From the big goodbye before I embarked on my trip, which ended up being a fairly drunken affair, to the goodbye the kind Stevens family put on for Tom and I last weekend, it has been an adventure I will never forget!
The last few weeks were a fantastic finish to the wonderful time that I have had in Sydney. I can't go on without mentioning and explaining the whole cricket finale. What a finale it was, to a marvellous season, and my first, hopefully of many abroad!
After losing the first qualifying final, but getting a second chance in the finals series due to being the highest place losers out of the six teams, we grabbed the oppotunity with both hands. In the semi-final, we were picked to play against the finals leaders Auburn, who earlier in the season I had played against in the 2nd grade and our 3rd grade won a low scoring game by 5 runs.
We bowled first and the combination of their slow batting and our good bowling, we managed to bowl them out for a low total and then batted the end of the first day only losing one wicket. We came back on the Sunday, to win the game.
We batted well, but lost wickets too quickly. Personally, I felt the best I have all season whilst batting, not missing one out the middle and timing everything well, until a mental lapse and a bit of stupidity cost me my wicket.
We finished of the day with Ben (the ever fired up one) hitting the winning runs and putting us into the 3rd grade grand final!!!
The week that followed, was full of sightseeing again with Susie and Chloe and more than one visit to the drinking holes in Sydney!
Friday came around and an early night followed. Although I was up for this game more than I have ever been up for a game in my life, I was forced to calm down and to push a super sopper to try to hurry up the start to the days play.
We finished of the day with Ben (the ever fired up one) hitting the winning runs and putting us into the 3rd grade grand final!!!
The week that followed, was full of sightseeing again with Susie and Chloe and more than one visit to the drinking holes in Sydney!
Friday came around and an early night followed. Although I was up for this game more than I have ever been up for a game in my life, I was forced to calm down and to push a super sopper to try to hurry up the start to the days play.
However it was all to no avail, as the days play was called off and we were all told to come back on the Sunday and try to start the game then, so we went to watch the 1st grade final, between Sydney Uni and St George at the famous Hurstville oval. We were subjected to watching Stuart Clark bowl extremly well, for figures of 32 overs 2 for 40.
However this was just a distraction on the way to what we all wanted to happen on the Sunday. We all turned up extra early to try and make up the lost overs from the previous days play.
However this was just a distraction on the way to what we all wanted to happen on the Sunday. We all turned up extra early to try and make up the lost overs from the previous days play.
Jiffy won the toss, and we elected to field, a key decision!
We bowled exceptionally well, notably Brian Summerville, who bowled balls that were almost impossible to hit - at one point the batsmen actually turned round to me behind the stumps and told me to have a go, because he could not get near it!
With tight bowling and good fielding, it was for the ever present Gav 'Rhonda' Scott to take 5 wickets, to restrict them to the low score of 87.
With tight bowling and good fielding, it was for the ever present Gav 'Rhonda' Scott to take 5 wickets, to restrict them to the low score of 87.
We went out to bat with a session and a half to get the runs, but we knew it wasn't going to be easy with a damp wicket and a new ball - it felt a lot like England early season and wickets could easily tumble.
We battled very hard to get ourselves into a strong position, but a few overs before tea, Gav fell to a poor shot, where he ended up knocking a simple catch back to the bowler!
This was not a good thing for the team, but it did get me into batting in the final.
Tea was approaching and the loopy spin was tempting, but I managed to resist temptation and I just watched balls go past before the tea break was called.
Only needing 30 after tea, Alex smashed his way to 42, winning the game with a lofted off drive over mid-off's head, which smashed into the fence and the celebrations started!
After the team song in the changing room, the collection of the trophy and then another rendition of the song in the middle, it was back to the club to celebrate.
Only needing 30 after tea, Alex smashed his way to 42, winning the game with a lofted off drive over mid-off's head, which smashed into the fence and the celebrations started!
After the team song in the changing room, the collection of the trophy and then another rendition of the song in the middle, it was back to the club to celebrate.
A few scooners later we found ourselves going to the pub, staying until it closed and then after a brief stop at home, we all went to the city to carry on the celebrations.
Very tired, there was still a smile on my face, which was still there when I woke up the next morning to tidy up the house before we moved out.
Thank you to all the boys in third grade this year. It has been a pleasure and an honour to play with you all and I wish you all the luck for next season, whichever grade you are playing in!!!
The final weeks have been full of goodbyes and 'the last time...'. All I can say is "thank you" to everyone and I hope to see you when I get back for the Ashes in 2010-11.
