The Art of War - thoughts to inspire

Courtesy of John Buchanan [Aussie Coach] and Sun Tzu - Chinese Warlord /philosopher

Sun-tzu, The Art of War.
"Every battle is won before it is ever fought."

"All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight and if not: split and re-evaluate," - cited with approval by Gordon Gecko and Bud his protege in Wall Street.

"Strike when your enemy is at his weakest, when he is mired in self-doubt, and your victory will be assured." - often heard from Shane Warne

The Senshi - "If your enemy has a choleric temper, seek to anger him" - taken from "The Wicketkeepers' Guide to Sledging", a classic oeuvre by Adam Gilchrist

"If you know both yourself and your enemy, you will not fear the outcome of a hundred battles."

Q aka The Skip

Die hard captain in the Paul Collingwood mode - good fielder, bowls lively quick stuff that can trouble anyone on the right pitch; bats well but keeps footwork to bare minimum.

Has thrived on captaincy, organising nets, coaches, dinners, and generally reining in the excesses of his team.

May struggle to impose discipline on tourists - who frankly look a motley crew; recently got engaged.

Wisden:
Team of tourists were described by Wisden as "without doubt the most dodgy bunch of tourists since Philip of Spain said to his sea captains - "Come on lads, lets sail the Armada round the English channel"
(Editors note - Wisden never said that...they were far less complimentary...)

Mat Gullick

Robust middle order batsman, with penchant for expansive driving .... sadly run out by partner [don't do it again Sam!!] for 40 odd when going well against Old Wimbledonians; bowls fast medium seamers; good fielder.

Without doubt the brightest man on the tour; knows every Lord Justices's recent judgments, penchants and blood groups etc etc.

Hoping to be seen in Hyderabad, but going on 2 week tour of northern india first to get acclimatised.

Jamie Cameron

Nickname - JC

Plays for:
- Spent the last 10 years in cricketing wilderness, but was rediscovered this year by Bill Owen's XI in Bristol as allrounder averaging mid 50s and bowling some military medium dibbly dobblers;

Fields - gully or backward point

International Experience

Played league cricket in Germany for Goettingen, in between an enthusiastic but highly unsuccessful and unco-ordinated spell as a competitive Rock 'n' Roll dancer;

Played once for english lawyers:

- First appearance at Wimbledon was delayed by an unfortunate closure of the M4, but eventually arrived to take 1-18 in 6 overs with some deceptive wobblers (they didn't wobble), and was last man out, holing out for a quickfire 29 chasing an improbable victory.

David Rhodes

Nickname: SuperHarmy

Plays: Right arm fast bowler - lethal when good, more lethal when bad.

Guy Holland

Nickname: tbc

Batsman: top order somewhere

Bowler: Not if it can be avoided

Plays for: 'Anyone for Tennis' Regents park league

Played for English Lawyers once: failed

Fields: First slip (need someone to talk to)

Ian McDougall

Nickname: tbc

Bats: I am normally an opening batsman (goodness knows where I will be batting for us!! I haven’t yet been told) who bowls occasional medium pace swing and has been called upon to bowl off spin if the pitch is a total pudding.

Fields: I usually field at first slip (goodness knows where I will be fielding for us!!). My style of batting is accumulation rather than explosive but with decent technique! (hence opening).

Illustrious history:
In the last season I played I was twice out in the 90’s; once for 92 and once for 97. You can imagine how pleasing that was!

Until a season ago I played for Hutton Cricket Club in Essex but stopped recently due to the fact that I am now one of the MCC cricket commentators at Lord’s (broadcasting on the internet on matchdays on www.lords.org, and to headsets in the ground). Like all opening batsmen, I am a frustrated fast bowler who would love to be able to bowl fast bouncers!!!

If you Google me, you get the following page :- http://www.lords.org/lords-ground/media-information/ball-by-ball/ian-mcdougall,736,AR.html.
5) It would be very good (as a thank you to them) if I could get something of LexisNexis on the site (our beloved sponsors, as you say). Let me know what you think I could suggest.

Pete Dodd

Nickname - Daddydoddy (due to habit of attracting single women with children!)

Plays for: Ambleside CC as wicketkeeper/top order batsman (also captain), Temple Heelis CC (works team), KBWCC (as guest player), BEWCC.

Previous teams: Cumbria under 16s and under 18s - played in County Championship against Lancashire side managed by Bumble!- Currently coached by Martin Speight (ex-Sussex and Durham keeper /batsman) at Newcastle Cricket Centre and has been working very hard on batting and keeping with a series of 4 hour 1-2-1 coaching sessions!!Sadly, these sessions have not had a similar impact on his less than washboard stomach!

Batting: Can play anywhere in top 6 but usually opener or first wicket down. Predominantly front foot player who drives well straight down the ground and through the covers but also has a clip through midwicket in his 'locker'. Prefers to time the ball on the deck rather than taking the aerial route but can adapt gameplan to suit the situation and will hit over the top against spin.

Keeping: Reputation for leg side takes standing up and high ratio of stumpings to catches due to refusing to stand back to all but the fastest of bowling. A big believer in vocal encouragement of the bowler and fielders alongside not always subtle comments aimed at unsettling opposing batsmen (usually tongue in cheek but depends on the batsman!).

Bowling: Unable to perform any kind of bowling due to chronic shoulder problem caused by bizarre cycling and wall related accident.

Fielding: If not behind stumps then prefers to be at point which still involves diving around and doesn't require throwing in from deep which is prevented by aforementioned shoulder problem.
- 2007 league season for Ambleside:492 runs at 27.33 on slow, green wickets ooop North including 3 x 50s (top of club averages, 12th in league averages14 stumpings and 22 catches (voted best keeper in Division by poll amongst other teams and topped the dismissals chart)
- Last game for BEWCC (vs Wimbledonians): Given out LBW by Mr Oppermanfor 6 after a comfortable start but would now like to thank the rakish gentleman in question as this has resulted in a technical change for the better! Wicket keeping on the day was functional but a little below par...hoping to put in some better performances in India after, again, some intensive 1-2-1 coaching with Mr Speight.

Robert Percival

Nickname: Helmut

Plays for:

The Grannies CC - see http://www.thegrannies.org.uk/

Marlborough Blues CC

Specialist keeper

Games for BEWCC

- against Indians in Dulwich - in position to take half straight stuff, but they hit them out of the ground - didn't have arms long enough to reach stuff they couldn't reach

- at Wimbledon was the quiet keeper (2nd half), enjoyed standing up to Jamie C, less so to Q, when spraying it a bit - played wristy shot almost for 6, was asked by Indian fielder if I had Indian blood, said not as far as I know - should be useful though in Hyderabad (home of Azharrudin, Dravid and Laxman) !

Jamie Williams

Nickname - tbc

Plays for: - King's Bench Walk Cricket Club in London.

- In Wales plays for Conwy Cricket Club and the mighty Rhos Fynach Taverners. Batting - Right handed opening batsman.

Fields - Slips or Covers.Bowling - Right arm slow.

Played twice for the Bar of England and Wales:
- At Wimbledon took 2 wickets in a devastating display of right arm 'is it still moving' slow bowling.

James Cartwright

Nickname: tbc

The guy who got everyone into this mess by an excess of exuberance.

Played cricket with trepidation 55 years ago and was taught by the Bedser twins to keep my elbow up (Dad thought I could play cricket). Then all lapsed until we formed a lawyers' cricket team, which is always on the lookout for a win but keeps me permanently amused.

Straight bat and terrified of fast bowling. I am only little.

D Mathews..mystery man

Not much we can say about the mystery man....elusive...and we hope very good!
With luck he will be our secret weapon....