How are you doing in your career?

[Marshall1234567]

Dream Debut
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[This innings is dedicated to my real life idol, late Paul Walker. This one's for you Paul. Hope you're watching me always ]

So I just finished my 1st English Cricket season, played well in both the FC's and List A games with averages in Mid 40's on both the formats. T20 was dissapointing I had an average of 19 but it was a good season and as soon as I finished it I got a chance to play ODI's for my country India.



New Zealand batted first and put 256 on the board in their 50 overs. It was disappointing for us because we got them struggling at 84/6.
I was nervous at the beginning of my innings because of the sudden jump in difficulty from Pro to Veteran I was finding it hard to hit the ball but I took some time. We lost Virender Sehwag early in the innings after he scored just 8 runs. In came Yuvraj Singh, and since I found it hard to hit the ball, I gave the strike to Yuvraj Singh after the first 4 balls I faced. And from then on he showed his Brute class and was clobbering the ball to all parts of the ground. Whenever I got the strike, I defended most of the balls and tried to give most of the strike to Yuvi. We soon had the 50 partnership up and I had just scored 15*(28).




As soon as the 50 partnership was up, I started attacking the balls a bit and was glad to find that the balls were hitting my bat right in the middle. (excluding some lucky edges) . It does work, it ain't a rumour. Many people think that defending balls early on in the innings has no effect on the batsman's confidence, but it does. In the latter part of the innings it makes the ball come onto the bat more easily. I took the strike from Yuvraj and kept hitting the ball in the gaps. The timing became perfect slowly and in no time I had my first ODI 50 up.



Scoring a 50 in my first ever Veteran difficulty game felt great. I continued from there on with my good form and let Yuvraj Singh complete his 50. I picked up my strike rate soon after that and had raced to 94 of 80 deliveries. I took two singles on the next two balls, defended the third and pulled the 4th one to the Leg Side boundary for my first ever ODI Hundred. What a proud moment it was for me :')





A great moment it was for me. Hundred on Debut. I decided to hand over the strike to Yuvraj to let him complete his century. He did it with great speed and got there in 74 balls while we were on 216-1 . Now I wanted to be the Man of the Match in my debut game for India. But from the looks of it, Yuvraj Singh was in a better position to win it because his strike rate was better than mine. I dismissed that thought and continued playing my game. When I was on 116 with the score on 237/1 off 30.3 overs, the ball hit me on my pads and I was given out. I had lost all hope that I would win the MotM, because I thought it was out. But since we had a review left, I took it just in case and boy oh boy my luck fired and I was given not out. Without wasting any time, I took my chances and hit a couple of boundaries on the next few balls. Yuvi also hit some and we soon were on 255/1 at the end of 33 overs. Needing just 2 runs to win, I defended the first ball and pulled the second one to the leg side boundary, hitting the winning runs and taking the match home. And we also had our 250 partnership up.






I started my international career in style by scoring 129* off 108 balls. This game is awesome and to score a century on my first Veteran Level match feels even more awesome. India has got a bright future ahead of it. India's batting is in safe hands. Cheers!

And also I dedicate this win to my idol Paul Walker. This one's for you, Paul.

 

[Santander]

In my 3rd season, my 19 year old bowling all-rounder is finally playing like one. Averaging 26 with the bat and 21 with the ball and making the England selectors pay attention. I'm more of a "finisher" in the shorter formats, since I don't get too many balls batting at #7. The only drawback is that I play for Kent, who pretty much always lose unless I play well. Now also playing FC matches for the Bushrangers though, so hopefully I can start winning a few matches.

 

[Jay OTT]

[This innings is dedicated to my real life idol, late Paul Walker. This one's for you Paul. Hope you're watching me always ]

No offence, but did the late Paul Walker know what the sport of Cricket actually is? Congratulations on your big innings though; I can't even get to 50 right now in my batting career, let alone 100.

