🦆 The Duck Pond

Four ducks shuffled out of the reeds this week across three fixtures, and with the season drawing towards its close, every one of them carries real weight in the race for Duck of the Year. 🏏 Saturday 18th — 2nd XI v Elliotts CC Jon Harris, walking in at number 10, was caught by Mike Ling off David Hales without troubling the scorers — his 4th duck of the season and a frankly staggering 79th of his LPCC career from 577 innings. That keeps him anchored at #2 of 1246 in the all-time charts, a position from which he surveys the club's Duck of the Year honours board of 1976, 1980, 1981 and — topically — 1999 itself, four crowns and counting. He's also a Full House man (a duck at every position 1 to 11), a fixture of the Homebody, Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens, and shares a Quacking Together entry with fellow victim this week Trevor Back, though history, not this week, ties that particular knot. On this very day in 1960, Cliff Anscombe made his own duck against Tilling Steven, one of 25 in a career running 1957 to 1975. And for those keeping track of duck bloodlines, Jon's father Richard Harris sits proudly on 36 of his own. 🏏 Sunday 19th — 1st XI v Anchorians CC Richard Piper, at five, was run out for nought — the umpire's report simply says "Unsure," which feels appropriate for a dismissal that adds nothing to the scoreboard. It's his 4th of the season and 19th career duck from 94 innings, good for 50th of 1246 all time, and another notch for a man already fixed on the Ducks on the Road, Full House, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens. Splendidly, on this exact day in 1982, David Iliffe also fell for a duck against these very same Anchorians — one of 31 in a career that ran 1976 to 1988, and a season in which he was crowned Duck of the Year. Richard's father Brian Piper, incidentally, already carries 20 career ducks of his own — clearly a family with a gift for the art of not scoring. 🌱 Midweek, 22nd — Midweek XI v Penshurst Park CC A double dose at Penshurst. Peter Whyte, opening the innings, was caught by Michael Meade off Cox — his 2nd duck of the season and 20th of his career from 222 innings. Down at four, Trevor Back followed him back, caught off Cox again, his 4th of the season and 52nd career duck from 434 innings, keeping him a lofty 8th of 1246 all time and a proud member of the Ducks on the Road, Homebody and Lone Duck top tens. Remarkably, both men echo the very same historical duck: on this day in 1977, none other than John Thirkell — the club's all-time #1 with 90 career ducks — also fell against West Kent Wanderers CC. Two Linton men, one Wednesday, one shared ghost from 1977. Peter's sibling Tom Whyte, meanwhile, holds 2 career ducks of his own — the Whyte name is not unfamiliar to this club. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks, three matches, and not a single golden duck among them — everyone at least troubled the bowler before troubling the club's records. Jon Harris edges ever closer to 80, Trevor Back consolidates his top-ten spot, and the Duck of the Year race tightens with the season's end in sight. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Jon Harris — 4 ducks / 14 innings (28.57%) 2. Richard Piper — 4 ducks / 20 innings (20.00%) 3. Trevor Back — 4 ducks / 25 innings (16.00%) 4. Piers McDonald — 4 ducks / 28 innings (14.29%) 5. Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks / 29 innings (13.79%) The exclusive zero club never sleeps, and neither do the bowlers waiting to add to it. Roll on the next fixture — the ducks won't catch themselves. 🦆🍩

Three fixtures, four ducks, and the exclusive zero club welcomed its latest inductees over the weekend. Nothing spectacular in volume, but plenty in flavour. Saturday 11th September 🏏 1st XI v Macknade 2nd (home) P- Martin strode in at number 5 and was run out for nought, his 1st duck of the season and, remarkably, his 2nd in just 2 career innings - a flawless, if unwanted, 100% start to his LPCC account. He's already inscribed on the Retirement Duck honours board from some past farewell performance, though today's effort was very much a beginning, not an end. On this very date in 1991, club legend Fred Cheesman (1980-1999, 34 ducks, 20th all-time, twice Duck of the Year, Full House honoree) was also dismissed for nought against The Mote CC. Good company to keep. Richard Piper followed at 6, caught behind off P- Thompson, for his 3rd duck of the season and 18th of a career spanning 91 innings, good enough for 52nd on the all-time list. Richard's name already decorates the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck boards, plus the coveted Full House (a duck at every position, 1 through 11) - so number 6 was simply revisiting old ground. A chip off the old block, too: kinsman Brian Piper carries 20 career ducks of his own. That same 1991 date claimed Fred Cheesman once again for company. 🏏 2nd XI v Betsham CC (away) Darren Styles fell for nought at number 9, caught off Paul King, his 2nd duck of the season and 4th of his career. Little did he know it was only the opening half of a weekend double. Sunday 12th September 🏏 1st XI v Northend Sunday (home) Darren Styles was back at the crease, this time at 10, run out without scoring - his 3rd duck of the season, 5th of his career, and with it a grim pair completed for the weekend. Two innings, two ducks, zero complaints from the Duck Club. On this day in 1959, S Lusher did likewise against Bowaters CC. 📊 Week in Summary Four ducks from three matches, with poor Darren Styles doing the double, the only man to feature twice this week. The 1st XI contributed three of the four, Macknade 2nd proving a particularly unwelcoming host. No golden ducks recorded - everyone at least troubled the scorers before departing empty-handed. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Piers McDonald - 4 ducks / 26 innings (15.4%) - Stewart Morrison - 4 ducks / 29 innings (13.8%) - Jon Harris - 3 ducks / 13 innings (23.1%) - Darren Styles - 3 ducks / 17 innings (17.6%) - Dave Charlton - 3 ducks / 17 innings (17.6%) Darren's weekend pair vaults him straight into the season's top five - one to watch as the race for Duck of the Year hots up. 🍩 Same time next fixture, ladies and gentlemen. The zero club never sleeps - who's joining the honours boards next?

