Chapter 15: Upcoming Tournament

[Day 7]

After yesterday's setback and a humbling experience, I am ready to begin anew by following my coach's advice. I am once again ready to face bowlers with off spin and short balls.

I have developed some strategies while playing today against off-spin and short balls. First, anticipating the type of ball I will receive is getting easier for me. I am able to predict the point of bounce, and wait a little longer to see if the ball will turn and in which direction (off-spin or leg-spin). As for short balls, since they are unpredictable, I just wait until they come near my body before making a decision.

For good length spin deliveries, I mostly play them on the ground, using drives and cuts as my best options. For full length spin deliveries, I usually hit them through the air, but to keep the bowlers guessing, I also mix in sweeps, square cuts, and drives.

For short balls or good length seam and swing bowls, I simply wait for them and then either pull them on the leg side or hook them on the off side. There aren't many options for me, so I have limited my shot selection to a few shots. Since I haven't played any official games yet, I am not sure how field placement will affect my game.

Well, it won't matter as long as I continue to hit them out of the ground. Unless the fielders start flying, I don't think anything will be able to stop me.

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Today is the last day of training, or it has just ended. The coach has asked us to take the day off tomorrow and come back to him if we face any problems.

The Inter Academy Cricket Tournament is an annual event where top cricket academies from around the NCR come together to compete for the coveted title. The tournament features some of the best young cricketers from each academy, who are all eager to showcase their skills and impress the coaches and scouts in attendance.

It is not only a platform for young cricketers to showcase their skills and gain recognition, but also an opportunity for the coaches, selectors, and scouts to identify and recruit talented players for district teams. Though they would still need to go through the trials but you could just bypass all this if you manage to make a mark with your performance.

As our academy has been recently opened, it is likely that most of your players are under 13 years old and have not yet reached the age to participate in the under-16 category.

The tournament provides a great opportunity for your academy's players to gain experience, exposure, and recognition in the cricket world, and it is an important step in their cricketing journey.

The tournament features a total of 5 teams, each representing a different academy. The teams are as follows: (A/N: Don't look for these academies here. They are just some made up names)

Royals: This team is known for its strong batting line-up. They have a number of talented batsmen who are capable of scoring big runs, and their captain is a highly skilled and experienced player.

Storms: This team is known for its strong all-round play. They have a number of players who are skilled in both batting and bowling, and they are a force to be reckoned with on the field.

Knights: This team is known for its strong bowling attack. They have a number of fast bowlers who can bowl at high speeds, and they are always a threat to the opposition's batting line-up.

Eagles: This team is known for its strong fielding. They have a number of players who are excellent fielders, and they often save many runs for their team.

West Delhi Team: It is still relatively unknown as it is participating in the Inter Academy Cricket Tournament for the first time. It is uncertain what they have to offer in terms of skill and performance.

While a simple name like "West Delhi Team" may not be as flashy or attention-grabbing as some of the other team names, it still serves as an effective way to represent our academy and the region we come from, and can be a powerful source of motivation and inspiration for our players

The tournament promises to be an exciting one, with each team bringing their own unique strengths to the field. With so many talented players on display, it's sure to be a thrilling competition.

It is a highly competitive event that attracts top cricket academies from around the country. To ensure a fair and challenging competition, each academy is allowed to enter two teams in the tournament. This means that a total of 16 teams will be participating in the tournament.

The tournament is played over five days with two games scheduled for each day, which allows a total of nine matches to be played during the tournament. This format allows for a balance of both defensive and attacking play, and provides a challenging and exciting competition for both teams.

The teams will have to strategize and play well on both sides of the game, batting and fielding. The 20 over innings format also allows for a dynamic and fast-paced game, keeping the audience engaged and excited throughout the tournament. Twenty overs is a common format for youth cricket matches as it is considered a suitable length of time for children and teenagers to play without straining their small bodies.

In a tournament format with each match being a knockout, the stakes are high as the losing team will be eliminated from the competition. This can add an extra level of excitement and pressure for the players, coaches, and fans.

Day 1:

• Match 1: Eagles A vs West Delhi Team B

• Match 2: Eagles B vs West Delhi Team A

Day 2:

• Match 1: Royals A vs the winner of match 1:2 (A/N: Day:Match No)

• Match 2: Royals B vs the winner of match 1:1

Day 3:

• Match 1: Storms A vs Knights B

• Match 2: Storms B vs Knights A

Day 4: Semi-finals

• Match 1: Winner of match 2:1 vs Winner of match 3:2

• Match 2: Winner of match 2:2 vs Winner of match 3:1

Day 5: Final

• Winner of semi-final match 4:1 vs Winner of semi-final match 4:2

Note that the winner of the match will be updated as per the results.