs.

Moving into the field, the instructions remained as always – bowl full and straight, cut off all possible singles, and we would go a long way towards winning the match. The Blues were confident of chasing down the total – they had certainly said so during our innings. Adam Czulowski and Vaughan Thistlethwaite opened the batting against Frej and Mitch Nevins.
Despite a stuttering run up almost reminiscent of a young Daniel Reilly, Frej was bowling his usual tight lines and reasonable length, bottling up the Kendall’s end nicely. From the East’s end, Mitch again exhibited his wonderful left arm in swing, though again his length was erratic. A great ball beating the outside edge would be followed by a short ball ripe for pulling. Adzy proved the most attacking of the opening pair, putting a couple of balls to and over the square leg boundary. He was also the benefactor of a couple of dropped chances, before finally snicking one through to Reece off Mitch to fall after a quickfire opening.

Jake Ashley and Steve Brown replaced the opening bowlers, with varying degrees of success. Jake continued his typical line and length attack, whilst being able to move the ball both ways. It served its purpose beautifully against Chris Park, who was happy to leave two consecutive outswingers, only to be brought undone by the inswinger Jake delivered to him next ball, and found his defence wanting. Vaughan Had again batted patiently before also falling victim to Jake's variations.

Brad Church and Russell Park had been brought together, and they began their own unique ways of combating the bowling and the target – Brad began to pummel the ball to long on and long off and deep square, while Russell punched for the gaps and took quick singles at a whim. The cessation came when Russell missed a full toss that struck him in front of middle stump, leaving his future in the hands of Frank Weir. Having taken his time to judge that the ball was definitely missing off and leg stumps his finger (perhaps somewhat reluctantly) was raised in affirmation of the appeal.
Tragically for the Blues, and great news for the good guys, Brad then holed out to Frej at long on in Jake’s next over, and the game was back in the balance at 5/110. Still, even at this stage, it was obvious to the Gold team that we had to bowl out our opponents, or they would win. It was highly improbable that we could restrict them under our total without doing so.

Morty and Brendan Czulowski were now together, and they worked to boost the total without creating too much risk. Sensibly they looked to keep the good balls out while taking advantage of anything loose or wide. Morty fell to a catch by Joe at first slip to put paid to that partnership, and Brendan fell trying to force the pace to a shockingly short and wide delivery from Frej, testament again that crap bowling sometimes becomes the wicket-taking deliveries.

Jake and Nudge returned for the final act with the four bowlers left to bat for the Blue team. Frank had arrived at the wicket with Russell umpiring with an already raised finger in an amusing sidenote in a fiercely fought battle. Along with Mark Thistlethwaite these two continued to nudge and punch the ball around in the search for runs, with the run rate required having now climbed to more than five per over in the last ten overs. Jake’s line and length was immaculate, and he deservedly picked up his fourth wicket for the innings by snaring Frank simply by drying up all scoring options. At the other end, one might say that Nudge was having some trouble finding his line and length. However, the magic returned as new batsman Hooky tried to pull one to leg, only to have ball snick the back of his bat and lodge safely in Reece’s gloves for a fine keeper’s catch.

Nine wickets down now, and still some runs to get, and the Gold side held its nerve as they fought for that final wicket. It came in the next over, as Jake was able to beat the stubborn Thissy’s prodding bat and remove his off stump. Jake did his best Shoaib Ahktar aeroplane impression having snared his fifth wicket of the innings, and the Gold’s had levelled the local derby up at one apiece with a (35) runs victory.

The Blue side was certainly not disgraced, and will no doubt be ruing their dropped catches. As with our first clash, it was an enjoyable day’s cricket with good spirit yet competitive nature all the way through. I can guarantee you it feels much better to win this time than in losing in the first round.

For our guys, John Watts was superb with the bat in setting up the big total. Reece Conley, as I mentioned previously, played the best innings I’ve seen from him, but it was his keeping that was the most impressive. I can only think of three occasions when he mis-gloved the ball, he took three catches, and was good on his feet. I don’t think it was a coincidence that his best day in the blue and gold cap in Seniors came when he hadn’t spent the entire morning playing junior cricket. Jake Ashley’s bowling was again spot on, rarely giving the batsmen any width to hit, and ensuring that when they missed, he hit. His five wicket haul was fully deserved, and was as important as Wattsy’s runs in the victory. The fielding, despite a few missed catches, was also improved. Nudge even brought out the "Lakers Slide” on at least one occasion, which brought the comment from Joe and John that “you can take the boy out of the Lake, but you can’t take the Lake out of the boy”.

A special note of thanks to all of the spectators, especially the continued support from those up on “Go Go” Hill, who cheered almost every run, wicket and saved run in the field.

With one round to go, if we can beat Gerringong next week we will finish second on the table. If we lose, we could finish second or third depending on the result of the Oak Flats and Kiama Blue match. In either scenario, it looks like we will play our semi-final at Bonaira Street, a huge advantage for us.

Now to see if I can unlock this left knee and sew this Achilles tendon back into place before next Saturday…

Kiama Academy v Oak Flats

I'd like to tell you a story - of David vs Goliath, of the White Knight vs the Dragon. It's a story of heroes and of amazing deeds. Where names like Matthew Clapham, Jan Haubruck, Jake Lee, Reece Conley and Tom Dowd will shine like diamonds.

OK, so it was just a cricket match, but it was one like I have never experienced before, and in many ways I never wish to experience again.

The Kiama 3rd Grade Gold (Academy) side travelled to Bonaira Street Oval to take on Oak Flats - the current premiers, the current leaders, and having only lost one game this season, to our Blue brothers before the Xmas break. The day was quite ridiculous. I have no idea what the temperature made it to, but I've never played at Bonaira Street when there has not been a breath of wind, and none made its presence felt until well after 5pm that day. Drinks breaks were taken every 10-12 overs, and both umpires held bottles of water for batsmen and fielders alike - something I have ever experienced on a cricket field. One of the toughest days weather-wise I have ever played.

