Monday, December 6, 2010
South and North Korea Tensions Continue Towards War
Although South and North Korea signed an armistice agreement on the 27th of July, 1953, the Korean War has never officially ended, and it does not look like ending any time soon, as tensions continue to build up between the two neighbouring countries. It is something that is absolutely terrifying, and could culminate in international forces once again fighting on Korean soil, and ultimately the loss of more lives.
Of course, for many years, there was little interaction between the two countries, as they did not communicate with each other. However, in recent years, this has dramatically changed, with the opening of the joint industrial complex at Kaesong in the demilitarised zone in North Korea. South Korean companies have built their factories there, and in the process have employed North Korean to assemble the products. South Koreans also work in the complex. It was seen as the "symbol of potential inter-Korean harmony." Unfortunately though, the sinking of a South Korean navel ship earlier this year has seen this hope disappear. Especially considering that the North threatened to cut all communication with the South if they sought revenge for the sinking of the Cheonan. The North Koreans deny they were involved. According to Mike Shuster, a reporter from National Public Radio in the United States, "there is no new construction underway, and the factories are far from full capacity." To make matters worse, "the North Koreans have withheld much of the manpower required to operate the factories." At the same time, some South Koreans have been instructed to leave the complex, which has culminated in a diminished workload. As a result, there is every chance the complex could close. The full story can be listened to here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127552892
The South Koreans do not want to walk away from the complex, as to them, it is their best chance of reunification. However, on the other side of the border, the North Korean government does not believe this. Rather, they believe that the Americans do not want this to happen, and they are dominating the South by keeping an army of 40,000 soldiers in the region. It is also their belief that "every year with the support of the South Korean Army they display big military manoeuvres like the 'Ulji Focus Lens' or 'Team Spirit with the purpose of invading and dominating the North. Only when the American soldiers will leave South Korea and the citizens will recover they sovereignty, a big united Korean nation is possible." http://www.korea-dpr.com/reunification.htm. Is the information on their website an example of North Korean Propaganda? Perhaps.
The Kaesong Industrial Complex is just one issue of concern though, and as such, it is hard to argue for the North Koreans on the situation. All we have to do is look at the recent events between the two nations from last year to now. The first of these comes from the 31st of January 2009, when The Independent Reporter, Johnathon Thatcher reported that "North Korea was scrapping all accords with South Korea, a move the South's prime minister said could be timed to coincide with Barack Obama taking office in the US." The area according to Thatcher was on the brink of war for months, after the conservative government in Seoul stopped providing aid to them.
On the 24th of June, 2009, North Korea threatened to "wipe out the US once and for all" after a pledge by the US to provide nuclear defence to South Korea. They believed it "justified them having atomic bombs." After the summit between Barack Obama and Lee Myung-Bak, "The allies issued a joint statement committing the U.S. to defend the South with nuclear weapons." There is also the fact that North Korea had a nuclear test on the 25th of May, 2009. A test that caused an earthquake of 4.5 in Kilju County in the countries north east, and was felt as far away as the Chinese border city of Yanji, some 130 miles away.
At this stage, the Russians were preparing for war, with their far eastern regions bordering North Korea. The North Koreans claimed that they no longer had to abide by the armistice agreement signed in 1953.
Tensions have also continued into this year, with the North shelling the island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea. It culminated in the death of two marines and two civilians, while 13 others were injured, and dozens of houses were damaged. The South Koreans retaliated. "The firing came after Kim Jong-un, the little-known youngest son of leader Kim Jong-il, was officially recognised as No 2 in North Korea’s political system, clouding outsiders’ view of its military and nuclear intentions." A worrying sign for the future of Korea.
North Korea recently boasted about its nuclear prowess. They said "many thousands of centrifuges are operating at a new uranium enrichment plant which it claims is for peaceful purposes." A lie? Very possibly.
According to AFP, “China is ready to abandon North Korea and would accept unification of the peninsular.” Chinese Communist Party Leaders “no longer regard North Korea as a useful or reliable ally." This revelation comes from leaked US documents from WikiLeaks, published in the Guardian on the 29th of November. It is also believed that North Korea will collapse after the death of Kim Jong-il.
So, with tensions continuing to escalate between the two countries, and with a battle lasting for more than three days in the Yellow Sea, which involved, "11 ships, air power and 7300 personnel" (American and South Korean), and North Korea threatening to launch second and third strikes, will war once again break out? Or, will China somehow convince the North Koreans to change their behaviour and return to peace talks, which will see the end of their nuclear programme? Perhaps it will, but only time can answer these questions.
