Story Eliot Witters: Answering The Call [Part 2D: The Second XI]

[TheGreemSim]

PART 1: The Grand Debut:
Xenophobic Captain​

And there we were. Finally arrived here in Tauton . I took a step out of the bus and embraced the atmosphere unaware of my fellow teammates that I was holding up who were eager to get off the large tour bus. I felt a sudden jerk and fell forwards. After I got back onto my feet I realised it was John who had pushed me to get off the bus, ?New Zealand Twat!? He muttered under his breath unaware that I?d heard him. Craig and Hamish came up to me and both said ?Don?t Sweat It, Mate. John Lewis Is always like this before a match. Us kiwi?s gotta stick together!? It was nice to hear that twangy New Zealand accent again. I had an English passport and mother so I was eligible to play for Gloucestershire.

As I walked up to the ground entrance reporters kept flashing photos of me amused by me stumbling over.

It was an hour of fielding practice and then we were allowed to head back to the pavilion provided we got changed into our kit first.
15 minutes later john went out into the middle for the toss. ?Good Luck, Mate!? I said although he pretended to ignore me.
Within minutes he arrived back and all of us were eager to find out whether we would be batting or bowling first. He just seemed to stare at our anxious faces delaying the anticipation with great pleasure it seemed.
?Craig, Hamish, get your pads on!....?

-TheGreemSim

 

[TheGreemSim]

PART 1: THE GRAND DEBUT:
BATTING​

It was an exceptionally long wait in the pavilion just waiting, waiting for my moment of glory. I sat alone admiring the excellent cover drives Hamish was playing and the more defensive shots of Craig. They put on a hundred partnership quickly. At about 21 overs Kadeer Ali cam up to me with his pads on and his helmet tucket under his armpit

“Nervous?” He asked
“Obviously” I stuttered.
He was to open his mouth to say something when we heard cheers from the field. Craig Was out, clean bowled.
“Well Good luck” I said nervously to Kadeer. He mumbled something in reply and marched off into the middle.
Craig came to sit next to me.
“Well done, got us off to a good start!” I said it enthusiastically but I could tell he was disappointed about going out.
“Well you better get us off to a good finish” He chuckled falsely and not meaning it. Perhaps he was just trying to be nice to the new kid.
Before I could say anything else Hamish appeare next to me out of nowhere and smiled at me saying “I Think you’re up, mate”
“Oh Crud!” I shouted and quickly shoved my help on as I ran onto the pitch clearly a bit late.

The Somerset fielders just stared at me I could tell the close in fielders where whispering insults to the neighbours.
I took a large gulp and then asked for centre. The umpire instructed me to move my bat away from me, so I did without hesitation. The Feeling in my stomach was awful, I thought that I just might be sick right there on the wicket.

The Bowler was Mark Turner. He had taken the wicket of both marshall and spearman and most likely me too. He spat onto the grass and then ran in giving me an evil glare. The ball was short and bounced higher than I Anticipated and zipped past my head.
The rest of the over I just played a few mistimed forward defences to get my eye in. Kadeer faced every ball in the next over doing the exact same thing I had done but then he called me in to have a quick talk he said to me “Don’t do anything risky just get your eye in”

The next ball I blocked and wanted a quick single and shouted “YES!” he was reluctant but ran anyway and of course was easily run out. I think deep down I knew there was no run there but was just desperate to get off the mark.

Our keeper Adshed the next man in didn’t seem too happy with me. He ran a single on his first ball to get me back on strike. The next two balls were bad balls that I swung at and completely missed. I was beginning to look like a complete Idiot. That’s It! I thought to myself. I told myself I’d had enough and had to score on this one. Andy Caddick came charging up to me and without even thinking or watching the ball I storm down the wicket and smash the ball up into the air. I’m worried I’m about to get caught out and I just stare at the ball that soared into the air refusing to run like Adshed insisted I do. Thankfully the ball had enough power on it and just managed to push it’s way over the boundary before it bounced.

There were a few cheers from the crowd but I had to ignore them because Caddick was already rushing in with nothing on his mind but getting me out. Lucky for me he bowled the ball short and on the leg side and a pulled it away for another great six. Even more cheers now but caddick wasn’t amused

The next over Adshed smacked fours everywhere and made it look so easy. He was really frustrating the bowler and making the Somerset fielders look like the fools they were.

