Today you are offered an insight into the physical and mental preparation of Swannanoa team members named to play last weeks final. It should be noted none of this information has been gathered by rifling through rubbish tins or recycling bins.
Mark Woods:
The week is spent ensuring that the final day squad would not alter on the morning of the match due to unforeseen feverish flu or the affects of a prior pre-season rugby match. Careful plans are also put in place to have a spanking new match ball available for Saturday in good time, thus avoiding any last minute panic. Until 10am on Saturday morning Mark is satisfied he has achieved on all three fronts.
Geoff Olsen:
Spends Friday night in a feverish sweat, dreaming deliriously that at last he has shown Ant Polson how to hit a century for Swannanoa. Geoffs temperature at that point was recorded at 39 degrees, safe enough for a West Indian to play beach cricket but clearly unsuitable for a man of Scandinavian extraction. He rang Mark on Saturday morning to unravel the club captains well laid plans, shortly before he started unravelling himself.
Tim Fulton:
Spends the week knocking tennis balls against the wall with a broomstick in the hope of picking up something from the training techniques of Don Bradman, but by Saturday morning is put off stride by an urgent call from Woods, who said Geoff has pulled out. Would Al Hill be ready and waiting to fill the gap? Tim himself is by this time considering Al as a strategic replacement.
Al Hill:
At this point Al is also deep in strategic planning, anticipating a day of unpacking boxes and sorting teaspoons for a shift into his new Christchurch abode. The excitement in his voice is almost palpable on being asked to play for the Noa in the big one. Permission is sought and delivered Hill is now readying himself for a day at the cricket. Ainsley throws him the car keys and wishes him good luck. Al fumbles the keys but is relieved to have got the drops out of his system early on.
Hayden Ryan:
Hayden has been promised that as captain all he has to do was turn up on Saturday and he will have a fully fit squad ready to do as he asked. He is unaware of the agreement between Fulton and Woods that it will be Hayden who decides which player is 12th man.
Nathan Lang:
Starts week with a half marathon before lunchtime Monday, followed by 20 laps of his local pool that evening. Takes heart that his teammates are working just as hard on their skills and fitness, especially in this, the week of all weeks.
Tuesday is a series of Henie Muller sprints down at the park, followed by 50 catch, throw and returns. Jonty was exhausted by all the running.
Wednesday and Thursday - a focus on outfielding in case his brother in law loses his economy rate or Lance gets a game after all. Running between the wickets also a family priority .
Friday A 5km ocean run, leaves messages on Olsen and Fultons cellphone inviting them to come along but no response.
Eddie T/Zinny Aware of special trainings mooted for Finals Week but decides to stick to tried and true. Two beers on Wednesday night and a game of darts on Thursday.
Derek Scott: Checks visor on helmet repeatedly from Monday to Wednesday for signs of cracks. Also inspects jaw periodically. Both in good shape, no sign of rusty metal.
Thursday/Friday Leaves message on Tims phone asking him if hitting ball with a broomstick will really improve his average.
Saturday The day dawns bright, the pitch is hard and flat and Derek is relieved to hear that trained umpires have been appointed who will be quick enough to spot his stumping attempts.
Shane Murdoch: After a week spent managing troubled youth, Shane looks forward to the busmans holiday a few hours every weekend in the company of difficult men. (Ok, speak for yourself) Shane insists pre-match that we shine our ball, on our balls, against the bird (on the ball) After a season of frustrated communication everyone gets his message immediately.
Mike Hamilton:
The Metronome gets up early Monday morning and downloads Nathan Langs fitness plan from the Healthy Living section of the Swannanoa Cricket Club website. Mike notes that hes the third person to hit this part of the site in the past six months.
Mike sets the seconds hand on his watch to match the rhythmical run-up of his medium pacers and rings Woodsie to check that the new cricket balls really will-be ready to pick up by Saturday.
Tuesday, Wednesday watch and rhythmical run-up still synchronized Check.
Thursday Receives copy of the latest audited Swannanoa accounts and is satisfied that the money has been wisely spent. Then has a stiff drink. Has a second drink for luck.
Friday Reflects on a satisfying first full season for Swannanoa. Wishes he hadnt spent on those years chasing the big bucks in the corporate world when Swannanoa cricket was here all along.
Andy Pope:
Bikes home from last Saturdays cricket training and went for a swim before settling into a night of watching rugby and racing on the split screen lounge TV, with the Test cricket on in the room next door.
Sunday bikes to Oxford, a Panini and a vegetarian sandwich at Seagars before biking halfway home. Shona meets him at Cust and he jogs the rest of the way home.
Monday hopes the boys are taking this Finals Day seriously. Rings Nathan and Mike to see how theyre doing.
Tuesday/Wednesday a coastal swim to New Brighton. Water a bit murky: undeterred.
Thursday a day off. Catches up on multivitamins.
Friday practices deft glide through the slips for four. Figures it will infuriate those young FACA fellas.
Richard Cherry:
Monday - Starts the week determined to tune out Popeys healthy living advice. Figures Popey has been looking at websites again.
Tuesday Gets grief from cousins for daring to turn up to Mandeville Finals Day wearing a Swannanoa shirt. Tells Andy (Cherry) the match payments have improved considerably since his day.
Wednesday Considers ringing Woodsie pleading a last-gasp prior engagement but figures Woodsie has enough on his plate with those shiny balls of his.
Thursday-Friday pre-match tension building to a crescendo. Surely with all this hope, hype and expectation theres no way Swannanoa can lose it from here?
