Punctuality to the game was an issue of concern the previous week. Under the guidance and tutelage of our new skipper Will Sweeney we all made it on time. The Sherminator (Anthony Sherman) was heard mumbling in the background '' You’re all on time for Wilbur you cockroaches''. Geoff Hickman tried to coax Mitch to own up who was late but Mitch being the team man, he refused to say. [Editor’s Note: If the tardiness of this report is anything to go by, Mitch would have been unable to tell Geoff who was late as he would have been last there!]
A mild workout began and a sense of new found inspiration was sought with the return of Damon Livermore. Damon's grandparents grew up next door to where I grew up in Cremorne. We would often run into Damon's uncle Reg Livermore and soon become interested in his outrageous live performances act. Damon's cousins were often heard singing too, practising for their next recital. The Livermores were often responsible for teeing off golf balls on the neighbours below while I just spray painted the park down the road.
The Shermanator and Anthony (Please wax my back) Cubbage opened the batting. Shermsy captures the imagination of the Australian people (people of Australia - or if Mark Taylor (Stralya ) with some gorgeous strokeplay. One particular shot was a superb drive through extra cover on the rise. You just had to be there. Anthony was dismissed for 28.
Our star with the ball Adam Cubbage was dismissed early in his innings off the gloves to the wicketkeeper. Adam will soon decide soon whether or not whether the opening position is for him. In fact while I screen through the team sheets I notice the selectors have made that decision for him. The opening batsman is usually the most nervous and selfish person in the side because he knows he has to bat straight away or he has to bat for 2 overs at the end of the day. However I read that nerves are there to motivate you. Kleem joined Livermore and the two set about building some sort of partnership. With the score on 110, Kleem skied one off the edge of the bat to midwicket for 48. Enter Will Sweeney who came to the crease to support Livermore. These two once again stabilised the innings but Wilbur was dismissed in the late thirties which was a very handy knock.
Our new South African recruit Tjaard Tait coming off some useful contributions in recent weeks made a concerted effort not to lose his wicket early. He made a useful twenty adding to his ever - growing bag of wickets. Fitness guru and personal trainer Shayne Lin entered the fray but was there only briefly. Young Justin Avendano (the frozen one) looked a million bucks. After three balls at the crease Justin asked for the scoreboard to be updated. Justin has impressed us all with his can do attitude, work ethic and is not frightened of anyone. We eventually ended at 278 with a day to play.
On day 2 we resumed batting with two wickets in hand however Avendano fell sick the day before and was unable to bat. We lasted one over. The Sutherland opeing batsman had only three overs to prepare and we eagerly anticipated a flurry of wickets. Pat Effeney made an early breakthrough dismissing one of their openers. However progress was not to come with two left handers at the crease taking proceedings to tea with the score a hundred or so. It was a break we needed to recharge the batteries. Soon after tea the boys worked hard on shining one side of the ball and Dan Lake began to move a few around. Tjaard Tait dismissed one of the lefties with the ball going away.
Timmy Fulton delivers a beautiful outswinger for his skipper
After this, they were no match for Cubbage, who began drifting in and spinning away from the right handers. Cubby ended with 5 for and Tjaard 4. A great example of how things can quickly change. They were dismissed for 140 odd.
Sydney University this week and as usual they will have a couple of older heads around guiding their team. We will have to be switched on.
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