A quiet week in the coppice, ducks. Three matches played, and the club's most exclusive establishment recorded just a single new arrival at the door. Rare is the week the zero club goes so lightly staffed — savour it, because normal service always resumes. 🏏 Midweek XI Monday's solitary intake came courtesy of Roly Edwards, undone lbw b E. Brassey against Lord Cornwallis XI, departing from his post at number 7 without troubling the scorers. This is Roly's 2nd duck of the 1999 campaign and the 14th of a career now standing at 113 innings — a body of work that plants him a solid 61st of 1245 in the all-time table. Consistency of a very particular kind. And rather splendidly, on this very day back in 1981, Richard Ashby was doing precisely the same thing against Paul CC — one of the five-a-side stalwarts on the club's "Ducks in a Row" board and a fixture of the Tourist Duck top 10, Ashby played from 1962 to 1995 and finished with 28 ducks to his name, good for 30th all-time. Nice to know the calendar has form. 📊 Week in Summary One duck. Three matches. A remarkably restrained showing by Duck Club standards — either the bowling attacks were merciful or the batting was, for once, doing its actual job. Don't get used to it. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard — Top 5 - Jon Harris — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) - Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks in 28 innings (14.29%) - Piers McDonald — 4 ducks in 26 innings (15.38%) - Dave Charlton — 3 ducks in 17 innings (17.65%) - Trevor Back — 3 ducks in 23 innings (13.04%) Jon Harris leads the percentage race by some distance, but with the season entering its final furlongs, Stewart Morrison and Piers McDonald's raw tallies of 4 keep this one very much alive. 🍩 Next fixture awaits, and with it the inevitable fresh recruits to the exclusive zero club. The nets are down, the bowlers are sharpening up, and somewhere out there this week's golden duck is already being measured for its board. See you at the crease — or, more likely, on the walk back to it.

A rare and troubling week for the Duck Club faithful. Seven fixtures played, seven fixtures completed, and not a single naught to show for it. The exclusive zero club, so reliably populated most weekends, sat entirely empty this time round — eleven ducklings' worth of opportunity, squandered by batsmen actually scoring. Somewhere out there, bats were middled, singles were nudged, and not one soul walked back for a duck. Frankly it's the kind of form that gets a man talked about in the wrong sort of way at the clubhouse bar. The art of not scoring, it seems, took the week off. We can only assume the ducks themselves saw the fixture list, had a quiet word among themselves, and decided Linton Park wasn't worth the trip. They'll be back. They're always back. 0️⃣ Total ducks: 0 🏏 Matches played: 7 🎯 New members of the honours board: none — a shutout in the truest sense Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 1. Piers McDonald — 4 ducks / 25 innings (16.0%) 2. Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks / 28 innings (14.29%) 3. Jon Harris — 3 ducks / 12 innings (25.0%) 4. Dave Charlton — 3 ducks / 16 innings (18.75%) 5. Trevor Back — 3 ducks / 21 innings (14.29%) Jon Harris still boasts the most alarming strike rate of the lot at a full quarter of his innings ending in nought — a man clearly not resting on his laurels, or indeed on much else. Piers McDonald leads on volume, and with Stewart Morrison snapping at his heels on the same tally, this race is far from settled. A quiet week, then, but never fear — the season isn't done with us yet. Next fixture, normal service will surely resume, and someone, somewhere, will once again offer themselves up to the cause. 🍩 Until then — keep the willow swinging, and may your ducks be egg-shaped only in the scorebook. 🦆

A Meopham CC double-header proved fertile ground for the Duck Club this week, with both senior sides finding the exclusive zero club open for business. Five ducks in two matches, and one for the family scrapbook. 🏏 1st XI at Meopham (away) Piers McDonald departed lbw to Jimmy Ward without scoring — his 4th duck of the season and 45th for the club, good enough for 11th on the all-time list of 1245. A two-time Duck of the Year (1997 and 1998) and a permanent fixture of both the Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens, Piers can at least reflect that misery loves historical company: on this very day in 1955, John Ames — who would go on to retire with 49 club ducks, 9th all-time — was doing precisely the same thing against Halfway House. 🥇 2nd XI vs Meopham (home) Meopham's bowlers did rather better business back at home. Jon Harris edged behind off Paul Lamb for his 3rd of the season and 78th of an extraordinary career, now just one duck shy of top spot — 2nd of 1245 and closing fast. The reigning Duck of the Year for 1999 and a Full House man (a duck at every position going), Jon shares the "Quacking Together" honour with clubmate Trevor Back — fittingly, the pair obliged together in the very same innings. A chip off the old block too, with son Richard Harris already carrying 36 career noughts of his own. Trevor followed moments later, bowled by Paul Lamb for his 3rd of the season and 51st for the club — 8th all-time and a fixture of the Homebody, Lone Duck and Ducks on the Road top tens. Like Piers, Trevor's nought landed on the very anniversary of John Ames's effort against Halfway House in 1955. Paul Lamb wasn't finished. At number ten, Christopher Thirkell became his third victim of the innings, bowled for his 1st career duck in only his 3rd senior knock. But the real story was two spots higher, where father Simon Thirkell — Duck of the Year back in 1983 and a card-carrying member of the 50 Before a 50 club — had already been strangled out caught by "Unsure" off Darren Deeks, his 1st duck of the season and 35th of his career, 18th all-time. Father and son, back in the shed without scoring in the same innings — a proper Duck and Ducklings entry for the honours board, with siblings Tim (68) and Nigel (54) Thirkell surely watching the family tally with pride. And as it happens, both Thirkells shared their nought with John Ames, who was doing the very same thing against Halfway House on this date in 1955. 📊 Week in Summary 5 ducks from 2 matches, both against Meopham CC, with Paul Lamb claiming three of them in a single 2nd XI innings — a fine spell of ceremonial destruction. The undoubted highlight, though, is the Thirkell double: not every Saturday gives you a Duck and Ducklings entry. Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 🏆 - Piers McDonald — 23 inns, 4 ducks (17.4%) - Stewart Morrison — 24 inns, 4 ducks (16.7%) - Jon Harris — 11 inns, 3 ducks (27.3%) - Dave Charlton — 15 inns, 3 ducks (20.0%) - Trevor Back — 19 inns, 3 ducks (15.8%) 🍩 The season's not done yet — plenty of time for Jon Harris to complete his march to the summit, and plenty more Thirkells waiting in the wings. See you all at the next fixture, bats and low expectations at the ready. 0️⃣🦆