In addition, North Korea has more than one million soldiers at its disposal, plus a small number of nuclear weapons, and “thousands of artillery guns capable of raining destruction on the National Capital Area, centred on Seoul, which has a population of more than 24 million.” Of course, it is possible for the North Korean leaders to be rational and believe that deterrence will work, which is what is believed at the moment, as the United States has sent an aircraft carrier into the Yellow Sea without a response from North Korea. It is still possible for the second theory, which is that the North Koreans are off in their own little world, and believe they are the only ones who are willing to fight a war. The United States with all its might has the ability to destroy North Korea, according to Paul Dibb, emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University. It is also possible that the North Koreans will fire on Seoul and destroy their economy.
North Korea is definitely a threat to the world. And, nobody really knows what’s going to happen. For now, the advent of a full scale war does not seem to be on the agenda, but as we all know, it is possible that this will change. It is the last thing we need, especially considering we are already fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Thus, let us hope that peace somehow wins out and Korea is once again unified.
References: Websites:
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/26/world/la-fg-koreas-20100526 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127552892
http://www.korea-dpr.com/reunification.htm.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/31/north-korea-we-are-on-bri_n_162796.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/24/north-korea-threatens-to-_3_n_220001.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/25/north-korea-hiroshima-nuclear-test
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-39913120090527
http://www.smh.com.au/world/north-korea-shells-south-20101123-185eg.html
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/north-korea-boasts-of-nuclear-prowess-20101130-18esu.html
http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-ready-to-abandon-north-korea-leak-20101130-18egr.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/north-korea-needs-to-fear-us-reprisal/story-e6frg6so-1225966012996
Friday, December 3, 2010
NSWPSSA Primary Girls Cricket Carnival 22nd-25th of November
When I first said I was available to umpire during this week, I really did not know if I was looking forward to it or not. However, as the week edged closer, I suddenly found myself feeling really excited about the week. And, my excitement was justified, as it was a very enjoyable week. This was despite horrible foot pain especially after the first couple of days, and incredibly horrible foot pain by the end, which meant I couldn’t walk. There was some great cricket played between the representative sides, and watching these young girls fight it out is certainly something I will never forget.
I will admit it took me some time to get used to the smaller ball (142 grams) instead of 156, and a slightly smaller circumference. The ball was certainly a lot lighter than what I was used to, but by the afternoon of the first day, the ball felt normal. What also took some time to get used to was the slower nature of the bowlers, calling a fair few waist-high no-balls and remembering the exact playing conditions. Not too much of a hassle though. Furthermore, the playing tactics were foreign to me, as the batsmen (batswomen if you prefer), would hit the ball and basically run. It didn’t matter that it had only gone 10 metres. It really kept me on my toes, despite the fact that I was very relaxed, which proved handy, as there were some matches that went right down to the wire. Two particularly stand out. The first is North West VS Sydney South West. This was a match that Sydney South West had completely under control until a late collapse saw them final just four runs short of victory. It would be their only loss en-route to the final. The qualifying final between Sydney North and Polding is the second one. This one too involved something of a collapse. Polding looked in control of the match until the dying overs. They needed four runs off the last ball to win. They were unable to achieve this, which sent Sydney North through to the Final against Sydney South West, (I was quite happy about this), a match they won to remain undefeated. A massive turnaround from last year when they came 13th and last. A third close match, between Sydney North and Sydney East on the second morning also occurred, but it really did not have the same feeling, as Sydney East did not collapse late in their innings like the other two teams. And, by no means did these teams choke. Rather, the bowling became quite tight, and this made scoring incredibly problematic.
Another interesting observation was that of the fielding. The girls dropped a lot of catches, as they had the “crocodile grip” method. They are young though, so I’m sure with some practice, they will figure this out. This is not to mention their power. They are of course weaker than what we as umpires are used to. Slow outfields didn’t help matters either, nor did the running between the wickets. Another thing I’m sure they will learn from.
The poor running between the wickets saw a number of run-outs. By the end of the week, I think I had given nine or ten of them. My only other decision was a stumping on the very first day.
