Philip

Summer’s golden rays shone down, albeit without the ferocity of at the game against Theydon Bois, but still pleasant and warm weather greeted Belmont & Edgware to the Royal Vet College.

B&E are a team that Ivanhoe have had great games against, generally over the last couple of years they’ve had the wood on us, with one good bowling performance (or lack of wickets on Ivanhoe’s part with the ball) determining the outcome. Chats with the opposition before the game (and memories of seeing the ball whistle past one’s nose previously) suggested they are a better team with leather in hand rather than willow.

Stephen Parnell won the toss and elected to take first use of conditions – the captains had taken the Hobson’s choice of using the pitch that had seen play the previous day…the one we were supposed to play on was not well aligned and the holes for the stumps would have left less than half a meter between the edge of the cut strip and a left hander’s off stump at one end…and the other wasn’t great either. The pitch also had many brown spots interspaced with vivid green patches. The outfield was ‘mowed’ in some form of message to outer space, with long grass forming an inner ring around the square and then shorter grass around half the outfield that then tended towards longer growth. This put a premium on power over shot-making, as a powerful stroke from the middle of the bat all along the ground barely made it half way to the boundary, but an arial shot reaped the rewards and had a chance of reaching the boundary.

Prasad opened up and bowled beautifully, although the W column remained blank, his spell merited a couple of wickets as the outside edge was struck a couple of times as well as many play and misses…on another day the wicket keeper and slip fielder would have pouched a couple but it was not to be. Hansi came in down the hill and when he finally found his length caused a couple of problems before knocking the right hander’s off stump back. The left hander played a typical obdurate innings, not scoring quickly at first, but keeping the good ones out. The scoreboard began to atrophy, with singles being cut off by the ring field and few poor balls being bowled.

Krishna came on and bowled the only delivery of the entire game that misbehaved; there had been a few that bounced off a full length but one that pitched in Krishna’s half but struck middle stump less than a third of the way up did for B&E’s number 3. This brough a second left hander in, who after a brief period of getting his eye in, began to open his shoulders. The Left handed opener didn’t have it all his own way, as showing no respect for his imminent nuptials, Saqib struck him amidships necessitating an early drinks break as he lay stricken at the crease. In the ‘excitement’ of a man down the umpire was more concerned with his colleagues wellbeing rather than deciding if the batter was struck in front and should have been ‘something’ before wicket.

Aside from temporarily incapacitating the batter, Saqib bowled his eight overs on the trot, not taking any wickets but keeping the runs down and causing moments of concern for the batters.

John replaced Krishna and the batter began swinging a bit harder, playing to the canny spinners plan…Saqib too a good catch and a stumping by Will interrupted the flow of boundaries.

The score passed 100 in the latter part of the third quarter of the quota of overs, prompting the hammer to really come down. The opener passed 50 before a returning Prasad bowled a great one in the channel outside off stump which angled in and moved away, with Will affecting a comfortable catch behind the sticks.

This new batter brought some fresh impetus to the innings with lusty strokes accelerating the scoring rate, before Krishna taking a catch at long on and next ball (another) left hander being bowled by Hansi. Another catch at long off by Phil K saw Hansi finish with 4 wickets, and 171 runs on the scoreboard at the end of their 40 overs. The longer than expected drinks break and some excessive remarking of guard and pre delivery rituals from the opener saw the last ball bowled well over three hours after the first.

Those last few big hits and loose deliveries meant the score was probably 20 more than the bowling deserved and a par score on the ground. One has to applaud the batters for introducing an element of power hitting, utilising both the area in the V and backward of square.

With positive hearts Ivanhoe set off in pursuit of the score, knowing how quickly runs can be scored from bad balls and also fully aware that the game could only be lost in the first 15 or so overs, not won.

The name of the game was good running, turning what would have been a four on many other grounds into a two, rather than just meandering ones…judicious stroke-play and not getting ahead of oneself were forefront in the batters mind.

