FatCat2402
Winger
Cheers mate!
Not a great way to spend the rest of the bank holiday crippled but that’s how it goes.
I can't work out how you managed to score runs in your first game. Century nailed on before the end of the season
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Getting in to playing at an older age
- Thread starter PeteFTM
- Start date
I can't work out how you managed to score runs in your first game. Century nailed on before the end of the season
Inside Forward
Winger
When I hit that four (beautiful pull shot if I do say so myself) it was a mixture of shock and elation. Couldn’t quite believe it tbh.I can't work out how you managed to score runs in your first game. Century nailed on before the end of the season
Hoping they move me up the order next weekend.
FatCat2402
Winger
When I hit that four (beautiful pull shot if I do say so myself) it was a mixture of shock and elation. Couldn’t quite believe it tbh.
You'll be astonished at how any feeling of confidence before the game turns into a duck/dropped catch.
I worked out years ago that success at local cricket was largely based on whether Saturn was in retrogression and moths were in the breeding season.
mackem1989
Striker
Well done mate welcome to years of pain!!Cheers mate!
Not a great way to spend the rest of the bank holiday crippled but that’s how it goes.
I still hobble these days.
Fair play for taking the sport on later
Will be going to watch @NorthCountryBoy s lot soon with an aim to come out of retirement
Been asked to play for dormanstown cc also
SAFC2403
Striker
Great stuff!Reporting back on today.
We won the toss and fielded first. I got my first catch which was a massive relief and generally fielded well. They were all out for 200 (45 overs each).
Our captain thought we could chase it but we lost some poor early wickets and by the time I came in at number 7 it was made clear that a draw would be an achievement. I was very nervous. Being out there surrounded by opposition players was quite intimidating.
I hung around for 7 or 8 overs and managed to score 9 including one 4 (the only boundary we managed actually). I got out bowled round the legs which really annoyed me but I would have taken just scoring one run at the start of the game.
Thoroughly enjoyed it! Aching all over now though. It was beautiful and sunny all day too which was lovely. Can’t wait for next Saturday.
Glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like a decent debut
spitfire
Striker
I follow Silky from afar via their Facebook feed, and I have nowt but admiration for whoever is running that club from a social perspective. They are doing so many good things. Keep meaning to pop in for a pint when I am back up home but never get the chance. When I was a youngin there you’d regularly see the “old fellas” sitting watching us play. It’s funny, I’m now one of the “old fellas”
It’s sad to see clubs struggling for players now, especially decent ones like them.
SAFC2403
Striker
There’s still plenty of “owld” fellas watching. Some of us are still playing!I follow Silky from afar via their Facebook feed, and I have nowt but admiration for whoever is running that club from a social perspective. They are doing so many good things. Keep meaning to pop in for a pint when I am back up home but never get the chance. When I was a youngin there you’d regularly see the “old fellas” sitting watching us play. It’s funny, I’m now one of the “old fellas”
I grew up around cricket clubs but silksworth was my village. Most of my family or from there. My grandad lived less than a mile away. I’ve gone back to finish my career there as it’s where I started as a junior back in 1992.
Inside Forward
Winger
A question for the more experienced players here. I’m finding it a challenge knowing which shot to play and when. Basically judging line and length.
I’m working on the assumption that you try and score runs off anything wider than off stump. Getting on the front foot to fuller deliveries and back foot on shorter deliveries? Anything straight I just try and defend.
I’m working on the assumption that you try and score runs off anything wider than off stump. Getting on the front foot to fuller deliveries and back foot on shorter deliveries? Anything straight I just try and defend.
wednesday1957
Midfield
Look at the field mate, if it changes to a wider gully, leave the wide one alone.....stood me in good stead, averaged 20 one year lol
For me, the trick was knowing where my off-stump was. I could then leave anything that was too wide which forced the bowler to bowl a straighter line which was where I wanted it - always make sure, though, that you're covering the stumps with your pads when leaving the ball. A good stride forward slightly down the line just outside of off-stump for a front-foot leave; a step back and slightly across towards off to ensure you're covering the stumps for a back-foot leave.
Choosing which shot to play often comes down to practice and instinct. After a while, your brain will automatically select what to do without you having to think about it, foot movement, head position, all of that. If you have to think about it, you'll invariably be too late on whatever shot you're trying to play.
You will discover which shots you are good at and which ones get you out regularly - try not to play the latter ones too often, if at all. Patience is a virtue - don't forget that you're playing at your peer level and you will get deliveries that you can score from comfortably. Sometimes, the bowling will get on top. Don't let it worry you - the bad balls will come. You can't score runs if you throw away your wicket and are sitting back in the hutch.
Some of the 'best' batsmen in amateur cricket are the ones sitting next to you watching their teammates batting - don't be one of them. Be one of the ones being watched.
Finally, the old adage 'practice makes perfect' is never truer than in cricket.
Onwards and upwards.
wednesday1957
Midfield
some great old characters used to sit and watch the evening games in The Sheffield midweek leagueI follow Silky from afar via their Facebook feed, and I have nowt but admiration for whoever is running that club from a social perspective. They are doing so many good things. Keep meaning to pop in for a pint when I am back up home but never get the chance. When I was a youngin there you’d regularly see the “old fellas” sitting watching us play. It’s funny, I’m now one of the “old fellas”
Away team used to bat first, in case there were latecomers, one week, our two openers were in a car bump, no show... when we were playing in a place called Millhouses park...16, 8 ball overs, started at 6pm
We were all out for 23 in about 6 overs, they knocked 'em off in 3...was walking outta the park with me kit..and an old bloke was wandering in....
