Quokkas C.C.

Quokka Ashes 2007 - Brittania Rules

Welcome aboard the Quokka campaign for 2007, a campaign that has started with one match for the result of one win, and one loss.

Meeting at The Skips Chiswick Bordello on an overcast Sunday morning in April, Quokkas old and new blew the cobwebs off their shoulders, shook hands and made their way to the local field. This turned out to be something of a misnomer, with the field actually being more of a paddock, complete with divets.

The toss was made by the Skips father, Derek Bradley, who spun the coin with steady and firm fingers. “Years of practice” he said with a wink to the Rev, before distracting the awed crowd and pocketing said coin.

The Skip apparently won the toss and chose wisely in batting first. The Quokkas opening pair for 2007 of The Mantis and The Rev strode to the wicket full of confidence but soon changed their attitude when the opening ball hit a divet behind the Revs outstretched front leg and bounced back into the stumps.

Five overs of conservative batting and a couple of lucky run-outs followed for the pair, two of which were provided from the dead-eye of Smithers in the deep.

Coming in with the score on minus 8, the next batting pair of PJ and The Bushranger not only steadied the innings, but started to mount some runs in the positive. The Bushranger showing some proper cricket shots (confounding all present) and PJ being active between the wickets.

The Attack and Loughie were the next pair in and continued where the previous two left off, with The Attack showing his intent for the year in particular, smashing the Egg for some massive sixes. PJ and The Bushranger came back in to complete the Australian innings, bringing up a respectable total close to 40.

The English innings began with slightly less fraught than the Australians with the pitch now flattened and docile. The Skip and his newly minted father greeted this with glee, spanking the ball to all corners from the off. Only some fine fielding, including a stumping from the newly-gloved Rev, managed to slow them down. Some would argue the slowing down was due to their knees, but that is another matter for another time.

The English innings continued on in a similar veign, with Smithers and the Hairdresser in particular getting involved in swatting everything pitched a little short into the wilderness.

In all, the English went on to more than double the Australian score, but more importantly The Quokkas started their season in a good spirit that is sure to carry them through.

A big thanks going out to Mr D Bradley for his help and advice, all who turned out (particularly Ivan and Dazzler as late Aussie entries) and in particular Mr and Mrs O’Donnel for their hospitality.