Hi !
I want to find out about poaeoq technology .
Who can tell about it ?
Chao

Well, mostly because whenever I ask Rog or Steve-o for a few balls in the nets they give me the most relectantly hangdog look along the lines of "It's incredibly painful. Do I really have to?" that I feel guilty.

So I did buy a bowling machine about five minutes ago. I'll bring it to skipper's day if it arrives in time.

http://www.bola.co.uk/cricket.html

"Professional" model, with automatic feeder. I look forward to testing you all against the short ball.

I like this, a lot, good idea boys.

Some basic rules of batting (not my own thoughts I hasten to add, stolen from some much greater minds).

1. If its straight, block it
2. Think about the singles and 2s when at the none strikers end and chat about where you can get them.
3. Play to your strengths. If you score well on the cut shot, dont play the drive on the up through extra cover. No one is KP, apart from KP and then he isn't all the time.

Quick quiz - how many highly successful test players can you name with no more than 2 attacking shots? (plus a lot of defensive deflections)

4. Enjoy yourself.

See you on Captains day!

Ian

p.s. Why buy a bowling machine, when bowling practice is just as important.

I'm not exactly a major authority on rapid scoring but I would agree with Herr Direktor about quick singles. You can shake up the field if you take a few but the non-striker needs to be backing up and we need to call the runs better. If you are ready to run one, it goes without saying that you can turn long singles into quick twos etc.. This doesn't require any great improvement in batting skills, just concentrate on every ball even when you are off strike. Remember we don't play 11 Jonty Rhodes' every week. There will probably be two or three fielders to whom you can take one even if you play the ball straight at them. Like me for instance.

Yeah, or £2,500 with a remote feeder.

Alright, point taken, I'll buy one myself. Just let me make sure this car isn't a lemon. I'm picking it up tonight.

Currently we have got about 200 quid, mainly in 50 ps and pound coins, and sadly yes we do have to pay VAT. Myself I own a VAT registered business but I fear Mr HMCE and his VATMEN would not consider a bolwing machine to be a useful aid in the supply of high level mamangment consultancy. We could turn a few of the players upside down in the changing room to get somw some more money though. a lot of them are rich and have good jobs doing things like tax and stuff in the City. These machines cost around 2 grand new right?

If we had the cash we could buy a bowling machine for a bit more practice. Actually, I'm feeling quite flush and I've just bought a f*cking massive Volvo so i can lug one about.

Tony, does the club pay VAT? I have an evil plan hatching.

Edited by author 08-11-2006 07:04 AM
The trick (I think) is not getting worried if runs don't come quickly early doors and then waiting for obvious bad balls (because you are 100% guaranteed to get enough bad balls to score 150+ in every game...) Here are some of my musings:
 
· When you first get in then not getting out is the main thing, but there are some key things that help get the psychological advantage (which is what it's all about after all):
· i) leaving balls outside can mess with the bowler's head and can often make him try harder/drift down leg side
· ii) if it's straight, even if a long hop/full toss, try and time it rather than hit the cover off (see my woeful dsimissal last weekend...) Opening bowlers especially hate getting hit in the V or turned to deep backward square for 1-2 runs
· iii) If it is a waist high full toss or a long hop outside leg stump I strongly believe you are duty bound to try and hit it to the boundary so long as you have faced a few sighters
· Your main thoughts at all times should be a) wait for it (more people get out from being early on it than late) and b) to play it on its merits - you can't let them get away with bad balls as this is a good morale builder for the oppo and likewise bad for the blokes coming in next. The amount of people who go in thinking 'I'd better get some runs on the board' must account for some of our lunacy in the middle order.
· In this context rank wides are not bad balls, they are leave alone balls - if you go chasing after them the chances of a) missing b) getting out or c) hitting into the ground and losing a run from the wide are much higher than spanking it through cover for 4...
· Contrary to popular belief I think front foot driving is a bit risky at Glaxo (unless it is an almost yoker length half-volley) - the pitch almost always stops the ball a bit and the easy runs come from short balls either side of the wicket, either pulled, driven (even cross batted) off the back foot through extra cover
In summary
· When you first go in leave a few balls outside off that you might be tempted to cut or hit on the up through the off side
· Let the ball come to you - don't go after it until the last 5-10 overs when the field is spread a bit
· Your first thought should be solid defense with an eye out for the bad one. Getting out to rash shots is bad, but missing out on easy runs can be just as important..

Edited by author 08-10-2006 07:14 PM
Thoughts from the Direktor, the man with more experience of Ducks than even Mrs Jemima Puddle

1. For any 35 over game, 5 an over pretty much puts us in a strong position. That’s one 4, one single and 4 dot balls. So that’s leave twice as many you hit

2. In a similar vein, 4 * 50 partnerships wins us a match. So allowing for extras, you only have to stick around and score 20 or so each. That’s just 8 overs between you

3. One hero getting 50 takes the pressure off everyone and we generally get at least one of those a game.

4. There’s really no excuse to get bowled on the feather bed that is Glaxo. If it’s a good ball on the wicket just bung your bat in the way instead of a wild flail

5. Quick singles. Lately we have been beaten easily by teams who do good quick singles. That’s not running three flat out, that’s just good calling and backing up. A lot of defensive shots have a single in them

6. The cut shot. If you are not Kevin Pietersen then you might consider giving this a miss until you have scored at least 25. Instead we should be stepping forward down the wicket and cover driving. Or leaving it alone

7. You can’t get caught if the ball bounces. Also the Glaxo outfield is very fast. Combine these two facts and consider keeping it on the deck.

8. concentrate on each ball . Although it’s a team game, when half the players get out for a duck we are pretty screwed. Personally I like to tap my bat, fiddle with box , pull my trousers up , tap my bat again and then think of the ignominy of walking back and having everyone say “Good try” when in fact what they really mean is “uncoordinated pillock,” but are far to polite to say

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Frankly our batting has been sh*te recently. So in the sure and certain knowledge that I am a fine athlete and a role model for the big 100, I have started a sort of private bulletin for us.
And Captain the German has contributed thoughts too. Perhaps you could all take a butchers and contribute something too. A few little rules:
Only nicknames please and no serious personal abuse (I mean we all know I like my Bakewell slice more even than Inzy, so that’s OK)
Fell free to call me and the German whatever you like (but only if you got at least 20 in the last week) and we both agree to shine your shoes with our tongues (50’s only) and finally I will not only wash and dry clean your kit but will personally buy anyone who gets ton in 2006 a bottle of Chrystal.