The captain’s blog: Relegation
September 2nd, 2008 by Edward Craig in Club cricket and tagged barnes cc, edward craigRelegated. That’s what’s happened. No great surprise. I’d like to say it’s been a roller-coaster ride this season – to use a proper captain’s cliché – but it’s been more roll (downwards), then a gentle coast (upwards) and now flat-lining.
Last weekend’s game did throw up that experience which other sports rarely offer. We needed a win to have a glimmer of hope but when I discovered Alan Richardson (England A, Middlesex, opening bowler) was playing for Shepherds Bush, it was game over, in truth.
How often does an amateur footballer get to play against England’s finest? When do club rugby players face internationals? Even golfers have to pay a healthy sum to play alongside the world’s best in pro-am events. In cricket, if you play in the right leagues, all you have to do is turn up.
And it’s great. Okay, it is unfair – especially if he’s a quick bowler – but it is a privilege. I faced a bloke who was properly quick, who has taken serious first-class wickets. I faced two balls – yes, two. The first was a good lbw shout. The second removed my off stump. I saw it, played it, thought I’d hit it when I heard a healthy, wooden noise …
This is a bowler described on Cricinfo as a fast-medium journeyman. The next time I sit in the office describing Collingwood as rubbish or saying that Sidebottom bowls too slow (I’ve actually faced him as well, he was too quick for me), I’ll have in the back of my mind that this is nonsense. On the grand scheme of things, they are all brilliant players.
We can have no complaints with the relegation – thumped by a better team in the crucial game even if a couple of the opposition felt a touch guilty about Richardson’s performance (4 for 18 off 10 but it ripped the heart out of our run chase).
So – division three next season. Bring it on. We’re not going to lose too many players and I can see us causing chaos.
Edward Craig is deputy editor of The Wisden Cricketer
Posted in Club cricket |
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
What a truly heart breaking story. If only you had found the pakistani bloke a woman, or a girl, this might have never even happened. And if you were trying to find him a girl, whilst trying to avoid relegation, it could have been made into a hit reality tv show.
So many missed opportunities.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
A season of missed opportunities - that’s what it was.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Do you have to give your Captain’s Cords back?
(FYI, at Barnes they hand out cords not caps.)
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
They looked at what i had done to them and said i could keep them
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Have you been relegated to trackie bottoms next year?
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The static charge transmitted to the ball when it’s shined on a pair of cords has been proven to massively aid conventional swing.
Can’t believe you got relegated with that at your disposal.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:31 am
CRAIG OUT. He’s a bad as McClaren.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
McClaren had better cords.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 am
I got sacked by the board. Then i got unsacked. Now i am in limbo. i guess the lawyers will decide my future.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Will Douglas Charlton take over next season?
September 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I played against Barnes this season. They were poorly led and a complete shambles. The food was as bad as the captaincy.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Who were you playing for Mick? We had trouble with the catering (let alone the captaincy) for a few games this season…
September 11th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
If Ed was a pimp, Barnes would have been way more successful.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Funny Enough. I recal Barnes C.C having an International player of their own last season (2007) a very gifted Afghani. I remember him smashing a dazzling and extremely rapid 80 odd. And then proceeding to claim an incredibly miserly 6 for with the ball. Turning it Square if my memory serves me correctly. Ironically, I believe this was against Shepherds Bush C.C..
What goes around… etc
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Nabi - oh for the days of Nabi. He was great…
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
hmm, funny how he left when you took over as captain. It seems that the Taliban are a softer regime than your management style.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Batting Tips
1 lower your backlift
2 grip the bat with more bottom hand pressure = bat swing speed
3. use some trigger movements(generates better anticipation)
4.use a lighter stick
good luck Ed
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Thanks coach! I can now add a point 5… have an eye-test - i am now wearing glasses.
Surely that’s why i couldn’t buy a run all season!
And looks like Richardson might get a game for England…
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Ed, I had to start wearing glasses last winter, and now use contact lenses when playing. Amazing what a difference they can make. Rather than being a blur, you see the ball clearly before you miss it!