Done like a kipper

Greetings readers and my apologies for the nine month delay in updating the blog. In truth, I had intended not to update the blog so often (or even at all?) following my retirement. However, events conspired to force my typing hand this week and, well, here I am again.

The question I pose to you dear reader is this: Have you ever been had? Or more importantly, do you think I've been had? Read on for the full story.

This year is Penn Cricket Club's Centenary. There is a programme of events throughout the year to celebrate (full details on the club web site) and one such event took place on Monday. This involved recreating an Edwardian 'Trip to the Game' whereby several club members clambered onto a horse and cart and set off to the ground via the pub. This rickety procession was preceded by a lovely church service where I gave a reading on the historic ties between the church and cricket in village life.

So far so good. I had also agreed to take part in a short friendly match between two teams made up of past and current players. This was highly enjoyable and I participated on the strict understanding I lay in the 'past' part of the equation.

After the match finished (we won by the way), a couple of friendly beers and a some hearty chat rounded off a very enjoyable day, but this is where I began to encounter the subterfuge.

As I was leaving for home, the shout from the clubhouse came "Oy Pottsy! You OK for Saturday then?".

"Oh no" says I, "I'm retired. Remember?"

"But we're really short" came the plea.

I laughed this off and said jokingly if they were really short of players and desperate, I'd play. I drove home and thought nothing more about it.

Until Wednesday.

I then got a text saying I was required for the Thirds! (Remember I used to play in the Fourths and Fifths?)

So now I don't know whether the invitation to play in the friendly match for the centenary match was just a not so subtle ploy to entice me back into the Saturday fray? What do you think?

So, unbelievably to me, and much to the chagrin of my wife, I will be pulling out the whites on Saturday once more. It should be hilarious as I haven't bowled a ball in anger for nine months and my once sculpted and honed physique has slipped a bit. As usual, the full story will appear here.