Phil and Hansi opened up, seeing off the opening bowlers and scoring a few here and there, getting the heart rate up with good running and also in facing what was probably the fastest bowler we’ve seen this season coming down the hill. The runs were not exactly flowing but Ives were never behind the eight ball, until first change initiated both runs and wickets. Hansi wafted and was caught off one that took an age to arrive, Mo came in and smote his first home six, but moving the score along was his undoing, Phil’s 40 was worth a 60 (or more) on any other ground before the traditional collapse in a heap was instigated when the score hit 98…both set batters were out, plus two other ducks had undone all the hard work but at least there were a decent amount of runs on the board. B&E’s left arm spinner started looking like a pie chucker before suddenly the ball landed in that magical spot drawing the batter forward but not quite getting there and he allowed himself a big grin having ripped the heart out of the top and middle order.

Ritesh, who was turning out for the Ives as a guest made an excellent 18, batting with Tai who was composed, untroubled and unruffled until somehow one of the battery of quick bowlers got one through his defences and he was bowled for thirty odd.

The view from the boundary veered from elation at a good shot, trepidation as one sped past an outstretched bat and biting of nails as the countdown of balls to go inexorably continued. At no  time during the last 8 or so overs was the required rate more than a run a ball, but with the resources in the wicket column depleted, the risk against reward calculus wasn’t exactly easy.

In this maelstrom, Will stood firm. Despite looking troubled early on, as his innings progressed he looked more and more assured, swinging the willow and running like the wind. The enthusiastic run calling on the boundary got more passionate. Ritesh’s dismissal brought Prasad to the wicket and with a couple of lusty blows brought the Ivanhoe’s chase to almost within touching distance. The return of the fast opening bowler (albeit from the other end) saw the ball fly further and faster off the edges. With a handful of runs still required, Prasad was dismissed by an excellent diving catch. Last man, the coolest (or perhaps second coolest after Will) cucumber in the team wandered to the crease. John wasn’t heard to repeat ‘we’ll get them in singles’ or any other pithy clarion call, but a nice push through the off side saw a single, along with another good blow from will brought the final over from the quick bowler and the ultimate grandstand finish.

A waft outside off stump that met only fresh air was another of John’s great actions, as the ball sped away for four byes, before another single brought Will to face the final couple of balls with 2 needed. Talk on the boundary of super overs ensued. Who would Captain Steve send in to face the music? Who would bowl?

Will, channelling a right handed David Gower made all this moot with a swivel pull for four off the penultimate ball, for an excellent one wicket win! Cue the euphoria and scenes of jubilation, as well as abject disappointment from Belmont. It was a game they were in a position they almost could not lose, perhaps some laxity entered the fielding, the bowling changes were not quire on point. Nonetheless, it was an excellent game, played in a good spirit.

Everyone contributed, even if the numbers on the scoreboard didn’t necessarily show it, with good fielding, catches at the death…this led to the player of the match award being shared between the indefatigable Will for his keeping and heroics at the end, and Tai for his calm innings that kept Ivanhoe in the game.  A special shoutout needs to be directed to Steve, for his excellent captaincy and calmness which imbued all with the confidence to perform. The bowling changes were excellently timed, well appointed field placings.

Time had been ticking by, how on a pleasant day could it take the best part of 7 hours for 80 overs to be bowled along with a brief tea intermission. Nervous twitches from batters, tinkering with field positions and lack or awareness at the end of an over about where to filed really broke the flow of the game. A plea from the author to all that read this, can we ensure that we are ready to start at the agreed time, arriving well before so all and sundry can help set up and get ready for an afternoon playing the game we love?

On final request, we all ,now how the game goes, so why not give umpiring a try? Counting to six isn’t too hard, and knowing where the stumps are is most of the job. Even just standing at square leg, it will take the pressure off the four or so people that the batting order is jiggled around to ensure that we always have someone able to stand behind the sticks.

Author: Hansi B

Ivanhoe journeyed around the M25 on a glorious sunny Sunday in late July to test mettle against a team that have generally had the wood over us for the past few years.

The weather bordered on oppressive, and Rich did his bit by winning the toss and taking first use of the batting conditions. The pitch proudly sits on the flattest part of the ground, as it slopes slightly more than gently across a line between the square boundaries…leading to a well equipped clubhouse. Perhaps it was a little too early in the day to enjoy a libation whilst Ives were batting, but reclining on the grass in the sunshine with the sound of leather on willow ringing around the ground.