Three fixtures out on the park this weekend, and for once the ducks kept a remarkably low profile — only one soul was invited into the exclusive zero club. Quality over quantity, evidently. Sunday NVKC v Shipton under Wychwood Opening the innings and leading from the front — in the wrong direction — David Castle departed for nought, caught C. Panter, bowled P. Humphreys. It's his 2nd duck of the season and the 33rd of an admirably persistent career spanning 522 innings, a body of work that plants him 23rd of 1245 in the all-time rankings. A card-carrying member of the Tourist Duck top 10 for his away-day exploits, though this particular nought was scored rather more locally, on home soil. Spookily, on this very day back in 1964, none other than John Thirkell also walked back for a duck, against Bowaters CC — a man who'd go on to retire in 1977 with a scarcely believable 90 career ducks, still unchallenged at #1 of all 1245 names on the books, and a five-time Duck of the Year besides. David keeps good, if scoreless, company. Elsewhere The rest of the weekend's fixtures were, disappointingly, a duck-free affair — every other batsman got off the mark, robbing the club of further entries. A quiet weekend by Duck Club standards, but the season is young yet. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks / 23 innings (17.4%) 🥈 Dave Charlton — 3 ducks / 15 innings (20.0%) 🥉 Piers McDonald — 3 ducks / 22 innings (13.6%) Daniel Thirkell — 3 ducks / 32 innings (9.4%) Jon Harris — 2 ducks / 10 innings (20.0%) Dave Charlton and Jon Harris share the season's joint-highest duck rate at a flawless 20% — the art of not scoring, perfected. Next weekend brings more cricket and, statistically, more ducks. The zero club never sleeps — see you at the crease. 🦆🍩

Four fixtures out on the paddocks this week and the Club's hunters returned with a modest brace — just two ducks banked, proof that even the exclusive zero club has its quiet weeks. Quality over quantity, as the honours board reminds us. Saturday 7th August — 1st XI v Shipbourne CC Opening the batting, David Castle was back in the pavilion before he'd troubled the scorers, caught M. Edmondson off the bowling of Neil Lee-Amies. It's his 1st duck of the season and a rather stately 32nd of a career now spanning 520 innings — good enough for 23rd on Linton's all-time roll of dishonour, and a fully paid-up member of the Tourist Duck top 10, that select band who've perfected the art of not scoring on other people's grounds. Spookily, on this very date in 1976, Colin Dicker (1972–1978, 23 career ducks, twice Duck of the Year) was doing precisely the same thing against Headcorn CC — the calendar has a long memory for this sort of thing. Wednesday 11th August — Midweek XI v The Mote CC Batting at eight, Christian Gatehouse supplied the Midweek XI's solitary offering, bowled by Darren Wheeler. His 1st of the season and 3rd of a career still finding its feet at just five innings — arithmetic that won't flatter him. Christian already holds his card in the Debutante Duck club from a nought on debut, and sits, entirely coincidentally and with no bearing whatsoever on this week's effort, alongside the Retirement Duck honours too — he'll be back at the crease soon enough, we're sure. On this same day in 1981, Trevor Hales was walking the identical road against West Moors, also en route to a career tally of 3. Week in summary Two ducks from four matches — the herd was evidently well hidden this week, with 1st XI and Midweek XI each contributing one apiece and the 2nd and 3rd XIs escaping entirely unscathed. A rare weekend of restraint. Normal service, we suspect, resumes shortly. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks in 22 innings (18.18%) - Dave Charlton — 3 ducks in 14 innings (21.43%) - Piers McDonald — 3 ducks in 21 innings (14.29%) - Daniel Thirkell — 3 ducks in 31 innings (9.68%) - Jon Harris — 2 ducks in 10 innings (20.0%) The race for Duck of the Year 1999 remains wide open. Get out there next weekend, members — the zero club is always recruiting, and someone has to keep Jon Harris honest. 🦆🍩0️⃣

