Story The Cricketer 2008: Series 1 (FINISHED)

[age of the fall]

As I am one of the few pure bowlers in this competition, it goes without saying that my batting is always going to leave a lot to be desired. Most of the time all I need to do is give the strike to the other batsmen and hold my wicket, as my defense is the only solid part of my batting game. I hope to improve in a way so I can play aggressively, since I am a pure bowler I generally bat at 9. This means that if I can get a quick 30 or so in the death overs I could provide my team with added security.

I bowl the bouncer well I believe, but I may have used it too much using the opening sessions of my Bowling in the nets. I can usually bowl a pretty solid Line and length although I am disappointed that my line and length did go a bit off after I got tired bowling in the nets for a long period of time. Obviously MacWorld noticed this and I did as well. This net session was useful for me as it shows the areas where I need to improve my game. Batting is obviously a big point. But with Bowling, my main attribute, its a necessity for me right now to improve my stamina so I can hold that line longer and work on not using the bouncer as much as I do now.

These will be the main areas that I will work on to prove I?m good enough and deserve to be on this show, and that I?m good enough for the Hampshire contract and the 100K

-Danny Veza

 

[PaulNixon1]

As i am a wicketkeeper my bowling is going to be bad which doesnt mean i shouldnt improve it.When i do bowl i try to keep it tight bowl wicket to wicket and not give the batsmen any room.What i need to work on is not bowling too straight which i do alot.

Now onto my batting. My batting today was poor, I wasnt getting my foot to the ball and my shot selection needs to be improved if i want to become a top quality batter. I think of myself as a batsmen who likes to build an innings and can adjust to how my captain wants me to bat. I can hit a ball along way but can control my shots well.

If im going to get my contracts i will need to improve on the stuff said above. I hope in the coming weeks i will prove to you i have what it takes.

Paul Nixon.

 

[Amiya]

Well i myself is not happy with my performance. I know my performance was not up to the mark but there are some reason behind it ,As i am very new to the conditions, it will take some time to make myself adjusted in the condition. I am a pure bowler and i mainly concentrate on my bowling. I always try to get quick runs and giving strikes to other batsman. Defence is my main motto. I try to get quick runs in slog over sometime i succedd and sometime i fail whereas in bowling I have tried to bowl wicket to wicket and swingers but the ball didn't swing as per as my expectation. As a pure bowler a suitable condition and pitch are the main factors which i was not able to find. And ya in the slog over i tries to bowl the ball as the batsman thinks and i also wicket but not always. I was trying to bowl medium length delivery but it was going as a short ball, which i have to work. I have to work a lot. And i can do anything to win the contract. I hope soon i will be back with my 100% match practice.
Thanks.
-Amiya Shreyas-

 

[Ayub 95]

Well McWorld i agree my showing was disgraceful my bowling was not at the high standard which i usually pride myself to perfect. My batting is kind of like Matthew Hayden at the moment hit and miss usually when i get myself in the opposition know that a large score is on their hands. I'm a Swing Bowler but when the bowl is not swinging i can either turn into a hit the deck bowler or i reverse swing the ball quite easily. Also i am a death bowler which means i bowl the Yorker, Bouncer and Slower ball effectively also I'm a good death batter I'm like Luke Wright at the batting at the death i try to hit as many runs as possible in the last 5-10 overs. I know that i can improve my game but you have to give me a chance and i can't wait to work with Andy and Mike to get my hands on the contract and possibly get into Hampshire XI soon.

Ayub Abdi

 

[MacWorld]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys, just need 5 more to start part 2,

Amiya, you need to expand the paragraph to 150 words min.

Thanks,
Macworld

 

[MacWorld]

Just a reminder that i need entrys from the following contestants by today

Bladescape
Shubhrayu
Zorax Doom
Ajay Bhat
Akash

 

[MacWorld]

The challege is now closed but i will give till midnight for remaining entrys

 

[ZoraxDoom]

How could I improve my batting? Well, I've always said the less I speak of my batting, the better. I guess my first problem is that I keep missing the ball. That will have to change, quite clearly. Maybe I should play a bit later, wait for the ball to come to me, but ever since I got hit on the head I haven't been to eagre to let that happen again. Also I have to use a light bat since I have puny baby girl arms. I've got strength, just not where you would need strength to smash the ball. I've done okay strike rate wise neverthless, usually if I'm in for a while I get loads of boundaries till the fielding skipper gives up and puts in a third man and a slip. I usually get out after that, but I say I won the mind-games there.