Joe again gave us the perfect start by winning the toss and batting. General consensus was that if we batted out our 50 overs and made around 150 we would be in a good position. Despite the early loss of Reece Conley to a good outswinger, the innings moved forward slowly and steadily with Gary Koks and Jan Haubruck. The bowling was tight, but the batsmen took no risks and squeezed out runs where possible in the stifling heat. The conclusion of the opening salvos from the Rats young fast bowlers brought a change with instant results. The score had reached 1/42 when Nick Maloney began from the Kendall's End, and who then snared Gary for 23, Jani for 13 and Joe for 14 in a period of three overs. Add to this the run out of Jake Ashley for a duck, and Kiama had lost four wickets for just the addition of 14 runs, leaving the team slumped at 5/56.
Enter Matt Clapham, nerveless and seemingly untroubled by the daunting scenario. He was immediately at ease, and dominated the partnership of 48 for the sixth wicket. He picked the right ball to hit, pouncing on the short ball from the off spinner, as well as thumping him over long on for six. He also played the Rats best and paciest bowler, Peter Dalley, well, nudging him around the corner for singles, and keeping out the good deliveries. It was certainly the best innings I have seen Matt play.
The second drinks break was a much required pitstop for the batsmen and fielding team, but it also proved to be Kiama's undoing, with the five remaining wickets falling for just ten runs upon resumption. Matt's 23 was equal top score of the innings and was fully deserved.

Though the total of 114 did appear to be 20 or 30 runs short of what was required, Joe's message of "they still have to make them" rang in the team's ears as they took the field. Early wickets appeared to be the key, as it was obvious that Oak Flats would go at the total hard to try and wipe it out as quickly as possible. This they did in the first three overs, as poor Mitch Nevins channelled the spirit of his namesake Mitch Johnson, and couldn't get the ball to behave. The Rats batsmen took advantage, racing to 0/26 off the first four overs. A wicket in the fifth over helped to settle down the run rate, and the Oak Flats batsmen set themselves to see off Gavin Hartley without forfeiting their wickets. When the first drinks break was taken the score had reached 1/54, and the batsmen appeared in control.

However, the drinks break struck again, with four wickets falling for just a single run, revitalising the match as a contest. Dowell and Morrow were dismissed in the same over, before Matt Clapham, who had replaced Gavin at the Kendall's End, took two wickets in two deliveries - the skipper MacPherson caught well down the leg side by Jani (who had taken the keeping gloves at the drinks break), and then trapping the dangerous Brad Morey LBW for a golden duck (though the batsman claimed to have edged it, and from side on he was a looooong way down the wicket. Having said this, the umpire gave him out quickly and without fuss, so it must have been pretty plumb). Oak Flats had crumbled to 5/59, and the whole atmosphere of the game changed with it. Now, rather than taking on the bowling the batsmen had to exercise some caution, or risk losing more wickets in the short term. This they did, with Billet looking to be the more aggressive when possible. When the second drinks break was taken they had consolidated their position, and after 27 overs they were 5/81, still 34 runs from victory, but with enough overs left to do it comfortably.

More change was necessary, with Jani taking off the pads so he could take up the attack from the Kendall's end with his leg spin, and Joe becoming the third keeper for Kiama for the afternoon. With Jani and Jake Ashley bowling in tandem runs were still not flowing, and it was obvious that this was becoming a problem for Billet. Finally he could take no more, and tried to put Jani over the fence at long on. He was beaten in the flight however, and only managed to sky the ball about a thousand metres in the air, to where Jake Lee was perched at a regulation mid-on. The ball was in the air for about thirty seconds, while Jake set himself underneath its flight. Then (somewhat strangely) he hopped in the air three times as he waited for the ball to descend. After an eternity the ball returned to earth - straight into the middle of Jake's hands, completing a brilliant catch. Kiama erupted, both on the field and from the sidelines. It brought to an end a terrific innings from Billet, who had batted for over 30 overs in the fiercest heat to score 44 runs.

With the mainstay of the innings gone, the pressure fell back on the Oak Flats team, and their indecision meant that the runs had dried up almost completely. Jake was again bowling a good tight spell, and was eventually rewarded with the wicket of Dalley late in his spell. The score was now 7/96.
In the next seven overs, only 6 runs were added as the game tightened up even further. Eight overs to go, 12 runs to win and three wickets in hand. Joe had by now brought the field in, meaning it was difficult to find any runs. With Jake Ashley's spell of six overs at an end, Matt came back on from the Easts Beach end, and immediately broke through by picking up Herbert, and at 8/102 the good guys were still in it.

Enter Nick Maloney, who only ever plays one way, and he deposited his first ball over cover for four. Another slash went in the air, rocketing towards the mid on boundary. At regulation mid-on, Reece Conley ran, dived full length airborne, getting his right hand to the ball, but unable to hold what would have been an absolute screamer of a catch. Though the wicket may not have been taken, Reece's great effort had saved three runs, as there would have been no hope of cutting off the boundary if it had gotten past him. And at that stage of the match, three runs saved was worth a fortune...

45 overs gone, Oak Flats are four runs from victory, Kiama are two wickets from victory. Jan Haubruck commences his tenth and final over. He has bowled beautifully, getting good turn and bounce, flighting the ball perfectly. He admits later that it was almost impossible for him to keep throwing the ball up there, feeling that he should be darting it in to the batsmen. Fortunately he fought his instincts and bowled exactly as a leg spinner must to the tail - try to tempt them into false shots. He has beaten the bat a dozen times for no reward, and yet he continues to give the ball air. His second ball tempts Maloney into a big drive, which is edged to where a wide 2nd slip may have been. The ball rushes away, and the batsmen look for two. At deep point, Tom Dowd, who has again excelled in the field as he did against Gerringong in December, rushes around. As the batsmen turn and confirm their intentions for two, Tom picks up and throws almost in one action, sends the ball careering into keeper Murphy's gloves, and the bails are taken with Maloney about 15 centimetres short of his ground. A brilliant piece of fielding has brought about an almost incalculably valuable run out, and Oak Flats are 9/112.