Four fixtures, four ducks, and the Linton Park zero club welcomes its usual cast of contributors this week. Saturday 31 July 1st XI away at Bearsted CC Dave Charlton became strangely disoriented mid-pitch and was run out for nought, his partner presumably still wondering what happened. It's Dave's 3rd duck of the season and 21st for the club, good for 44th on the all-time list of 1245 - a tally that conveniently lands him 2nd on this week's Duck Hunting Season leaderboard, see below. On this very day back in 1996, Gareth Thomas was doing much the same thing against Ipswich Greyhounds - it turned out to be his final innings for the club, a Retirement Duck for the ages. Dave, mercifully, has runs ahead of him yet. Worth noting: sibling Sean Charlton already carries 4 career ducks of his own, so the trait, such as it is, runs in the family. Sunday 1 August Sunday NVKC away at Eversholt CC A grim day at the crease produced a brace for the visitors. Clive Newman was run out without scoring, his 1st duck of the season and 10th of an increasingly distinguished career spanning 216 innings, good for 83rd all time. On this same date in 1994, Roly Edwards was busy doing the exact same thing. Moments later Stuart Cheesman was bowled by Dave Turner for nought, his own 1st duck of the season but 28th overall, ranking him 31st in club history. Stuart is a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club, having ducked on his actual debut, a two-time Duck of the Year (1994 and 1996), and holder of the Full House honour - a duck at every position 1 to 11, a genuinely thorough body of work. Stuart shares Clive's on-this-day parallel exactly - Roly Edwards, 1994. The Cheesman name runs deep in these pages too: parent Fred carries 34 career ducks and sibling Steve another 13, so Stuart had excellent tutelage in the art of not scoring. Tuesday 3 August Midweek XI at home to Bexley CC Michael Beeney was caught by John Taylor off the bowling of Christopher Allbut, his 2nd duck of the season and 11th career, 77th on the all-time list. Michael already holds Only Two Quacks (with Ian Brattle) and, from a past farewell innings, a presumptive Retirement Duck - a man well acquainted with this territory. On this day in 1952, Gordon Fenner, eventual owner of 34 career ducks, was going through much the same ritual. Week in summary: four ducks from four fixtures, with Sunday NVKC contributing two from a single innings at Eversholt. No pairs, no king pairs and no family affairs to report this week - the ducks kept themselves to themselves. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Stewart Morrison - 4 ducks in 21 innings (19.05%) 2. Dave Charlton - 3 ducks in 13 innings (23.08%) 3. Piers McDonald - 3 ducks in 19 innings (15.79%) 4. Daniel Thirkell - 3 ducks in 29 innings (10.34%) 5. Jon Harris - 2 ducks in 9 innings (22.22%) Dave Charlton's Saturday nought keeps him snapping at Stewart Morrison's heels - the season race is far from settled. Next weekend brings fresh fixtures and, in all likelihood, fresh casualties. Until then: bat straight, run quick, and may the zero club see you not. 🦆🍩0️⃣

Saturday 24 July 1st XI (home) v Headcorn CC — Daniel Thirkell strode in at three and departed just as fast, bowled by Mike Donnelly. His third duck of the summer and 11th of a 121-innings career, good for 75th on the all-time list and a fixture of the Tourist Duck top 10. Fittingly, on this very day in 1989 Matt Large was also getting off the mark elsewhere in nought fashion, against Coleshill CC in Warwickshire — and Matt duly obliged again at Headcorn, bowled by Alastair Lee. That's his 59th career duck from 318 innings, 5th on the all-time table, and a man whose honours board reads like a wine list: Duck of the Year '87, '88, '89, '92, '93 and '95, plus top-10 residencies in Ducks on the Road, Homebody and Lone Duck. 2nd XI (away) v Headcorn CC — Richard Munro had the Linton order in knots. Trevor Back fell at three for his 2nd of the season and 50th career duck (423 innings), 8th all time and part of two "Quacking Together" double acts. Richard Piper followed, caught behind, for his own 2nd of the season — 17 career ducks from just 81 innings, 53rd all time, and a proud Full House member having now ducked in every position 1 to 11. John Taylor rounded things off for his 4th career duck from 18 innings. Wednesday 28 July — Midweek XI (home) v Ipswich Greyhounds CC – Kent Tour XI A haunted fixture: on this very day in 1993, Clive Newman made a duck against these same tourists, and the ghosts were busy again. Piers McDonald, caught off G Spencer, notches his 3rd duck of the season and 44th overall (359 innings) — 12th all time and twice Duck of the Year ('97, '98). Fred Cheesman edged behind for his season-opener and 34th career duck, 19th all time, another Full House loyalist. Michael Beeney, stumped for good measure, brings up his 10th career duck. Sunday 25 July — 1st XI (home) v Knockers CC Duncan Keene, trapped lbw, opens his season account — just his 1st career duck from a tender 3 innings. On this same day back in 1995, Piers McDonald was similarly employed against Hartley Country Club. Darren Styles was bowled shortly after for his 3rd career duck. Week in brief Ten ducks hatched across four matches — Headcorn CC alone accounted for five, doing a fine job on both Linton sides in the same afternoon. No pairs, no family affairs this week, but two separate "on this day" echoes from 1989 and one from 1993 and 1995 apiece — the calendar clearly enjoys a running joke. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks, 21 innings (19.05%) 2. Piers McDonald — 3 ducks, 17 innings (17.65%) 3. Daniel Thirkell — 3 ducks, 26 innings (11.54%) 4. Richard Piper — 2 ducks, 7 innings (28.57%) 5. Jon Harris — 2 ducks, 9 innings (22.22%) Plenty of season left for movement at the top. Next fixture, same time, same exclusive zero club — bring your bats, gentlemen, or don't bother. 🥇🏏0️⃣

Slim pickings this week, but the two ducks recorded were of properly ceremonial quality. Saturday — 1st XI at Sheldwich CC Robert Quirk walked to the crease at number 9 and departed without so much as troubling the scorer, caught and bowled by David Knight. The twist: this was his very first senior innings for the club — a duck on debut, sealing his place on the Debutante Duck board before he'd even got his eye in. With career figures reading a pristine 1 duck from 1 innings, he's also straight onto the One and Done honours list for 1999 — a career, so far, of magnificent singular focus. Whether the Retirement Duck board beckons too remains to be seen — the club sincerely hopes not, and awaits his second innings with interest. He slots into the all-time list at 534th of 1244, and — fittingly — on this very day in 1993, Nick Froom (1989–1994) also made a duck, against Kennington CC, Kent. Some things are written in the fixture list. Sunday — NVKC away at Hursley Park CC Dave Charlton, bowled by Ross Cambray for nought at number 6, notched his 2nd duck of the season and 20th of an increasingly distinguished career — one from every 9 or so trips to the crease across 184 innings. That's good enough for 46th of 1244 in the all-time table, a rarefied neighbourhood indeed. Charlton family watchers will note brother Sean is himself a paid-up club member with 4 career ducks — clearly something in the blood. And on this day in 1964, Frank Brattle (1937–1971) was also dismissed for nought, against Rumwood CC — the calendar does love a repeat performance. Week in summary Two ducks from three matches — a modest harvest, but each one a collector's item in its own right: one debutant announcing himself in the grandest possible fashion, one veteran quietly extending a two-decade habit. The third fixture, for what it's worth, kept its ducks firmly under wraps. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks / 21 inns (19.05%) 2. Jon Harris — 2 ducks / 6 inns (33.33%) 3. Dave Charlton — 2 ducks / 10 inns (20.00%) 4. Piers McDonald — 2 ducks / 14 inns (14.29%) 5. Mike Elworthy — 2 ducks / 15 inns (13.33%) Jon Harris tops the rate charts by some distance — a third of his innings this season have ended in nought, which is either alarming or admirable depending on your allegiance to the exclusive zero club. Next fixture, more victims. The ducks never truly rest. 🏏🍩