I will also take away some very fond memories of the week, including the fact that I experienced my first ever hat-trick as an umpire. I was standing at square leg for this momentous occasion, but it still counts. A bowled followed by two caught and bowleds. A second very found memory I will take away from the week does not come from a specific playing moment, but rather a team. The Sydney South West girls were very well coached, and no matter what the situation, were full of enthusiasm. It really was great to watch. I was even lucky enough to be able to chat with a few of them about cricket related matters and just some general silliness during the friendly game on the third afternoon. And, I will not be able to forget one girl almost always forgetting to collet her hat after she had finished bowling. This team was by far my favourite, and I have to admit that I miss umpiring them. Two of them made the state side, which I am absolutely thrilled about. I know I shouldn’t be, but they really are talented, and also a pleasure to umpire.
There were certainly some very talented individuals during the week, and I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to see them play. I may one day have the chance to umpire them again, but if not, I will always remember their names. I’m sure many of them will end up playing for the Southern Stars in the future if they so desire.
Although I am happy the carnival has ended, especially considering I was exhausted and sore after six straight days of umpiring, in some hot temperatures, I’m still feeling a little down about it. This is because I have never, ever had such an enjoyable time as an umpire. There were no problems, and the girls absolutely loved having us on the field with them. Thus, if the opportunity ever arises to umpire something like this again, I will most definitely be on board.
I will admit it took me some time to get used to the smaller ball (142 grams) instead of 156, and a slightly smaller circumference. The ball was certainly a lot lighter than what I was used to, but by the afternoon of the first day, the ball felt normal. What also took some time to get used to was the slower nature of the bowlers, calling a fair few waist-high no-balls and remembering the exact playing conditions. Not too much of a hassle though. Furthermore, the playing tactics were foreign to me, as the batsmen (batswomen if you prefer), would hit the ball and basically run. It didn’t matter that it had only gone 10 metres. It really kept me on my toes, despite the fact that I was very relaxed, which proved handy, as there were some matches that went right down to the wire. Two particularly stand out. The first is North West VS Sydney South West. This was a match that Sydney South West had completely under control until a late collapse saw them final just four runs short of victory. It would be their only loss en-route to the final. The qualifying final between Sydney North and Polding is the second one. This one too involved something of a collapse. Polding looked in control of the match until the dying overs. They needed four runs off the last ball to win. They were unable to achieve this, which sent Sydney North through to the Final against Sydney South West, (I was quite happy about this), a match they won to remain undefeated. A massive turnaround from last year when they came 13th and last. A third close match, between Sydney North and Sydney East on the second morning also occurred, but it really did not have the same feeling, as Sydney East did not collapse late in their innings like the other two teams. And, by no means did these teams choke. Rather, the bowling became quite tight, and this made scoring incredibly problematic.
Another interesting observation was that of the fielding. The girls dropped a lot of catches, as they had the “crocodile grip” method. They are young though, so I’m sure with some practice, they will figure this out. This is not to mention their power. They are of course weaker than what we as umpires are used to. Slow outfields didn’t help matters either, nor did the running between the wickets. Another thing I’m sure they will learn from.
The poor running between the wickets saw a number of run-outs. By the end of the week, I think I had given nine or ten of them. My only other decision was a stumping on the very first day.
I will also take away some very fond memories of the week, including the fact that I experienced my first ever hat-trick as an umpire. I was standing at square leg for this momentous occasion, but it still counts. A bowled followed by two caught and bowleds. A second very found memory I will take away from the week does not come from a specific playing moment, but rather a team. The Sydney South West girls were very well coached, and no matter what the situation, were full of enthusiasm. It really was great to watch. I was even lucky enough to be able to chat with a few of them about cricket related matters and just some general silliness during the friendly game on the third afternoon. And, I will not be able to forget one girl almost always forgetting to collet her hat after she had finished bowling. This team was by far my favourite, and I have to admit that I miss umpiring them. Two of them made the state side, which I am absolutely thrilled about. I know I shouldn’t be, but they really are talented, and also a pleasure to umpire.
There were certainly some very talented individuals during the week, and I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to see them play. I may one day have the chance to umpire them again, but if not, I will always remember their names. I’m sure many of them will end up playing for the Southern Stars in the future if they so desire.
Although I am happy the carnival has ended, especially considering I was exhausted and sore after six straight days of umpiring, in some hot temperatures, I’m still feeling a little down about it. This is because I have never, ever had such an enjoyable time as an umpire. There were no problems, and the girls absolutely loved having us on the field with them. Thus, if the opportunity ever arises to umpire something like this again, I will most definitely be on board.