Shez and Phil K opened up and plundered runs with aplomb. From the view on square, the pace seemed ferocious until PK was cut short. Tai joined the fun before one moved with the slope and nipped the edge of the Shez’s stumps and the fine partnership was broken. Tai was next to go after making a decent contribution. Mo joined Hansi and brought some big fireworks as Mo smote the ball mightily before a horror call ran him out. Hansi was himself fun out trying to keep the scoreboard ticking. In strode Rich to join Saqib and runs abounded. The last ten or so overs saw the scoring rate appreciate as Rich reached a rapid fire 50. All up 238 seemed a fantastic score, on what was an increasingly excellent batting track with little movement and the slope all but irrelevant. For the first time since the nets the batters were able to play thought the line and trust the bounce with the ball coming on nicely…if anything the biggest difficulty was waiting for the slower bowlers; as the day wore on, some of the runups had batters thinking about dodging a missile as they charged in, only for the ball to gently drift towards them on a length. The fire and brimstone pace that the innings began with petered out.

Confidence was high as Ives took the field, and the first couple of tight overs gave cause to optimism, before the Theydon batters found their range and suddenly runs flowed. A brief moment of respite came with the fall of the first wicket, before normal service resumed. Good balls were dispatched with excellent strokes –  nothing that field placings could ameliorate. Saquib took a good catch for the first wicket, and Rich an excellent, running and finally diving catch on the boundary was a moment for the highlights reel for all that saw it. Sadly for every good moment, butterfingers and a case of the dropsies scuppered the good work. Several balls went in and out, another came crashing to earth just by the fielder who lost it in the sky.

Ives were almost in it, every time it looked like things were beyond them a wicket fell and the run rate eased, before the flurry of boundaries resumed…it was almost a run a ball needed with 5 wickets in hand and forty odd needed when the final hopes were extinguished. The batters suddenly moved from playing cautiously and respecting the bowling, to striking with disdain and showing disregard for all and sundry. The last few tens of runs were picked off within the space of a couple of overs…leaving the fielders stunned and the bowlers perplexed.

Despite what was a shocking over rate, the game finished just after 7, albeit ameliorated by the unbowled overs. This left just enough time for a visit to the clubhouse and discourse over the day. The general consensus was that the good batting pitch combined with batting first made setting a target very hard, knowing what was chaseable was very difficult and perhaps more risks ought to have been taken earlier.

In the end, the better side won, but Ives gave a very good account of themselves and, like in previous seasons, one more wicket a little earlier could well have shifted the dial in Ivanhoe’s favour. Had one of the catches been held, let alone all three, the story could have been very different and the toasts afterwards wouldn’t be of commiseration but commendation.

Author: Hansi B

On a sunny dry day with a surprisingly (for this year) good track to bat on, winning the toss clearly meant batting – except Wooburn won the toss.

A strong batting unit made it difficult for all the bowlers to take wickets and maintain economy. Sai (8.3.33.0) began with a maiden during which helmets were summoned. Prasad (5.0.36.1) began loosely, conceding 2 boundaries, but Wheeler, when going for a 3^rd, miscued it, and Ben Abrahamson took an amazing twisting catch which seemed to be behind him. A genuine champagne moment. Next over Prasad was injured when preventing a boundary and he had to retreat to the pavilion in search of ice. Full credit to him for returning and bowling later in the innings. His replacement, Tristan Parnell, soon struck when Kelly struck two consecutive balls with almighty power at Venky, who pocketed the second, seemingly with ease. 21-2 became 42 -4 with Saqib (5.0.31.2) taking 2 excellent wickets, one bowled and the other well caught by keeper Will Brooks .. who at some stage badly damaged (broke?) his finger  – yet again carried on throughout the innings.  2 bowlers’ wickets! Ives looked in the ascendancy but a 5^th wicket partnership by the watchful Cuthbert (61*) and the brutal Dolan (43) took Wooburn beyond 100 and it took John Loveday’s final over to bring him the reward his bowling  (8.1.28.1) deserved, thanks to a solid catch, courtesy of the safe hands of Sai. Venky (5.0.24.1) immediately struck with an excellent catch by T Parnell – returning the favour. 104 -6 and the tail would collapse … .. it didn’t. Experience from Cuthbert and Barker (32) ensured they would use the allotted overs and knew exactly when to increase the run rate – reaching 196-7 with one over left. Bowling at this stage was not easy and Mo (3.0.24.0) found the batsmen ready to hit out. T Parnell (6.1.17.3) had returned to bowl the 2 death overs at the end, and conceded just the one whilst bowling Baxter with the last ball.  So 197-8 and 198 to win.