Three fixtures out on the road this weekend, and for two of them the zero club had to make do with a quiet Saturday off. But at Hollingbourne Green the 2nd XI found a way to keep the honours board ticking over, with a pair of noughts arriving in the same innings. 🏏 2nd XI — away at Hollingbourne CC First to go was Trevor Back, bowled by Dan Pritchard at first wicket down. It's only his first duck of the season, but the career column tells a grander story — this is nought number 49, holding steady at 9th in the all-time standings out of 1,243 aspirants. Trevor arrives here a fully paid-up subscriber to Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens alike, with shared quacking honours alongside both Allan Cooper and Jon Harris. Spookily, on this very date in 1993 Fred Cheesman was going through the same ritual, also departing for nought — Fred would go on to a Duck of the Year double in 1990 and 1991 and a place in the Full House club, so Trevor is in fine company. One more duck and Trevor reaches the golden half-century of failure — Full Membership beckons, and by the sound of it, not for long. Two batsmen later, Stewart Roberts joined the queue, bowled by Ian Gutteridge at number five. This is duck number one for the season and, more notably, the very first of his senior career — arriving in just his 10th innings, and slotting him in at 548th of 1,243 in the all-time list. Plenty of company to keep now. Fittingly, Stewart shares his date with history too — the same 1993 Fred Cheesman duck that greeted Trevor moments earlier, proof the calendar has form for these things. 📋 Week in Summary Two ducks from three fixtures, both arriving in the same Hollingbourne innings — a rare case of the zero club touring as a pair without quite qualifying as one on paper. The 1st and 3rd XIs kept their noses clean this week, which either means good batting or good fortune, and we all know which one the Duck Club would prefer to believe. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks in 21 innings (19.05%) 2. Jon Harris — 2 ducks in 5 innings (40.0%) 3. Piers McDonald — 2 ducks in 13 innings (15.38%) 4. Mike Elworthy — 2 ducks in 14 innings (14.29%) 5. Daniel Thirkell — 2 ducks in 22 innings (9.09%) Jon Harris's blistering 40% strike rate remains one to watch — efficient in all the wrong ways. 🍩 Until next weekend, the zero club remains open for new members and eager to welcome Trevor Back into the exclusive 50 club. Bats up, LPCC — the ducks are always hunting.

Three quacks recorded across the week's four fixtures, spread neatly across three sides — proof, if any were needed, that the art of not scoring respects no team boundaries. 🏏 1st XI v Southborough CC (away, Sat 3rd) Stewart Morrison, promoted to six, was run out without troubling the scorers — his 4th duck of the season and 26th of a long and distinguished career, moving him to 35th on the all-time roll of dishonour from 205 innings. Stewart's first-ever Linton innings, many years back, also ended in a duck, earning him lifetime membership of the Debutante Duck club, and he lurks just one position shy of a Full House while sitting comfortably inside the Lone Duck top 10. On this very day in 1960, Robert Murray (1958–1965, 17 ducks) was performing the identical trick against Tovil — some rituals never change. Keeping it in the family, brother Phillip Morrison carries 2 career ducks of his own. 🏏 2nd XI v Southborough CC (home, Sat 3rd) James Vincent departed at number four, caught off the bowling of Damian Theobald, for his maiden Linton duck — season tally 1, career tally 1, from just 4 innings, and already 458th of 1243 on the club's ever-growing list. A start, of sorts. Fittingly, this very date in 1960 also saw Robert Murray fall against Tovil — proof the calendar has a long memory for noughts. 🏏 Midweek XI v Gravesend CC (away, Wed 7th) Opening the batting, Richard Piper was bowled by Peter Pahal without scoring — his 1st duck of the season but 16th of a career now running to 77 innings, good enough for 55th all-time. Richard is a fully paid-up member of the Full House board (a duck at every position, 1 to 11), and features in the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top 10s alike — wherever the ducks gather, Richard has a season ticket. A family trade too: parent Brian Piper holds 20 career ducks. Twenty years to the day earlier, in 1979, Paul Brattle made his own duck against Medway Valley, en route to 26 for his career. 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks from four matches — Southborough CC did the damage twice over on Saturday, Gravesend CC picked up the midweek scalp. No pairs, no family doubles this time round, just three solid additions to the honours board. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Stewart Morrison — 4 ducks, 19 innings (21.05%) - Jon Harris — 2 ducks, 5 innings (40.00%) - Piers McDonald — 2 ducks, 12 innings (16.67%) - Mike Elworthy — 2 ducks, 13 innings (15.38%) - Daniel Thirkell — 2 ducks, 21 innings (9.52%) Stewart holds a commanding lead atop the table, but with the season still to run, Jon Harris's fearsome 40% strike rate suggests he won't be far behind. 🍩 Next fixture beckons — who fancies joining the exclusive zero club this weekend? We watch, we wait, we celebrate. 🦆0️⃣

