It’s just not Cricket

I had arranged the first cricket match for Year 10 boys whilst teaching at a Senior High School in Western Australia.

The game was to be played on the school’s oval (field) which was,at best bumpy, at worst downright dangerous!

Whilst warming up and waiting for the opposition to arrive, I made a decision the wicket was unfit to play on.

Naturally our boys were very disappointed but a solution was on hand.

On the next oval I noticed a well manicured wicket belonging to, and maintained by the local Council.  It was standing empty and ‘asking’ to be played on!

The opposition arrived, we set up the stumps and the game commenced to the delight of our players who thought that their first game would be cancelled.

It was only after 3 or 4 overs that we had to abandon play as a comprehensive set of well positioned powerful sprinklers for the whole field came on, soaking all in the vicinity.

The opposition member of staff expressed his horror and annoyance saying that the Council authorities were negligent and should have re-timed the watering schedule in the light of our booking!

I didn’t have the nerve to tell him we were all trespassing and no such booking had been made. I just agreed with him!