 Go with your first instinct - 2nd Grade Report vs ND's
My mother told me on numerous occasions when growing up, “Go with your first instinct”.
To be honest, I have probably done better in life not following this advice, but the next time Captain Dowse sees a wicket like this round’s at Waitara, I am certain he will give his first instinct more consideration. The wicket was quite hard but with a considerable amount of green grass left on.
Captain Dowsley in action
It was probably more the underlying moisture that caught our captain by surprise, as well as the favourable swinging conditions created by the overcast morning. To be fair to the groundsman, it was an exceptional two-day wicket, one where the bowlers would be on top in the morning but the batsmen would enjoy the hard work of the top order in the afternoon. Unfortunately this was a one-dayer and fate had us batting first. Maybe he did not realise!
 Jim "Gats" Gatting, replacing Pic, and Jack "Lionel" Ritchie opened. These two grittily saw us through the first 10 overs. Although runs were hard to attain, the ND’s bowlers were assisting with wides leading the scoreboard at this stage. Not even Lionel’s pull shot saw the light of day, something that greatly disappointed this reporter given Lionel’s precision in executing this particular shot. Gats’ search for more runs was momentarily successful with a bludgeoning, flat bat stroke through covers but his demise occurred via lbw the next over. Lionel was not far behind.
The new or old Ben Garratt?
Although two down, the openers had seen off the majority of the opening bowlers but ND’s first change, medium pace-at-best bowler, was the real nail in the coffin as his spell of accurate out-swing bowling asked serious questions of our middle order.
Nonetheless, BG at number three showed the team that it was possible to score runs on this seaming wicket by letting balls through to the keeper, looking for the single and waiting for “your” ball to punish heavily. Unfortunately a little bit of the Old BG confused the New BG on 37 as BG hit a catch to the cover fielder when BG’s current inclination of caressing the ball along the ground to the boundary was the easier and safer option.
Dowse maintained his Adair-like batting average at Waitara, while Emo and Jonesy started their own.
 Missy and Medders looked as if they would add substance to the innings, with Missy scoring 34 and Medders 18 in a promising partnership, but both departed after doing the hard work in ways disappointing to the skill and determination shown by both batsmen. Missy was stumped falling forward to the left-arm orthodox, an over after putting the off-spinner over the pickets, and Medders was out edging the off-spinner to first slip.
Ian Higgins grinds out a valuable 30-odd
Arch, Garth and Adair added little to the score, Garth being the not out batsmen, the score 143, wides 29!
By the time it was ND’s innings, the wicket was much harder and drier. There was some typical new ball swing but of a telegraphing nature, while the seam was predictable except for three exceptional deliveries in Gazza’s fourth over. Although Gazza and Adair beat the bat a number of times, both gave their captain their worst bowling spells of the year. Medders and Arch fortunately slowed the run-rate, at least taking the humiliation of 2 bonus points off the table, with Medders particularly finding a good rhythm with two chances being put to ground, one quite difficult at gully and the other raising doubts in this reporter’s mind that there will ever be a Missy’s Mail 17. Short, tidy spells from Jonesy and Gats took ND’s score to 145 without loss and with one bonus point.
If shaking the hands of the ND’s players whilst walking off the ground was not embarrassing enough, realising that you can’t remember losing so convincingly, ever, to a bunch of grown men who want to be “rangers” and “live a life of danger” in the heart of upper north shore suburban Sydney is totally degrading to soul and spirit.
 The feeling in the sheds after the game reminded me of Lily Bollinger’s famous quote about Champagne, which is applicable to wine in general, “I drink it when I'm happy… and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it… unless I'm thirsty." This situation certainly fit within the boundaries of that quote and I was sure to apply it in order to forget about the game… but before I did, it would be exceptionally foolish not to learn from this experience as it did present valuable learning opportunities.
In situations like this I prefer the 1996 Grande Annee
Obviously Captain Dowse will not look at a green tinged wicket again without remembering this game. But even the experienced Captain Angry of last season’s 3rd Grade renown made a similar and probably worse mistake last year against Penrith at his beloved Chatswood.
Gazza and Adair will need to work on finding their rhythm, quick. No excuses. Adair will sleep in the back room on Friday nights away from zombie 18-month olds thinking it is 6am at 2am!
But probably the most important lesson to be learnt is by the batsmen due to the opportunity given to them by playing on a not-so-perfect wicket. If Gordon 2nd Grade is to be a force in this competition, and the skills shown so far and the team spirit certainly say that it is so, we must learn to grind out a 200-run innings if required.
 This comes by taking sober note of the conditions and bowlers, understanding each one’s own weaknesses and strengths, and applying our skills with intelligence and patience. Of course this is easier said than done, but as long as each of us considers our innings and our dismissal, maybe the humiliation will be worth it.
Now where did I put that bottle of Shiraz?
Mike Press where are you when I need you?
Adair | 