Ives’ reply looked catastrophic at 0-2 but S Parnell (19) avoided the hat trick and played watchfully and sensibly, whilst looking completely at ease. However he was starved of the strike as Sai proceeded to destroy the opposing bowlers. 101 for the 3^rd wicket put Ives on track – achieved in just 12 overs! Mo struck 2 boundaries (8 in 6 balls), taking us to 115-8, and when skipper Collins arrived all he had to do was stay there and watch Sai score. Collins’ 4 runs in 25 balls didn’t seem to effect the run rate as Sai was rampant- except for an attack of cramp. Sai maintained his concentration to pass his 100, taking 20 of one over. His dismissal had to be a boundary catch on 114, with the score on 178-5. Still a little to do but 16 overs left! Collins (30*) upped his run rate (26 of 12 balls) as wickets fell at the other end but Ives passed the winning total in the 28^th over, with number 9 Tristan who scoring the winning boundary. With numbers 10 and 11 both injured and doubts as to whether they could bat, this was a very close finish – despite it being a 3 wicket victory with 12 overs to spare.

Despite some excellent moments and contributions man of the match is easy:

Sai 114 and 0-33

Author: R Collins

The Sandon Strollers took a journey southwards to visit Ivanhoe, the first time in recent memory that we’ve hosted them…sadly although the generosity of sprit and friendliness we’re able to offer don’t quite compare to the clubhouse and picturesque surrounds when we visit them…but still, all and sundry welcomed them to our little patch of (not quite batting) paradise off the M25.
Hopes were high for an engaging and entertaining match, albeit the trepidation caused by memories of the track recently served up…was the bounce going to be as variable as last time out? Scuttlers followed by ones that rear? Prodigious seam movement or just deviation from the ruts on the surface? All that was before us as the toss resulted in Ives fronting up to face the music in the just after mid-day sun.

Shez and Tai strode to the wicket as a couple of younger members of the opposition marked out impressively long runups. Youthful exuberance got the better of the opening bowlers as a few wides, the odd no-ball and good length eschewed in favour of out and out pace. Both were relatively untroubled as the score-board ticked over at north of 6 an over with only the odd moment when collective hearts were in mouths as top edges landed safely before Tai was undone. This caused a mini collapse as one followed another before Steve brought some calm to proceedings. Shez just batted, and batted, and batted…runs aplenty through forceful strokes all around the wicket…fortune certainly favoured him as Tai, substituting for an incapacitate Stroller dropped a sitter at long on…to show that this was not favouritism, he went and did it again in exactly the same place some twenty or thirty runs later. Another batch of wickets fell in a large clump before Saqib joined the increasingly bemused Shez for half an hour of merry hell, with the ball flying to all quarters. In the final over Shez was caught by….well, it was inevitable wasn’t it; Tai on the boundary for an excellently compiled 90. An undefeated 26 from Saqib was the only other notable score (extras pitched in with a fair few). The variable bounce that had played on batters minds wasn’t too evident, the odd one kept a little low, and effort balls lifted a bit more than expected, but on the whole the pitch wasn’t too bad…a little on the slow side and front foot play was the order of the day. Pity so few managed to really get in and utilise the conditions.

The innings was a classic example of an innings being built around one batter, ifs and buts and maybes abounded, without a shadow of a doubt the size of the pickle Ivanhoe would have been in had Shez been out and the rest of the team performed as they did would have been enormous. 170 odd provided an excellent return and gave Richard the opportunity to attack with his bowlers and field placings.