Round 5 Day 2, Under 21’s Round 1, Round 6 and Under 16’s President’s Cup Round 2
Sorry for the lateness of this post, but after umpiring for six days straight and eight days out of nine, exhaustion sets in, and you really don’t feel like doing anything. This blog post will re-live my experiences through grade and representative matches over the last few weeks.
Round 5 Day 2, 1st Grade: Terrigal-Matcham VS Gosford Duffy’s Road Oval 20th of November:
What was supposed to be a very wet week, turned out to be a rather beautiful week with only one day of heavy rain, and a couple of nights where it rained overnight. As a result, come Saturday, it was sunny, and the field was dry and ready for play. Unfortunately, the southern end of the ground was wet and had not been mown. Thus, we were forced to bring the boundary in. Not that it mattered in the slightest.
When it came time to begin proceedings, Terrigal-Matcham came out to bat again, and like the end of the first day, looked in complete control. The pitch was definitely playing better, and this helped, but at the same time, the bowling was pretty good. The two Terrigal-Matcham batsmen had a few lives, but when the declaration came 16 overs into the day’s play, both remained not out. The final score for Terrigal-Matcham was 3-220 declared after 55 overs, with Mitchell Smith left stranded on 93 not out, while Nick McGeever chimed in with 33 not out. Luke Beaven once again bowled well and was unlucky not to pick up more wickets. He finished with the credible figures of 2-51 from 20 overs.
Gosford came out in their second innings after a 10 minute change over and immediately came out with more intent than in their first innings despite losing an early wicket. They played a number of beautiful attacking shots that any batsmen would’ve been proud of. It was just a shame that the outfield was incredibly slow and robbed them of a good deal of runs. In the end though, they were unable to sustain this aggressive nature. As a result, they were bowled out for 138 after 64 overs. Adam Skinner once again looked good, top scoring with 34, while Simon Skinner posted a well made 27 that was worth so many more. Luke Beaven once again looked good with the bat, scoring 24 to complete a fine match. Justin Frost bowled with good intensity and was extremely accurate, and finished with the figures of 4-25 from 10 overs to complete a fine match with the ball. The best I have seen him bowl. Daryl Bateup also bowled well, finishing with figures of 2-28 from 16 overs.
Gosford’s 138 meant Terrigal-Matcham had to bat again. However, they were only required to chase 19 runs for an outright victory, which they managed to achieve none down after 4.5 overs, which was just as well as there were only 5.1 overs left until stumps. Todd Olynic was 13 not out, and Mitchell Smith was 3 not out. Luke Beaven opened the bowling on this occasion, and once again looked very threatening. He certainly has a lot of talent.
I also received an apology for abuse copped the previous week during the second day, which made life just that little bit better.
Under 21’s, Round 1. Kincumber-Avoca VS Gosford, Erina Oval, 21st of November:
It was another beautiful day to be out on a cricket field. However, with rain around, I was certain we were not going to have a full match. Thankfully, I was wrong. On another note, I’m glad this was a short day, as I had another four days straight lined up, which was going to bring my total number of days of umpiring to six straight. At the same time, there was also confusion as to the starting time, as it says on My Cricket that the Under 21’s matches start at 10:30AM, rather than 10AM. We ended up starting at 10:30AM, which made no difference to me, as I really had nowhere else to be.
As for the match, Gosford won the toss and elected to bowl, which I thought was a very strange choice. However, on reflection, it was probably their best chance of winning, because their batting is a little bit weak.
Deciding to bowl first looked like a very good decision right throughout the Kincumber-Avoca innings, as they continually had them in trouble. A slow outfield didn’t help matters at all, but at the same time, the majority of deliveries were either left, defended or hit to fieldsmen. The fielding was of a high quality too. Runs were kept to singles on most occasions. Furthermore, the majority of the Kincumber-Avoca batsmen could not deal with the accuracy of the Gosford bowlers. As a result, they were bowled out for 136 after 43.4 overs. Chris Masters top scored with a hard fought and well made 51, which was full of beautiful cover drives amongst other shots. It’s the best innings I’ve seen him play, and also the longest. Adam Danckert also looked good at the crease, scoring 24. Both of these players have a lot of talent, and will go far in their careers. The pick of the bowlers was Blaize Irving-Holiday, who for the first time since I have seen him bowl was accurate and really troubled the batsmen. He finished with the figures of 2-22 from 9.5 overs. Sean Wise (2-16 from six overs) and Jaan Smith (2-21 from six overs) also bowled really well, and could easily have taken more wickets had things fallen their way. Joe Woodhead (1-27 from 10 overs) also troubled the batsmen, and he too could have taken more wickets had things fallen the right way.
