Sticking Around for the Finals - <img src="http://cricsim.com/site/images/logos/1.png" alt="StickyWickets" /> At the beginning of the season, most pundits rated the Stickies a good chance of wooden spooning, and only the hardiest of supporters rated them as bottom half of the table prospects. Yet with just 4 games remaining, the Sticky Wickets have more than held their own, and are taking on the tough challenge of making the finals in the Bannerman Shield. Here's a preview of the run home: Round 11 - Gamblers @ Stevil Oval Key to winning - Tight Bowling The Gamblers batting lineup is phenomenally good, and are getting big scores out of at least 1 bloke every innings. Lukic's rise up the rankings is no coincidence - he's been hitting the cover off it for the club. The bowlers really need to stand up and if they can't take wickets, at least tie the batsmen down into making errors Predictions - Stickies by 6 wickets/200 runs. Someone to crack the big 200 mark for the SWXI Round 12 - Stingrays @ Stevil Oval Key to winning - Not crumbling The season's one dark spot was the losing of the Speirz Shield to the Ravens. The loss hurt, with the batsmen unable to last at the crease, and falling cheaply to the pace bowlers on a spin-friendly pitch. To get the crucial points here, the middle order really needs to bat time, accumulate runs. The pitch and bowlers are more than capable of despatching the Stingrays. Predictions - Stickies by an innings and 50 runs Round 13 - Crusaders @ The Castle Key to winning - Accounting for the big stars The Saders have really struggled to peak, and if you can eliminate or minimize the big stars in Perry and co, you have done the hard work. Still not an easy fixture by any stretch, but comfortably the easiest of the remaining matches. An opportunity to pick up valuable points away from home. Predictions - Stickies by 4 wickets/150 runs Final Round - Vipers @ Stevil Oval Key to winning - Early wickets The stacked medium-pace assistance will be all there to help Laing, and he'll need to get stuck in early to a lethal Vipers top order. Their bowling will not suit the pitch at all, so limiting their runs will be the big battle with their top 5 all capable of scoring big Predictions - Stickies by 200 runs/6 wickets I caught up with fast-rising star Eddie Morris to sit down for a pint at the Stickies Bar - Wet Patches, to chat about him and the club SM - Here pal - this fine lager is on me. So how'd you end up at the club recently voted most popular destination if your current club was to fold? EM - I joined the Stickies in season 9 after a successful first season with the Knights mainly because they were the only side to offer me a BS spot. At that stage I didn't know too many of the members here so I decided to focus my move primarily on playing BS. It was a good opportunity to grow as a player and hang out with some fantastic blokes (ie yourself) SM - well shucks, now i'm blushing. Safe to say you're having a bumper season, really stormed onto the scene like Cribb to a high-school party. You've found your way into the Britain side, averaging nearly 50 in the Bannerman Shield, and have emerged as arguably the best keeper going around at the moment. What do you put this down to? EM - *burps loudly* Right now, i reckon the beers are what's getting me into form. I spent a rather lengthy off season absolutely drunk off my head, smashing blonde after blonde every night, my cock was fire-truck Red by the time the season came around (no pun intended). I was so relaxed that i just chill out at the crease, giving my wang some wonderful down time (again no pun intended), which is great considering the off season is coming (haha, yea pun) shortly. SM - A bit popular with the ladies huh? Will you be lending your tips to the "get MF laid before the end of the RL season" thread? EM - *laughs and spills his beer* Nah mate, this secret weapon is staying secret. SM - A true gentleman. That's a floor suck on the spilled beer by the way. Of late, you've been thriving at the number 3 position for the club - is that where you see your future at the Stickies? EM - Well after my great off season, i've really mastered the art of 3's, and that's transferred across to my batting (haha, another excellent pun). With the arrival of another great mate from the Stickies, S Bakkum next season, i am looking to move down to 5, a position and number i'm yet to master in the bedroom. SM - Around the pub here, there's quite a buzz about the confirmation of you staying next season, and taking on more of a role in the club. Can you give the people any information of how you see things shaping up? EM - We have as i mentioned, the arrival of S Bakkum to bolster out incredibly strong batting lineup, and i'm quite excited by that. We're looking to establish a top-class batting line up, right down through the all rounders, and into the tail. SM - Sounds really great stuff, any further signings? EM - Nah not at this stage mate, really looking to hold onto the guys we have, looking at a couple more options to build the team up a bit, but not cut into my lady quota SM - Cheers for having a pint with us chap, i better not hold you too long, i've seen 5 blondes in the corner giggling and waving at you, here's your chance to master no. 5! Last quick question - Who's the best ALC side of all time? EM - Without a shred of doubt, the legendary Season 8 Knights. I'd love to have those blokes all playing at the same club!
You've been the third best batting side so far this season. Second best bowling side though with daylight third.
Magic averaging 57 this season in BS says hi. Morris averaging 49 this season in BS says hi. Thornton averaging 47 this season in BS says hi.
