Mad Dogs VS Muppets

With so many regulars unavailable, had there ever been so much email traffic before a Mad Dogs fixture ? Missing names like Suttle (still convalescing ), Llewelyn (Morris dancing or something), Timpson (the younger, not Marcus) and our spiritual head, Giles Bourne, on schoolies. Add to that two of the three best bowlers in the world (as described by treasurer Ed) lining up for the Muppets along with the battle hardened, yet twitchy between the wickets, Sean Garvey looking very comfortable "batting for the other side". Yet, even with the influx from the kennel to the theatre, the Muppets too were struggling to field a team, but thanks to the tireless efforts of Keith and Sean a full compliment was registered.

So to the match.

As Sydney's weather pattern in the lead up had been hot, sticky days and nights of thunderstorms, it was no surprise to turn up and see the roller on the pitch and the covers close by. Although a 10:30 start seemed out of the equation we were on before 11:00.

With the batting/bowling conundrum reliant on the availability of fielders the Muppets were invited to bat and were quickly on the back foot. Although the pitch offered a little assistance, the steady accurate bowling was the main reason for the Muppets rapidly worsening predicament.

Alex and Jon got the show on the road and set the standard for what was to follow. Jon in particular serving up some tasty inswingers the equal of the sausages he delivered as the day's BBQ king. Four overs in and the opposition are rocked at 2-11. Richard Kirby and Billy kept up the pressure in their first partnership of the day producing a brace of wickets for not many runs. Eight overs down and the Muppets are reeling at 4-28 and in dire need of some backbone.

Enter Sean Garvey, who along with another sometime 'Dog in Craig Deans, set about rebuilding the innings. While Phil Thalis and new recruit Nick kept the batsmen honest, the pressure was somewhat relieved when yours truly came on to bowl, gifting Sean an early Christmas present in the form of a knee high full toss which he hit with such sweet force that it seemingly only reached the apex of it's trajectory just as it crashed into the top of the picket fence. It was left to Keith, JP and another debutant in Mike to bring it back together and leave the Muppets staring at a sub 100 score.

When we got off the field I was greeted by the sight of Richard padded up and ready to go. He said he had read the list I'd written and saw he was at No.2. It was actually a list of the best looking legs in the team and with Billy the obvious choice at No.1 the pair set off on their second partnership of the day quickly putting the 'Dogs in a dominant position. Billy reaching retirement with only 6 scoring shots.

Mark Harvey thought the 10am arrival time was a choice. You could choose to get there at 10 or in the am. Luckily he arrived in time to bat and retired on 27 in an innings punctuated with almost as many big shots as expletives.

Sunday's match also marked the welcomed return of Jonathon Phillips. His frugal bowling put paid to any chance the Muppets had of resuscitating their innings and his confident 23 ensured the total was run down in a canter.The last few overs saw a healthy lead ensue and at lunch we were 35 runs ahead.

After another Muppets innings, the notable highlight being Phil's near hat trick, we had a little over 100 to chase down. Unfortunately the rain came early in our 2nd innings and made the wicket slippery. With old knees and hamstrings very much taken into consideration and equally wanting to avoid a confrontation with the groundsman [see Sean's Frogs boiling in water report], it was decided to call a halt to proceedings.

The addition of new blood, even if a lot of it was transfused, to the itinerary was welcomed with the Muppets proving to be a compatible match up. All newcomers to this style of fixture thoroughly enjoyed themselves and that in part can be attributed to the work done over the years by many of those missing.

So we head to the break with another committed performance under our belt and a keenness for the next. Who's available ?

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