Bowling wise I do tend to bowl a bit short, but I say that has less to do with my technique, and more to do with my obsession of trying to knock the batter's head off. See, I used to be a fast bowler, but then my coach found this hidden 'talent' of mine in legspin, and ever since I've been a trundling medium pacer stuck in a legspinners body. But bowling short has it upsides, when I finally do pitch it up the batsman is left clueless. This is why I think I'm brilliant for the 4 day game, they'll get some 20-30 runs off me, but on the last ball of the over they are mine. Twenty20, I'm not so crazy about. My batting comes in more handy there, as sides think who the hell would put a slip in during a T20?

 

[MacWorld]

Welcome to part2 of The Cricketer 2008, In the first part we met the contestants and the presenter Macworld gave them their first challenge, a net session. After 4 hours of the players trying to prove they were better than the rest Mac World was not happy. He said no one had performed to their full potential and demanded a 150 word minimum essay explaining how they could have improved.

Let?s join Macworld and the contestants at the pavilion where 2 people will be leaving.

MacWorld?s Decision:
Adam Hornbuckle- 82%
Randy Red- 85%
Danni Veza- 91%
Navin- 72%
Bladescape- 0%
Shubhrayu- 0%
Amiya Shreyas- 76%
Kieron GG- 80%
Paul Nixon- 75%
Zorax Doom- 86%
Ajay Bhat- 0%
Ayub Abdi- 70%
Funknath- 70%
Akash- 0%

MacWorld: 4 of you did not complete the task and for that reason you will no longer participate in the game, Funknath and Ayub Abdi, you two got the lowest scores for your work. Tomorrow one of you will be leaving as well, I will see you then.

 

[Kiko_97]

Woo, check me out with 80%. I am so gonna win this thing!

 

[Ollie_H]

and there are 4 people ahead of you? hmmmm.......

 

[westindies2007]

Danni Veza- 91%
Nice Work.

I could of done better Randy Red- 85%

 

[Amiya]

My performance was 75% which is good enough.

 

[age of the fall]

Danni Veza- 91%
Nice Work.

I could of done better Randy Red- 85%

Thanks Man

91% Woah. I'm pretty happy with that. I'm not Going to lower my game though

 

[MacWorld]

Welcome to part2 of The Cricketer 2008, the show where 12 contestants battle it out for a £100,000 cash prize and a contract with Hampshire A team. Before the break MacWorld was unhappy as 4 people did not complete the task. They were the first group to be evicted from the show. This left 10 contestants, however MacWorld was still angry and bought back Ayub Abdi and Funknath claiming one of them would leave as well.

Lets Join MacWorld with them now,

Andrew Caddick: I believe Ayub could have done better in the nets, in his essay he did not say how he could improve, he just told us what he could do. Ayub went slightly off topic, he was meant to say how he could have improved in the nets and ended up comparing himself to M Hayden.

Funknath did not do what the task required and was very poor in the nets, he again did not say what he needed to improve in and told us that he does not practise enough. Someone like him should not be in the team.


[Mike Gatting: Ayub is a good bowler but just kept bowling short, I would have smashed him for six each ball. Even though he did not perform well he is very enthusiastic and wants to learn more. I hope I can help him win.

Funknath was not the best player I’ve seen ans you can tell he needs to practise more. His essay was terrible and did not deserve 70% if anyone goes today its got to be funknath.

MacWorld walks into the pavilion,

[ MacWorld: After watching you two in the nets and reading your essays, I have come to a decision. Ayub, you are very enthusiastic and want to learn, I see a lot of potential in you, however your essay was not very good, you did not write about what I wanted and I’m not sure if I should keep you. You need to do better next time if you stay. Funknath, you were poor in the nets and your essay was not relevant. You even stated that you haven’t practiced recently, A cricketer always practices.

So Funknath, you do not deserve to be on this show, YOUR OUT!

Now there are just 9 contestants remaining, who will be MacWorlds Cricketer 2008.
next time on the cricketer 2008: the contestants become coaches at cricket youth academy.