You almost had to feel for Brownlee as he comes to the crease. He has taken 5/16 with the ball, and now must try to find the three runs required for victory with the bat. You could sense his nerves. For Kiama, Joe decides to keep all of the field up to make the batsmen try and hit the ball over the top. Gutsy. Jani also continues to toss the ball up to the batsman, tempting him like the snake with the apple in the garden of Eden. Gutsy. Two balls are thrown up, and the batsman is beaten prodding. Anguish amongst the Kiama team.
The fifth ball is a gem, well flighted and pitched, drawing the batsman down the wicket in an attempt to get at it. The ball dips, hits the pitch and rips past the bat into the waiting gloves of Joe Murphy, who crashes the stumps down in earnest, and the game is over. Kiama win by two runs, in a game that many of us will remember for a long time to come.

Stars are everywhere. Gavin Hartley's great bowling is complemented by his efforts in the field, with one attempted catch going wrong as he rolled over the ball, causing what must have been a very painful crack in the spine and kidney area. Jake Lee's marvellous catch. Reece Conley's save at mid-on, that turned out to be a match-saving one. Tom Dowd's fantastic run out under enormous pressure. Jake Ashley's solid six over spell of bowling at the most important stage of the match. Matt Clapham's fantastic all round effort with bat, ball and in the field. Gary Koks fielding in just about every position on the field throughout the 46 overs. Jani being good with the gloves, and exceptional with the ball.
And a special mention to the captain. Once again Joe was cool under pressure, almost always pulling the right rein at the right time with both bowling options and field placements. He took a catch at first slip, catches as keeper and the final wonderful stumping. There is not a better person in this Club that our 15 to 17 year olds can learn from about the game of cricket. There is at least one 41 year old in the Club who is still learning from him, and admiring his ability to make this team as competitive and tough as it is.

In the toughest conditions that I have played in, Kiama Gold move to within one game of first place in the 3rd Grade competition. Special thanks should also go to our hardy supporters, especially Brendan and Adam, Brad and Ernie and Morty, who spent all or most of the day at the game helping us get home, and Pearso who made sure he got there to mark out the boundaries etc.

Kiama Academy v Jamberoo

On what will probably turn out to be the hottest day of the summer, the Kiama 3rd Grade Academy side travelled to the sweltering cavern of Keith Irvine Oval to take on the Jamberoo team in the first match of 2011. Though missing a couple of key players (batting, bowling and wicket-keeping options) the Kiama side were cautious but optimistic against their 10th placed opposition.

Skipper Joe Murphy again managed to win the toss and bat, giving Kiama the upper hand immediately. Gary Koks, facing the possibility of picking up the nickname "Audi" if he managed to register a fourth successive duck, was beaten by the first ball he faced (a pretty handy away swinger on a good length) but then slogged into the gap to get off zero and put his mind at ease. With this challenge completed, he moved on his merry way before edging behind for a quickfire 25. Quickly to follow was Jan Haubruck, who mistimed a sharply rising short ball to top-edge to square leg. Another good partnership developed between opening bat Liam Case and Joe Murphy. Joe played in his usual upbeat fashion before holing out to deep mid-wicket for 29, and in the same over Liam's excellent innings also ended when he played with hard hands to short mid-wicket. Liam had played well on a difficult field to penetrate for runs, particularly middling his pull shot with regularity.
At 4/76 the innings was evenly poised. Enter Jake Ashley, who played what I consider to be one of the smartest innings I have seen from the team this season. The slow outfield meant that it wasn't easy to penetrate for more than singles, but he played each ball on its merits, and took into account the fact that if runs were flowing from one bowler, it wasn't necessary to take risks at the other end. He dabbed the ball short when the field was back, and called for quick singles as a result, without taking risks on big extravagant shots. He played nice drives, some good cut shots, and worked the ball off his pads excellently. His valuable efforts ensured a fifth wicket partnership of 88, which got the team into a position of strength before his dismissal for an excellent 24.
Closing off the innings with style was Gavin Hartley's 40 off about 20 balls, including four sixes and two fours. His clash with elder brother Merrick brought the large crowd to its feet, especially when Mez's last ball was deposited into the neighbouring house's front (not back) yard. Bickering from the crowd over the huge six saw Mez reply "Hey! I kept him off strike for this over! I did my job!" (hard to fault really). A bit of indoor cricket skills, where a three was almost completed from a shot that went about six metres concluded Kiama's innings at 9/219 off 50 overs.

With a good total to defend, the reshuffled bowling attack set about getting into the Jamberoo batsmen. Both wickets and runs were hard to come by. 2011 was met with the first surprise - Maxy Fitzsimmons has developed a run up! Of at least six paces too! After getting over this shock, we met with pleasure his full delivery that rapped the opening batsmen on the foot, and our shouts for LBW being rewarded with the umpire's finger being raised.
After the opening pair's initial spell was extinguished they were replaced by the Two Jakes (not the movie starring Jack Nicholson), Lee and Ashley. Jake Ashley backed up his great batting with another fine spell of medium pace bowling, swinging the ball both ways in a manner that would have shamed the Australia bowling attack. Though he went unrewarded with six overs costing just 14 runs, he beat the bat often and put a real clamp on the Jamberoo batsmen. At the other end, Jake Lee (not Jake E Lee who played guitar on two albums for Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980's) tossed up his tempting off break floaters, and caused mayhem early. Having had a look at the first ball pass him by, Mr N Smith duly charged the second ball, gave a long groan as the ball passed his bat and gave stand-in keeper Jan Haubruck about two hours to take the bails off to complete the stumping. After a few lofted shots, a couple of overs later Mr D Smith played almost the exact same shot for the same result.
A partnership developed from this point, and though not a particularly fast-paced one, it was an annoying one for the Kiama lads who were hoping to wrap up a quick victory. Given the miserable efforts from the over aged leg spinner who had replaced JA at the northern end this probably was not surprising. Once Pig had completed his great spell from the southern end (2/38 from 10 overs) he was replaced by Josh Simpson, who proceeded to bowl the spell of the day. Bowling at a good pace with an excellent line and length, Josh finally put an end to Pat Hardman's innings and Kiama's agony by ripping his off stump out of the ground. Josh proved to be almost impossible to get away, and finished his six over stint with 1/11, and an impressed audience.
Given Jamberoo's reluctance to push harder for a victory, Liam Case came on to show off his own spinning wares. Though a nervous first over was pinched for ten runs, he picked up a wicket with his final ball in that over. With his nerves gone, he finished bowling three overs for the fine figures of 2/15, and impressed with his own style of spin bowling. There might be a drought of spin bowlers in the higher grades at the moment, but in a few years we'll be like Sri Lanka picking four in each team!
After the customary one over per season from Gary Koks (including some dodgy leg spinners, may I say...), Jamberoo finished at 7/158 off their fifty overs, leaving a tired but happy Academy team as winners by 61 runs.

