Captain's Blog

EARLY SEASON BLOG FROM THE CLUB CAPTAIN

It's been a while since the last Captain's Blog, so I thought now was as good a time as any to update everyone with what's been going on. Unfortunately it's not due to the masses of fan mail demanding another episode of this column, just that I've finally got a night spare with nothing to do!

If I had no idea of what was involved with captaincy before the season, I've a pretty good idea now, and with no wins in the opening five games it's hardly been a fish to water transition! It has so far been very enjoyable, and the purchase of a 2009 diary has proved most valuable, even for the basic reminders such as keeping up with players un-availability, ensuring we're all meeting at the same place on match day, and even remembering my own kit!

With all what goes on off the pitch, your mind does remain slightly cluttered when it comes to the actual playing side, although nothing like a nice early season fizzer at slip to regain your focus.

On the pitch despite two defeats and two draws (with one abandonment) and a notorious lack of an early season victory, we have in parts played some pretty decent cricket. It is maintaining those standards and playing good cricket on a consistent basis that has blighted any notions we had of challenging the front runners during the opening weeks, it does, however, remain our target. Such is this league, that if we get that first victory and the momentum that goes with it, it is amazing how far it can take you.

In terms of putting things right in the training sessions, it is good to see a number of players turning up for Geoff Mountford's masochistic evening on a Thursday, and a few of Steve Amison's fielding drills thrown in for good measure! It is important that we continue to show our support for the time these two are giving up for us, and we can show this by continuing to turn up in numbers, especially on the Thursdays. If people feel that the fitness is not quite their cup of tea, they can of course opt for a net, but beware the filthy looks from the guys doing the circuits as they attempt their 100th press-up within the minute with Geoff stood on their back! It doesn't feel very beneficial at the time, but Geoff insists it's doing us good.

So for those of you that are not aware of what's happenend on the field in the openeing weeks, here's a quick review. Birkenhead Park was the scene of our first away trip of the season and of our first batting collapse! Inserted to bat we lacked enough discipline to register a score we could be happy with at tea, and having batted just over 53 overs for 112 we felt we had plenty to do.

It ended up an excellent finish, Birkenhead closing on 97-9, a long hard earned draw which resulted in very few points for either side.

The two defeats we've suffered, against Tattenhall and Mobberley respectively, came as a result of not setting a testing enough total. Against Tattenhall they successfully chased down 191, and Mobberley succeeded in passing our 180. Middlewich have started exceptionally, and our draw against them represented a decent effort, but once again we were left disappointed when our first victory should possibly have been taken.

The aforementioned diary is certainly filling up, with fixtures alone. This week we have the pleasure of three games in four days (speaking to a few of the Bredbury WAGS, I certainly got the impression this was no pleasure for them!) against Grappenhall in the Cheshire Cup on Thursday, Marple at home in the League on Saturday, and Stockport Georgians (the scene of our only abandoned game so far) on Sunday in the Twenty20 Cup (2pm start).

Cricket is certainly a sport that needs a degree of understanding from your other half, especially when games come thick and fast. The year long adage of "I was playing cricket long before I met you" seems to wear a little thinner each year, as does "You can always come and help with the teas so we can spend the day together". Still I have no such problems as I clearly wear the trousers, I also know there is no chance Becs will ever read this blog! The moment I begin to offend her ears with cricket, she simply mutters "Boring" and the conversation ends rather abruptly there.

A good chance for all the WAGs to air their concerns comes on the 30th of May when will be hosting a belated Presentation Evening at the Cricket Club for the 2008 season.

Right I think I've bored you all enough for now, I'm off to bed with my sketch pad devising numerous strategies, innovative fielding positions, and possible pinch hitting options. Pretty sure to draw a blank there, so a cup of tea and sleep it is!

Till next time (when I'm sure we'll have a win on the board)

Legs.