Three rather sedate opening overs showed the conditions had turned to favour the bowlers, with heavy overhead conditions aiding movement as a little swing put extra layers of doubt in the Strolling batters’ minds. Prasad made the first breakthrough before the top order was ripped apart by Tristan, who just aimed at the stumps and the batters decided playing down the line wasn’t the order of the day, and the stumps took a pounding. Four wickets fell to Ivanhoe’s young tyro, bowling with good pace and accuracy, a hint of movement through the air abetted the threat posed.
A few loose balls went down and were duly punished, but run scoring was generally at a premium, with some sharp fielding keeping the pressure up. Soft hands when the ball went up saw catches aplenty, with Will taking a good one behind the stumps and Hansi plucking two out of the air, including Ben Abrahamson’s first wicket – admittedly Tristan had blighted his copybook by shying away from a sitter a few balls earlier off Ben.

Mo chipped in with a wicket, before coming in a little later than usual, Saqib took a wicket with his first ball, before reverting to spin and picking up the final one to cap an impressive day for him.
Voting was split on the player of the match, but for his 90-odd, the colossus and rock around which the batting was built and without whom the complexion of the game would have changed immeasurably, Shez took the accolade.

Ivanhoe joined the Strollers at the pub for a libation or two and review of the game, the season and life in general, reminding one of how much fun it is to play against them and the friendliness upon which games like this should be played. Here’s hoping that the weather will not intervene and render the reverse fixture unplayable!

Author: Hansi B

A last minute change of venue as once again a game against Belmont (albeit at their home ground as opposed to ours this time) cried off.

Fortunately for those that had planned their journeys in advance, Mill Hill’s ground was a stone’s throw or big six away. Driving into the ground, there was no question it was a cricket ground as there was not a flat piece of ground in sight!

A lovely and glorious warm afternoon greeted Ivanhoe as they took first use of the conditions and bowled first. The pitch sat atop a dome in the severely sloping outfield with ruts and lumps on the bowlers’ runups, causing issues for the bowlers as they ran into bowl. The pitch itself was interspersed with green patches as well as a slope that assisted movement on or about off stump.

Bowlers of both sides struggled to get their body positions right at the crease, with a few wides and the odd missed length…

Prasad and Hansi opened up, some tight bowling saw the run-rate hover around three for the first ten overs, but some lovely balls that moved off the slope and seam failed to garner any wickets. John came on at first change, toiling up the slope to take the first wicket.

Some lovely composed fielding from Shez in the covers and Ven at the bowlers end resulted in a runout – all and sundry keeping their heads to affect the dismissal as the batters decided to have a chat following a yes/no/yes/oh bugger debate on a single.

The wickets were frequently struck over the next few overs, as Ven, Richard with a couple tore the heart out of the top and middle order. Some late hitting, and to be frank beautiful batting from the wicket keeper and one of the bowlers boosted the score before things were rounded out by a great catch from Shez diving away and a good catch off Earl saw the innings peter out for just shy of 150 runs.

How would Mill Hill perform? Knowing the slopes, the vagaries of the pitch and where to position fielders, the chase was set out to be tricky for Ivanhoe! Any pressure that might have bene on Phil and Ven as they opened up was released by the opening bowlers’ wayward lines. Wides, byes, boundary balls…the first few overs were littered with those moments that a bowler hangs their head having delivered.

The fast start as both pummelled the boundary came to the inevitable end, as one wicket followed another leading to a recovery job from Tai and Shez, who both batted without being troubled by the pitch and accumulated carefully. Some of Mill Hill’s quicker bowlers were put off their lines and length by both batters walking down the pitch.

A period of relative calm followed before Shez was out, quickly followed by Tai. Rich and Hansi came together and aside from the odd wafts outside off stump by Hansi and missed cuts from Rich, proceeded serenely to the target. The highlight of both batters’ innings were straight drives off one of the opening bowlers that scorched the grass on the way to the boundary.

With a minimum of fuss, and much to the chagrin of John who’d waited patiently all padded up, the target was achieved.

Another fantastic performance from the Ives, against a foe that challenged us but played in great spirit!

Author: Hansi B

Ivanhoe at Octopus Cricket Club

After an aborted attempt to begin the season, Octopus provided an opponent as the early season sun brought spring to life.

The fifth of May 2024 will go down in the annuals of Ivanhoe, as revenge was had against a worthy foe, as well as against nature, fate and the frailties of the human body. Last year’s game caused great damage to body and spirit, with a lengthy injury toll that afflicted the team throughout the season.