A quieter weekend for the exclusive zero club — just two additions from three fixtures — but quality endures where quantity falters. The art of not scoring never sleeps, it simply had a lie-in. Saturday 26th June — 2nd XI away at West Farleigh CC Opening the innings and evidently keen to get back to the pavilion as quickly as possible, Mike Elworthy was caught Alan Smith, bowled Adrian Davies, for nought. His 2nd duck of the season and 31st for the club from 289 innings, moving him to 25th in the all-time standings — a spot already lined with feathers, given his place among the Tourist Duck top 10 for noughts collected on the road. On this very day in 1971, Andrew Moss also trudged off for a duck against Tilling Steven, one of the 10 he'd amass across an 8 (1968–1987) career that later earned him presumptive membership of the Retirement Duck club — an honour Mike, mercifully, has not yet been nominated for. Sunday 27th June — 1st XI v Clarion CC Coming in at six, Adam Pooley departed caught L Jeffrey, bowled E Driver, without troubling the scorers. His 1st duck of the season and 14th for Linton Park from 57 innings, holding at 58th of 1,243 in the all-time roll of dishonour. Adam is a paid-up member of two Only Two Quacks pairings — one with Fred Cheesman, one with Paul Bowles — a rare feat of sharing his misfortune twice over, and also carries the standing Retirement Duck honour from a past farewell, no comment on his current playing status implied. Neatly, on this exact day in 1936, E Godden made a duck against Bearsted CC too — the solitary blemish of an otherwise brief 1925–1936 career, but enough on its own to secure him Duck of the Year 1936. Week in summary Three matches, two ducks, both openers or top-order men undone early — the bowlers evidently fancied their luck up front this week. No pairs, no golden ducks, no family affairs to report. A restrained instalment by Duck Club standards, but the season marches on. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Stewart Morrison — 3 ducks / 17 innings (17.65%) 2. Jon Harris — 2 ducks / 5 innings (40.00%) 3. Mike Elworthy — 2 ducks / 11 innings (18.18%) 4. Piers McDonald — 2 ducks / 11 innings (18.18%) 5. Daniel Thirkell — 2 ducks / 19 innings (10.53%) Jon Harris sits atop the percentages with a startling 40% strike rate for failure — truly, a man committed to the cause. Stewart Morrison leads on volume and will take some catching. Next fixture awaits, and with it, the inevitable fresh crop of noughts. The ducks may have evaded the net this week, but the season is young and the nets are wide. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A quiet weekend for the exclusive zero club. Three matches played, and only one man willing to answer the calling. Quality over quantity, as the connoisseurs among us like to say. Sunday — NVKC v Harvel CC Nigel Thirkell strode out first wicket down and was sent packing lbw to Gary Whatman without troubling the scorers unduly. It's his 1st duck of the 1999 season and the 54th of a career that now sits 6th on the all-time roll of 1,243 — a position held with the sort of quiet, dogged consistency most players reserve for actually scoring runs. Nigel is already comfortably established royalty of the zero club: Duck of the Year back in 1986, a fixture in the Homebody Duck top 10, and one half of an Only Two Quacks pairing with the great Jim Hall. And it plainly runs in the blood — parent-child links to both John (90 career ducks) and Daniel (10), siblings Tim (68) and Simon (34) also paid-up members, plus Stuart (1) rounding out a five-strong Thirkell duck dynasty. On this very day back in 1970, Benny Bell (1966–1975, 30 ducks, 25th all-time) also strolled back for nought, against Hythe CC — history repeating itself twenty-nine years on almost to the hour. Elsewhere the other two fixtures of the weekend were, disappointingly, entirely vegan affairs — not a feather ruffled, not a duck to be found. Week in Summary Just the one duck from three matches this time — the flock stayed largely uncaptured. Still, when a duck does show up it shows up with pedigree: 6th on the all-time list is no small feat of anti-achievement. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 - Stewart Morrison — 3 ducks / 16 innings (18.75%) - Jon Harris — 2 ducks / 5 innings (40%) - Piers McDonald — 2 ducks / 9 innings (22.22%) - Daniel Thirkell — 2 ducks / 17 innings (11.76%) - David Lines — 1 duck / 1 innings (100%) Jon Harris is putting in a fearsome shift at a 40% strike rate for nought, while David Lines has opened his season account with a flawless 100% record — nowhere to go from here but down, one hopes. Roll on the next fixture, gentlemen — the middle stump waits for no one, and the Duck Club is always, always recruiting. 🏏0️⃣🦆

Four fixtures on the go this week and the ducks kept it tight — just three fell, and every single one of them wore a 1st XI cap. The 2nds, 3rds and 4th XI came home this week with entirely clean sheets. Make of that what you will. 1st XI Saturday 12th vs Horsmonden CC — Stewart Morrison opened up and departed c A Dilton b Simon Bateup, his 3rd nought of the summer and 25th of an increasingly distinguished career (200 innings, 37th on the all-time list of 1243). Stewart's already a card-carrying member of the Debutante Duck club and sits agonisingly one position shy of the Full House honour — 10 of 11 batting positions blanked, a nearly-man for the ages. Fittingly, on this very day back in 1960 John Abnett (1954–1963) also walked back for nought against Halfway House, en route to 18 career ducks. And keep an eye on brother Phillip Morrison, quietly stacking his own 2 career ducks in the family cabinet. Sunday 13th vs Blue Star CC — a rough one for the top and tail. Piers McDonald went first, bowled Gavin Docwra, his 2nd of the season and 43rd overall — he now stands 13th in the all-time table and is a two-time Duck of the Year (1997, 1998), so this was very much a champion returning to old habits. On this day in 1971 Graham Abel made his own duck against Bobbing Court CC, one of two he'd collect across his career. Then, closing out the innings at number 11, Jon Harris fell c Ron Jerrom b Martin Shuttle for his 2nd of the season — but his 77th career duck, an eye-watering tally that leaves him 2nd on the entire all-time list of 1243. Jon already owns the rare Full House (a duck at every position, 1 to 11), features on the Duck of the Year board in four separate years including this very season of 1999, and carries Quacking Together honours with two different teammates. Genuinely royalty of the zero club. Same 1971 parallel applies here too — Graham Abel keeping him company on this day in history. Ducking clearly runs in the family, with Richard Harris also on the books for 36 of his own. The Other Sides 2nd, 3rd and 4th XI all completed their fixtures without troubling the Duck Club — a rare quiet weekend for three quarters of the club, while the 1st XI did the honours (or dishonours) for everyone. Week in Summary 3 ducks from 4 matches, all inside 24 hours, all in the top order or last man's chair — the middle order got away scot-free this week. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Stewart Morrison — 3 ducks / 14 inn (21.4%) - Jon Harris — 2 ducks / 5 inn (40.0%) - Piers McDonald — 2 ducks / 9 inn (22.2%) - Daniel Thirkell — 2 ducks / 15 inn (13.3%) - David Lines — 1 duck / 1 inn (100.0%) The season race stays wide open. Roll on the next fixture — the zero club never sleeps, and there's always room for one more name on the board. 🏏🍩0️⃣