After a 10 minute change over, which I will admit I had a little bit of trouble deciding about at first, because of the starting time, but in the end, I was happy with my decision, and believed I was following the exact playing times.
Gosford wern't ever in the hunt to chase the target despite bowling so well. A couple of early wickets had them in trouble at lunch. I’m not sure of what the score was at the time, but I do know 11 overs were bowled. This meant just 39 more to go in the afternoon session, which was good for me, as my feet were really starting to kill me.
After lunch, the Gosford batsmen really struggled to hit the ball, and could not score runs. As a result, wickets eventually started to fall. In the end, Gosford were bowled out for 81 after 36.5 overs. Only Blaize Irving-Holiday looked good at the crease, taking the attack to the bowlers, top scoring 26 with the bat to complete a fine all-round match. Dustin Chambers was the pick of the bowlers with 5-17 from 10 overs in the best spell I have ever seen him bowl. Luke Sullivan, a leg spinner provided great support taking 2-30 from 10 overs. Despite some wayward deliveries, it is the best I have seen him bowl. He took more wickets on a previous occasion, but did not have the same control. He certainly has some talent, and with some extra coaching that will hopefully see him drop his arm and slow down, he could well be a very successful bowler in 1st Grade in the years to come.
Although the match was a good one in the end, in which I was able to converse with a lot of the players, it was soured by some after match comments. Unfortunately, I lost my cool later in the day, which I now know I cannot do. I’m all the better for that learning experience.
Round 6: 1st Grade: Wyong VS Kincumber-Avoca, Baker Park, 27th of November:
This was the third One Day match of our season, and it turned out to be one that was very interesting. I may have still been feeling a little tired from six straight days of umpiring, but that did not get in the way of this performance. The heat also did not play as much a part as I thought it was going to, as we had a breeze.
Kincumber-Avoca won the toss and elected to bat first. A couple of early wickets on a pitch that had inconsistent bounce and lots of movement in it, made life tough for the batsmen and had my colleague (Don Maisey) and I thinking we might just have an early day. A slow outfield also hampered the scoring. In the end, they were bowled out for 135 after 43.2 overs. Only Mark Robertson (44) and Steve McCabe (40) looked really comfortable at the crease. Danny Rowe (19) had the potential to produce a big innings, but came unstuck. Carl Kinghorne was the best of the bowlers, bowling accurately, as well as making the ball swing and cut in both directions. It was almost impossible to score off him, and as a result, he finished with the figures of 3-24 from nine overs. Matthew Day (2-23 from eight overs) also troubled the batsmen. Colby Gallagher picked up two late wickets. Tye Smith took six catches in a fine wicket-keeping display. He also did an admirable job as fill-in captain, and certainly has a future in the role if he wants it.
The total had Don and I thinking it was going to be a competitive one during the Tea Break. We both thought it was probably worth around 175 due to the slow outfield. It would be the afternoon session that would tell us if we were right or not.
A couple of early wickets during Wyong’s innings made me believe that the total was going to be more than enough. However, wickets than soon became hard to come by. At the same time, the runs dried up, as Brett Hanson (3-9 from nine overs) and Dylan Robertson (0-13 from nine overs) really troubled the Wyong batsmen. The wickets then tumbled, only for a late resurgence to occur. Mark Leard began to hit the ball to all parts of the ground, including two huge sixes in his knock of 47, which sent the match into a thrilling last over. It was an over that I don’t think any of us will forget either, as two wickets fell, including a run out, while the batsmen were attempting a third run to win the match. Thus, it was a tie as Wyong were bowled out for 135 after 44.4 overs. This is the first tie I have ever experienced in either my playing or umpiring career. Once again, I was feeling the tension, as I expected something to happen, but this had no impact on my decisions.
Two other batsmen, Hayden Murphy (23) and Kris Clouten (22) helped to achieve this total, while John Rainger (19) also looked settled despite not scoring quickly. Danny Rowe also deserves a mention, picking up 2-26 from 4.4 overs towards the end of the innings.
