Archives

  • Match Facts:

    Alphington Park

    Parkview Road

    Alphington

     

    Time:

    1pm

     

    The Big Picture:

    A bit like a shogun wedding, this match was a surprise but not unwelcome. Also similar to a shotgun wedding, rousting a team for this at the last minute was a little tricky.

     

    Playing at the lush surrounds of Alphington is obviously a big motivator, as is the interest in playing one of the leagues other new teams; The Clyde Hotel, for the first time.

     

    The Quokkas are going in to this one with minimal changes and maximum momentum.

     

    Form Guide:

    I may have put the mozz on the Quokkas in the last preview by suggesting that they had peaked. Backing up from that win, the men in maroon went on to score 200+ against a quality side, as well as take ten wickets.

     

    Unfortunately, in true Quokka style, they still managed to just lose.

     

    In all, The Quokkas have a steady squad and are in good form.

     

    The Clyde is largely unknown, being a new team to the league. My lasting memory of the Clyde (the pub) is my mate Sam getting in trouble with the bar staff for absent-mindedly rubbing gravy all over a table with the bottom of his pot glass.

     

    Further trouble was then experienced when it was pointed out that the table now seemed cleaner.

     

    In the Spotlight:

    The man with no sleep, J Rod, has started this season in astonishing form with the ball, delivering leggies, offies, seamers and swingers – all within the same over. Perhaps it’s the move to the leafy green Eastern suburbs that has prompted this, but his sudden aggression and creativity are really challenging opposition batters.

     

    Team News:

    The final batting order is yet to be finalised, but the available team (at the time of writing) is:

    1. Ed ©
    2. Big Dog
    3. Pup
    4. Dutchy
    5. Jay
    6. Sizzle
    7. SPECIAL
    8. VP
    9. J Rod
    10. Radar
    11. Snipper

     

    Pitch and Conditions:

    It’s a bloody lovely ground out at Alphington, and with a new and potentially malleable opponent hosting, theres a decent opportunity to convince them to move the cones out to keep the game as interesting as the last.

     

    We’re expecting a top of 18 with a strong chance of a few millimetres of rain, so a bit of a grim one potentially.

     

    Stats and Trivia:

    • Amongst other stats from the last game, it was the first time we have had 3 players take 3 wickets (Alex, Jay, Local)
    • Nimble also hit his top score (19*) as a Quokka, here is looking to many more
    • J Rod and Jay are currently sitting on 393 and 390 career YPCA runs for the Quokkas, just 7 short of joining the 400+ club, which has 8 members; will the club membership increase by 25% this week?
    • Jays 3 wickets last week has taken him to 24 overall, equal 5th overall with Pup. Pup does slightly have him for RPO (5.21 v 6.05) though Jay does have the advantage on bowling average (15.13 v 16.5). Dutchy has crept up to outright 3rd for wickets with 30.
    • The recent change to Eds bowling style from strike bowler to holding bowler has seen his Overs Per Wicket (OPW) drop dangerously to 2.92, verging on Pup and Rev numbers (both 3.17)

     

     

     

     

  • Match Facts:

    Fairfield Oval

    Cnr Heidelberg Road and Yarra Bend Road

    Fairfield

     

    Time:

    1pm

     

    The Big Picture:

    After a thumping win in the first game of the Season, the Quokkas have emerged from the seemingly haunted and overgrown forest that is Cox Oval to face the Royston Hotel at the luxurious surrounds of Fairfield.

     

    The Quokkas haven’t taken on The Royston for approximately 2 years, the last game being a close loss for the Maroons. Not all bad though, The Royston were good enough to put on an open bar when we went back to their pub.

     

    I’m not saying which shouldn’t win, but maybe we shouldn’t not not lose.

     

    Form Guide:

    Much like my year 8 music recital, my fingers are currently trembling over the keyboard as I face the unfamiliar; The Quokkas may have peaked.

     

    Victory in the last game against the Cherry Tree saw the boys in maroon smash over 200 runs in their 25 overs (including 5 retirees and one out on 29*), then bowl the opposition out for 130.

     

    Sure, there are a lot of variables not being counted here, including; it being the Cherry Trees first game, the weather being atrocious and…well, those are the main two.

     

    To be fair, the Quokkas did keep it competitive by seemingly start to drop catches competitively, but it was as concise a victory as we have ever put on and quite the change from normally being the ones on the other side of the pasting.

     

    Little is known about the Royston, though Radar and Dutchy did undertake some clandestine work last weekend to discover they are a strong batting side if a little weaker on the bowling front. Well matched teams then perhaps?

     

    Revisiting the only other score card against them shows that, batting first, we put on 164 before t hey chased that down with an over to spare. For context, that match did involve some slow batting at the start from a YPCA debutant before a vet closed things with a strike rate of 225.

    Artists impression of a YPCA debutant

    Artists impression of a YPCA debutant

     

    In the Spotlight:

    After lulling bowlers into a sense of confidence over his last 4 games, THE SIZZLE burst out of the blocks in the last match, smashing 33 off 25 balls including 3 fours and 2 sixes. Here’s to more fireworks from the man in the bluey.

     

    Team News:

    Its that magical time before Christmas, Festivals and hangovers when the squad all seems ready and able to play. As a result, the team (at this stage) is:

    1. Ed
    2. Bid Dog
    3. Dutchy
    4. Local ©
    5. Radar
    6. J Rod
    7. Alex
    8. Jay
    9. SPECIAL
    10. Sizzle
    11. VP
    12. Pete “The Animal” Sforcina

     

    Pitch and Conditions:

    Fairfield is a beautiful ground that has been much improved since the drainage was “done” at the ground. With plenty of room around the pitch, the boundaries can be set as deep or as short as the fielding teams energy allows for.

     

    We are expecting a mostly sunny day with a top of 22, so it should be a rather pleasant day out.

     

    Stats and Trivia:

    • Jay and J Rod are currently equal for YPCA wickets taken (21), though J Rod has it over the TFB for runs conceded per over (5.8 v 6.35). Insert excuses here
    • J Rods average catches per match of 0.085 really is very impressive though
    • This will be Specials 10th Quokka match in total, though he says it feels like a helluva lot more
    • This will be Dutchys 60th YPCA match for the Quokkas (his moonlighting obviously doesn’t count), he is 2nd only to The BIG DOG (63)
    • Radar is now only 2 runs off joining the 500 run club

     

     

     

     

   

Recent Comments

  • The burning question. Will co-captain Ami get to lose the to...
  • Absolutely brilliant Chez! Loved reading this and look forw...
  • Nice. Stop
  • Gidday.....Veterans Cricket Victoria { Aust }...here.....I h...
  • The blood of my wicket is purely on the captains hands. That...