In this exclusive update of the Riding Mill dice cricket virtual tour of Australia, Robbie Mackinlay and Matt Ellis provide an overview of the action as well as preview what promises to be an epic encounter in virtual Hong Kong between Riding Mill and The Cricket Library Podcast Invitational XI.
Stay tuned for the official team announcements in the lead up to the game.
Riding Mill are jubilant having a win in their final game on virtual Australian soil comfortably accounting for Bayswater-Morley by 42 runs at the virtual Hillcrest Oval in Perth.
The visitors were asked to bat first and took some time to adjust to the conditions with Burns departing in the second over to a peach of a delivery from O’Connor which hit halfway up middle stump.
Dave Cox who was looking to play himself back into form before the team heads to Hong Kong looked comfortable at the crease until he slashed at one from Wilde only to find a thick outside edge which flew to Guthrie who took a comfortable catch to see him back in the virtual pavilion for 24 off 10.
When Kent was stumped by Cameron off the bowling of Daniells for 4 it looked like the home side had the upper hand with the score at 3-42. Liam James and Aly Hall had other ideas however, with the pair putting on 80 before Merrin had the breakthrough when James skied one on 40. Cameron had to do a fair bit of work to complete the catch running in off the boundary and diving forwards to take one of the catches of the tour.
Hall was at his best though crunching boundaries to all parts of the ground bringing up his half century and sharing in an unbeaten stand of 58 with Iain Longstaff who finishes 21 not out. Hall’s 72 off jus 20 balls had certainly put the visitors in the box seat at the completion of their 10 overs with the Bears needing 171 to win.
Berry set the tone early for the Bears dispatching the first ball of the run chase into the virtual car park but was trapped LBW the following ball by Lance Mallinson. With skipper Andy Watson adding further pressure when he had Keys LBW for 14 and Merrin bowled in consecutive deliveries to have the hosts 3-29 after 2.
Runs were flowing freely for the Bears but unfortunately for them so were the wickets with Loiacono caught behind off the bowling of Frazer for 7. Raza then bowled Guthrie for 14 and Joel Marks had Thistle out to a neat stumping from Iain Longstaff for 6. Meanwhile Cameron was looking in sublime touch at the other end just struggling to get the lions share of the strike.
Daniells came in and built a handy partnership with Cameron but he became the 3rd batsman to be adjudged LBW when a Steve Kent delivery kept low and cannoned into his pads. When Wilde was out caught nicely down the leg side by Iain Longstaff on the very next ball, there appeared to be too much for the home side to do at 8-116.
O’Connor came in and looked like he had got a full piece of one from James but was magnificently caught on the boundary by Lance Mallinson for one of the better golden ducks you will ever see. Dave Cox wrapped things up when number eleven Howes was out LBW for 9 off 4 leaving Cameron stranded on 48 not out.
This completes the final game on virtual Australian soil with just one final game remaining in Hong Kong when Riding Mill will take on a Cricket Library Podcast Invitational XI when they stop over on their way back to the UK.
As previously announced, Brian Watson will return to the Riding Mill XI for this fixture alongside former England Internationals Mark Butcher and Adam Hollioake. The final make up of both teams will be announced in the coming days for what promises to be a magnificent finale to what has been a wonderful tour so far.
The greatest cricket books ever written, reviewed on the side of the road with Matt Fiction and Matt Ellis. In Episode IV we feature the work of MA Atherton OBE.
Chris Hartley, legend of Queensland Cricket, star of the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder joins us to share his story on the latest edition of the Cricket Library Podcast.
The record breaking Queensland wicket keeper takes us on a trip down memory lane as we hear about where his passion for cricket began, an early encounter with an Australian captain, a tour of Pakistan, something he has in common with Matt Hayden, a ton in a Sheffield Shield final, playing 100 consecutive Shield games, taking over 500 catches, winning two BBL titles and find out the story behind his call up on the 2009 Ashes tour.
Of course we will find out who the three selections are for who Chris would most like to join him in the nets. A true cricket nuffy, Chris Hartley’s passion for the game is sure to resonate with you and continue to inspire your love of the game.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to share stories like this one from Chris Hartley.