A grim little Kentish weekend on the road, with two away days conspiring to strip Linton's order bare not once but twice over. Six ducks, three matches, and a couple of very familiar names doing the damage to themselves twice in as many days. 🏏 Saturday — 1st XI away at Leeds & Broomfield CC First to go was Stewart Morrison, caught Daren Hunt bowled A Saul for nought at first drop — his opening duck of the season and 23rd of a career that now sits 39th of 1242 in the all-time table. Stewart remains a Full House nearly-man (10 of 11 positions dishonoured) and a fixture of the Lone Duck top ten. Fittingly, on this very day in 1993 Chris Tymms was doing precisely the same thing to Rumwood CC — quacks echoing down the decades. Daniel Thirkell followed at five, caught D- Cook bowled Sam Harrison — 9th career duck from 108 innings and a Tourist Duck top-ten regular, which tracks given how well-travelled the whole Thirkell clan is (five kin on the books, headlined by 90-duck legend John). Like Stewart, his parallel is Chris Tymms, also blobbing against Rumwood back in 1993. David Lines brought up the hat-trick, run out for nought at ten — his first duck of 1999 and 7th from a brisk 19-innings career, 109th all-time. David is a paid-up Retirement Duck club member from a past farewell, so departing for nothing is very much on brand. Chris Tymms, 1993, keeps him company again. 🌱 Sunday — NVKC away at Underriver CC No rest for the weary. Stewart Morrison was back at it, caught Kimpton bowled Pendered for his 2nd duck of the weekend — a proper pair, taking him to 24 career ducks. His on-this-day companion this time is rather grander company: club top-dog John Thirkell, also ducking on this date in 1967, on his way to a still-unmatched 90. Daniel Thirkell matched him blow for blow, lbw to R Scott, completing his own pair and moving to 10 career ducks. His 1967 parallel is, delightfully, kinsman John Thirkell himself — proof the family duck gene is alive and well. Peter Whyte rounded off Underriver's rout, bowled by R Scott for his first duck of the season and 19th career nought, 49th all-time. He too shares the 1967 vintage with John Thirkell — good company to keep, even in ignominy. 📊 The week in numbers Six ducks, three matches, and two grim pairs — Stewart Morrison and Daniel Thirkell both went twice over the weekend without troubling the scorers, though mercifully neither strayed into king pair territory. Leeds & Broomfield and Underriver both leave Kent having taken full advantage. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Stewart Morrison — 12 inns, 2 ducks, 16.67% 🥈 Daniel Thirkell — 13 inns, 2 ducks, 15.38% 🥉 David Lines — 1 inn, 1 duck, 100% 4️⃣ Roly Edwards — 2 inns, 1 duck, 50% 5️⃣ Dave Charlton — 4 inns, 1 duck, 25% Next fixture looms, and the exclusive zero club never sleeps — bring your bat, or don't bother. 🍩🦆

A quiet weekend on the poultry front, I'm afraid. Three matches played across the club, and not a single stump rattled, edge snicked, or LBW shout upheld for nought. The exclusive zero club held no induction ceremony this week — every Linton bat that walked to the crease found a way to trouble the scorers, however modestly. Make no mistake, this is not cause for celebration. The art of not scoring is a noble pursuit, and a blank weekend is simply three wasted opportunities for immortality. Somewhere out there a first-baller went unrecorded, and the Duck Club is poorer for it. Still, rest assured — this drought is a blip, not a trend. The season is young, the top order is nervous, and Linton's bowlers up and down the leagues will no doubt be back at the coalface next weekend, doing their bit for the cause. 0️⃣🏏 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Roly Edwards — 1 duck / 2 innings (50%) 2. Dave Charlton — 1 duck / 3 innings (33.33%) 3. Jon Harris — 1 duck / 3 innings (33.33%) 4. Tim Thirkell — 1 duck / 5 innings (20%) 5. Piers McDonald — 1 duck / 6 innings (16.67%) Roly Edwards sits handsomely atop the table on a 50% strike rate — the kind of consistency the Duck Club dreams of, even if it's the wrong sort. Tim Thirkell, a name that will echo through Linton's all-time ledger for decades to come, is content to bide his time this early in proceedings. Fixtures continue apace, and somewhere on a Linton square this coming weekend, a batsman is already fated to walk off for nought. We watch. We wait. We celebrate. 🦆🍩

