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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 27, 2015 9:32:09 GMT
George played for the first XI in a 40 over game yesterday and took 3-7 in 6 overs plus a stunning two handed diving catch at mid off.
Good start to the season.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2015 10:32:07 GMT
3 for 7...I want his autograph NOW! What is his bowling style? Please Mick, keep posting George's stats, I'm interested.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 27, 2015 11:30:34 GMT
Mick..." a stunning two handed diving catch at mid off"....you mean he did a Jonty Rhodes don't you??
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 27, 2015 13:29:19 GMT
It was as good a catch as you see with the pros.
Off break bowler.
Thank you for your interest - much appreciated.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2015 13:59:21 GMT
Jonty was a marvel. His reflexes were a wonder. His mastery of plucking the ball out of thin air and returning it like a bullet to take out the stumps was a thing of beauty except for opposing teams. Fun Guy too!
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Post by tod2 on Apr 28, 2015 17:04:57 GMT
Being a home town boy I often saw him in the chemist shop or just around in the shopping mall. Long time since last seen him.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 29, 2015 8:32:41 GMT
George is going to see a new school today which has a cricket Academy that feeds directly in Essex County Cricket Club. However, if he goes it might mean him living at his Uncle's place during the week.
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Post by mossie on Apr 29, 2015 19:06:06 GMT
If he is keen don't stand in his way.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 30, 2015 7:44:02 GMT
We certainly wouldn't and he is going to take it. The Cricket Master had looked up all of George's statistics prior to the meeting and immediately offered him a place and said it was his aim to get George into Essex CCC.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 30, 2015 7:51:20 GMT
Congratulations m'boy! It's only onwards and upwards for you.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 30, 2015 8:06:31 GMT
Thanks tod.
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Post by questa on Apr 30, 2015 14:27:13 GMT
It is a big ask for a lad in mid-teens to leave his friends and family to stay in a different place. It is a time where their social group is really important to their maturing, and changing groups can cause unhappiness at this age.
The young chap, Blake, I mentioned earlier is a country lad who has been offered a sport scholarship to a respected boarding school. He has chosen to stay in the country and play for the regional men's teams until he has finished school, then maybe move to the city. In his case I think it was a wise decision.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 30, 2015 14:48:08 GMT
Yes, that would be a big change for Blake, I quite agree.
For George it isn't entirely leaving his family and all his friends are cricket friends so he'll still see them. However, your point is well made and if it doesn't work out he can return to his previous school. He wants it very badly though and sees it as his way in. His Uncle and Aunt are very keen on it (both sporty) so he will be well supported. H's only 40 minutes away by car anyway.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 30, 2015 17:32:52 GMT
That's a relief Mick...he is only a lunch date away - in Africa that's quite close He he he!
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Post by questa on Apr 30, 2015 22:13:15 GMT
From his nearest town to Adelaide Blake would be 240km...about 3 1/2 hours drive. A bit much for a lunch date, about right for a family birthday dinner and not even a factor for weddings etc.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 5, 2015 10:20:43 GMT
Yesterday George played his first senior T20. The Hertfordshire Cup.
Opposition Hertford who are local derby, a bit snooty because they are the county town and always think they will beat us. Even wore special T20 kit. They expected to win the Cup.
They won the toss and batted and were hitting us to all parts at 12 an over when George came on and bowled the guy doing the scoring. he took 1-30 off 4 which in the context of the game was a good return. They were on for about 220 but we kept them down to 184 which we scored for the loss of 4 wickets and 2 overs to go. Very satisfying.
2-39 off 7 on Saturday.
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Post by questa on May 5, 2015 11:39:05 GMT
Delighted to hear about the T20 match, Mick. Congratulations to you both. It is always good to see the arrogant team get the message. George did well, just retiring the big hitter would have probably changed the match dynamics to start with. Stopping the other team from scoring and making them go for stupid swings is as good as runs on the board, anyway.
How is George fitting in to the senior side? Has he got a nickname yet?
Keep us posted...
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Post by mickthecactus on May 5, 2015 12:00:31 GMT
Fitting in very well thanks Questa.
Mostly seems to be called Georgie Boy........
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Post by tod2 on May 5, 2015 13:00:26 GMT
Nice to hear of his progress Mick. Doing great as we knew he would. Georgie Boy hey? I think they probably call Prince George that too
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Post by mickthecactus on May 5, 2015 13:07:38 GMT
Forgot to say he had 2 catches put down so could have been 3-30.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 5, 2015 13:43:13 GMT
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Post by breeze on May 5, 2015 18:29:35 GMT
Mick, I doubt I will ever understand cricket, but I do understand the joy of playing a game you love and am very happy for your George. What a great experience for him. Please keep posting so we know how things are going with George. I'll be cheering him on from waaaaay back in the stands.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 6, 2015 7:44:43 GMT
Thank you breeze. Much appreciated.
I played most sports but cricket was far and away the most satisfying.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 11, 2015 13:01:37 GMT
First league game Saturday. They won easily and he took 2-24 off 10 overs. Played against John Emburey the old England spinner.
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Post by tod2 on May 11, 2015 17:16:29 GMT
Loads of hand clapping from me! George you are the MAN!
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Post by questa on May 12, 2015 7:26:56 GMT
Well played, George. I remember John Embury in 1987 Ashes took 7 for 70-something. Watch and Learn, as they say.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 12, 2015 7:37:17 GMT
He has a new nickname - Grandold.
His surname is Duke........
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Post by tod2 on May 12, 2015 12:49:32 GMT
I see our Kevin has been given the boot once and for all concerning playing for England. I wonder what Andrew Strauss said to him....one South African to another?
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Post by mickthecactus on May 12, 2015 12:52:25 GMT
Good point - I forgot where Strauss came from...
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Post by questa on May 12, 2015 13:50:48 GMT
I love the nickname..it is a true cricket one...usually a rhyming slang or a pun. He will probably wind up as Grandy Over here we had Peter Sleep who was called Sounder...as in Sound asleep. There are more but it is late at night now and my brain is tired.
I just Googled 'cricket nicknames' and there are several lists of names...brought back memories.
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