Rodders donned the gear - Hamlet in mouth and looked an imposing figure when Stead arrived!! Momentary embarrassment - should I discipline Stead for being 9 minutes late - quick answer, I don't think so. --- Rodders get the pads off and a counter in your hand we shall open the season by umpiring the first ten. Second mistake.
KGV looked lush - if fact there was a chance of a lost ball. The recent heavy rain followed by the sun meant the grass was growing an inch an hour and would be over our heads by the end of the game.
Stead straight drove Gopal L who in desperately trying to get out of the way, flicked the ball onto the stumps at the bowlers end. Berger had done the unthinkable - yes, he was backing up, while batting for C.C.C. I had no option but to give the Bergs run out '2' - excellent start to a new season, and I thought a taste of things to come.
There was yet another bloke called Ali bowling Left arm over from the Kai Tak end, and bowling well. He came round the wicket and bowled wide on the crease. Stead played and missed. Stead was struck on the pads next ball - Rodders, attempting to show that he understood the game delayed his decision just that professional amount, and raised his finger. I was nearly apoplectic at square leg.
Stead made his way to the pavilion after a fighting 20 and whist able to withstand the rigors of the opposition bowling, he could not overcome the incompetence of Grocer's umpiring. As Grocer later said, "you don't
push me from going in no 1 to 11 without it costing you somewhere down the line.
Ted Helsby held up one end for a valuable 38 while at the other, Grant Docherty, Ray Muller, Jet Lee and Gary Wines made 17,7,14,and 13 respectively - the first 3 were bowled by the Centaurs change bowlers which says something about the shots that were being played.
Grocer donned the pads for the second time and joined his Mate in the middle who was in the process of taking us from all out for less than 120, to the unbeatable total of 183 for 7, with a match winning 47 in 7 overs. Grocer shared a partnership of 14 without facing a ball.
There was now a breeze, the heat of the day had gone and we dropped a catch in the first over off the Weatherman, that honour going to Ted Helsby. There was a look of 'here we go again'. Adrian took the season opener with a ricocheted catch to first slip off the keeper - C.C.C. performing like Cirque de Soliel. Weathers then chipped in with 2 for 28 off his 10, ripping the heart out of Centaurs batting. Ray Muller took 4 for 6 off his allotted 2.5 overs, unable to complete his spell on this occasion because there were no more batsmen left rather that the usual pulled muscle.
Grocer's mate produced a light to variable spell, with the occasional unplayable and a fair few 4s - sort of Pakistani Bret Lee performance with 2 for 28 off his 5 overs. Centaurs managed 83, failing by 100 to overtake the brilliant team performance by C.C.C. and losing their last 5 wickets for 13 runs.
Just the 2 dropped catches ourselves and one that any normal cricketer would have got to but Grocer made look miles away.
2001/2002 - played 1 won 1 - PTS to be re-fixed.
Well done lads. Fines for everyone.
October 1st - Witherers at HKCC - good team this year Witherers, but we are expecting Fovvers back to the fold for C.C.C. and that should even things up!!!
If you must play Grocer, why let him open, if you must take the opening spot away from him, why let him umpire, if you must let him umpire why let him do so from the "decision" end and if you must let him stand at the "decision end", why expect that he will do a job that is any different to that of the Great White?
Unfortunately, it is too late for you to learn anything about cricket.
No matter which side the batsman is on, or how good he is, if the ball pitches on leg to middle, the batsman steps back towards the wicket, the ball hits the pads about 9 inches from the ground, straight ball about to take all three stumps out, then that is "out".
If it was your batting, then yes it would be out wherever the ball pitched, when it is Stead one takes great care, one might give the benefit of the doubt (because that is in the batsman's favour), but there was absolutely no doubt about the ball last Saturday.
"That is out" as my predecessor was wont to say!!
