A Player Not To Buy

I had just emptied out my budget for the youth players coaching and physiotherapy, for an all rounder with a batting average of twenty five and a bowling average of thirty This player was called David Nye. I bought this player, because he was experienced, and a leg spinner (I hadn’t got any spinners at the time).

When I started the new domestic season, and I was playing my first game, the computer will automatically select your best line up. To my disappointment, David Nye was not selected. I decided to go along with this and I was doing quite well, until the Super Cup Quarter Final. Unfortunately, My best all rounder, Ben Hollioake, who had just returned from International duty, was out of action, due to a broken finger. At the time my only all rounder, who was not selected and ready for action, was David Nye. Naturally, I swapped the injured Hollioake, for Nye.

At match day, it was nice and sunny, and according to Jonathon Agnew, it was a perfect batting strip, so I elected to bat. I started off with my openers, Marcus Trescothick, and Piren Holloway. (I was Somerset). Unluckly, Piren was out early, in the second over, while Trescothick was on a roll. He had eight already of just four balls. After that, half of the team collapsed apart from Marcus Trescothick. He had 53* from just 65 balls. My next batsmen in was D Nye. He and Marcus, put on a much needed 73 partnership, not out, Marcus finishing on 85 and D Nye finishing on 20. The opposition, (Lancashire), would now have to chase a respectable 5.1 per over.

At first the bowling went well, the total had shot up to 5.9 per over, thanks to some very defensive bowling . I hadnt taken many wickets, thanks to some misfields and two dropped catches by D Nye. My second last bowlers had just completed their permitted overs, and the only bowlers I had was Andy Flintoff and D Nye, but oh dear, D Nye bowled terribly, concedeing 9.0 runs per over. It was the last over and Andy Flintoff was bowling. They needed 6 runs in the over. On the second ball, M Legge, of Lancashire hit a four, and then followed up with a single. Jon Crawley had to get 2 runs off of the last over. Andy Flintoff bowled the last ball. Crawley hit it in the air. “Its in the air” said Jonathon Agnew. It was near the boundary. The fielder underneath it reached for it, and dropped it. It went over the boundary rope! Oh no, I lost. When it returned to the commentary screen, I looked at the last ball. It said Nye drops it!

So I dropped him and terminated his contract that year. He was not a player to buy!

By Dan Addicott