Design by Matilda S (Year 12)

Wednesday the 19th of November brought a beautiful day for cricket. The bell rung for lunch and the skippers met in the middle of the field for the coin toss. Mr Blinman tossed the coin in the air, and the students got their one and only win for the day, calling heads and choosing to bowl. 

Both teams walked out to the middle, with Seth N still trying to figure out where the umpire stands, and Noah H getting right in the batter’s face with the helmet and Oakley’s 

Mr Bellam and Mr Gupta strode out to the middle as the opening pair for the staff team. Mr Bellam looked awfully shaky, swinging and missing multiple times, as well as snicking off twice, only to be dropped twice. Mr Gupta stepped up to face the express pace of Jake G and put on an absolute display, smashing the ball to all parts of the ground. Gosling was denied a maiden staff v students’ wicket when the third catch of the over went down. Although the catch should have been taken (even if I do say so myself), Mr Bellam must have forgotten which sport he was playing, as he dropped the shoulder into the opposition captain who was attempting to take the catch. Mr Bellam will be facing the judiciary in the upcoming week and may receive a multiple game ban from staff v students. Eventually, Mr Gupta was runout and the opening pair left the field. 

The runs kept flowing for the staff team, assisted by some questionable bowling by Arjun V,  Jack L and Miles G put in a valiant stint in attempt to reduce the run rate, but the batting from the staff team was pure class. Noah H finally came on for the last over of the game and wrapped up the innings with impressive figures of 1 for 2, as well as running out the dangerous Mr Sen. 

The students team then walked out to bat, chasing 51. Although it was a big ask, the sight of Archie D walking out to the crease brought confidence to the student side. The first wicket of the innings came of the longest run up ever in staff v students cricket history (word on the street is that Mr Heinreich had to move the BBQs before the game so they didn’t get in the way of his run up), as the alumni ran in, caught the outside edge of my bat, and was caught by Mr Clarke in one of the more straightforward catches you will see. Despite this early shake-up for the students team, Archie held down an end, even choosing to leave some in a 5 over match. As the innings went on, the chances of the students team walking away with a victory began to look less and less likely, until Aanya and Hemish put on a class batting display, dispatching the bowling of Mr Storie and Mr Sen, who made Arjuns earlier bowling actually look decent. Despite this comeback from the middle order, and a slightly biased schoolcaptain umpire, the teachers walked away with a victory.  

As the days go on, I am continuously regretting my decision of taking Health and Movement Science, as I have to endure the constant gloating from Mr Clarke about his “screamer” of a catch which dismissed me. As he reminded me, I will have to hear it for the next twelve months. 

Despite the disappointing outcome for the students, it was a great match to be a part of and Ruby and I would like to thank all the staff that played. I would also like to thank all the students that came down and watched, although I’m not sure how much Mr Bull enjoyed the spectator’s company… See you all at the next game!