ME On-line - KCC Crusaders 2000-01 Season

KCC Fortis Crusaders Cricket Report Season 2000 – 2001

What a season was had by all. There was Lards (Graeme Jardine, Captain), Tazzy (Damien Green,Vice !), Scanners (Simon Scanlon), Travalator (Travis Pittman), Veteran (Ray Brewster), Muddy (Nick Waters), Beef (Adrian Baker), Imy (Imran Farcy), Hanse (Mohanna Marzook), Don (Don Mohammed), Boozie (Gareth Bousfiled), Ben (Rob Wilkins), Huge (Hugh Tyrwhitt-Drake), Hugh (Hugh Burbidge), Toad (Todd Johnsen), Brewster Minor (Simon Brewster), Desperate Dan (Dan Daven), Sing-along-a-sandpit (Sandeep Singh), Dilip Matthew and a cast of thousands more. Actually 20 players played for the Knights of the Red Cross this year of which 13 played in 6 or more games with the following achieving double figures (which in some cases was more than their batting averages) :-

· Toad 12 Games (7 Wickets !!!)

· Imy 12 Games

· Jards 11 Games

· Greenie 10 Games

· Veteran 10 Games

From an initial look at the squad before the start of the League season, with the additions of Scanners, Imy and Hanse we had every chance of winning the championship. To come second was a little disappointing although in itself was a good result. The figures detailed below tell the story :-

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	No Result	Bonus	Total
Tartars	15	12	0	2	1	7	157
Crusaders	15	10	0	3	2	11	143

One more game won (Lamma!!!) and one less game lost to the weather and we would have won!!!

I hope all of you who played for the Crusaders can look back on the season and smile as that is why we play the game. I was angry and objectionable for most of the year but this was all to do with the opposition and their inept knowledge of the rules and the spirit in which the game, and how we play it, should be played. I apologise for the moody periods but I hope that there were many lighter moments for you all to remember.

Batting wise once again Greenie scored most runs (including an unbelievable 143 not out) but Scanners (good year for the fly boy in his opening trance) had the best average, see below:-

Batsman	Runs Scored	Highest Score	Average
Scanners	425	97*	71.50
Greenie	546	143*	68.25
Veteran	299	88	42.71
Travalator	183	63	26.14
Lards	235	94	26.11

Bowling wins games in Hong Kong more often than batting and our strike force of Beef, Imy, Hanse, backup of Toad, Boozie, Huge and with spin of Don and Muddy and non-descrip bowling from Greenie should on reflection have done a little better (see me in red ink). From the figures below it is obvious that Hanse (Mohanna) was the pick of the bowling, bowling straight, moving the ball at will and often bowling in long spells carrying injuries. He was simply in many cases to good for the opposition and he also bowled the most maidens. Greenie was second highest wicket taker with what can only be described as ‘Licorice-All-Sorts’. On countless occasions he persuaded class batsman to look fools when hitting full bungers at fielders, and usually mopped up tails with glee. Imy bowled fast and tried hard all season and perhaps requries a little more relaxation (let if flow) is required (it is not for the want of trying with this young man) :-

Player	No. Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Average	Best
Mohanna	78.0	7	346	22	15.73	6-38
Greenie	56.5	1	335	19	17.63	4-40
Imy	91.1	4	431	15	28.73	3-37

Don was the only other bowler other than Hanse to bag 5 wickets or more in an innings, but questions were asked of his action during the year.

Many a laugh was had at everyone’s expense but our poor television star got most of it especially from Greenie (sorry Nicky), which may explain why he only played 3 League games!!!

Toad lost his bet (30 wickets) by along way, although his initial salvos were encouraging; pay up please.

In the Cup we suffered from a case of stage fright and lost to the eventual winners (Witherers) in the first round and then could not raise a side for the Plate semi-final (enough said).

A good season, things to be proud of and things to work on in the close season (all down the swimming pool and the gym please, and if anyone finds Greenie’s and Beef’s groins and hamstrings during the summer please post them to me).

Lards

End of Season Report

Batsman