The rosy fingered dawn heralded a warm day, unbenighted by rain, although our man in Lisbon suggested rain was on the way just in time to ruin the week, but all that was before us as Ivanhoe journeyed to the shadow of Alexandra Palace with a spring in our collective steps.

Opening up and fearlessly taking the first ball of the season was Phil K – a great net session behind him augured well. Against a quick bowler swinging the ball away and moving it off the seam provided quite a few tricky moments but Phil bestrode them colossus like. At the other end the pace was down but the tricks played by the slightly damp wicket provided a different challenge. Phil was undone by one, after several powerful strokes, that stuck in the wicket and he was caught.

In strode Mo, with memories of last season’s epic knock, and many a frightened bowler in the nets; a four and six later, the pitch once again bedevilled a batter and off the back of the bat he was caught too…

A calamitous mix-up between Steven and Hansi saw the latter huffing and puffing and run out by 15 yards…then a tricky skidding delivery undid Steven.

At this point (in the view of the batters dismissed) the pitch flattened out as Tai and Sai settled in, feasted upon some wayward bowling and peppered the boundary. Octopus didn’t quite get their lengths and line right; the batters’ wagon wheels indicated leg side scoring dominated. Fours, sixes, singles off many an over’s last ball, more boundaries…the partnership grew and grew, the fielders’ heads dropped…and still the batters kept smiting the ball to and over the rope. Even the return of the opening bowler, who admittedly caused both problems, could not break the flow. Both passed 50, the ball started flying to all areas of the ground, with the straight and off-side boundarya peppered before Tai was caught.

A frenetic flurry of runs and wickets fell over the final overs, including the odd instance of Sai being stumped off a wide on what would have been the final ball of the innings for 75.  No doubt the number of wickets lost was flattered in this period, but the extra runs scored felt absolutely necessary as memories of power batting on Octopus’ part loomed large. 217-9 in 35 overs represented a great feat…all batters played their part in building this formidable total.

A tight opening spell from Parsad and an early wicket from Saqib dented the reply. Run scoring was at a premium, overs went by between boundaries. Pressure built. Aside from an edge through Hansi at gully of Sai, chances were limited but scoreboard pressure kept building. 8-18 off 7 consecutive overs from Prasad exemplified this performance (and here’s to these kind of excellent displays throughout the season, we missed them last year!). Whilst batting might not have been as perilous as the opening of Ivanhoe’s innings, Phil K’s performance behind the sticks frequently drew cheers of appreciation. On another day, byes would have accounted for Octopus’ top score, but not today. Flinging himself about with abandon and great skill, very few got past him as skidding deliveries were interspaced with ones that reared and moved late.

When the second wicket finally fell, to a good catch by Sai, the game’s complexion changed. Suddenly the new batter was able to score more freely, the field was breached and runs began to flow…the power hitting of Octopus couldn’t match that already seen by the Ivanhoe batters, and they’d left it a little too late…occasionally taking on one that wasn’t there as well as good bowling saw a couple more wickets fall to the bowling of Sai and Krishna, before Saqib came back to take one more…only five wickets fell in all, but the doldrums at the beginning of Octopus’ innings came back to haunt them and without the batting of Heracles they were never really in it, despite causing consternation here and there.

Had this been a timed game, honours would have rested with Octopus, but the scales fell Ivanhoe’s way for a fantastic first win of the year, with the well deserved player of the match Sai chiefly responsible for this.

Author: Hansi B

Ivanhoe Nets – Wednesday 20 March 2024

Another Wednesday, another visit to Hatfield for an examination by pace and spin for 8 hardy Cricket fanatics.

On a personal note, it is very pleasing to see three left handers playing with the minds of the bowlers…and most took a few deliveries to find their range and the lines that tie lefties in knots.

From the first ball, Peter had cranked it up to full, bowling very swiftly and moving the ball through the air and getting some good cut off the seam. Saquib was another that had the ball hooping around.

We took over two nets, according everyone a good quarter hour of batting and tested out the fitness of the bowlers…good workout but the more senior citizens might feel the effects of 45 minutes of non-stop bowling (not sure I can put my hand up to say I was one of those, as my shoulder is rather stiff!).

