Sleeping with the Enemy

Well, Ireland managed to wrap up the Kenya game with just 20 minutes to spare - so they are through to the final against Namibia starting Thursday week. I hadn't fully realised that a draw would have put Kenya through instead of them, which makes it even better. And a win this year will make it three in a row! I'm looking forward to the day that Ireland can be fully involved in world cricket as a Test side - we're not there yet, but we're making progress. And of the associate sides you'd have to view us as the front-runners?

Of course by "we" and "us" I am speaking in the patriotic sense - I'm not playing for Ireland ... yet ;)

Forgot to mention about last Thursday's indoor game - generally there are about 10 of us, so we all field and score the game as two teams of 5. This can lead to some interesting situations where someone drops a dolly off one of their own team, or accidentally deflects the ball into the wall for runs, and gets a bit of ribbing over it. No-one does it on purpose though - even if they'd like to! Last week was a prime example, of the 7 catches taken, only one was caught by a member of the opposition! I myself took two pretty sharp ones at short cover, and both times, as I realised it had stuck, I was thinking - "we're screwed"! It all evened out though, and at the end of the day, taking the good looking catches sticks in the mind more than who won the game - at least in this format ;)

I wonder would everyone perform better for the opposition? It's a marvellous incentive trying to prove that your vested interest isn't going to hold you back. I know last year I got more wickets playing for opposition Taverners teams (when they were short a player etc) than I got for our team! Maybe it's a mindset I should try to carry into my own games - convince myself I've got something to prove, rather than going out to just play a game. Worth a try at least?

Just after seeing a priceless quote from Australia's newest player Peter Siddle. His first ball cracked Gambhir on the side of the head: "I went with the bouncer and it wasn't a bad first delivery," he said. "I think I broke his helmet, so that's always pleasing."
How's that for a start to a test career, just what you want from an Aussie fast bowler - agression and a hint of vindictiveness.