Certainly an exciting match, and one I don’t think I’ll forget for quite some time.
Under 16’s President’s Cup, Round 2, Central Coast VS Manly-Warringah, Mount Penang, 28th of November:
My eighth day of umpiring out of nine, and I was really feeling exhausted. However, I soldiered on for one last day. Rain really looked like ending this match early, but it held off throughout the first innings, which was very surprising. It kept rolling in but then passing over. Despite my feet being incredibly sore by this stage, I was happy that it wasn’t raining.
Central Coast won the toss and elected to bat first, but never really got going. They were never in a lot of trouble though, as the bowling, although good, was by no means perfect. An inconsistent pitch that had variable bounce and movement (it had only been watered on the Friday due to a burst water main) and a very slow outfield made scoring incredibly tough. At the first interval, (Morning Tea), the Central Coast team had only managed to score around 2-60 after 25 overs. In the end, Central Coast scored 10- 141 (can bat 12 players) from their 50 overs, which sent us to the lunch break. It was a score I believed they could defend, and I was told that they had scored 142 the week before and won, so I was quietly confident that they would manage to pull it off. This was as a cricket supporter and not an umpire.
Confusion over how many overs a bowler could bowl in a spell also arose, but at the end of the day, the extra over one of the opening bowlers for Manly-Warringah bowled had no impact on the match.
After lunch, the pitch had not improved, and was still offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers. However, this was the least of my concerns, as the weather began to roll in, eventually forcing us from the field at the first drinks break. It ended up being an 18 minute break, which culminated in a reduction of six overs as there is no allowance for time lost. Thankfully, we did not lose any more time before the Afternoon Tea Interval. However, after the Afternoon Tea Interval, the rain came tumbling down and prevented us from returning to the field, and just when it looked like we could return, it came back. After a further 50 minute break, and just before 5PM, we were able to resume the match. 23 overs had been bowled (Manly-Warringah were 2-62), meaning we required a further seven overs to constitute a match. We got these in easily, and Manly-Warringah came away the victors, scoring 4-106 after 30 overs. The match could easily have been called off a couple of overs beforehand, as the target of 86 (run-rate) had already been passed, but it wasn’t. It didn’t matter in the slightest though.
That is all of the Central Coast related matches since my last posting. Next posting should only contain one match, as I am not required to umpire on Sunday. We will see though.
Round 5 Day 2, 1st Grade: Terrigal-Matcham VS Gosford Duffy’s Road Oval 20th of November:
What was supposed to be a very wet week, turned out to be a rather beautiful week with only one day of heavy rain, and a couple of nights where it rained overnight. As a result, come Saturday, it was sunny, and the field was dry and ready for play. Unfortunately, the southern end of the ground was wet and had not been mown. Thus, we were forced to bring the boundary in. Not that it mattered in the slightest.
When it came time to begin proceedings, Terrigal-Matcham came out to bat again, and like the end of the first day, looked in complete control. The pitch was definitely playing better, and this helped, but at the same time, the bowling was pretty good. The two Terrigal-Matcham batsmen had a few lives, but when the declaration came 16 overs into the day’s play, both remained not out. The final score for Terrigal-Matcham was 3-220 declared after 55 overs, with Mitchell Smith left stranded on 93 not out, while Nick McGeever chimed in with 33 not out. Luke Beaven once again bowled well and was unlucky not to pick up more wickets. He finished with the credible figures of 2-51 from 20 overs.
Gosford came out in their second innings after a 10 minute change over and immediately came out with more intent than in their first innings despite losing an early wicket. They played a number of beautiful attacking shots that any batsmen would’ve been proud of. It was just a shame that the outfield was incredibly slow and robbed them of a good deal of runs. In the end though, they were unable to sustain this aggressive nature. As a result, they were bowled out for 138 after 64 overs. Adam Skinner once again looked good, top scoring with 34, while Simon Skinner posted a well made 27 that was worth so many more. Luke Beaven once again looked good with the bat, scoring 24 to complete a fine match. Justin Frost bowled with good intensity and was extremely accurate, and finished with the figures of 4-25 from 10 overs to complete a fine match with the ball. The best I have seen him bowl. Daryl Bateup also bowled well, finishing with figures of 2-28 from 16 overs.
