CA's memorable moments

To commemorate CA's departure, it has been suggested that a list of his finest performances be placed on the HX blog. However another Crosser Bainbro has insisted that the focus should be on those moments which others will remember more vividly. As EC once commented, when CA is dismissed he looks completely baffled...as if the laws of physics had momentarily been suspended (something to do with Higgs boson??) or as if he'd had a black-out at the key moment. Some of the moments that Bainbro insisted I list include:

*On the Tour of 2000: getting dismissed lbw at Powerstock (was smacking it to all parts at the time after 1 hr in the nets with the Dr) then taking a trip to the local church-1/2 mile away- to reflect on the justice or otherwise of the decision.

*Making a 3ft by 2ft divot in the Glenrothes square after being dismissed in 2010-as recounted in the match report: 'Amid this collapse Calum played brightly and scored at a good rate. But, after missing with the same shot twice in the over, he tried to pull a short ball from Khan and was lb - at least he took it in good grace (I hope repairing the crater in the Glenrothes’ square won’t take too many hours/months…C. A. Smith clearly the early leader in the 'race' for the Bradley Trophy).'

* Blame the umpire! Ranting after nicking a very wide delivery in a cup match in 2011. The previous delivery had been slightly wide (but correctly not wided by umpire Pickering)...CA went off complaining about Spick's umpiring: "you forced me to play at that one".. Spicker's reply: "No, but that one really was a wide".

*D'oh! Playing like Ian Bell on steroids at Freuchie, getting himself to 40 odd with a series of superb attacking strokes-holing out to a deep square leg who CA hadn't spotted being deployed....at the rate he was going he might well have broken the 1st XI record (132) in about 80 balls...

*CA misfields on the mid wicket boundary (turning a single into 4...)...who does he blame?...his brother for disturbing his concentration!

* Telling Robin off for not giving him NOT out lbw at Glenrothes in 2011.

* Berating the umpire at Carlton in 2011 regarding a run out decision..the umpire was at least 13..

Feel free to add your own CA memories.

STOP PRESS:
Another senior HX player KF insists this be mentioned:

'There was one, maybe v Fauldhouse at home when I was captain. KF/CA opened the batting and I got hit on the toe and was manfully persevering, hardly able to walk. I inside edge/padded one straight at square leg in the same over. As I tapped my bat down behind the crease I was startled as CA suddenly appeared by my side, all red faced and screaming YES!!! I replied 'no' and he made off for his second run to try to make it back, but, despite his obligatory full length dive, he didn't make it (I've watched Dougie try to run me out in this exact way too). I made sure I was well out his way as he walked off before getting myself out next over. The sensible thing, with hindsight, would have been to leave my crease once he arrived and sacrifice me, the injured player but I wasn't sure if the ump knew I'd nicked it or if it might have been given as a leg bye to extras so I stayed put'. 

The Good Old Days??

Today I picked up a copy of The Miller Guide to Scottish Cricket 1994 (at the excellent Christian Aid book sale at St Andrew's and St George's West, George Street-plenty good cricket stuff there btw).

In a review of the 1993 season that makes KF's postings sound Pollyannaish in comparison, James Bradley (club secretary at the time) grumbled as follows:

'Another year of relative mediocrity punctured by rare memorable moments. The 1st team ended the year in its customary 7th position (East League-Div 2), while the 2nds were demoted to Grade C, while the 3rds held their own (Grade C). The slide continues, but at least we've got 2nd and 3rd team derbies to look forward to next year: blood on the pitch may result. Anyway it won't get any better until club members decide that they want to play cricket regularly (a strange thought for a cricket club)' (emphasis added).

Note: according to this same Guide, a certain C. McGill apparently bowled 386.4 overs (!! 100 of them maidens!) in the 1993 season, taking 72 wickets at an ave of 14.8. ...surely 'all games'???

Casual Cross 1sts Claim 2nd Win

The lack of the promised umpires and then the lack of stumps (!) set the scene for a slightly sluggish start to the match. The pitch was shaved low and firm on top but it was clear from Shannon’s first short ball that bounce would be slow and a bit low. With Simon delayed, it was fortunate that Shifty could take over behind the stumps; doing well and leaving EC with a Clegg-like choice: go with the slightly grumpy incumbent or choose the younger man. Shifty's injured thumb relieved the skipper from taking this tricky decision.

Despite a couple of early wickets, the Cross were rather passive in the early stages as Hopcroft and the experienced Dale put together a solid partnership. A missed chance and some other misfields didn’t help and though Dougie trapped Dale lbw (and - following the Dr's example - injuring himself whilst celebrating!), this only brought in the dangerous Farooq.

He smacked 5 big sixes in his 35 and Glens were soon in the ascendancy. Andy got him with a short one that kept a little low and his skiddy bounce helped him gain figures of 5-41 (a week after taking 5 for the 2nds…hope he’s in your fantasy side). Among his wickets were two good c & b’s. Hopcroft finally fell for an excellent 73, mixing good defence with strong cuts and his trademark lofted drives. 189 was a competitive score and perhaps 40 more than would have been achieved against a tighter bowling and fielding display.

Openers Ellis and Pickering were given some gifts by some erratic Glens bowling and were soon on top. Pickering in particular was busy and ran well until running out of puff and falling for 51 out of an opening stand of 90. Charlie lost a bit of concentration and fell to a good nut from Hopcroft.

As the ball got softer and the Glens bowling got tighter, the Cross batsmen started to struggle and the run-rate fell to a trickle. Shannon lofted one to mid-off and Euan and Praveen were dismissed by Khan, returning with a good spell from the top end. Amid this collapse Calum played brightly and scored at a good rate. But, after missing with the same shot twice in the over, he tried to pull a short ball from Khan and was lb - at least he took it in good grace (I hope repairing the crater in the Glenrothes’ square won’t take too many hours…C. A. Smith clearly the early leader in the 'race' for the Bradley Trophy). The Cross run-rate declined to a trickle before specialist tonker Vikram joined the action and struck his 4th ball for a big straight 6 to complete victory.

Some good play from Cross but far too much sloppy stuff. A better standard of play (especially in the field) will be needed this Saturday at home to Carlton 2nds.

scorecard here

brief mention for Spick here

Urgent Appeal

Recently lost at Arboretum.

If found please return to the club Secretary, as it remains unclear which Crosser it belongs to (the youngest members of the Robertson, Fraser, Worsnop and Russell families have denied that it belongs to them).

perhaps it belongs to this man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrp53wKHgb0