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| Cricket Colts B Team 'Blog' |
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Eagle House Colts B Cricket Team Invicta 2008 Played 9 won 9 drawn 0 lost 0
v Lambrook Haileybury won by 8 wickets v Moulsford won by 1 wicket v Caldicott won by 4 wickets v Horris Hill won by 9 wickets v Aldro won by 8 wickets v Cranleigh won by 2 wickets v Ludgrove won by 5 wickets v Hall Grove won by 8 wickets v crosfields won by 4 wickets Played 9 won 9 lost none, nil, zero, zilch Looks rather good really, and the side can be rather good really. They can practice well, they can listen well and they can play for and support each other well. And then they can let themselves down by behaving in an inappropriate manner, playing without care etc. Today it started very poorly despite what I considered to be a fairly good coaching session yesterday. From my end only nine out of 72 balls were on the stumps and it was not much better at the other end by all accounts. Our fielding was inept and on occasions dangerous with the fingers pointing at the ball. we missed a possible nine run outs. We gave away sixteen runs in overthrows. It just showed how much we missed playing cricket during the last two weeks. It seemed that we were on holiday, dreamy and disinterested . However in the midst of this ineptitude was some brilliance, a hard catch by Elliott, four direct hit run outs, a diving stop by Alex(true) and another from Max(true again) a good catch by Pat, a good spell by Harry and it was these little things that allowed us to 'restrict' Lambrook Haileybury to 100 all out on a batsman's track. So Zeus and Harry strode out with everything to play for and Harry flicked two fours just behind square and Zeus actually played a defensive shot, no three or more, and this partnership which had threatened before took us to 54 before Zeus decided to spoil it and give his Wicket away. George continued the forward momentum batting as sensibly and correctly as never before and looked a class bat. After Harry had also given his wicket away (a shame as he had look very solid), Mohammed(using somebody else's kit because he forgot his) and George took us to 103-2. We have beaten the opposition more times than the opposition have lost. Our wins v Crossfields, Aldro, Horris Hill and Haileybury were impressive, and it was on these occasions that we put our act together and it became ever so clear how essential and beneficial it has been for parents to give up there time to take their offspring to the local cricket clubs. Without that help and coaching, the results would have been different. A good season then, but there is so much more that you all have to improve over the winter months before the start of the next. Well done and good luck, and sometimes we have got it right and that is good. Horris Hill 37 Eagle House 41-1 It is not healthy to blow hot and cold so much, but we had a better practice session in the nets and fielding yesterday and we took that improvement into this away fixture. Electing to bat, Horris Hill were soon struggling at 9-7 with Reece bowling a good line and length (4-4) from one end and Tom (3-6) from the other. Most importantly they were backed up by good fielding from everyone, with Patrick taking a technically good catch and Mohammed effecting a pleasing run-out. Alex completed a good spell of off spin and was unlucky not to take more than just the one wicket. Charlie had a better day behind the stumps and again deserves a word of praise Our batting looked sound despite losing Zeus on 15. Harry and George batted the best that they had all season and took us into tea with a comfortable win in the book. Winning a fifteen overs a side rematch was a pleasing way to finish the day during which we did most things as they should be done, and a day that was only spoiled by the singing on the bus on the way back( and I use the word singing perhaps inappropriately!) We have one match left now and everything to play for, remembering that the team and individuals will generally only be as good as their last match.
