Old Bat Story

[88GreenVN]

Here is an old bat story.

Made many many years ago from an off cut.

Shaped like what was on tely at the time. Mid 80's. It's had 50mm chopped off the bottom for busting a huge pot plant wide open. We only used rag and tape balls so this smashing drive was quite a shock. Out spills 2 or 3 cups of soil. I look at the bat? Puzzled how this could be. Then it sinks in if anyone had been hit by this shot it would have stung like all hell. Silence falls over the game. So after 2 more hits, a straight drive at around 25 - 30m, which was concidered a 4 or 6 if on the full and out if it was over) and the pot plant was on the ground - large plastic pot slit from top to bottom. Maybe we should take a little off - we all agreed and it was done.

Over time it has hit a video camer on demand (to do a Ricky Ponting cover drive) knocking my brother off the swing.

Made a few hundreds at the local park as well as several hatrics.

Now in it's 20's it plays out its days hitting tennis balls with a little tape on them.

We love this old bat.

[hakhawk]

any pics?

[88GreenVN]

It the post button before the add file by mistake....Photo uploaded.

Here's a second photo.

[88GreenVN]

Dont know if any one else playes backyard cricket - we do.

This is some photos of the tennis balls with plastic tape on them.

When they split open they keep low. Cost $2.00 for 5 at cheap as chips.

Good cheap fun for us sports minded people.

Part of this game is to teach the young lad to watch the ball.

[88GreenVN]

No back yard cricketers amongst us a?

[Matt_vp]

when we r on nightshift we usually have at least one game a week on one of our breaks, just with out the running the only way to score is to hit a 4 or 6.

[88GreenVN]

when we r on nightshift we usually have at least one game a week on one of our breaks, just with out the running the only way to score is to hit a 4 or 6.

Yep 4 or 6 is the only scores. Also if the ball hits something and bounces back against the stumps your run out!

We normally face up to the whole bucket of balls (30 - 40) and can get out every ball if you are that bad. Auto wicky is in play (back of the roller door)and the old 5 litre oil can is gully.

[calais_304]

lol the ol backyard cricket, we used to play this day in day out when i was living in t'ville, same sorta bat and exactly the same ball setup and old round tin rubbish bin for wickets and 5 other young locals from the street.

those were the days

only in the last few weeks me and a few mates have been hitting up the local cricket nets...forgot it's improtent to use pads when playing in there...especially with a proper ball

[88GreenVN]

lol the ol backyard cricket, we used to play this day in day out when i was living in t'ville, same sorta bat and exactly the same ball setup and old round tin rubbish bin for wickets and 5 other young locals from the street.

those were the days

only in the last few weeks me and a few mates have been hitting up the local cricket nets...forgot it's improtent to use pads when playing in there...especially with a proper ball

Pads and box are very helpful when a direct hit happens.

We try and play no bowling at the body. Good exercise to pick up 40 odd balls from all corers of the back yard. Then go and beg next door for the ones that go over the fence.

Also rigged up an old foam mattress against the roller door to stop the bangs.

[Troy711]

me and my mates used to play all the time. our rule was if it goes over the fence it is 6 and out. we also used to play one hand one bounce and electric wickets (can get run out at either end of the pitch no matter which way you are running)

[88GreenVN]

me and my mates used to play all the time. our rule was if it goes over the fence it is 6 and out. we also used to play one hand one bounce and electric wickets (can get run out at either end of the pitch no matter which way you are running)

The young'ans get let off on the 1 hand 1 bounce. We we playing over the fence 6 & out until we had no balls left in the bucket. The new bat had toooo much power and every second ball was over the fence.

So we moved under the carport. I blocked off the openning at the top with some temp clear roof sheeting. Hung a thin cardboard box in the corner of the carport to stop the angle over the fence (if you got inside the ball too much you'd hit it over the fence.) My son has drawn a target on the box.
10 for a bullseye down to 5 if you clip it.

Gee we have some fun I can tell you.

[nicko]

wow man you really got into back yard cricket. thats awesome.

i cant remember the amount i times i broke the study window, its in perfect pullshot position and when your young every bowl is a pullshot attempt lol never made my own bat though.

i think i blew the plugs out of 10 pairs of thongs as well running between the wickets lol. love the game

[88GreenVN]

wow man you really got into back yard cricket. thats awesome.

i cant remember the amount i times i broke the study window, its in perfect pullshot position and when your young every bowl is a pullshot attempt lol never made my own bat though.

i think i blew the plugs out of 10 pairs of thongs as well running between the wickets lol. love the game

Bugga that pull shot - many a window has paid the price!!!!

My brother made the Lounge window explode from a pull shot. We were using 1 pad and a real cricket ball - it skimmed the top of the low cyclone type front fence and hit the bottom corner of the window. It travelled about maybe 7 m. What a bang from a little ball. Mum was sewing next to the window - keeping an eye on us no doubt anyway it made her scream...

Bat in lock up.

No tv.

Bed. - before dark.

[88GreenVN]

Added a new version of Nic Ball this week. Running 4 winds of electrical wire to make a flat seam and then cover with plastic electrical tape.

We had five sets of "3 wickets in 4 balls" in half hour of bowling. The wire gives the ball extra weight so it bounces a little lower and a huge seam that cuts away nicely 50% of the time. It can also shoot at the base of the stumps from time to time or bounce a little more for a top edge.

This "Nic Ball" was divised to try and stop my 14 YO lad creaming the shit out of every ball I bowl at him. Now I can get him out 5 or 6 times using a bucket of balls.

[VS 5.0]

Gotta love the "mystery ball".

Try taping just one side of the ball. That will keep the young bloke honest.

[ari666]

tape a 20 cent coin in one side. then slip that ball in while no one is looking.

[88GreenVN]

Gotta love the "mystery ball".

Try taping just one side of the ball. That will keep the young bloke honest.

We dont bowl fast enough in the back yard to get any swing.

And yep mystery ball is IT ...

[88GreenVN]

tape a 20 cent coin in one side. then slip that ball in while no one is looking.

Shall try this shortly.

[VS 5.0]

tape a 20 cent coin in one side. then slip that ball in while no one is looking.

That's just not cricket !!!!

[88GreenVN]

We are now playing carport cricket with a 80 odd tennis balls in various stges of tape/wire and splits.

What we have found is that 3 winds of wire adds enough weight to the ball to stop the silly high tennis ball bounce. With the raised seam it cuts away nicely and we get a Nic all the time. Depending on how you bowl it you can get all 4 directions with just enough cut to take the edge or it keeps low and dongs the netal set of stumps. As each tennis ball splits from being smashed once too often we add more eletrical tape the the "split Nic" ball. The wire slowly squares off in shape from being hit and the ball is covered in tape it becomes an ugley evil ball that just about always keeps low and is getting on the heavy side with several reapirs of tape.

My lad has kept my playing for an hour every night for weeks! - cheap fun as each ball cost about $80c to make.

And I've had to stick a few extra nails in the carport roof - yep been hit a few times