Once again, the kids did themselves proud, and the elders managed to survive another 100 over Saturday (though I haven't moved without pain for 48 hours).

Kiama Academy v Kiama Blue - Derby I

Well... I suppose someone has to write something about this game, though 20 hours after the completion of the game my left knee has locked up and the result still lays heavy in the heart.

The game could not be faulted, as I suppose the result shows. The fact that the game was won off the second last ball with nine wickets down should show how tight and tense it became.

I thought winning the toss and batting was a big bonus for us. The outfield was dead slow, however, and we just couldn't get away to a target that was formidable enough to defend comfortably.

I thought the Blues bowling was superb. Mark and Hooky bowled great line and length, giving nothing away, and especially with the slow outfield the batsmen were lucky if they could find a single. Steve Hudson and Matt Clapham batted well, and in the long run lost their wickets more out of frustration than anything else.
Chris Park and Frank Weir were also terrific, changing their pace well which made it even more difficult to score under the conditions. It is still an underrated ability to bowl good medium pace with a bit of swing or seam, and both these two guys did it perfectly. With our young blokes looking for quick runs in the final ten overs, no better example could be made for the success of bowling straight and full in those final overs than Chris' bowling figures of 7/30. He bowled perfectly for the situation and fully deserved his success.
Special mention too to the other two bowlers for the Blues. It was the first time I had faced both Vaughan Thistlethwaite and Adam Czulowski, and both bowled well. Vaughan was quicker than I expected, and he bowled good line and length. He has something. Adzy also bowled a good spell when i was required in the middle of the innings.

For our guys, Jani played the most responsible innings I have seen from him. He picked the right ball to hit on most occasions, and didn't allow any frustration at the slow outfield to discourage his batting. It was only when we reached the final ten overs, and required a kick along that he took some risks, and was eventually dismissed. His 26 was worth at least 50 to our team in those conditions.
The ever reliable Jason Wills top scored with 31, and played his usual hand, scoring quickly at a time when the team needed a lift.
With Jani and Jason getting the team to the 41st over before being dismissed, the kids batting lower had no chance to play themselves in, and as a result their scores bear no reflection on their ability. They all took on the role without any thoughts of their own 'stats' which was gratifying.

112 mightn't look like many, but conditions were the same for both sides, and the message to our guys was that singles would be difficult, and that if we kept the pressure on we could get our opponents to make the mistakes.

This was also the first time I had seen Mitch Nevins bowl, and he was pretty impressive. He bowled full and straight, and gave nothing away. Given that, as with all our kids, they can only bowl short spells, it was unfortunate for our side when he had to be relieved after his 5 overs cost just 5 runs.
Maxy Fitzsimmons replaced him, and saw two of his first three balls go for four to the deep fine boundary. Next ball, he plucked out Chris park's off stump. Smiling all the way, Maxy could only say "I can't believe he took those two balls from off stump for four!!" Maxy bowled well until he had some no ball trouble in his fifth over that then seemed to take his concentration.

The next two wickets were identical. The Blues had already had a couple of flirtations with run outs on the slow outfield, where direct hits would have seen them out. Their luck couldn't hold (we told ourselves in the field) and sure enough, Tim Delaney hit a ball toward cover and straight away. Matt Clapham dived superbly at cover, stopped the ball and fom his knees threw the ball to keeper Jan Haubruck to complete a brilliant run out of Ernie Church. Two overs later, and new batsman Vaughan Thistlethwaite played the exact same shot... for the exact same result, this time Tim being the victim. Terrific stuff. Matt has proven himself to be one of the best fieldsmen inthis Academy team, and thes two run outs were as good as I have seen in a number of years.

At 3/21 we had our noses in front, but a great partnership of 65 for the fourth wicket changed all that. Brad Church summed up after about an over that hitting the ball along the ground was going to result in no runs, and correctly began to go the aerial route instead. Moving around his crease, picking the right ball to hit, and also seizing upon gaps inthe field to pick up easy singles, he changed the course of the match. He was well supported by Vaughan, who was keeping the ball along the ground, but keeping out the good balls and turning over the singles when he could.

Jake Ashley had replaced Maxy at the Kendall's end, and took a bit of tap in two overs from Churchy. However, he continued to bowl straight and full and gave nothing easy away, and he came back from this really well. He could easily have let it slip away, but he fought back well and continued to ask questions of the batsmen. Very impressive.

With the last throw of the dice we brought Gavin Hartley back into the attack, and he got Chruchy to tickle one down legside that was well caught by keeper Haubruck. Jani was going to be one of our bowling weapons, but with the late defection of our regular keeper (and is it true he ditched us to go on a camping trip? If so, he may struggle to come straight back into a side where everyone else is keen every week... anyway... I digress...) he filled in more than admirably with the gloves. In particular his keeping to myself and jason was excellent.
Anyway...
Next ball Hooky lost his middle stump, and suddenly our guys knew we were back in with a sniff of victory, and they lit up again.

The guy who now had the most pressure on him was Jake Lee. I had left him late, more through necessity, but now he was going to have to bowl his off spin at the death. And he did so absolutely superbly. He showed no fear, he tossed the ball up to the bat, and asked questions of al the batsmen. Given the situation of the game, his spell was the one that impressed me the most all day. he may not have taken a wicket in his 6 overs, but bowling in tandem with the veteran Wills at the other end, he kept the pressure on and wasn't afraid to give the ball air. Great stuff.