I've come relatively close to the elusive half century on five occasions so far out of 26 innings (across all formats), but I've been stopped short every time; 45 and 37 in FC games, 34 and 35 in one day games, and 38 in a T20. The 38 was off just 24 balls too; I was playing the advancing slog very well in that game, but it also ended up being my undoing when I dollied one up to a fielder.

My combined performance is now 430 runs from 26 innings for an average of 16.54. Even if we ignore the T20's where I was taking more risks and as such got out foolishly a couple of times, it's still a very mediocre 335 runs from 19 innings for an average of 17.63. Just hoping that my slowly increasing batting skills can kick in and help me get some meaningful scores (50's and 100's) soon...

 

[Marshall1234567]

No offence, but did the late Paul Walker know what the sport of Cricket actually is? Congratulations on your big innings though; I can't even get to 50 right now in my batting career, let alone 100.

I've come relatively close to the elusive half century on five occasions so far out of 26 innings (across all formats), but I've been stopped short every time; 45 and 37 in FC games, 34 and 35 in one day games, and 38 in a T20. The 38 was off just 24 balls too; I was playing the advancing slog very well in that game, but it also ended up being my undoing when I dollied one up to a fielder.

My combined performance is now 430 runs from 26 innings for an average of 16.54. Even if we ignore the T20's where I was taking more risks and as such got out foolishly a couple of times, it's still a very mediocre 335 runs from 19 innings for an average of 17.63. Just hoping that my slowly increasing batting skills can kick in and help me get some meaningful scores (50's and 100's) soon...

None taken. But still, Paul Walker is my idol and most of the things I do today, I dedicate to Paul. Unrelated .. I topped my exams this year, and when the teacher asked me to give a speech in front of the class on my results, I said I dedicate this good results to Paul. For Paul.
Anyways, I hope you get your first fifty soon and score big tons in the future. Just take an advice from me, when you are in the 40's, play slowly. Many people do the mistake of slogging the ball in the 40's because they want to reach the landmark quicker. Don't do that, take 10 singles if necessary but don't play any Aggressive or Advance shots. Just pick the balls into the gaps and take it slow. Defend a full over if you are finding it hard to judge the bowler. But don't play aggressively. Keep that in mind and I am sure you will have a good cricketing career ahead. Hope it helps !

 

[Jay OTT]

Aside from the T20 game, trying to slog it wasn't really my problem. The problem is that I'm playing on Legend difficulty, where it's very easy to just randomly make a mistake, or worse, get another one of those frustrating thin edges that I still haven't figured out how to prevent, outside of the obvious solution of building up my players skills in the nets some more. That most recent First Class 37 ended with a caught behind when I edged an on-drive when I could've sworn that I timed it okay (I occasionally get edges in net practice despite supposedly 'Ideal' timing).

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

I have had a few great innings in the T20 series going on in career....

Was a match winning innings, a great start of the T20 career...


Next match got first 50 in T20s....



Another quick fire innings helping the team to post a massive score above 200, won comfortably....



Like all the games T20 also has a great importance of good partnership, likewise got one with Smith..


Reached another 50 in that match..

A Stuart Broad moment from the game...



First century in T20s really the best innings of all considering I came in when the team was at 13-2...



Best performance so far as well with contribution with the ball as well with 3 wickets...

 

[Marshall1234567]

So, after that great start to my ODI Career [129*(108)], I was selected to play for Tasmanian Tigers in the Domestic Shield. And it was a bad start, my form in 4 day matches dropped miserably. In The next 6 first class innings, I just scored 118 with a miserable average of just 18 with 41 being my best score. But I still played good knocks in the One Day games, scoring 61 off 38 and 64 off 19 in the two matches I played. I played aggressively with 219 as my strike rate in the 2 innings I played. I was aggressive because I was failing in FC games and I was furious about it so I decided to slog in the OD games. I know it was gonna be tough to get into the Indian test side, especially now that my FC form has dipped. In my 7th Innings for Tasmanian Tiger, something awesome happened




South Australia put 217 on the board in their first innings. I started quick, hitting the ball into the gaps, but also being careful of not getting any edges. I had to come back for my side, and I knew I needed to score big in this game. We lost Cosgrove early when a throw came in from cover and ran him out. Ed Cowan was my new partner, I didn't give much strike to him, because I needed to face more balls to build up my Confidence meter. Soon, I had my 50 up and breathed a sigh of relief.





