My turn to bat

By Loverboy
May 25 2008

Loverboy reports from Day 4 at the Edge, where Middx just needed to survive against an attack three bowlers short. It looked safe , then an all too familiar collapse and two unlikely hereos save the day, So where was our captain when all this was happening?

At 218-7 in early afternoon,we were looking down the barrell as defeat loomed large.
Some less than responsible batting meant we were only 77 ahead with over 50 overs remaining.
Runs were hard to come by in the morning session and Ace and Billy fell to rash shots as patience ran out.
EJ fell to the first ball after lunch,Vern hit three lusty blows and then not for the first time this season showed dissent and a reluctance to leave when adjudged LBW.
A slow trudge back followed by a hefty kick to his bat didn't help and he is likely to face disciplinary action.
Scotty and The Dialler soon followed as table-toppers Warwicks scented victory.
Captain Morgan,slowly at first and Shaggy gradually righted the ship.
After tea,Morgs displaying a maturity beyond his years and the Shagmeister took charge against the depleted and tiring Bears attack.
Both passed 50,over 100 were added and they remained unbeaten when the game ended at the earliest opportunity.
As on the previous day noticable by his abscence from most of his team mates watching from outside the dressing room was our beleagured captain.He was no doubt esconced behind glass in the technical area analysing the proceedings with the aid of video evidence.This is not meant as a critiscism ,merely an observation.
''The best top six in the country''is a myth that needs to be laid to rest and best forgotten.The top five all passed fifty in the match which was gratifying but an inability to go on and score big hundreds remains a concern.
However most worrying of all is an attack desperately short of much penetrative power.
Dial M is our most potent seamer at present,and though the combination of youth and inexperience might prove themselves at some time to come, prospects for the immediate future look bleak.
MOM was the veteran Sean Udal,rescued from the scrap heap by the much maligned ex-coach Embers,over 100 runs in the match without being dismissed at crucial times plus some tidy bowling showed the benefit of years of experience.
His nous and maturity have quickly established him as a mainstay in the side,and he's achieved a consistency of performance whilst some of his more celebrated colleagues continue to struggle.
With the hoped for returned of Murali Kartik,in these two may well lie our greatest hope for salvation in the coming months.