Gosford’s 138 meant Terrigal-Matcham had to bat again. However, they were only required to chase 19 runs for an outright victory, which they managed to achieve none down after 4.5 overs, which was just as well as there were only 5.1 overs left until stumps. Todd Olynic was 13 not out, and Mitchell Smith was 3 not out. Luke Beaven opened the bowling on this occasion, and once again looked very threatening. He certainly has a lot of talent.
I also received an apology for abuse copped the previous week during the second day, which made life just that little bit better.
Under 21’s, Round 1. Kincumber-Avoca VS Gosford, Erina Oval, 21st of November:
It was another beautiful day to be out on a cricket field. However, with rain around, I was certain we were not going to have a full match. Thankfully, I was wrong. On another note, I’m glad this was a short day, as I had another four days straight lined up, which was going to bring my total number of days of umpiring to six straight. At the same time, there was also confusion as to the starting time, as it says on My Cricket that the Under 21’s matches start at 10:30AM, rather than 10AM. We ended up starting at 10:30AM, which made no difference to me, as I really had nowhere else to be.
As for the match, Gosford won the toss and elected to bowl, which I thought was a very strange choice. However, on reflection, it was probably their best chance of winning, because their batting is a little bit weak.
Deciding to bowl first looked like a very good decision right throughout the Kincumber-Avoca innings, as they continually had them in trouble. A slow outfield didn’t help matters at all, but at the same time, the majority of deliveries were either left, defended or hit to fieldsmen. The fielding was of a high quality too. Runs were kept to singles on most occasions. Furthermore, the majority of the Kincumber-Avoca batsmen could not deal with the accuracy of the Gosford bowlers. As a result, they were bowled out for 136 after 43.4 overs. Chris Masters top scored with a hard fought and well made 51, which was full of beautiful cover drives amongst other shots. It’s the best innings I’ve seen him play, and also the longest. Adam Danckert also looked good at the crease, scoring 24. Both of these players have a lot of talent, and will go far in their careers. The pick of the bowlers was Blaize Irving-Holiday, who for the first time since I have seen him bowl was accurate and really troubled the batsmen. He finished with the figures of 2-22 from 9.5 overs. Sean Wise (2-16 from six overs) and Jaan Smith (2-21 from six overs) also bowled really well, and could easily have taken more wickets had things fallen their way. Joe Woodhead (1-27 from 10 overs) also troubled the batsmen, and he too could have taken more wickets had things fallen the right way.
After a 10 minute change over, which I will admit I had a little bit of trouble deciding about at first, because of the starting time, but in the end, I was happy with my decision, and believed I was following the exact playing times.
Gosford wern't ever in the hunt to chase the target despite bowling so well. A couple of early wickets had them in trouble at lunch. I’m not sure of what the score was at the time, but I do know 11 overs were bowled. This meant just 39 more to go in the afternoon session, which was good for me, as my feet were really starting to kill me.
After lunch, the Gosford batsmen really struggled to hit the ball, and could not score runs. As a result, wickets eventually started to fall. In the end, Gosford were bowled out for 81 after 36.5 overs. Only Blaize Irving-Holiday looked good at the crease, taking the attack to the bowlers, top scoring 26 with the bat to complete a fine all-round match. Dustin Chambers was the pick of the bowlers with 5-17 from 10 overs in the best spell I have ever seen him bowl. Luke Sullivan, a leg spinner provided great support taking 2-30 from 10 overs. Despite some wayward deliveries, it is the best I have seen him bowl. He took more wickets on a previous occasion, but did not have the same control. He certainly has some talent, and with some extra coaching that will hopefully see him drop his arm and slow down, he could well be a very successful bowler in 1st Grade in the years to come.
Although the match was a good one in the end, in which I was able to converse with a lot of the players, it was soured by some after match comments. Unfortunately, I lost my cool later in the day, which I now know I cannot do. I’m all the better for that learning experience.
Round 6: 1st Grade: Wyong VS Kincumber-Avoca, Baker Park, 27th of November:
This was the third One Day match of our season, and it turned out to be one that was very interesting. I may have still been feeling a little tired from six straight days of umpiring, but that did not get in the way of this performance. The heat also did not play as much a part as I thought it was going to, as we had a breeze.
