Quick Singles: Cleaning-caused floods, an unusual coin toss and a comp’s top player calling for help
We all know it’s wet early in the cricket season, but it was more so for one cricketer who, while washing his gear hours before play, flooded his house. That and more in the launch of Quick Singles.
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Welcome to Quick Singles, our new weekly cricket column looking at quirky, funny, unusual happenings in local cricket from the weekend.
HOWZAT? ER, NOT GOOD
We all know it’s notoriously wet early in the cricket season, but it was especially so for Skye cricketer Brian Krepp on Saturday morning. While washing his cricket clothes in a mad panic just hours before his game, a drain blockage resulted in his house being flooded, water gushing everywhere. Brian’s stress levels rose even higher when he dropped his breakfast in all the mayhem. And once things calmed down, he made it to the game and scored 0no. Of course, his Skye teammates were sympathetic to Brian’s plight. Once they stopped laughing, they presented him with the “NACA” award on Saturday night.
THE TOSS WITH A DIFFERENCE
A normal cricket game has the coin toss. The Big Bash has the bat flip. But Barkly Street Uniting has found something even more odd. With no coin in sight, and a bat not deemed good enough, a Highpoint shopping trolley token was used in the club’s Third XI game against AA Tarneit D12 Legends in the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association at the weekend. Captain Rob Thorp was the man responsible for the toss, one he lost. But his Dragons eventually went on to win the game.
GREAT NETWORKING, SAM
Those who frequent the platform LinkedIn know it’s a space where self love is allowed. But sharing your record-breaking bowling figures on there? That’s new. After quickie Sam Elliott claimed 7-12 to rocket into the Victorian one-day record books, he posted his amazing feat on LinkedIn. It was a refreshing change up from the ‘personal news’ seen on there every day, so keep them coming, Sam!
HEY YOU! TIE!
Brighton only spent 21 overs in the field on Saturday but it was enough time for Charlie Dowling to be the target of a running joke. A Hoppers Crossing bat had a loose shoelace and instead of taking off his gloves and tying it himself, asking the umpire to do so or finding the nearest fielder, he charged towards Dowling at mid-wicket. It’s understood the batter said no words and just stuck his untied shoe in front of Dowling. Dowling, much to the delight of his Brighton teammates, knelt down and tied the lace. Luckily the opening bat got some revenge back and smashed 50no off 41 balls.
A LITTLE BUG IN THE SYSTEM
All of us cricket lovers are well accustomed to the issues experienced with the new scoring system last season. But we noticed a little bug this week. The PlayCricket website had one man taking 31 wickets in an innings, the next best was 21. We don’t remember the MCC changing the rules. Seems we missed a significant one.
STILL ON PLAYCRICKET ...
Glenn Maxwell has been playing Victorian Second XI this week which moves him from the confines of the Cricket Australia app to the wonderful world that is PlayCricket. Maxwell, or should we say *******, has no profile on the app just yet. The jury is still deliberating as to whether ******* has registered himself as a private player or whether he isn’t comfortable pushing out the $22 everyone must pay.
YOU’RE ALL ON NOTICE!
They’re a staple of community cricket – and they’re in the spotlight for another season. Afternoon teas are often a point of pride for many grassroots cricket clubs and volunteers – or not – and with the help of social media, Facebook page ‘That’s over, and tea’ are again showcasing the best, while perhaps nudging the not-so-good to lift their game. The weekend’s highlights included the spreads of the Seaford and Somerville cricket clubs, both flush from end-to-end of the table with a variety of hot and cold snacks.
“Very well presented and placement of hot v cold, good access and quantity,” the page remarked of Seaford’s spread containing everything from watermelon to cocktail frankfurts, party pies, lamingtons and sandwiches.
“Fill that plate up because (it) might be hard to get back for seconds!” the page also commented on Somerville’s offering which included homemade sausage rolls, scones with cream, fruit and cake among a jam-packed selection.
But the page isn’t shy of a word of advice either, with some clubs’ last-minute efforts of pre-packaged donuts and biscuits from the local Woolworths the subject of banter.
“Must be captained by Chief Wiggum,” the page said of one club’s donuts-only spread last year.
“Highly recommend appointing a tea captain to sort out this debacle.”
The afternoon tea scouts are out and about – and clubs are on notice!
CAUGHT OUT
Getting stranded and panicking are foreign to Langwarrin’s star all-rounder Matt Prosser. Off field, though, is a whole different story. While doing some chores in Langwarrin’s new, high-tech pavilion last week, Matt, who was alone, somehow locked himself on the balcony. Let’s just say there were some tense moments before he had to send out an SOS on social media, eventually being rescued by a club official.
LIKE A FINE WINE
And what about 60-year-old Heatherhill cricketer Dave “Scabs’’ Martin on Saturday! Having just fielded for 40 overs in the thirds, he answered an SOS from the club’s first XI for a sub-fielder after Matt Bishop sustained an injury while batting. “Scabs’’ proceeded to take a catch (and nearly take a screamer) and throw himself around like the good ‘ol days for another 40 overs as Heatherhill secured a stirring win. By our reckoning, “Scabs’’, who is Heatherhill’s games record holder with over 500, has been on the field in Heatherhill’s ones in the 1980s, ‘90s, 2000s, 2010s and now the ‘20s.
WELCOME GIFT
Funny story behind Northamptonshire County player Harry Gouldstone’s debut for Red Hill on Saturday. Straight off the plane, he hightailed it to Dromana, making it in time to bat at No. 4. First ball, Gouldstone got a juicy full toss outside off stump and put it away for four. Standing nearby at slip, Dromana’s Bobby Wilson enquired: “Is that your first ball in Australia?’’ Yep, Gouldstone replied. “Well, there’s your welcome gift.’’ Two balls later, Wilson dropped Gouldstone at slip. Ouch.
Victoria’s top 50 local cricketers of the weekend
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Proof the Heat are rising
Two near-tons and a strong middle-order offering are signs of Frankston Peninsula’s improved status in Premier Cricket, according to Heat coach Peter Marshall.