Yesterday, was Tom's final goodbye, as he caught a flight back to England and I hope I will see him when I get back. I have lived with him for 6 months and I can honestly I could not have lived with a better bloke for my time here and I wish him luck. Hopefully I'll see him on the Ashes tour in 2010-11 in Aus as well.
I would like to thank everyone for everything that they have done for me while I have been here. From lifts to cricket, days work, to advice along the way. I wish you all the luck for next season, and I hope you all have a good winter, whilst I'm playing in England
Looking back, I will never forget the people that have helped me on my way through the ups and downs while being in Sydney!
From the first day that Bruce picked me up from Sydney Airport, I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me. He has got me tickets to the test match, given us free net sessions at the indoor center at the SCG and not to mention the lifts here and there throughout the time here and most importantly he has always been at the end of the phone whenever I have needed a friendly voice or a bit of advice from my 'dad'. Thank you Bruce for everything you have done for me.
Croomie for all the things you have done, and the patience you have had with me during the time I have been here. I cannot imagine that there are two people other than you and Bruce who give up more of their free time, and sometimes unfree time to the club. It has been a fantastic experience for me and I don't think that I would have had half as good a time over here, if it was not for you guys.
To the guys whom I have played cricket with all year, it has been a wonderful time for me, and I hope that I have contributed when I needed to.
Thank you to all the boys in third grade this year. It has been a pleasure and an honour to play with you all and I wish you all the luck for next season, whichever grade you are playing in!!!
The final weeks have been full of goodbyes and 'the last time...'. All I can say is "thank you" to everyone and I hope to see you when I get back for the Ashes in 2010-11.
Yesterday, was Tom's final goodbye, as he caught a flight back to England and I hope I will see him when I get back. I have lived with him for 6 months and I can honestly I could not have lived with a better bloke for my time here and I wish him luck. Hopefully I'll see him on the Ashes tour in 2010-11 in Aus as well.
I would like to thank everyone for everything that they have done for me while I have been here. From lifts to cricket, days work, to advice along the way. I wish you all the luck for next season, and I hope you all have a good winter, whilst I'm playing in England
Looking back, I will never forget the people that have helped me on my way through the ups and downs while being in Sydney!
From the first day that Bruce picked me up from Sydney Airport, I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for me. He has got me tickets to the test match, given us free net sessions at the indoor center at the SCG and not to mention the lifts here and there throughout the time here and most importantly he has always been at the end of the phone whenever I have needed a friendly voice or a bit of advice from my 'dad'. Thank you Bruce for everything you have done for me.
Croomie for all the things you have done, and the patience you have had with me during the time I have been here. I cannot imagine that there are two people other than you and Bruce who give up more of their free time, and sometimes unfree time to the club. It has been a fantastic experience for me and I don't think that I would have had half as good a time over here, if it was not for you guys.
To the guys whom I have played cricket with all year, it has been a wonderful time for me, and I hope that I have contributed when I needed to.
Thankyou everyone for the time you have given me to help me with my game.
One other name that stands out is Brian, who has been particularly hard on me if I have thrown my wicket away, or when I have got lazy whilst keeping. Thank you so much for everything and I hope to see you again in England when you manage to come over.
To everyone I have shared a drink with while I have been here........... the nights out that I can remember were fantastic. I hope that when you guys finally come to England, I can take you out and we can re-live the nights that I have shared with you here.
Thankyou to everyone I have stayed with while I have been here, in the early days, Ray & Terry after nights out, the Aggett family, who have always been so kind and always offered a bed and a meal, which are fantastic and worth a try! hehe. Jake and Clay, who have let me stay with them for the last few weeks of my travels. Not forgetting the Carters, who made Xmas & the New Year welcoming, when my parents were unable to get out here because of a family illness.
Thankyou again to everyone for everything they have done for me. I wish you a fantastic winter, and a succesfull season next year.
Thanks again!!!!
Elliot
One other name that stands out is Brian, who has been particularly hard on me if I have thrown my wicket away, or when I have got lazy whilst keeping. Thank you so much for everything and I hope to see you again in England when you manage to come over.
To everyone I have shared a drink with while I have been here........... the nights out that I can remember were fantastic. I hope that when you guys finally come to England, I can take you out and we can re-live the nights that I have shared with you here.
Thankyou to everyone I have stayed with while I have been here, in the early days, Ray & Terry after nights out, the Aggett family, who have always been so kind and always offered a bed and a meal, which are fantastic and worth a try! hehe. Jake and Clay, who have let me stay with them for the last few weeks of my travels. Not forgetting the Carters, who made Xmas & the New Year welcoming, when my parents were unable to get out here because of a family illness.
Thankyou again to everyone for everything they have done for me. I wish you a fantastic winter, and a succesfull season next year.
Thanks again!!!!
Elliot
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