Kincumber-Avoca won the toss and elected to bat first. A couple of early wickets on a pitch that had inconsistent bounce and lots of movement in it, made life tough for the batsmen and had my colleague (Don Maisey) and I thinking we might just have an early day. A slow outfield also hampered the scoring. In the end, they were bowled out for 135 after 43.2 overs. Only Mark Robertson (44) and Steve McCabe (40) looked really comfortable at the crease. Danny Rowe (19) had the potential to produce a big innings, but came unstuck. Carl Kinghorne was the best of the bowlers, bowling accurately, as well as making the ball swing and cut in both directions. It was almost impossible to score off him, and as a result, he finished with the figures of 3-24 from nine overs. Matthew Day (2-23 from eight overs) also troubled the batsmen. Colby Gallagher picked up two late wickets. Tye Smith took six catches in a fine wicket-keeping display. He also did an admirable job as fill-in captain, and certainly has a future in the role if he wants it.
The total had Don and I thinking it was going to be a competitive one during the Tea Break. We both thought it was probably worth around 175 due to the slow outfield. It would be the afternoon session that would tell us if we were right or not.
A couple of early wickets during Wyong’s innings made me believe that the total was going to be more than enough. However, wickets than soon became hard to come by. At the same time, the runs dried up, as Brett Hanson (3-9 from nine overs) and Dylan Robertson (0-13 from nine overs) really troubled the Wyong batsmen. The wickets then tumbled, only for a late resurgence to occur. Mark Leard began to hit the ball to all parts of the ground, including two huge sixes in his knock of 47, which sent the match into a thrilling last over. It was an over that I don’t think any of us will forget either, as two wickets fell, including a run out, while the batsmen were attempting a third run to win the match. Thus, it was a tie as Wyong were bowled out for 135 after 44.4 overs. This is the first tie I have ever experienced in either my playing or umpiring career. Once again, I was feeling the tension, as I expected something to happen, but this had no impact on my decisions.
Two other batsmen, Hayden Murphy (23) and Kris Clouten (22) helped to achieve this total, while John Rainger (19) also looked settled despite not scoring quickly. Danny Rowe also deserves a mention, picking up 2-26 from 4.4 overs towards the end of the innings.
Certainly an exciting match, and one I don’t think I’ll forget for quite some time.
Under 16’s President’s Cup, Round 2, Central Coast VS Manly-Warringah, Mount Penang, 28th of November:
My eighth day of umpiring out of nine, and I was really feeling exhausted. However, I soldiered on for one last day. Rain really looked like ending this match early, but it held off throughout the first innings, which was very surprising. It kept rolling in but then passing over. Despite my feet being incredibly sore by this stage, I was happy that it wasn’t raining.
Central Coast won the toss and elected to bat first, but never really got going. They were never in a lot of trouble though, as the bowling, although good, was by no means perfect. An inconsistent pitch that had variable bounce and movement (it had only been watered on the Friday due to a burst water main) and a very slow outfield made scoring incredibly tough. At the first interval, (Morning Tea), the Central Coast team had only managed to score around 2-60 after 25 overs. In the end, Central Coast scored 10- 141 (can bat 12 players) from their 50 overs, which sent us to the lunch break. It was a score I believed they could defend, and I was told that they had scored 142 the week before and won, so I was quietly confident that they would manage to pull it off. This was as a cricket supporter and not an umpire.
Confusion over how many overs a bowler could bowl in a spell also arose, but at the end of the day, the extra over one of the opening bowlers for Manly-Warringah bowled had no impact on the match.
After lunch, the pitch had not improved, and was still offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers. However, this was the least of my concerns, as the weather began to roll in, eventually forcing us from the field at the first drinks break. It ended up being an 18 minute break, which culminated in a reduction of six overs as there is no allowance for time lost. Thankfully, we did not lose any more time before the Afternoon Tea Interval. However, after the Afternoon Tea Interval, the rain came tumbling down and prevented us from returning to the field, and just when it looked like we could return, it came back. After a further 50 minute break, and just before 5PM, we were able to resume the match. 23 overs had been bowled (Manly-Warringah were 2-62), meaning we required a further seven overs to constitute a match. We got these in easily, and Manly-Warringah came away the victors, scoring 4-106 after 30 overs. The match could easily have been called off a couple of overs beforehand, as the target of 86 (run-rate) had already been passed, but it wasn’t. It didn’t matter in the slightest though.
That is all of the Central Coast related matches since my last posting. Next posting should only contain one match, as I am not required to umpire on Sunday. We will see though.
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