Those that rely on guile and deception were not left behind, with many a batter bamboozled by some sharp turn imparted on the ball. John was working on the various non-spinning changeups as well as some big turning leggies. Will bowled a few absolute beauties with the ball deviating significantly from the pitch.

There was an almost end of term freedom and joi de vie in the stroke play of the batters, but this caused everyone’s stumps to be rearranged at least once. There was a cacophony of thundering cracks from the ball being smote interspersed with a hollow rattle of ball clattering the wickets.

Hopefully the powerful batting and hitting will continue into the season but with a little more discipline – batters will need to remember they need to be in to score…

Author: Hansi B

Late February saw Ivanhoe returning to the nets for another session, although injuries and inexplicable other engagements meant only 7 souls made it to Hatfield. Taking up two nets allowed all and sundry to get a long bat…although with the pace, guile and movement on offer this also provided opportunity for one’s off stump to be pegged back…no doubt banter about walking wickets will ensue unless next week sees tightened up defences.

The hot and steamy conditions in the nets accorded an unreasonable amount of swing and the ball hooped around in the air, providing a workout for all bowlers as at any time there were either two or three people bowling in each net…those with older bodies may creak a little for a couple of days.

As with last week, John fronted up in one net…he’s getting a taste for batting early, when the season starts he’ll hear “We’re batting” and rush off to get his pads on. Standing the ‘right way round’ meant it took Hansi a wee while to work out how to get the ball outside off (rather than leg) stump, but Peter was on the spot straight away. Working up a healthy pace as well as moving the ball out of the hand, presenting an upright and proud seam there were ‘oohs and aas’ aplenty. Right at the end of his prolonged session the shots came out and his trademark lofted drive was played a couple of times.

In the other net, Tai took on all that Saquib and Shez could hurl down at him, crashing the ball to all parts of the net. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the bowlers though, as the odd ball beat the bat and the stumps rattled a couple of times.

John did weave his magic against several of the batters hitting the stumps a couple of time, but Hansi managed to beat him down so much that he reverted to bowling some left-arm ‘stuff’. He said it was to protect his shoulder but all could see how this was the only way to get Hansi out.

The ultimate humiliation was when Hansi played a reverse pull to one of John’s mystery balls…good to practice in the nets but unlikely to be seen in a match situation unless there is something very odd in the air!

John got his mojo back when bowling to Saquib, who missed a straight one, but otherwise batted well.  

The non-stop bowling certainly put many miles into the bowlers legs, as well as according the batters the opportunity to really get their eye in against one bowler and work out their nuances and start to pick the deliveries from the hand.

Author: Hansi B

The third Wednesday in November saw two stalwarts return to the nets, having been incapacitate or holidaying over the previous two weeks. To say there was a little rust in Hansi’s limbs is a case of dramatic understatement, but Bob Collins, like the well oiled machine he is was straight back into it, playing some lovely shots as he took first use of the net…It did not all go swimmingly, with his off-peg knocked back twice by admittedly excellent deliveries. Even prime Collins would have struggled with some of the beauties send down at him. Some lovely back-foot play indicated that when he gets in we can look forward to some very good top order runs as bad balls were punished with authority.

Saquib swung the ball outrageously, providing a working over for all batters, generating good pace and movement through the air. To top off his performance, Saq had a prolonged bat, showing good and solid defence interspersed with some big shots.

A sight all at Ivanhoe will be glad to see was John…getting some turn and finding a length that drew batters forward. Here’s to a return of ’22 which saw many first over wickets, something sorely missed last season. Let’s hope that this continues onto the early season wickets where some variable bounce will aid and abet his box of tricks.

There were frequent crashes as thundering and powerful shots from the blade of Mo, which in a game would have seen fielders searching in the bushes for many lost balls. The freedom with which he dispatched good balls bodes well for the forthcoming season – let’s all hope for some good batting tracks without too much variable bounce.

Utilizing two nets provided a great workout for all the bowlers and allowed everyone to get a good innings. There were a wide variety of approaches, Will getting in behind the line and protecting his wickets with aplomb, or Shez and Tai throwing their hands through the ball whenever it was pitched up or a bit wide. At times there was risk to life and limb as the ball sped back down the nets toward the waiting bowlers.

Here’s to seeing more at the next session!

Author: Hansi B