He said
"Theres usually a game of cricket on come a Wednesday night"
I just said
"Dunno mate...and tried to hide me cricket bag"
bloody embarrassed!!!
I was usually ok, in The Sunday games, used to bat 3 or 4, and was half decent when playing for a "Losing draw" as it used to be called
Midweek, or if we dicided to go for a win the last few overs, I was bloody atrocious at shot selection, and you ALWAYS know what you did wrong..thats the crap part of cricket...
"F.ook me...don't do that again!!!"
following week...you bloody do the SAME thing!!!
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SAFC2403
Striker
It’s a funny one but “instinct” is really what it’s about. Once you end up playing so much cricket your brain almost decides for you. Best advice I can you is to try to keep your head as level as possible and watch the ball to judge line and length.
Mind you I’ve been playing for nigh on 30 years and still struggle even now. No shortcut other than facing as many balls as you can. If your team has a bowling machine set it up to face a certain length and just practice playing shots and get better at each shot and you’ll find muscle memory kicks in and you’ll stop thinking about it as much
My method is simple. Block it if on middle or off stump, try and score runs if not.
That obviously has massive limitations once you get beyond lower league cricket but it worked in terms of getting me started.
As you go on you work out which of your scoring shots are worth playing percentage-wise too.
FatCat2402
Winger
No matter where it pitches or the line it is bowled on, I'd suggest you might as well try to cart the fucker over deep midwicket on the basis that there's very likely soon to be a grubber or a snorter that will sort you out anyway if you attempt to play properly.
In all seriousness, my technique was based entirely on if it's full and straight it's going straight back over the bowler, if it's full and outside off, it's going through the covers, and short outside off cut it through point.
Anywhere else, not a clue.
I managed to develop a hack over midwicket as I got older, but the legside was largely an area that never concerned me.
mackem1989
Striker
You are new mate.
Don’t be scared to block shots also it takes a while to read the game and a few mph is a lot in pace.
Don’t be afraid to let a few shots go past you also mistake people make is thinking they have to play every shot. Also dont pick your shot before the ball is bowled many many do that easier said than done trust me (top edge to my jaw and two missing teeth)
Try not to swing your bat too far either the amount of people that chase wild balls are mental.
When I was younger I used to try to play everything the amount of times my off stump went for a jog was madness.
You are still learning mate you will improve with time.
wednesday1957
Midfield
GUILTY....
Its a bloody ridiculous thing to do, but I reckon most have done it
It can be easily done, especially in a limited over midweek game, when you need runs, you notice a gap in the field, and you tend to forget the ball has to pitch somewhere where the shot thats in your head is viable, but that goes outta the window, and you try and sodding invent summat that is never gonna work
Comical to watch tho
Its a shedload of mind games cricket, at all levels, but the lower the level you played at the more you fall for it.
In the Sheffield midweek league, in the lower divisions where I played, you usually had an umpire who from the opposing team.
We had an old bloke who had played at a much higher level, but was way past a quick single, he used to umpire for us, cos no bugger wanted to do it.
I swear to God, he could get an opposing batsman out by simply giving him his guard.
It would go summat like this.
"Middle and leg umpire please"
"You mean 2?"
"Err yes , or middle"...(Cos honestly...half the batters had just heard boycott say it on the telly)
"Do you want middle or 2"
"Middle and Leg Umpire please"
"Thats 2 then?"
"Middle and leg then..
"its the bloody same thing!!", hurry up the lights going
"Err...Middle then please umpire"
He's sweating like f.ook now....
He always told me to simply take me own guard, I always took middle, just dragged the bat or me foot from middle stump, made a mark..off we go...
(Got bowled leg stump ...very often )
"
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mackem1989
Striker
Well the (attempted) comeback is on had a few blasts in the net this morning aching like fuck but it’s a start.
Probably just going to stick to the bat as bowling doing my back no good.
Fatter
Eyesight worse
Slower
What’s the worst they can happen eh
Deep heat and tiger balm is my friend tonight.
Oh and after sun!
Probably just going to stick to the bat as bowling doing my back no good.
Fatter
Eyesight worse
Slower
What’s the worst they can happen eh
Deep heat and tiger balm is my friend tonight.
Oh and after sun!
harmy
Striker
You played before at Hylton? Played for Hylton for 20 odd years. Retired now like.Well the (attempted) comeback is on had a few blasts in the net this morning aching like fuck but it’s a start.
Probably just going to stick to the bat as bowling doing my back no good.
Fatter
Eyesight worse
Slower
What’s the worst they can happen eh
Deep heat and tiger balm is my friend tonight.
Oh and after sun!
mackem1989
Striker
Briefly mate many moons ago you will have played with KA AB DB what not
Spent most of my time over the dark side
No doubt we have crossed paths pal, I almost went up and watched today and was going to jump into the winter nets earlier this season.
I started when I was about 35 only ever mucked about at school then got into a social cricket team where its only 20 overs and a good laugh with lots of oldies or younger ones ~14 but its very much about having a laugh. Its still cricket with umpires and getting hit in the nuts with a proper ball but it has rules like retire at 30 (in case there is a ringer batsmen) it has some canny players but everyone has fun. I played seconds cricket once and it was dull as and everyone was so serious and got annoyed when I was laughing at everything....
Anything short I throw the kitchen sink at to go leg side I step outside off if its a straight one - i'm way better on the leg side than the offside. Shit at both mind...
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