🦆 The Duck Pond

🏏 A modest afternoon at the crease against Charles Arkcoll, but a fruitful one for the exclusive zero club — three gentlemen of the Home Eleven found their way back to the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorer. The art of not scoring was practised with some diligence this day. 1st XI Bert Buckoke, sent in first wicket down, was undone by J Parsons and departed for a duck's egg — his second of a career now standing at two in as many innings, placing him 34th of 434 in the club's grand and dubious ledger. A Duck of the Year man from 1928, he remains a paid-up member of that select company, though this particular knock added nothing to the honour beyond confirming old habits die hard. He joins B W Haynes, of the 1891–1910 vintage, in sitting on exactly two career ducks apiece — kindred spirits across the decades, united by nought. A Smith, first innings ever pulled on for the club, walked to the crease at first wicket down and walked straight back again, also to J Parsons' bowling — a debut duck of the purest and most immediate variety, and thus his very first entry on the honours board, Duck of the Year 1934 already secured before he has troubled the scorers even once. A fine start, in its way. He draws level with A Barker of 1885–1904, also on a single career duck. J Barker, at number eight, played a plucky knock of nought, bowled by L Roberts for his second career duck in four innings — the tail, one might say, wagged only briefly. He sits 45th of 434 on the all-time list, level on two career ducks with the venerable B W Haynes among a long and distinguished company of others similarly becalmed. The Week in Summary Three ducks, one match, all falling to the home eleven against Charles Arkcoll, and all three bowled — a sticky wicket for the willow-wielders, or perhaps simply a good day for the bowlers. No pairs, no golden ducks, no family affairs this week — merely honest, straightforward failure, thrice repeated. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - A Smith — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Bert Buckoke — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - J Barker — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) A three-way tie atop the season standings, gentlemen all equally devoted to the cause. The eleven takes the field again next week, and the Duck Club watches on with its usual solemn enthusiasm — do come and add your name to the board.