After I had completed my fifty, I caught an edge and the keeper took it. But the umpire gave it not out. Even though Adam Gilchrist is my cricketing idol, who walks by his own every time he feels he's out, I decided to stay put in the crease. I didn't rotate the strike much but when I did Cowan hit boundaries every time. Soon, we got our 100 partnership up which was my first with Ed.

As soon as the hundred partnership was up, I took a single to retain the strike in the next over. I was on 97. Took another single of the first ball and the very next ball Cowan gave me the strike back. I pulled the ball (my trademark shot) to take 2 runs and complete my 3rd FC Century in 30 Innings.




I had successfully staged a comeback. I scored a hundred when I needed it the most. I knocked the ball around slowly but soon got an edge and the keeper took it and was given out. I was on 107(112), my 2nd highest score in FC.



Nevertheless, Faulkner got a century and Ben Hilfy scored a 50 to take us past 400 and have a good lead. But RedBacks came strong in the second innings. Single-Handedly supported by Phil Hughes [R.I.P Brother] who scored 322 off just 353 balls and setting us a target of around 350. Great Innings by Phil.

Now, as I write this, the game is paused and we are on 0/0 after 0.1 overs and we hope to save this match. Whatever happens in the 2nd innings, will be posted later on. Keep Playing Brothers

 

[Marshall1234567]

Continuing from my previous post....


We had to chase down 347 to win the game. It was around 11:30 when we started our innings. Well what do you expect someone to do in this situation. ? Save the match by drawing it, of course. But not with me. My strategy was different. I wanted to win the game. So, here it goes ..

I started off quickly, of course, but in that process I ran out Cosgrove and Ed Cowan in order to get back onto the strike. Sorry, mates! I wasn't stopping, I kept hitting the balls into the gaps and had my fifty up in 41 balls. Strike rate of 124.39







And to my delight, Johan Botha came onto bowl. And his first over went for 24. I advanced down the wicket on each ball and hit it straight over the bowler's head.
I Hit 4 consecutive sixes to reach 94 and end the over. The first of those 4 sixes was my longest six ever, 122m. Soon I pulled a short ball to the fence to bring up my second hundred of the match.







Best thing, Botha was still on at the other end. I switched on my 'AB DE VILLIERS' Mode and hit around 28 in the next Botha over. I hit another six while being on 149 to bring up my first ever FC 150.




Botha's figures read 4-0-96-0. I was delighted at the sight. But soon, I decided to slow down because winning it like that would be too unrealistic and so I went into 'RAHUL DRAVID' mode. We needed around 160 and the clock hadn't passed even 2:30 PM. So, I knew there was lot of time and I could get the team home easily. So I defended, "tuk-tuk-tuk", defended the first five balls of every over, and took a single on the last. I repeated this, while Tim Paine on the other end hit some great strokes. After playing around 10 overs like this, I decided to revert back to my original game plan. Botha was back in the attack, and he got Tim Paine out on the first ball. James Faulkner came in, hit some delightful strokes and played the next two overs all by himself. I finally got a chance to play Botha and the very first ball I faced he bowled a full length ball and I was already halfway down the pitch with the 14th advance shot of the innings but unfortunately I mistimed it and it went straight back to Botha, who finally took his revenge.




I was disappointed. How could I give my wicket away when I had a chance to take the team home comfortably. Needing just 118 runs will more than 40 overs, I did a huge mistake. I brought the team close to victory, but no one could go one after I went out. The last wicket fell at 4:49 PM and we lost the game

But certainly, this was a great and entertaining match and I enjoyed every second of it. Also, it helped revive my FC Career now I average about 42 and have a good chance to make it to the Indian test side to play against New Zealand. Meanwhile, the 2nd ODI between IND and NZ is coming up, hope to get a big score again.

