Monday, May 26, 2008

Folkestone v. Canterbury

Date: Saturday 24 May 2008
Location: Folkestone County Ground
Sides: Folkestone v. Canterbury
Partner: Martin Seguss

A much more difficult match! Cold for a start, with a very strong wind - we dispensed with bails in the end. And the Appointments Secretary was assessing on the boundary to boot. Pitch disappointingly slow and outfield overgrown - barely 320 runs for the day. Excellent to have the scoreboard continuously updated - made scoring much easier. Unfortunate to see argumentative dissent from a captain - a word after the match seemed to have a positive effect.

Ken suggested I stand up not crouch and step back further from the action when time allows. I felt I was not always in position quickly enough and once or twice went to the wrong side though it is hard to decide these when play develops quickly!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Folkestone v. Whitstable

Date: Saturday 10 May 2008
Location: Folkestone County Ground
Sides: Folkestone v. Whitstable
Partner: Bob Chappell

First match of the season, played in a very good spirit. A big change from Cheshire, seeing paid players and even some from overseas! Also the fielding circle and over rate were new - I let Bob worry about these mostly this time, as I had enough going on at my end! Four difficult LBWs but I'm confident I got them right. Some very disappointed Folkestone players on a caught behind that came off the arm, but I have to give them as I see them. In the end Folkestone won in the penultimate over after nearly letting Whitstable get away.

Scoring somewhat better, but still hard to keep up. Once bowler changed action while we were moving the sightscreen and someone asked for number of balls and over rate - far too much to do at once!

No improvement suggestions from Bob, who was encouraging.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Kent U13 v. Kent U13

Date: Sunday 4 May 2008
Location: Canterbury Polo Farm
Sides: Kent U13 versus ... Kent U13!
Partner: Hugh Buckhurst

A practise match for the Kent U13 boys. A beautiful day and some very good play, including one excellent young leg-spinner named Green and a very fast bowler (unfortunately lacking control) whose name I didn't catch. Had to introduce players to some of the rules including wicketkeeper encroachment and back-foot no-balls. Lots of running down the pitch but in this way they are no different to the adults.

Need to improve my scoring - I never seem to keep up with what's on the board.

Hugh suggested I should call wides more loudly when repeating for the scorer to help him keep count.