In a string of good fortune Riding Mill skipper Andy Watson again won the toss and opted to send the hosts in their highly anticipated clash with Parkdale Cricket Club at the magnificent virtual Gerry Green Reserve.
The Dukes dice made an immediate impact with Iain Longstaff snaring a catch behind the stumps off a ball that Ben Smith got to just nip away enough, finding the edge of Geoff Crosby’s bat to have the hosts reeling at 1-0.
Things got worse for Parkdale CC who are celebrating their 100th anniversary when Lance Mallinson cleaned house removing captain Mia Perrin for 15 out to a neat catch by Ali Raza. This was followed up by the dismissals of Reid who was caught behind for 2 and Murray who was stumped the following ball by Iain Longstaff leaving Parkdale reeling at 4-23.
Meanwhile Ashish Harsolia was chipping away building a handy partnership with Chris Wilkie. Cam Longstaff then brought about a double breakthrough with Wilkie stumped for 24 off 7 and next ball removing Ryan O’Connor out to a sharp chance taken by Riding Mill skipper Andy Watson for 0. At 6-59 it appeared as though Riding Mill would rip through the remaining batters.
Harsolia had other ideas mounting some strong resistance with Antony McNeil blasting 27 off 7 before being bowled by a peach from Steve Kent. Liam James had Harsolia trapped in front for 48 off just 15 deliveries but at 8-130, Parkdale were certainly on track to post a formidable total.
Jade Johnson & Hunter Woodruff continued to build the total before Iain Longstaff collected his 3rd stumping of the innings when Woodruff departed off the bowling of Dave Cox for 20 off 7. In the quest for a big finish in the final over James Seeary was the last to go, LBW for 8 off 3 leaving Jade Johnson stranded on 15 not out.
159 was a very competitive total considering the hosts were on the rack early at 4-24.
What looked like a competitive total looked even better when James Seeary made some early inroads knocking over Dickson LBW for 8 followed by an almost identical delivery first up to Liam James that nipped back and had him trapped in front for 0. The carnage continued when Steve Kent was sent packing after hitting a boundary first ball only to get a thick edge on the next ball to be caught in the gully by Darcy Murray. At 3-12 there were some worrying signs early for the visitors.
Things got worse before they got better when Dave Cox was bowled by Jade Johnson for 4 putting Parkdale well on top with the score at 4-16. Iain Longstaff and Ali Raza commenced a rescue mission putting together a solid partnership before Raza was out to a good catch by Chris Wilkie off the bowling of Ryan O’Connor for 29 off 10. Chris Wilkie then chimed in with the ball claiming two wickets with his first two deliveries knocking over Iain Longstaff for 28 off 10 and bowling Cam Longstaff first ball for 0. Riding Mill were now 7-85 and in serious danger of getting bowled out.
Late inclusion to the touring party Joel Marks had other ideas constructing a crucial innings with a mix of power and precision. Skipper Andy Watson made a little cameo with 18 off 6 before Reid knocked him over with a magnificent delivery. At 8-119 you had the feeling that Parkdale would soon finish things off.
However, Joel Marks stuck to the task bringing up a memorable half century at a crucial time and with 6 runs required off the final over, Lance Mallinson wasted no time in bringing up the victory hitting a four and a six to send the Riding Mill camp into fits of jubilation.
Riding Mill now have the long virtual flight to Perth where they will be preparing for their contest with Bayswater-Morley who should provide some strong opposition for the tourists.
The tour will then stop over in virtual Hong Kong on return to the UK with Riding Mill taking on the Cricket Library Podcast Invitational XI. The Riding Mill XI has been bolstered by the announcement that team manager Brian Watson has been declared fit and will take his place in the side alongside Mark Butcher and Adam Hollioake. Joining them will be Steve Kent, Iain Longstaff, Scott Dickson and Kev Frazer who were nominated by St Kelvin’s Old Boys to take their place in the XI.
In news post match today, we can reveal it has been announced that Joel Marks and Dave Cox have been nominated by Parkdale CC to take a highly sought after place in the line up as well. We are hearing whispers that there will be some strong inclusions in the Cricket Library Podcast XI who will join captain Nina Stevens and Marty Rhone who have already been announced in the side.
