by Benchwarmer » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:41 pm
Wrong. I love the gamesmanship.
I played 3rd XI cricket for a club in Melbourne as an opener and was promoted to the 2nds one Saturday morning. As the side was solid with the bat, I ended up at number 11. It wasn't a good day and I went into bat at about 9-90 at 4.15pm with the stirring words from a teammate ringing in my ears "if you get out before stumps, I'll smash you!" (he scored a second-ball Watto!).
The opposition 'keeper was a teenage smartarse - a word or thirty for everything (you've played against one, I bet). As I took guard it was "we'll be under the tree in five minutes, boys". I saw the first half dozen balls off with cautious defence (a rarity in itself!) whereby it was "let's get the bunny ... chuck him a carrot!".
My partner picked a few runs off here and there as I also put a couple on the board. The 'keeper became more hostile "You f&*%ing number 11, you're shit!". My reply was "You guys are shit, you can't get a number 11 bunny out!". Tempers were fraying amongst those not holding a bat and every ball was met with a different line. After I hit a boundary, I gave the 'keeper the old "have you got any sauce on you for these pies?". I was having a ball.
After 45 minutes in the middle, I unfortunately snicked one to the 'keeper and I was out for 18 and he trotted past and showed me the ball with a big smirk on his face ... "you hit it here (pointing to the ball) and I caught it here (pointing to his glove). I pointed at the scoreboard and said "144 all out, 50 run last wicket stand and you couldn't get a wicket for an hour".
They were all out for 125 the next week and at the end of the match, I shoook his hand and winked at him as we did so. The next thing behind me I hear is "f%^k, f%^k, f%^k!".
An interesting post script happened three years later when a player turned up for a game. He said his club were full of arseholes and wanted to play with us. He looked familiar and when he 'kept during a fielding drill, the penny dropped. After training, I talked him through the scenario about a 'keeper and number 11 and a war of words. He said "Oh shit, that was you! Sorry!". I said "Don't apologise mate, you're on our side now".