DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
Queensland Vs Western Districts
Feeling I missed out on a extra half hour sleep from the previous day I decided to skip running laps. Looking back I wish I didnt because I was absolutely not feeling it today. I was lethargic, down on motivation, mentally tired and honestly not fired up. So I found myself each ball trying to get myself moving and on my game. Only problem it wasn�t just me but pretty much the whole team who felt like that. We didn�t field or bowl that badly, we just didn�t do it with enthusiasm or aggression and it reflected on the scoreboard as Western Districts racked up a challenging 219 off their allotted 50 overs.
Mind you, not to take anything away from them, but they did play rather well, with Hayes (Selected for the Churches Australian team last competition) playing a great anchor role scoring 80, while Uppal went crazy and blasted anything on the off side including a lofted shot over cover into the training nets before he was caught by Buckets for 75. Uppal would end up being the only batsmen to crack 200 runs and pass fifty 3 times and he deservingly won Australian selection and Player of the Tournament.
One thing I loved about the team was the ability to take the mickey out of everyone and not worry about hurting their feelings.. even though the sledge was somewhat true in its accusation. Ekka, after a wicket had been taken and the team was gathered, would wait till the audience had its full attention on him, would reach into his pocket and pull out a picture that accurately resemble Chico which would bring booming laughs from the boys. You also got to wonder where on earth did Errol acquire these pictures from.
The funny thing was that the pictures were off people/persons of the dark skinned variety and if you�ve seen Brendon Dillon, it just makes the experience more hilarious.
We needed someone to go on with it today in our innings, however with 4 starts from the top order we still found ourselves in trouble again at 5-97. From the very beginning Coach Goose asked us each innings to create 4 partnerships of 40 plus every game, and when youre out there, the other batsmen is your new best friend. So I found myself immediately liking Steve �Derka-Derka�. Well it wasn�t very hard not to as he was playing a gem of an innings. Anything full he would slaughter through the off side to the point they had 2 short covers a sweeper and normal cover for him.
Out of all the years I have played I have never been sledged by a bowler at the top of his mark, and I was at the non strikers end too! This guy was giving me the works, coupled with every foul word under the sun! After every ball he would follow through and give me a mouthful with his Andre Nell like stare to which I would return. Then next over he would come into bat pad and remind me how pathetic I was at cricket, to which I would walk up to him and give him my biggest Eddie Murphy grin I had. I was finding this very amusing.
It is amazing what a team that talks as a team can do to a batsmen�s mind. Sledging has never bothered me but this team was totally cheesing me off with their comments. With a left arm spinner coming in I said to calm myself; �play this ball on its merits.� As soon as it left the hand, I arched my bat and followed through with all I had. In mid swing I thought �Oh no, you�ve done it now, you�ve given your wicket away!� I have never been so disappointed at hitting a 6 before and I scolded myself for my lack of mental strength. Mind you I never heard from the fieldsmen again after that.
At the other end, Derka was going crazy. With an eye that Damien Martyn would envy, he was playing every shot in the book including a paddle shot from outside off down to the vacant fine leg boundary. After drinks we agreed that we would spend an over getting our eye back in. First ball from the left arm spinner he opened up his stance and timed the ball sweetly over Deep Mid Off�s head for 6, open blade and all. Amazing shot.
We added 52 off 66 balls for the sixth wicket till I was out looking for a cheap single and played the wrong shot to the wrong ball. I really thought we could�ve seen this one to the end and trudging back I knew I had missed out on an amazing opportunity and also let the team down.
This game went down to the second last over as Fiddy, Charlie & Woody all chipped in with courageous efforts. Unfortunately we needed Derka at the end but was unluckily given run out and we lost by 22 runs.
A trip down to the local fish and chip store was the balm we needed to get our minds of today�s lack luster performance as we readied ourselves for the big game tomorrow, one we had to win to stay in the comp but also cause we were playing our arch rivals from NSW!