Moulsford 87 Eagle house 88-9 With apologies for the initial mistakes, but it was 1915 on Saturday when I wrote this and I was meant to be at Wellington at 1830! I think that this could be best summed up by The sum of our incompetence was just less than the sum of their competence. For certain, it was an afternoon that reflected the fact that we have had so little practice during the last few weeks(we have in fact had less practices than we have had matches), indeed during the term and in the practice that we had yesterday too many players did not make the most of it. Practice sessions have to be played as if they were matches. Today our bowling was adequate with Rhys putting in a good opening spell to put Moulsford on the backfoot. However, he like many others did not support the other bowlers in the field, catches went down, six run outs were missed and so on. Our performance in the field was not as it should be, indeed it was embarrassing on occasions. Mind you, on 82, their last batsman was given out by the umpire at the bowler's end and it seemed a reasonable score on that wicket. However, the square leg umpire gave the batsman not out because he said that he heard two sounds. The bowler's umpire had never before heard a square leg umpire turn down an LBW - interesting. The batsman then scored another 5 runs. When we were batting, Zeus and Mohammed put on a good few runs and really everybody made some contribution, but when we got to 83-6, we lost three more wickets - remember the extra runs scored at the first end of their innings? However, Charlie Saxby did a brilliant job of keeping out the ball until with the scores level he edged one and we were home. On the day, we were not the better side, with four run-outs when batting, dropped catches, etc , but we scraped through. Wednesday we will have to up our game cosiderably and play and bat as we did against Crosfields, which is one of the few games that we have won.
Colts B v Yateley Manor match cancelled waterlogged pitch Aldro 52 Eagle House 54-2 Losing the toss and being asked to field, Reece and Elliott bowled opening spells with Charles take one(two?) good catch behind the stumps. We had a bit of luck as three of the opposition played on. Having said that, you make your own luck. We bowled straight and generally on a consistently good length. George and then Alex completed their spells, with George taking a couple of wickets, including a surprising (surprised?) catch by Max at backward point. Again we kept our shape in the field, although I should not need to tell you to adjust your positions according to the style and shots of the opposing batsmen. One of their batsmen hit the ball hard to leg and the leg-side fielders did not move to the boundary with one of the offside fields moving across to save the single. When that batsman was not facing then you should go back to the normal fielding positions. You have to learn to think in the field and be aware of what is going on. Our fielding was ragged in places - shame, more practice needed, tomorrow morning 0815, please..... Harry and Zeus opened the batting with harry solidly taking the singles before stepping back and playing across a good length ball. Zeus was in a belligerent mood and smote the ball for a few fours. However, he then started to overhit, ie try to hit the ball too hard and foolishly gave his wicket away. At this level, everybody has to value their wicket, remembering that individual scores do not matter, only the team total according to the game situation. Pat and Mohammed saw us through to the end, with Pat again looking solid and Mohammed pulling beautifully to complete the match. This was a wet and cold afternoon with a couple of breaks for rain, but we did some good things, but when will I be able to watch the game without having to worry where our players are? Running around in the woods, playing with stumps, messing around in the hut? Surely it must mean something to be part of a team? I feel sorry for, yet praise, those who do watch and support their own players. Still, with one player playing golf, one playing hockey and another not available it was a good result.
Crossfields Under 10 112-7 dec Eagle House 114-6 On a hard artificial wicket against their Under 10 A team with a Hampshire county player, we elected to field. The bowling was a little variable, but Elliott, Nathan, Reece and Alex all picked up a couple of wickets and we restricted the opposition to 112-7 dec. What was pleasing was the improvement in the fielding. Only one difficult chance to Patrick's left went down and our ground fielding was solid as we saved runs and generally kept our shape. Chasing a total like this was going to be a hard, but George and Eoin gave us a start, upon which Nathan and Mohammed built until they gave away their wickets. The turning point was Patrick and Nathan seeing off their fast bowler, admittedly with more than a little luck. He was quick and could have hurt us badly physically and psychologically. Nathan especially got behind the ball and Patrick worked the singles to leg. Max and Patrick took us close to the total required before Max and Adam took us over the line. Max looked good on the front foot, but must improve his back foot shots. There was much with which we can be pleased, and