Caddicks next three balls to me were annoying. I had tried to mimic some of Adshed’s powerful shots but had failed hugely. On the fourth ball I danced down the wicket and had an attempt at an on drive. It wouldn’t be a six but it would be a good four. One problem though. Long On had suddenly appeared out of nowhere standing right underneath where the ball was about to land...

-TheGreemSim

 

[surendar]

So you were dismissed & Caddick got his revenge? Good start to the story, & I would suggest in not using the light color fonts as it will make the readability a bit strained one. Keep it up!

 

[hedger_14]

good start, he might have dropped it
yeah, the bright colours make it a bit harder to read.

 

[Biggy]

good start, he might have dropped it
yeah, the bright colours make it a bit harder to read.

A dropped catch in Cricket 07? Not likely.

 

[hedger_14]

yeah i know. i was just pointing out the very unlikely chance.

 

[Gary123]

Good start to the story.
Liked To read Whatever you wrote as after every Para there was some anxiousness in me to continue.
Drop Chance in cricket 07 is highly uunlinkely but seeing a new KidMight be the fielder would leave it

 

[TheGreemSim]

Part 1: The Debut: That's How We Bowl​

Caught, Darn!
That was the end of my first innings and a bit disappointing as well. I dunno who the fielder that caught me was but man was I angry at him

I strolled off back to the pavilion very annoyed with myself.

?Tough Luck? Hamish said reassuringly as I went to sit back next to him with a half finished bottle of powerade in his hand.

I sat with him for the rest of the long tiresome innings and watched the team fall to an embarrassing collapse. 253 all out. To think we had been 139/2 at one stage!

I was eager to get out on the field and hopefully prove myself to the coach. I was hoping for a wicket or two. Only one problem, my Twithead of a captain wasn?t letting me bowl. He?d bowled everyone that can bowl except me. In fact it was an insult he bowled people like Kadeer Ali before me. He?s not even a bowler. I was certain my nagging to John Lewis didn?t help my cause but Every time john lewis switched fielding positions and came within close proximity of me I couldn?t help but whisper something like ?John, I don?t mean to nag but any chance I could have a bowl?? or ?John, I don?t wanna seem pushy but I think I could get a wicket or two? Each sentence was always answered with a simple ?whatever? followed by a group of quiet incomprehendable insults.

I suppose there was no need to put me on. We were clearly in a winning position. 35 overs gone and Somerset were struggling on a mere 107/5.

Finally I got my chance on the 36th over. Hodnett came over and gave me a few pointers but I wasn?t listening I was too excited and also I couldn?t help but think ?What does he know about bowling??

I took my run up, or 5 step walk up if you will. I released The ball as my arm brushed the tip of my ear and it glided elegantly in the air. It looked like it was going to be a great ball exept after it hit the surface it drifted far down leg. Peter Trego raised his bat to leave it and it was given as a wide.

Next ball I thought I?d try and adjust my run up, so I changed it to 7 steps and walked quicker. Another good looking ball. It was full and Trego wasn?t concentrating and his snuck underneath his bat and hit offstump knocking both bails off. I punched the air with all my might and began to wonder why Trego wasn?t walking back to the pavilion. I turned around to look at the umpire. To my dismay he had his right arm pointing towards the east stand. Rest assured I was guttered.

I managed to get back at Peter trego on the last ball of my over. I gave him a Yorker on leg stump which he leg glanced into the air and Hardinges caught it. The whole team came to congratulate me except for John Lewis...

-TheGreemSim

TheGreemSim added 1 Minutes and 20 Seconds later...

Thanks soooooooooo much for the feedback guys, keep it coming!

Oh just so we're clear I have absolutely nothing against John Lewis by the way

 

[hedger_14]

well he has something against you and new zealanders. unlucky with the no ball but you got him back at the end of the over.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Nice stuff so far, and Jon's a jerk...

 

[TheGreemSim]

Thanks again guys, Part 1D tomorrow. Unfortunately I'll be away for 11 days I'll try and sneak into an internet cafe and upload an extra part if I can but I hope to return with some more comments on part 1D.

