Dogs Come of Age

Well, it was glorious day, 26 degrees blue sky, the excitement of the new season was in the air. The setting could not have been more different from the last Goons v Mad Dogs game (see "Frogs in Boiling Water").

I first played Mad Dogs 5 years ago and for me this is a coming of age story. For many years we could be described as wandering in the wilderness with a slight under confident air, prepared to deliver any excuse to justify our performance (or lack off). Today was different.

It was noted independently by a number of the squad that we actually looked good and there was real depth in the batting, bowling and I hesitate to say even in the fielding. Although not expressed outwardly by the Goons they must have thought our team a bunch of ring-ins as we scored 20 off the first over, then 22 off the last over of the day, cleaned bowled 12 of the 17 wickets, took one handed diving catches at cover and convincingly won by 4 wickets.

Whilst early in the season and not wanting to get ahead of ourselves, I suspect our opposition will notice a change in our capability during this year’s games, if, the early signs continue. We even have new bats!!

To put this in to context then for those not there to witness the greatness of the Dogs, The Goons gave us 126 to chase in their 1st innings. They looked strong and had depth to the batting, style even. A respectable score by any standard. We bolted out the blocks with Archie a new addition to the team and in his first game hitting a huge six and a couple of fours before retiring in over 6. Billy, the other opening batsman was equally devastating with three fours off the first over and a quick retiree. The pace somewhat slowed for the next few batsmen, it could hardly accelerate.

It is worth noting that the Aliens that stole Giles Bourne have still not returned him and we are left gladly with this new improved version that scored 14 runs. There was a small glitch in this version 2.0 when he tried to run a single that was hit direct to cover and ran out Mark Harvey (ed: actually that was Keith not GB).

The game progressed with a solid flow of runs with nothing spectacular, it looked like it would be a neck to end the first innings. That was until Keith decided to take the now worn in Gray Nicols bat for a test run and in partnership with Brendan knocking up 22 in the last over putting us at a close of 150.

Our batting was devastating in the first innings, it was the fielding and bowling that really cut through the Goons second innings however, with strong performances were seen from the debutant's Jon & Angus. When the field was brought in to support what might be a Keith Saunders hat trick, it was hard not to believe it might actually be us who had been to stolen by Aliens in to a parallel universe, with the original Giles Bourne safe at home all along? Keith didn't get the third consecutive wicket..they obviously could not fit us all in to the tiny spacecraft!

In the fielding department Brendan was like a leopard on the boundary, pouncing on anything that moved (including the little hotties in pink lycra that kept jogging past). Catchs were solid and consistent (believe me that this is not a Mad Dog trait), there was helpful encouragement from the field with shouts like "catch the motha fucka" (Billy). Test book words of encouragement.

We took them apart in the second innings for 92 which left us with a misely 69 runs to chase down in the second innings. With a loss of 5 wickets at the 35k mark they were going to make us work for it. Finally Brendan scored the winning run to notch up the 1st victory of the season and a rapid one at that. After the obligatory beer and pat on the back the Mad Dogs were home early for a change. This change to our routine did result in a few of the Mad Dogs going home early to find their wives in bed with the Pool cleaners such was the nature of this unusual whitewash of an outcome (I don't think this actually happened unless anyone wants to correct me to the contrary?).

With adolescence and puberty behind us, the Mad Dogs are looking forward to the coming of age grown up years

All said and done a great start to the season and looking forward to compiling a list of injuries Game 1:one broken toe (Giles), 1 broken finger (Sean), 1 torn groin (Harvey). The best medicine to cure such ills is the glow not of swelling joints but of swelling pride:- GO THE DOGS!!

Heres to the Winter tour in Cairns.....details to come!

#maddogscricket