At Jase's end, wickets were tumbling, but we were never able to convincingly stop the flow of runs as well. Vaughan was terrific and solid, though I felt we were a chance to get him through inexperience... until his father came in to bat, pulled him aside and gave him some encouragement. I didn't hear what was said, but I can guess that it was "don't throw your wicket away, we can get this in singles" or something along those lines.

Anyway... into the last over, just Vaughan and the almost immortal Frank Weir at the crease, and we had tied them down until the second last ball, when Vaughan calmly took a step down the wicket and hit the ball straight down the ground to the unprotected bounday for four, and the game was lost (or won, depending on your colour allegiance).

It had been a terrific game. I was, and am, tremendouly proud of the effort our guys put in. We were pretty much behind all day, but were never out of the contest. Apart from maybe four or five overs during the Church/Thistlethwaite partnership, our guys were up and and the ball, keen and sharp. Steve, Jason and Gavin were terrific, unflappable under the difficulty of the chase, and were constantly upbeat and helping the young guys stay focused. Jake Ashley and Matt Clapham in particular were great in the field, and Jani terrific with the gloves on. More than anything, we had taken on a side that made the semi-finals last season in Third Grade, and fought them to the wire. For our young blokes, they did themselves proud.

To Brendan and his boys go my congratulations. It was a competitive game with neither side giving any quarter - but without the nastiness you get when playing certain other teams. With so many kids on both sides playing well, our Club's future would appear bright.

And just in case you are wondering... despite all this glowing optimism and back slapping - yes, losing did hurt. Moreso when I got to the Club, as the only 3rd Grader, and the skipper of the losing team, and everyone asking "What happened in 3rds?" i got sick of that after about 65 seconds. Once I had gotten home and kicked the dog and smashed the washing machine with my bat I guess a little bit of the frustration leaked out...

I'm already ensuring I am available for the rematch in March. We may have lost this one, Blue Team, but we'll get you next time! *shakes fist defiantly*

3rd Grade Academy vs Albion Park

Another steamy day made itself available to the Kiama Gold Academy 3rd Grade side as they looked to add yet another victory to their season over the Albion Park side.
From all reports, Albion Park won the toss and decided to bat, and quickly had their most experienced and dangerous batsman Trevor Horton back in the pavilion bowled by Frei Ulfsson. This was all news to me as I arrived at the ground at 12.42pm following various traffic incidents and the necessity to drop off my daughter at her grandparents before entering the fray (no pun intended).

Once back on the field, I admired the salvos of both Frei and the revitalised Gavin Hartley, who pounded in off his five steps, swung the ball both ways and generally caused mayhem amongst the ill-equipped Albion Park batsmen.
Frei's six over spell produced another great return of 1/10 and again it was his impeccable line and length that was the standout. Replacing him was Max Fitzsimmons. When I was asked by three separate players beforehand "Have you seen Maxy's run up?" I was expecting something long and extravagant. No... the two foot shuffle-and-sling caught me right off-guard. However - it was effective for most of his spell. As with all sling actions, they can go a little astray, but overall he bowled well, and caught the edge of one batsman to snare a wicket to another good catch from keeper Reece Conley.
Meanwhile, Albert had finished his ten over stint for a miserly 4/16, and was replaced by the looping off spin of Jake Lee from the southern end. It seemed that he had everyone in a spin. Following a ball that passed down legside and about three metres past Reece, the batsmen took off for a single. Quick as a flash, skipper Joe Murphy was around from first slip and had the ball in hand, and threw down the stumps at the strikers end almost before the batsmen had crossed. The question of "who called that?" was met by Joe's reply "No run there... not on my arm!" which did not receive the gales of laughter it deserved (though there was some question as to whether he was aiming for the stumps at the other end when he threw the ball...). This was met by Jake picking up a leading edge next ball, and Jan's catch completing the wicket.
Brought on with the wind to ensure his deliveries reached the other end, the team's ageing leg-spinner managed to grab a couple of late wickets whilst terrorising his wicket-keeper, who resorted to his helmet after four deliveries. Albion Park was dismissed for 69.

Ryan Gunning then met the opening bowlers salvo with one of his own, dispatching deliveries to all parts of the field in compiling 27 before edging to the keeper. His opening partner Liam Case looked assured and confident, before losing his head and trying to slog a ball on his middle stump, with the expected result. Jan Haubruck started confidently, and while finishing on 23 not out played a couple of inexperienced shots that could have cost him his wicket to a better side. With better concentration he will score more runs in the coming weeks. Joe Murphy played a blinder for his 7 not out, an innings that he will no doubt be very proud of. The game concluded just before 3.00pm, with the elder participants able to move on to watch 1st Grade complete a fine victory.

Once again the Gold side played well without being thoroughly tested. It still augers well for continuing good performances in the weeks leading up to the break.

3rd Grade Academy vs Warilla 13-11-10

My second game for the season in the Academy Gold colours was to be against Warilla at beautiful Bonaira Street Oval. This game also saw the somewhat questionable withdrawal of the captain when the word 'wicket-keeper' was mentioned to him, and thus the reigns fell to be shared between Koks and Peters on the day.

The first duty was done with aplomb, by winning the toss and batting. Winning the toss is something that I have had a great deal of success with as a captain in the past - winning games is another story altogether.

 The boys did well, moving along to a comfortable 2 for 100 after 25 overs when the drinks break was taken. Stand-in keeper/opening bat Reece Conley had made a good 10 before pre-empting his next shot and losing his off stump out of the ground. Carlin Simon had again looked great before he too decided to push too hard ad was also bowled for 11. In the final couple of overs before drinks, the Warilla side did what all Warilla sides before them seemed to do - argue with each other, and a fiery tirade full of colourful language during the drinks break spoke volumes. If the Academy boys could consolidate in the early overs then a big score looked in the offing.

This of course immediately broke down with the dismissal of Koks, Grant Case and Peters within four overs, and at 5/113 the innings was in the balance. Jake Lee followed soon after for an entertaining 5, and at 6/130 with some 17 overs of the innings remaining the Warilla side were all mates again and looking to close in for the kill.