 

[TheGreemSim]

Part 1: Xenophobic Captain: The Goose and the Fox​

What was John Lewis doing apart from being a prick? I wasn’t too concerned though cause he looked like an absolute fool standing there alone on the outfield whilst everyone else huddled and cheered around me.

We won eventually. They finishd up on 189/8 and I finished up on 2/25 at roughly 3.5 rpo.

It was a warm open hearted atmosphere in the changing rooms. Everyone laughing and smiling. I was alone in a corner packing my stuff recaping on the days events when a felt a clap on my shoulder. I turned around curiously to see who it was. It was John Bracewell.

“Well done, mate” He said politely
“Um thanks, I guess”
“Shame, I’m not still the New Zealand coach. You would’ve been a young talent I would’ve been looking out for” He smiled and then walked away as if nothing had ever happened.
I got called talented by the world’s worst coach, I suppose it was something. Wait, did that mean I was untalented?

On the bus Captain john lewis kept giving out “well played” and “You did well’s” to everyone. When he got to me at the back of the bus, well he didn’t get to me, he just stared at me and then sat down 2 rows in front of me. I didn’t let it get to me since I was pretty ecstatic from getting those two wickets.

When we arrived back at the county ground Steve Kirby announced that they should all go to the pub and that drinks were on him. A few turned down the offer but most of us were keen including me. It was a short walk but alas we arrived at a crowded pub named “The Goose and the Fox.” Typical name for a typical british pub.

The pub smelt like rotten meat, which was probably on the specials menu and there were a few short fat beer bellied geezers lurking about with drops of beer splashed across their unfashionable clothes.
I looked to see where Hamish was sitting because I didn’t want to be a loner. He appeared to be sitting with Craig and a familiar face who I just couldn’t recognise. Rather tall short black hair and round face. Before I could move any closer to see who it was steve Kirby stopped me and asked,

"Are you old enough to drink?” In a nervous tone
"'Corse I am!” I made it sound like I was insulted. It’d be unlikely that if I was under 18 I’d have played today.
“Alright, chill, mate!” he said defensively. His arms held up stupidly in the air as if surrendering to something.
I marched on over to Hamish’s table and sat down next to the face that I recognised but didn’t know the name. This was really starting to frustrate me.
Hamish pointed at him and said to me, “I’m sure you recognise this face, Eliot, James, James, Eliot”

Aha! That was it, it was wellington and new Zealand all rounder James Franklin. I shook his hand, he had a firm grip that put a lot of strain on my arm.

“How’d it go today?” He asked.
“Yeah, pretty alright, didn’t bat well but got a couple of wickets,” I replied
“Did John give you a hard time,” He asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Yeah as a matter of fact he did, what’s up with him?”
“Don’t let him get to you, he’s like that with all us kiwi’s. He’s a bit of a git”

Well that was reassuring.

“You see, Eliot, this team’s like the English base for new Zealand. We’ve got Craig, James, I and now you and also I’m sure John Bracewell gave you a few unhelpful pointers today.” Hamish lectured.

I was about to say something in return but I couldn’t because the coach then got up from his table holding his pint of beer and banged the glass loudly with a teaspoon.

“Fellas, I’d like to say well done for performance today and what a great way to start off the season. Now tomorrow I’d like everyone to come to training tomorrow at the nets.”
I interrupted by raising my hand slowly and nervously. I heard a few insulting sighs coming from the table next to me.
“Um yeah, er sorry to um interrupt but even me?” I thought it was a good question but apparently not.
“Everyone.”

-The GreemSim

TheGreemSim added 6 Minutes and 10 Seconds later...

A bit late but there you go guys. Sorry I might not be able to update for 12 days or so, but i'll do my best. Keep the story active

 

[Gary123]

Like The Way You Put Up Your Story.
After Every Para finishes i don't know but urge in me says i have to read down.
This is great.
Well after getting 2 wickets you would have thought no need for any training,that is why such a funny question you asked?
Also How was the experience meeting James Franklin?

 

[Ollie_H]

Very well written update, I love how Jon Lewis hates the kiwis! So does this mean you now have Franklin as an overseas player?

 

[BKB1991]

Interesting Story. Keep up the good work. I hope lewis doesnt become a problem for you. IMO i think the colours are sort of annoying. I mean The combination looks kinda weird. But anyways keep up the good work.