*Tim Fulton
Mark Woods:
The week is spent ensuring that the final day squad would not alter on the morning of the match due to unforeseen feverish flu or the affects of a prior pre-season rugby match. Careful plans are also put in place to have a spanking new match ball available for Saturday in good time, thus avoiding any last minute panic. Until 10am on Saturday morning Mark is satisfied he has achieved on all three fronts.
Geoff Olsen:
Spends Friday night in a feverish sweat, dreaming deliriously that at last he has shown Ant Polson how to hit a century for Swannanoa. Geoffs temperature at that point was recorded at 39 degrees, safe enough for a West Indian to play beach cricket but clearly unsuitable for a man of Scandinavian extraction. He rang Mark on Saturday morning to unravel the club captains well laid plans, shortly before he started unravelling himself.
Tim Fulton:
Spends the week knocking tennis balls against the wall with a broomstick in the hope of picking up something from the training techniques of Don Bradman, but by Saturday morning is put off stride by an urgent call from Woods, who said Geoff has pulled out. Would Al Hill be ready and waiting to fill the gap? Tim himself is by this time considering Al as a strategic replacement.
Al Hill:
At this point Al is also deep in strategic planning, anticipating a day of unpacking boxes and sorting teaspoons for a shift into his new Christchurch abode. The excitement in his voice is almost palpable on being asked to play for the Noa in the big one. Permission is sought and delivered Hill is now readying himself for a day at the cricket. Ainsley throws him the car keys and wishes him good luck. Al fumbles the keys but is relieved to have got the drops out of his system early on.
Hayden Ryan:
Hayden has been promised that as captain all he has to do was turn up on Saturday and he will have a fully fit squad ready to do as he asked. He is unaware of the agreement between Fulton and Woods that it will be Hayden who decides which player is 12th man.
Nathan Lang:
Starts week with a half marathon before lunchtime Monday, followed by 20 laps of his local pool that evening. Takes heart that his teammates are working just as hard on their skills and fitness, especially in this, the week of all weeks.
Tuesday is a series of Henie Muller sprints down at the park, followed by 50 catch, throw and returns. Jonty was exhausted by all the running.
Wednesday and Thursday - a focus on outfielding in case his brother in law loses his economy rate or Lance gets a game after all. Running between the wickets also a family priority .
Friday A 5km ocean run, leaves messages on Olsen and Fultons cellphone inviting them to come along but no response.
Eddie T/Zinny Aware of special trainings mooted for Finals Week but decides to stick to tried and true. Two beers on Wednesday night and a game of darts on Thursday.
Derek Scott: Checks visor on helmet repeatedly from Monday to Wednesday for signs of cracks. Also inspects jaw periodically. Both in good shape, no sign of rusty metal.
Thursday/Friday Leaves message on Tims phone asking him if hitting ball with a broomstick will really improve his average.
Saturday The day dawns bright, the pitch is hard and flat and Derek is relieved to hear that trained umpires have been appointed who will be quick enough to spot his stumping attempts.
Shane Murdoch: After a week spent managing troubled youth, Shane looks forward to the busmans holiday a few hours every weekend in the company of difficult men. (Ok, speak for yourself) Shane insists pre-match that we shine our ball, on our balls, against the bird (on the ball) After a season of frustrated communication everyone gets his message immediately.
Mike Hamilton:
The Metronome gets up early Monday morning and downloads Nathan Langs fitness plan from the Healthy Living section of the Swannanoa Cricket Club website. Mike notes that hes the third person to hit this part of the site in the past six months.
Mike sets the seconds hand on his watch to match the rhythmical run-up of his medium pacers and rings Woodsie to check that the new cricket balls really will-be ready to pick up by Saturday.
Tuesday, Wednesday watch and rhythmical run-up still synchronized Check.
Thursday Receives copy of the latest audited Swannanoa accounts and is satisfied that the money has been wisely spent. Then has a stiff drink. Has a second drink for luck.
Friday Reflects on a satisfying first full season for Swannanoa. Wishes he hadnt spent on those years chasing the big bucks in the corporate world when Swannanoa cricket was here all along.
Andy Pope:
Bikes home from last Saturdays cricket training and went for a swim before settling into a night of watching rugby and racing on the split screen lounge TV, with the Test cricket on in the room next door.
Sunday bikes to Oxford, a Panini and a vegetarian sandwich at Seagars before biking halfway home. Shona meets him at Cust and he jogs the rest of the way home.
Monday hopes the boys are taking this Finals Day seriously. Rings Nathan and Mike to see how theyre doing.
Tuesday/Wednesday a coastal swim to New Brighton. Water a bit murky: undeterred.
Thursday a day off. Catches up on multivitamins.
Friday practices deft glide through the slips for four. Figures it will infuriate those young FACA fellas.
Richard Cherry:
Monday - Starts the week determined to tune out Popeys healthy living advice. Figures Popey has been looking at websites again.
Tuesday Gets grief from cousins for daring to turn up to Mandeville Finals Day wearing a Swannanoa shirt. Tells Andy (Cherry) the match payments have improved considerably since his day.
Wednesday Considers ringing Woodsie pleading a last-gasp prior engagement but figures Woodsie has enough on his plate with those shiny balls of his.
Thursday-Friday pre-match tension building to a crescendo. Surely with all this hope, hype and expectation theres no way Swannanoa can lose it from here?
*Tim Fulton
Admin Login