Great Expectations
This is the feeling we have had over the last week pondering our victory on Saturday and the manner in which it came. Funny enough, after our first game the team would have been excused for thinking that this is just another season where we can all use cricket as an excuse to escape from our daily routines, regardless of the results.
Quite frankly, and maybe it’s just because I have not really gotten my “captain feet” properly wet yet, I feel that we can do some pretty extraordinary things this season. And here is the reasons why I think so!
1 In the first three seasons I have been involved in cricket at Milnerton all the sides, more often than not, had to scrounge around for players on gamedays. This is not the case anymore as all of a sudden we have a virtual fishing trawler of players we can choose from! It’s a good day when you sit down for selections and you have 15 guys to your disposal to make up a side.
2 Above point I made links into this one…the multitude of players to our disposal gives you the opportunity to field the strongest possible side. So much so that you end up losing a decent batsmen because you need an extra bowler. It makes for a pretty good side that can challenge the best out there (in our league of course).
3 Every person in the side at the moment have the potential to be a match winner! Mike VD (almighty big hitting without moving his feet, George (ability to bat long periods of time and anchoring efficiently), myself (playing shots and scoring quickly, not afraid to take on bowlers), Wray van Schalkwyk (ominous signs when the cut over point is extracted from the cricket bag and sixes start flying there…ability to hit a ball VERY hard!), Rick Taylor (good batsman with an uncanny ability to turn a ball square on any surface), Chris Lourens (classy looking batsman that can develop into a real top order bat once the rust is gone and some extra practice was undergone), Wayne Beukes (great minimal swing bowling at medium pace that more often than not lands on the proverbial sixpence, can bat well when the mood takes him), Mike Reynders (good keeper, even better offspin bowler - in my humble opinion, good with the bat), Jayden van Gendt (can extract some frightening inswing every now and again and when HIS rust is gone can pick up plenty of sticks!), Jacques Wescott (good stroke player and very committed), Frans O’ Neill (good batter and can keep quite well too) and then Didi Breedt (not overly utilised at the moment but with some further practice will be more than usefull with the ball and not a complete mug with the bat).
4 We have a knowledgeable bunch of players in the squad and it helps when a decision can be made in the heat of the game based on 4 experienced players’ perception of the game and it won’t be questioned by those involved.
The point I am trying to make is that if this specific squad can stay around for the rest of the season I can’t see why we can’t WIN THIS DAMN LEAGUE!! Big words I know, but if talent and commitment was the only guage to go by, we have already won it…
