TCA Cricket Round One Report

Hello and Welcome to the start of season 2006/2007 in the Tasmanian Cricket Association.

Highlights from Round 1 see Glenorchy maintain its two year unbeaten run in One Dayers, defeating a tigers-ladelled side at Tassie's home of cricket, Bellerive Oval, and "The Polk Star" smashing 131 off 115 balls against a hapless New Town to register the Bay's first win in about 16 years… well not 16 but it feels like an eternity - South Hobart Sandy Bay with Polky - 4 million wins - South Hobart Sandy Bay without Polky - 1 win. He is a jet, but this does nothing for the clubs development whatsoever, and partly the reason I left... Cough *HEATH GRIGGS* cough...

Anyway, highlight for me in Round 1 would be my captaincy debut for The Pies in Second Grade - a role which I've taken to get back to enjoying my cricket, and my form last year probably didn't warrant my spot anyway in the 1's. So, it all started well with winning the toss, and I elected to bowl on quite a soft deck with a plethora of grass coverage. My decision was justified when we had reduced the Second Grade Premiers for the past 4 years, Clarence, to 6 for 52… A plethora of drop catches ensued (Smith, Clarence's captain, making 81 in a 154 run partnership with Bannister - Smith being dropped on 0 twice off my bowling, and Bannister surviving 2 missed stumpings) and with the young attack at my disposal (my own return of 2/31 off ten) it was hard to restrict the Roos. Final target to chase was 251, a target that, on a track which always flattens out (as it did after 25 overs here), was acheiveable.

No one was overly keen to open, so I took it upon myself to open the innings for the boys, with Nuttsy, last years batting average winner, in toe. Nuttsy went second ball missing a straight one, and I was joined at the crease by the returning Stebbings, after an absence from the club. He was patient, and looked for the singles, which allowed me to play my natural game that I had obviously re-discovered while away at the R.C.C.. Needless to say chaos ensued, and after smashing 42 from 30 deliveries, was bowled by Clarence's young off-spinner, who turned one about 2 foot to take out my off stump. Stebbs followed soon after, and a plethora of wickets fell at regular intervals... Maybe shouldve been looking to push that one on the off side, rather than belt it backward of square Moose… Hmmm…!

In the end we fell 65 runs short, disappointing but we just threw too many wickets away and failed to rotate the strike in the middle of the innings, and obviously had we held our catches we wouldve been chasing 150, not 250… Nevermind, this is a young side and we will bounce back. I found captaincy pretty damn challenging, and was always looking and thinking of different ways to get a wicket, and unfortunately nothing seemed to work, but again it doesn't help when catches go down left right and centre! Big week on the training track with our fielding. Next week is a Saturday/Sunday Stanza against New Town, which looks like I'll be bowling 6 million overs, as Spotty (opening bowler), Penny (Leggie), and young Baa (Elliott Maher) are all unavailable. So, a challenging year ahead, but individually speaking its started off pretty well. Feeling fit and hoping to get a lot fitter!

A shout out as well to Andrew Jackett, me old mate - Made 55 on his return for University's First Grade side, after 2 years dwelling in the Scooby Doo's… Smashed them I heard! Well done mate - However he did bowl - whats going on there???

Hope your all doing well guys, speak to you soon hopefully, take care.

The Moose.