A professional clown by the name of Pat Symcox recently decided that the best way to skirt the tag of “Perennial Chokers” was to turn around and label their opponent, whom they’ve performed the chokiest of chokes to, Australia, as the chokers. Here’s some context.

The year is 1999. Australia have a substandard first round in the World Cup, losing to both Pakistan and New Zealand to sneak into the 2nd stage because we were able to sufficiently beat up West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland. South Africa, on the other hand, cruise through and are looking fairly certain to do very well, perhaps win the whole thing. Australia met South Africa in the crucial final game of the Super Sixes, a game they must win to qualify for the semi finals.

I’ve been exchanging emails with my good mate Robert in Colorado Springs over the past couple of days. This isn’t unusual; we talk a lot about cricket and lately the discussion has revolved around the imminent exodus of the Australian cricket team. With much of the side pushing their mid to late 30’s it’s only a matter of time before we see fresh faces in the squad. A lot of fresh faces.

Robert is from Trinidad & Tobago; our resident West Indian cricketer in the Colorado Cricket League made up of mostly expat Indians and Pakistani’s. He’s also a dear friend not only to me, but my wife and two boys as well. We’ve stayed with Robert a number of times during our weekend-long cricket trips to the Denver area.
Robert said something in his most recent email that got me thinking about my cricket. He said:

Hey Mikey,I was smiling when I read this and had to send it to you because you immediately came to mind. It sounds like something that would be on your report card too …

“During a training camp at the Academy when he was in an under-17 squad Gilchrist was singled out because he hit too many boundaries.”

It was part of the Cricinfo article talking about him being the first man to hit 100 6’s in Tests … he’s on 97 from 88 matches and Lara’s second with 88 from 131 matches. Ain’t that amusing?

Later,

- Rob

When batting my natural tendency is to nudge and curdle like a Bevan or a Hussey. I have found though, while playing in the Colorado Cricket League, that my game seems to be better suited playing aggressively. Here’s the thing though - I still have to learn patience. I’ll tell you why.

When I scored 55 against Littleton this year, it was the first game of the season. I got to 50 in about 20 balls. Because I was batting so quickly without any false strokes, I had so much time to go on and make a really big one. I had just pulled Dharma for six to bring up the half century. I then slapped Kit straight down long-on’s throat because I got caught up in the moment.

Then when we were playing CSU at CSU you gave us a tremendous start and I came in with Ray to give us the advantage. Ray played beautifully smart while I gave an early half chance (long on spilled a tough chance) before finding my groove and scoring faster than a run a ball on the tough CSU ground. With a 50 in sight, and who knows what else, I tried to hit their innocuous medium pacer for six only to sky it straight up. I gifted my wicket when they were clearly rattled and wondering how the hell to get me out.

And the best (but worst) story of the lot. Playing for Berridale in Country NSW with my cousin. When asked what I do I told them I was an all-rounder. They put me at #7. I didn’t protest to bat higher or anything, I was a guest. But I walked out with the score at 5-38, the grass was long, and I could be forgiven that it had an eerie Colorado feel to it. I received a bouncer first ball that I pulled for six and didn’t look back. It wasn’t charge and bang cricket, it was calculated destruction. One full ball on my pads disappeared for six; you remember what that looks like, I hit one just like it against Denver Sluggers in a pre-season game and you told me yourself it had Viv Richards stamped all over it. I tore the other team apart with six 6’s and a four and raised my 50 with a six to long on that dented a fence about 30 yards beyond the boundary. Next ball I left my crease for the first time in the innings and skied their spinner to long on, out for an even 50. I could have scored 150 that day.

I’m hoping I remedy this problem when I finally settle near Sydney…

Warning - if you know nothing about cricket then this post will make no sense to you.

What I love about this drubbing, this annihilation, is how we’ve gone about showing up all the comments received from Commentators and Press alike. For some reason Australia continues to be heavily criticized; over appealing, fielding placements, negativity, age; the list goes on and on…

In Brisbane the wicket was glorious on days 1 and 2 while Australia were batting but it became a mine field when England’s turn. The curator had not done his job as England succumbed to a dismal first innings score. Punter and his men chose not to enforce the follow on and came out to “exorcise the demons” and expose this shallow commentary by scoring one for 200. Suddenly the pitch was a batsmans paradise again. If Mr Brisbane Curator can please come forward and tell us all how he managed to make a wicket deteriorate and then mend itself we would be most grateful…

On Thursday Josh asked me if I wanted to go to the caribbean. That’s such a rediculous question to get out of the blue and about the last thing I would have expected when he came over to chat to me. I thought I heard wrong or that he was joking… you know what, I don’t know what I thought! He explained that a dealer had been rolling out a store upgrade project but kept falling behind. They needed guideline and support for rolling out about 30 store upgrades, and the two usuals here were not in the office for the next week or so. So I was asked. And I accepted.

I don’t have words to express how much fun I had and how freakin’ cool it was to mingle and play against first class teams AND ex-international cricketers. Check this out!�

There is more to come! I haven’t finished the photo’s on the 2nd roll so I will upload them when I get them finished and developed. As for my playing experience:

I was marginally disappointed to not actually play against these blokes above. Our pool play didn’t see us up against them. However, I did play against the Trinidad & Tobago and Air India first class teams. They had the following who I recognised:

• Darren Bravo - Trinidad & Tobago (Dwayne Bravo’s brother)
• Lendl Simmons - Trinidad & Tobago (Phil Simmons’ nephew)
• Narendra Hirwani - Air India (he had me stumped, he’s famous for his debut of 16 wickets against West Indies in 1987-88)
• Pravin Amre - Air India (scored a test hundred on debut against South Africa in 92-93)
• Hrishikesh Kanitkar - Air India (famous for his last ball 4 against Mushtaq Ahmed to secure a win chasing 300+ in an ODI against Pakistan in 98)
• Sameer Dighe - Air India (Famous for scoring 22* against Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie during the 3rd test in India’s historic 2-1 series win in India in 2001)

I watched countless more stars and upcoming stars play when I wasn’t playing. Air India ended up winning the whole thing. I’ll write a blog entry about it all soon!

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