12 year old Matt Price had come to the crease at the fall of Grant's wicket, and had then been bowled by a full ball that was well over waist height, and had been correctly called a no ball. The fact that Matt is about 120cm tall made it a tough call, but a correct one. However, from this point, in his first game of Grade cricket, Warilla could not budge him. He played straight and true, and his defensive shots were coming right out of the middle of the bat. When they strayed on his pads, he flicked them around the corner for ones and two's. If they were short and wide of off stump, he cut correctly. For the 21 overs he was at the crease, he didn't look like being dismissed - except when he replayed his shots after the ball had been delivered. He then often moved out of his crease, only for an instant, but it was enough for him to be almost run out four or five times. I can tell you that he was giving the square leg umpire at one end a heart attack on a number of occasions. Supporting him on this venture was Frei Ulfsson, who may well have ridden his luck a number of times (he was dropped off sitters at least three times), but continued to bat well, and then became aggressive at the end of the innings. Matt's 24 not out, and Frei's 31 not out mean that they put on an unbeaten partnership of 60 runs for the seventh wicket, and enabled the Academy boys to reach 6/190 from their allotted 50 overs. Frei pushed his batting average for the season to 60.00, as he has only been dismissed once so far, and Matt was congratulated by most of the Warilla players as he came off the ground. Warilla dropped over ten catches, which added to their misery.

The message to the guys was pretty clear on our way out to the field - be keen, be aware, no negativity, and take all our catches. Who was to know that everything would be achieved so well?

Frei and Grant opened up proceedings, and both were immediately on a perfect line and length, both beating the bat consistently. After three overs the batsmen were obviously over being ties down, and the Warilla opener Kellow launched two big sixes straight down the ground off Grant. Co-captains Koks and Peters conferred at 1st and 2nd slip, and pondered putting a man on the boundary. We then agreed that "let's see how Grant comes back". The next ball sliced the off stump out of the ground, relieving all of us of any further decision making on the subject.

With the bowling quite superb in line, length and pace, the Warilla batsmen just crumbled, and some terrific catches helped lift everyone. Matt Panecasio took a scorcher at square leg, Gary Koks a screamer at first slip, and Reece Conley a one-handed gem as keeper. These three catches in particular would have dampened the mood of the Warilla side, given the number of chances they grassed. Frei was relieved after his mandatory six overs produced the figures of 2/9. Without doubt it is the best I've seen him bowl, and his improvement is gladdening. At the other end, toiling into the wind, Grant had claimed yet another five wicket haul, moving the ball both ways in the air and troubling all of the batsmen.

More humour was to come, with Teixiera coming to the crease. before he was even halfway there, Reece is demonstrating "we need a guy at cow corner and one straight on the boundary!!" With Grant in control, I said "OK, well, let's see how he goes first". Before you know it, Grant has been hoisted over long on for six. I turned to Reece and said "OK skipper, where do you want 'em?". It could well have been an interesting exercise in getting him out cheaply, but that problem was solved by young Matt Panecasio, who came on from the Kendall's end to replace Frei, and quickly ripped through the three remaining wickets to finish with 3/3 from 11 deliveries, and smashing a bail with his final delivery. Warilla had been demolished for 55 in just 14.5 overs, and the Academy boys had won by 135 runs.

It was great to be a part of, and everyone played their part, even poor old Liam Case who got short shrift again by being next man in to bat and missing out on a bowl, and Peter Laughton who umpired for 28 overs, and missed out on a bowl by one delivery. There is a great feeling in the team, and I have thoroughly enjoyed both my matches (winning by such large margins in both also helps... :) ). Hopefully everyone remains keen and we do well with this side this season.

The Final Warning?

Scorecard: Australia v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Melbourne

The deafening silence in the aftermath of Australia's capitulation to Sri Lanka in the ODI on Wednesday night is symptomatic of the problems that currently face both the players and the selectors of our national team. The very fact that there has been nothing more but a shrug of the shoulders over the result, and a 'spoken determination' to turn it around in the next game on Friday proves that there is simply no plan except to keep picking the same players in the belief (hope... desperate hope) that they will turn it around themselves. In a bygone age, this was a simple and sensible policy, given that for a decade the Australian side was made up of eleven players ALL the time who could be rated as 'greats'. Only one of them remains, and he didn't play on Wednesday night.


The fact that Australia's tactical thoughts were questioned by the parochial commentary panel on Wednesday - and most vehemently by the doyen himself Richie Benaud - should convince anyone who wasn't already convinced of the fact that there are problems that need to be addressed. The commentary panel NEVER criticise the home team.

For some years I have been denigrating and sledging what I dubbed "The Brett Lee Theory on Bowling to Tailenders". For some reason, he had gotten into his head that the best way to dismiss the tail was to bounce them, consistently and often. More often than not, it not only didn't work, it cost a plethora of runs from authentic shots and edges. Yet, not matter how often this tactic did not work, he continued to use it at the end of ODI innings. For years I have never understood it. After Wednesday night, however, I'm beginning to think perhaps I was wrong, that perhaps it wasn't just a Brett Lee tactic. Maybe it has been an Australian tactic, one that has been devised by the bowling group, the coach, and the captain. I don't know for sure. The only thing I know for certain is that cricket watchers all around the country were yelling at their TV's on Wednesday night, pleading for our bowlers to pitch the ball up in the blockhole.

It was obvious to all that, to the faster men Johnson and Siddle, Malinga was moving very slightly away to the leg side when parrying away their deliveries. A fuller ball on off stump would have uprooted it on any number of occasions. However, our guys decided short of a length was the go, and as a result never looked like dismissing him.

So in the long run, what should be the result of this ineptitude? The bowlers length was terrible, and Johnson again was erratic and undisciplined. The problem here is that it has not been a one-off. It has been an on-going problem. If it was indeed the bowlers who planned this attack, then they should be dropped from the side immediately, and get some bowlers into the team who have a better handle on how to bowl at the end of a one day innings. If the tactics themselves have come from the captain, then he must held accountable. If the coach was also involved, then his position must also be put under review.