little that we can be disappointed with. We still look raw in places, something that can only be addressed through practice. We have our fifth practice on Friday and then we face the might of Aldro. We must not rest on our laurels but build upon it. Patrick is leading us well and today, we supported him and the others in the team well. We must continue to do so. Ludgrove 59 Eagle House 60-5 On a warm and extremely close day, it was not a good toss to lose. However, Rhys (3-9) Elliott, Nathan and Alex (6-3-8-4) put together some good bowling spells which limited the options available for Ludgrove. Once again the lack of technical efficiency and on occasions even heart let us down in the field. There can be no excuse for not making a catch into a catch. I don’t mind if it is dropped, but I do mind if the fielder does not even try. Similarly, there can be no excuse for the ball going between the legs. A miss-field is acceptable occasionally, but laziness is not. A mention for Charlie behind the stumps at this stage would be appropriate. He has improved a great deal this term and I know that he will continue to work at his thankless task. Fifty nine was probably not defendable and all our batsmen made a start until the lack of practice and self discipline caused them to donate their wickets to Ludgrove. It was a nice thing to do, but not in a match. Max and Patrick settled the nerves, and the former played some great cricket shots to take us through to the end. It was a shame that there were a number of the ‘team’ who were not even watching the game, but were playing football. It is a team game. There is much that we must improve in the nets (our one practice before Crossfields), but once again it was pleasing to win against a side coached by another old pupil of mine. Cranleigh 129-78 dec Eagle House 30-8 This was a game that we were lucky to win. Cricket is a game when you have to play and support each other. Nowhere is this more true than in the field. Our bowling was too erratic and our fielding embarrassing on occasions when our fielders actually moved out of the way of a catch or a ball that was hit towards them. Alex, Pat and Elliott all bowled useful spells but without any real support from the fielders. I know that we have not had a practice since last Friday, but the opposition really showed us how to field, move, take catches and stop the ball. The one redeeming feature of this game was our batting which showed a little more grit and determination that we had previously seen. Harry and Nathan put on a few good runs, and then Alex and Nathan put on a match winning partnership, after Mohammed had been run out needlessly. A win is a win, nevertheless, but there has to be a change of attitude in the field if we are going to continue this streak. Eagle House 150-8 dec beat Caldicott 129 by 21 runs. Losing the toss and being asked to bat, Alex and Patrick were soon back taking their pads off as Nathaniel and Mohammed set about rebuilding the innings. Nat looked especially solid with good footwork and a sensible shot selection until he was needlessly run out by Mohammed. Adam struggled initially to get in line with the ball, but he soon was supporting Mohammed positively. Tom and then Reece moved the score on at a fair rate once Mohammmed had given his wicket away backing away to leg. However, he had put together a good innings, a lot in the air, but also some powerful shots both sides of the wicket. We had 150 on the board just after four, a reasonable target to defend offensively. Initially we kept our fielding positions well, but although wickets were falling quite regularly, so the ball was also allowed to reach the boundary with comparative ease. The lack of practice was clear to see as our ground fielding and our catching(lack of) began to let the opposing batsmen see that the target was attainable. In addition the structure of the positions was lost and the players individually must recognise that it is their responsibility at least to try to work out if where they are standing is correct for the game and for the opposing batsman. However, Alex bowled a good four overs of spin and we also could see that we could also win. Tom found better line and length to end the game in our favour. This was a good game of cricket to win especially against a side coached by a former pupil of mine, and there was certainly a lot that was good. However, we must improve our catching, our footwork at the crease and try to achive much better consistency with the ball. To improve we must practice and to practice we must have time.
Eagle House 21-2 beat Hall Grove 18 by eight wickets. It is always good to win the first toss, and Tom (3-1-1-5) and Rhys (3-1-3-2) had the opposition reeling. Our fielding was generally sound and we kept our positions well. Eoin and Harry finished the innings. The loss of Alex first ball caused a few flutters, but Patrick batted solidly, getting right behind the ball and it was fitting that he scored the winning runs. It was a nice way to start the season, but we cannot expect all the teams to be so generous. We have to work hard to earn the wickets and similarly we have to discipline ourselves to build up an innings. The basics are there, and we must listen to the coaching and build upon them. |
