Phil’s Aussie Blog - Number 3

Ok, so it’s been a while since I’ve written, don’t worry I still love you all… I’ll probably miss some details given the months under the bridge but I’ll do my best. Cricket first…

The match from blog 2 concluded in disaster, an outright loss after losing 15 wickets in the day. Things just went from bad to worse all day, a duck in the 2nd dig for yours truly and in the end a 9th wicket partnership ensured the home team had to bat again…chasing 30 odd… Got a bowl (yes, a bowl! Seam up though Penfold, not Philthy cricket), startling figures of 4 overs 0/16. Interestingly my first delivery was a Harmison wide, didn’t cop much for that at all!

So onto the next game, average batting making 132 off 60 overs (honestly!) with a poxy 12 for me. One point of note here, the lovely bouncy artificial enabling a medium pacer to crack me one in the ear from just back of a length (I mean, I’m 6 foot 3!!), good realism methinks… A commanding 50 run lead once we got them out on day 2, yours truly having got the nod to bowl, only for the guy at the other end to polish off the remaining 2 wickets in one over. The skip sent us back in for a 20/20 style biff to get a quick lead big enough to roll them a second time. After my 28 plus some more significant runs elsewhere (not before I ran a guy out who’d scored 12 off of two imperious sixes…), old Father Time got the better of us and the game ended at 16:45 for some early drinks.

Now some non-cricket!

Phil’s Aussie Blog - Number 2

G’day cobbers!

So what’s gone on? First up I’ve moved house into Cranbourne to stay with Gaylene, Daz’s Mum. Mick’s family were very accommodating and their hospitality was second to none, but was a bit out on a limb with no access to the limited public transport over here so Crannie it is! I wonder if I’ll get to stay in Nook as well… Gaylene is a very chilled host, I’m very certain this Aussie hospitality won’t get boring. We ended up getting a bit drunk whilst chewing the fat, especially with the house special - Cowboy shooters!

Another Sat not playing cricket, at least got to see Q playing the Elmer Fudd part! Ended up doing a lot of scoring, just for something to do, hoping desperately for a pick at selection night, Can’t handle this any more!

Q’s birthday was the flavour of the evening after leaving the Hallam rooms (and having drunk sensibly, I’m not falling asleep again!). Started off with a very frustrating 40 min wait for my lift (which may or may not have involved Lester, you decide…). I know I shouldn’t complain, but they did say they’d be here earlier. This translated into being late for the club and therefore having to wait for 30 mins in a queue waiting to get in, via the 1 in 1 out policy. Once in, had a good time. Tom Thumbs again (the Chicago rock substitute) and the Philly dancing socks were in full groove mode! After a couple of nights of flaking out early, managed to stay ready for a long night, only for there to have been some confusion on the after party plans and everyone else went home. Should’ve got bladdered anyway! At least Q was hammered, job done.

Phil’s Aussie Blog - Number 1

Hello from Oz!! Here’s the low-down on the first couple of weeks.

First up, the flight, what an ordeal! 20 hours travelling, having picked up a cold on the flight, with only two hours sleep (max), not nice.

No excuse though once I’d arrived, bought a bat (Not a Kookaburra in the end, a Gray Nichols Predator. 2lb8oz, feels like a matchstick at the mo’, but will hopefully help my cross batted game) and some shoes, then went to watch Q-bird and others get smacked by Gilchrist, Langer, Hodge etc from the WA state team at a practice session at the MCG. Thought about some Philthy spinners but didn’t want to embarrass them before a big game…

Then of to practice at Hallam…a lovely ground, almost all weed and no grass, they even roll in grass cuttings onto the square just so it’s got something on it! I’m making it sound worse than it is though, whilst the outfield might be a bit of a Kingsclere, the wicket looks true enough. Same for both sides…..

Phil’s off to Oz!

For those of you that don’t know, Phil Vincent has head out to Melbourne, Australia to play with former Portchester overseas players Micky Quieros and Lester Betreen at Hallam Kalora Park Cricket Club.

Phil left British shores on the 28th of October and after a long and hopefully successful Australian campaign, should be returning in April……just in time to start all over again for the English season!

He has plans to keep an online diary running of his trip, so watch this space for updates. Have a good one Philthy!