As stated - this is not a reaction based on one game. In July in England, Australia capitulated to a Pakistan side that to that point hadn't looked like winning a game. They then lost a Test match to India when they could not budge the final two wickets when 91 runs were required for victory, before also surrendering the 2nd Test with little more than a bark. In the only ODI possible following this in India, they could not defend a total of 290. There are problems that need to be solved, and yet the selectors have taken a "softly, softly" approach. Injuries have not helped. Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris would have to be considered near certainties in the ODI side at least if they were fit. The batting is still not producing enough runs on a consistent basis, and there has been constant speculation over a number of players for far too long now.

The selectors have been quite obvious and blunt in their attempt to keep a stable team together to retain harmony in the ranks. In the Test team they have gone to extremes in order to keep players such as Marcus North, Mike Hussey and Nathan Hauritz through low production times, and then pointing to their success when the century or five wicket haul has arrived. Unfortunately, that has then been again followed by a period of low success again. In the one day arena, poor bowling at the death of innings has rarely been used as a catalyst to take the bowler(s) out of the team. Scratchy form, and using up a lot of deliveries for little result by middle order batsmen has rarely been used as a catalyst to look for fresh new faces in those positions. All of this is OK if the overall results show that the team is winning a majority of their games, and that it isn't affecting the overall performance or unity of the team.

Unfortunately, the recent results - in ALL forms of the game - now show that this is not being reversed, and action must be taken by the selectors to halt the slide, before it becomes critical. The Ashes has become the focal point, but if the selectors wait any longer to make the tough decisions, then we may already have surrendered the urn before they pull their fingers out, and all the calls from Australian supporters saying "WE F*#KING TOLD YOU SO!!!" will not bring it back.

Wednesday's match was (what should be) the final warning for our team and our selectors - start making the tough decisions, or forfeit the Ashes, the World Cup, and everything else we still have a shaky grip on.

A Disappointing Evening

Channel 9 must have thought they were on a great thing - first an Australia Vs England Test in the rugby league, and the first international cricket match of the season, a Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka. The games did not unfortunately live up to the promise.

The league match started off great - competitive, tough and close. Australia had all the ball in the first ten minutes to lead 6-0, but the Poms hit back to take an 8-6 lead. However, some inept defense from England and a glut of possession for Australia meant that by half time the lead have swelled to 26-8, and with the rain sweeping in, it meant that as a contest the match was for all intents and purposes over. I in fact took the opportunity to go upstairs and put the kids to bed while the second half commenced. Despite the win, I can't believe there won't be changes to the Kangaroos side before the next game against the Kiwi's. last night's team won't beat New Zealand on current form.

Worse was to follow in the cricket. Australia won the toss and batted, and were met face first with a team that bowled excellently and fielded superbly. Australia's batting visibly panicked as they were tied down early, and their wickets were then extinguished as they tried to escape the cocoon they had been wrapped in. Only Haddin and Smith were able to flourish, and both had their fair share of luck in the process. In reply, Sri Lanka cruised in chasing down the target.

If Australia are going to be serious about international Twenty20 cricket, then Michael Clarke is a liability with the bat, and isn't bowling enough to offset that. Clarke bats at his best when he is keeping the ball along the ground, and Twenty20 cricket does not sustain that type of cricket. Ricky Ponting never succeeded with the bat in T20, and eventually did the right thing and made himself unavailable. The selectors probably need to have a talk with Clarke in regards to this also. Cameron White would appear the logical man to step in as captain, and his place in the team is certainly not under scrutiny every time he walks to the crease. There seems little chance that the selectors will make this move however, which will continue to place unnecessary pressure on Clarke in all facets of the game.

Are the Selectors Watching?

The games mightn't be over, and the selection of the team for the First Test against the Poms still a fortnight away, but some worrying signs have emerged in the last two days of two important Sheffield Shield matches.

In Adelaide, South Australia have made Western Australia follow on even though they lost most of the first day to rain. the Croweaters declared at 8/452 after they made Mitchell Johnson and his fellow bowlers look abysmal. Michael Klinger and fellow Victorian import Aiden Blizzard made runs, but it was the composed century by Callum Ferguson that must have made Greg Chappell sit up and take notice. Out of the game for over 12 months due to a knee injury, his first innings in a first class match on his return was this one, and from all reports it was chanceless 129. Ferguson is definitely at the front line when it comes to future Australian Test batsmen, and his chance may not be as far away as some say.
Western Australia were felled for only 295, of which Shaun Marsh scored 137. Michael Hussey was given leave from the Twenty20 match tonight to play this Shield game to find some form. His first ball duck has complicated matters no end. Marcus North needed runs despite his century in India and his 94 not out in the Ryobi Cup match last week. His 10 leaves his position vulnerable - if only the selection panel had the bottle to choose a replacement for him.
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Usman Khawaja scored 60 in New South Wales first innings on the track that the First Test will be played. Following on from his big double hundred against South Australia two weeks ago, his name must be chiseling its way into Australia's middle order.

Surely it would be folly to take batsmen into the First Test who are palpably out of runs. And surely it is folly not to picked a young batsman while they are in red hot form. The past two days of first class cricket will have given our selectors a lot to think about.

One Day Selection Madness

I confess that I am a little mystified as to the way the Selection panel have gone about picking our team for the one day games against Sri Lanka next week.

OK, their decision to give Xavier Doherty a game is to be applauded. he has arguably been the best spinner in domestic one day cricket over the past two to three seasons, and his figures demanded attention. Whether he succeeds or not is irrelevant - he deserves his chance. John Hastings is another to emerge in the last twelve months, a strong-actioned fast medium bowler who also doesn't mind hitting the ball hard when he gets his chance to bat. Both are good selections.

The area that worries me is the casting aside of the two young gun batsmen, David Warner and Callum Ferguson. The selectors would not doubt suggest I would find it difficult to leave out any of what they consider to be the top order - Watson, Marsh, Ponting, Clarke, White, Hussey and Haddin. Fair point... if they were all in form and all contributing regularly. But they aren't, and surely changes need to be made. Warner has started spectacularly in the T20 rubbish, and his explosion at the top of the order is something Australia could use to their advantage. Ferguson, before his knee injury that robbed him of 12 months, was the finisher in the middle order, and doing it in style. Both are also excellent fieldsmen.