 

[Blakeo]

Quick question, what's the youngest you could get selected for internationals? Like say you were really good.

 

[cricket_online]

Quick question, what's the youngest you could get selected for internationals? Like say you were really good.

Earliest I was selected for intl team was when I was 19. But I played as a specialist no. 3 batsman and it's tougher to get in purely as a batsman in the game. If you are a bowler or an all-rounder it gets easier as getting AI wkts is much easier than scoring runs.

 

[Mana]

Quick question, what's the youngest you could get selected for internationals? Like say you were really good.

I was selected at 19 and started my test career as captain of Australia batting at No1.

 

[Swervin]

Quick question, what's the youngest you could get selected for internationals? Like say you were really good.

16

 

[Marshall1234567]

So I played the second ODI of India vs New Zealand series. and guess what ? I scored another hundred. My first two games in International Cricket and I score back to back hundreds. And boy does veteran mode make it challenging. It feels awesome to be scoring a ton at this level, especially consecutively. Wrapped up the series 2-0 and now playing the final ODI. Here's some pics of the 2nd encounter




the 50



the 100






peace

 

[Marshall1234567]

India VS New Zealand 3rd ODI

So after two consecutive 100s on my first two ODI games, I was wanting a third. And I missed it by just 12 runs. I was playing well but a well disguised slower ball by Wagner got me bowled.



peace

 

[RVallant]

I started a batsman, joined Glamorgan.

First game was FC vs Worcester (is that it? I forgot now jeez.)

So I came in with Rudolf at the crease, 2 wickets gone in quick succession. Spinner on one end, fast-med on the other. Ugh, I'd been in the nets practising shots and noted I was edging on-side shots with alarming regularity even if the timing was spot on. My plan was to follow the advice here and block my way to a responsible score.

I blocked, Rudolf slogged. We hit 50 runs together. Then 100. Then he got out on 99 runs trying a slog over the slips region that ended up going straight to the keeper. Me? I went out next over to a straight LBW thanks to the analog sticks deciding my 'leg glance' was a 'leave'. -_-;; I had scored 23 runs off 73 balls at that point and was quite upset!

Second innings, similar situation. Didn't block so much this time, I was getting fed up with the close fielders getting in my face, so I hit a few but mostly tried to be sensible! Was dropped on 3 in the slips with an edge off the leg side (weakness area I guess). Rudolf got himself out quite early so it was me and Allenby in for most the afternoon. I faced another 60-70 balls and made 30 runs, including a hilarious moment where Worcs were putting on a full off-side field for 3 balls then switching to a leg field for the shorter ball. They did this for two overs, but the third over I kinda read the 'trap' and instead of hooking as I usually did I played straight, which was fortunate too as it was a straight yorker. Timed to perfection, smashed over the bowler's head for 6!

I finished on 30 runs. Again, I wasn't out by conventional means, I aimed a leg shot to a spinner's rather wide ball and kicked the ball onto my stumps. No, the +25exp for that was no consolation! Glamorgan decided with me out of the frame to declare, so we bowled badly and just about drew the match.

23 and 30 aren't too shabby for a debut on Pro difficulty I guess, but I was really upset with the ways I got myself out. The 'leave' button needs to be something else, I clicked the blasted thing plenty of times before, including once to a fab straight ball that was barely a cm off the bails of middle stump!

AI were sussing me out by placing a strong off field, I like the drive along the offside and the pull shot and leg glance. I refuse to do the on-drive as it was just asking for trouble. I need to practice the cut shots and the sweep and I need to get better at deciding what ball I can hit and what I should be blocking, very often the ball comes in, I decide not to block but the game registers it as a block attempt. Guess I'm flicking the shot selection before taking my finger off the block button! Bah!