Both Riding Mill and Parkdale haven named strong line ups for their highly anticipated dice cricket fixture which is scheduled for the virtual Gerry Green Reserve at 6am Thursday in Australia and 9pm in the UK.
Riding Mill are looking to bounce back after their most disappointing performance of the tour so far while there is little known about the dice cricket credentials of the Parkdale Cricket Club who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this summer.
It is the final game of the Victorian leg of the virtual tour which started at Burrabadine in NSW last month before heading to Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Sydney. There have been mixed fortunes for the visitors who now have four wins and four losses on the tour and looking for a strong finish with remaining games against Parkdale in Victoria, Bayswater-Morley in Perth and of course the final game of the tour in virtual Hong Kong against the Cricket Library Podcast Invitational XI.
We are looking forward to bringing you all of the action via the @cricketlibrary on twitter.
MHN Walker’s classic Hooked on Cricket is featured in Episode of Roadside Reviews, the greatest cricket books ever written, reviewed on the side of the road with Matt Fiction and Matt Ellis.
The Australian Cricket team had a period where the Julios and Nerds were a big part of the culture. In his chat with Matt Ellis on the Cricket Library Podcast, Wayne Holdsworth shared who he thought was the leader of the nerds during his time on the 1993 Ashes tour.
You can listen to the full interview here –
St Kevin’s Old Boys (SKOB) have produced the most dominant display we have seen on the Riding Mill Virtual Tour of Australia with a crushing 7 wicket win at the virtual Olney Oval in the magnificent Yarra Bend Complex.
After winning the toss and bowling in their last fixture, skipper Andy Watson had a change in tactics electing to bat first on what looked to be a good wicket for dice Cricket. This looked to be a positive move when despite losing Burns LWB for 2 to one that nipped back in from Andrew Smale, the score had raced to 1-19.
Pat Turnbull then applied more pressure for the home side removing the in form Dave Cox who was out to a good catch by Jack Marshall for 9 and then bowling Steve Kent with an absolute peach for 11. While the run rate was still looking solid, certainly losing three wickets in the first two overs was not part of the plan for Riding Mill.
When Tom Norris bowled Aly Hall for 0 things were looking gloomy for Riding Mill and this was compounded further when Andrew Fernon took a smart catch to remove Iain Longstaff for 11 off the bowling of Jack Marshall.
The carnage continued when Fernon took the ball finishing with 3-8 after having the dangerous Scott Dickson caught behind for 21 off 9, Cam Longstaff stumped by Brebner-Griffin for 4 and producing a beauty to bowl Kev Frazer for 1.
The tail did not wag with Sam Browne claiming Joel Marks plumb in front for 6 and skipper Andy Watson out to another neat piece of work behind the stumps from Brebner-Griffin who had the bails off in a flash completing a smart stumping.
Incredibly Riding Mill, who’s previous lowest score on the tour was more than double this total, were licking their wounds all out for 66 after just 5.3 overs.
Riding Mill needed to re-group immediately which they did when Scott Dickson claimed a sharp chance behind the stumps to remove SKOB skipper Nicholas Trapani for 2 off the bowling of Ben Smith.
Runs were still flowing though despite Watson trapping Gheller in front for 0, SKOB were still very much on top with Brebner-Griffin and Turnbull putting together a solid partnership.
Kev Frazer took one of the better virtual caught and bowled chances you will ever imagine to remove Turnbull for 25 off 7 but the damage had been done.
Brebner-Griffin finished off the job hitting consecutive sixes and a three off Cam Longstaff to finish on 42 not out to go with his two stumpings and a catch.
A seven wicket win had been secured and Riding Mill left to head back to the drawing board before their virtual tour continues during the week against Parkdale before heading to Perth next weekend.
Recently Matt Ellis caught up with Ryan Harris for the Cricket Library Podcast. Ryan shared just how much winning the Sheffield Shield with QLD meant to him.
You can have a listen to the full interview here:
thecricketlibrary.com 