Lovely cricket

What playing cricket is all about…

…supporting you team-mates…

…making them feel better, no matter what:

RICH: I’ve just got to pop back home on the way. I’ve forgotten the raffle stuff.

ME: So, this is your first game as raffle bloke, and you’ve got a 100% record of cocking it up.

RICH: (Proudly) Yeah, that’s right…

…respecting the opposition…

…you have to work within your limits, though:

I walked out to bat, at the nosebleed-inducing giddy height in the order of number three.

GARY: Right boys. We’re through to the tail-enders.

Later, after edging one that dropped just short of slip:

MICK (Keeping wicket, muttering) Jammy beggar (Or words to that effect).

ME: Soft hands, Mick, I played that with nice, soft, hands.

MICK: (No longer muttering) No. You’re a jammy beggar…

…playing hard, but fair…

We were fielding, and Ed let a beamer go that hit their batter straight in the cobblers, no bounce. My first thought was:

“Was that going on to hit the stumps?” Considering an appeal…

…technical ability…

…I played and missed so often that Mick asked me if the bat had instructions on the back for me to read…

…flair…

…big cheer when I hit the first four of our innings. In the ninth over…

…and it’s the national summer game…

…despite my nose running and hands freezing fielding, then my ears freezing batting, and wearing everything white that I had with me.