In my mind, replacing Marsh - who did not take his opportunities last summer - and Hussey - who is probably running out of chances - would add a freshness to the batting that isn't always apparent at the moment. With Haddin and Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson stalking the lower order, it should be viable to put on a good total in all games under most conditions.

We'll soon see how the selected team performs, and get a glimpse of the chances we have of winning a fourth consecutive World Cup.

The full squad is: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson and Cameron White.

Connecting to the Intranets

OK. Seriously. How f*#king hard is it to try and get your new abode connected to the internet? It has been pretty much six weeks now that we have been trying to sort this out, out it just isn't happening.

Two weeks before moving, we contacted our internet provider, asking them to ensure we'd be right to be connected up again at our new address. They claimed we would have to contact the telephone company to ensure there were enough ADSL ports to do so. When we contacted the telephone company, they informed us that they couldn't tell us, but that our internet provider would be able to tell us. Our internet provider then gave us the same information as they had before. The final solution, at this point, was to disconnect our phone at our house we had sold a few days early, and re-connect at our new house, and that this would ensure we could be connected before moving in.

Misinformation.

Having done as asked, our internet provider then got back to us to say that the line had not been upgraded, and that they would need 14 days to get the new home connected. Showing patience, we agreed.

13 days later, I received a call from our internet provider to say that they were unable to connect our home using the current phone line, and that they would have do cancel our account.

Having used a few choice words, I then hunted down the most popular four internet providers in our area that did NOT include our telephone company. After a couple of hours, I discovered that none of them believed that they could connect us to the internet in our current position and with our current equipment. So, I went with the phone company's internet service, and applied online to be connected. At this time, I was informed that it would take up to 14 days for my application to be processed, and for us to be connected to the internet.

Misinformation.

Yesterday - 13 days later, I received a call from the phone company's internet arm, informing me that they could not connect our house because there were no ADSL ports available at our phone exchange. He had no alternatives for us to actually connect to the internet, and he informed me that he would have to cancel our ADSL application. I said nothing, given that if I had started, I just would have lost it, and done myself and the guy on the phone no good at all.

Helen took the bull by the horns, got on the phone, and proceeded to spend over an hour with the people at the telephone company. Firstly, she discovered that apparently there WERE ports available for ADSL for us. Secondly, she waded through the plans and accessories available if we were to connect with them. Finally, after an hour (no, I am not kidding... an hour) she was told that they couldn't connect our house, because there was already an order to connect ADSL to our home in their system. Further on we delve, explaining (again) about the phone call I had received over an hour ago, and that they couldn't connect us, and that's why we were calling... so they transfer to connections. Another five minutes explaining the whole story passes, and agreement is reached on the plan (again) and the term (again). Helen is told she will be on hold for ten minutes, after which she is promised everything will be completed.

Ten minutes later, and we are informed that they cannot connect us for three days, but they promise to call us as soon as connection is available.

So, with a business to run and living in a so-called developed country, there is a real chance that we will not be able to access the internet. Can anyone actually believe this? How does our country move forward?

FYI. Internet provider = TPG. Telephone company/possible internet provider = Telstra. Other internet providers = Optus & Dodo.

And my wife is a champion. Over an hour on the phone getting nowhere, and she handled it all beautifully. But don't get on her bad side, because she is more than willing to take her problems all the way to the top of your company...  :)

Current iPod Playlist

Night Ranger - Midnight Madness. 80's hard rock in all it's glory. Still some great tracks on here, led by "Touch of Madness".

Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier. Still "new" so still getting a fair hammering. "The Talisman" remains my favourite off the album.

Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Marching Out. Still right up there with the best albums released. Not a weak song on here, and Yngwie's guitaring is probably at it's best, helped along by Jeff Scott Soto's wonderful vocals. "I Am A Viking" and possibly "On The Run Again" are my current two faves.

Scorpions - World Wide Live. Showcasing the band's very best material, and live at that. Still one of the best live releases ever.

The Misfits - Earth A.D / Wolf's Blood. Insane punk alternative speed thrash topped off by Glenn Danzig's vocals. As much as I love Danzig the band, I still sometimes dream of it having more of a faster edge like this stuff does.

Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II. Funny how this took so long to grow on me, and yet now resides at the top echelon of Gamma Ray albums. With most of the rest of them.

Gamma Ray - Majestic. See above.

Motorhead - Ace of Spades. A bit similar to above. It took me a long time to get into this album (apart from the title track of course), given its iconic stature in the metal industry. I like it a lot more now than I did initially, but I think there are better Motorhead album's out there too.

Jorn - Dio. Jorn Lande's tribute to RJD is a brilliant update on some magnificent Dio songs. All stay true to the original, but sound superb in their re-recording.

Dio - Dream Evil. Always reminds me of the end of Year 12 high school, and with a mate's eldest son finishing his Year Twelve days this month, I thought this was a good choice to bring back some good memories.

Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force - Odyssey. With Marching Out proving such a hit at the moment, I thought I'd put Odyssey on here too. I haven't regretted it.

Michael Schenker Group - Unforgiven World Tour. Double live album, featuring all the hits from Schenker's career with his own groups and UFO and Scorpions. Good overview of all his best songs.

Megadeth - Rust in Peace Live. Recent recording of entire Rust in Peace album, along with some other favourites. Have to say that those songs that you don't hear so often live, like "Lucretia", "Take No Prisoners" and "Five Magics" are awesome.

Four Nations League

So, does anyone really care that this is on? I mean, I fluked on Sunday when changing channels because the cricket from India had been washed out (again), and found a replay of the Australia-PNG match. I watch about ten minutes, saw Australia score three tries from errors that kids in Under 10's would have been chastised about, and then moved on to "How I Met Your Mother" repeats on Arena.

I don't even know if the Kiwis played the Poms or not.

It's just a bad time of year to be playing international League - or Rugby for that matter. It's the Spring carnival in horse racing, the premium races are on in the V8 Supercars, the cricket season has begun in earnest... why would they try this now? Even Channel Nine didn't show the game live, though I guess that might change with the big games coming up.

And let's not even start with the Darius Boyd-Lote Tuquiri debate - if Tim Sheens is going to try and convince us there was no favoritism there, then he's just a stooge.