Staplehurst CC came to call this weekend and left with scalps from both ends of the club — four ducks harvested from three fixtures, with the history books opening wide to greet every one of them. Saturday 22 May 1st XI at Staplehurst CC (away) Dave Charlton departed for nought at six, bowled by Colin Breed. His first duck of the summer nudges him to 19 for LPCC in 176 innings, 48th in the all-time roll — level with Alan Boyns (1986-98) and with Tony Snell, who reached the same mark in a mere 58 innings back in 1952-60. Kin note: sibling Sean Charlton trails on a modest 4 career noughts, so the family bragging rights stay firmly with Dave. On this very day in 1955, John Abnett made a duck against Halfway House — the 22nd of May clearly has a taste for these things. Mike Elworthy followed him back at seven, caught G Wyatt bowled K Millen. Season duck number one takes him to 30 career ducks from 283 innings, 26th all-time and a proud member of the Tourist Duck top 10. He joins Benny Bell (1966-75), Ron Hickman (1963-81) and Terry Whittaker (1958-72), all similarly parked on 30. And yes — John Abnett was at it again on this same 22 May in 1955. 2nd XI v Staplehurst CC (home) Tim Thirkell opened the innings and the scoring column stayed shut, run out for nought. His 68th career duck from 684 innings keeps him a lofty 4th on the all-time standings, a Duck of the Year 1972 alumnus and card-carrying member of the Full House, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top 10s. The surname is doing some heavy lifting in this club's ledger — father John Thirkell (90), and siblings Nigel (53) and Simon (34) all keep the family firm in rude health, with Daniel (8) and Stuart (1) also on the books. Jon Harris, in at nine, was bowled by M Apps for his 76th career duck — good enough for 2nd on the all-time list. The honours board groans under his name: Debutante Duck, Duck of the Year in 1976, 1980, 1981 and — rather fittingly — 1999 itself, so the crown for this very season is already his to lose. Also on the Ducks on the Road, Full House, Homebody and Lone Duck top 10s, plus Only Two Quacks company with Allan Cooper and Quacking Together with both Jim Hall and Trevor Back. Kin Richard Harris carries the name forward with 36 career ducks of his own. Naturally, on this same 22 May in 1955, John Abnett was doing exactly the same thing. The third fixture of the weekend kept its ducks firmly under wraps — not a single nought to report. Week in summary: 4 ducks from 3 matches, with Staplehurst CC somehow implicated in every one of them and the calendar itself conspiring to remember 22 May as a day for scoring nothing. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Dave Charlton — 1 duck / 2 inns (50%) - Roly Edwards — 1 duck / 2 inns (50%) - Jon Harris — 1 duck / 3 inns (33.33%) - Tim Thirkell — 1 duck / 4 inns (25%) - Mike Elworthy — 1 duck / 5 inns (20%) Fixtures resume soon — pads on, guards down, the Duck Club awaits its next inductees. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Three fixtures out on the paddock this weekend, three separate chances for the Duck Club to swell its ranks, and — remarkably — not a single nought to show for it. The zero club's own scorers went scoreless. There is a certain irony in that which the committee is choosing not to dwell on. 🏏 The Weekend That Wasn't Across all three Linton matches this period, every batsman who walked to the crease found a way to trouble the scorers, however briefly. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family affairs on the honours board this week — just eleven-a-side after eleven-a-side of batsmen stubbornly declining to offer up the traditional sacrifice. Frankly, it's the kind of discipline that gives the Duck Club a bad name. Some might call this "good batting weather." We prefer to call it a quiet weekend for the exclusive zero club, a place of dubious distinction that has, this once, gone entirely unvisited. Even Duck of the Year contenders will have to wait for their next opportunity — the art of not scoring takes no weekend off lightly, and neither should its practitioners. 📊 Week in Summary Three matches, zero ducks, one entire Duck Club correspondent left twiddling his thumbs. A statistical oddity worth noting, and — dare we say it — mildly concerning for those hoping to make a late charge up the season standings. The hunting season pauses, but it does not close. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Roly Edwards — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 2. Piers McDonald — 4 innings, 1 duck, 25% Roly sits imperiously atop the early standings on a flawless record, the kind of consistency the club can only admire from a respectful distance. Piers lurks just behind, quietly diluting his percentage with the unhelpful habit of occasionally scoring runs. 🍩 Looking Ahead A rare blank weekend for the Duck Club, but rest assured — normal service will resume. With batsmen across every XI evidently having a collective moment of competence, the pressure only builds for next weekend's fixtures to restore order. Pads on, ducks at the ready — the hunting season awaits its next contribution. 0️⃣🦆

Three fixtures out on the county byways this weekend, and the exclusive zero club welcomed exactly two new instalments — a modest harvest, but quality over quantity, as any self-respecting duck hunter will tell you. 🏏 Saturday 8th May 1st XI v Kennington CC, Kent (away) — Piers McDonald strode out at five and was bowled by David Finch for a nought that will trouble no scorers but delight this newsletter greatly. It's his 1st duck of the 1999 season and a stately 42nd for the career, keeping him lodged at 13th of 1241 in the all-time reckoning — rarefied air. Piers arrives with previous form here: back-to-back Duck of the Year honours in 1997 and 1998, plus permanent residency in both the Lone Duck and Tourist Duck top tens, proof that he finds nought with equal facility whether Linton Park is playing host or paying a visit. And in a pleasing quirk of the calendar, on this very day in 1994 Rob Doick (1991–1998) was doing precisely the same thing against Canterbury Pilgrims — the art of not scoring, it seems, has its own anniversaries. 2nd XI v Gerri's XI (home) — Roly Edwards, batting at seven, was caught D Brignall bowled T Knight without so much as troubling the scoreboard operator. His 1st duck of the season nudges him to 13 for the career from 103 innings, good enough for 63rd of 1241 all time. And remarkably — same date, same phantom opponent — this is the very anniversary on which Rob Doick fell to a duck against Canterbury Pilgrims back in 1994. Two Linton men, thirty years and one calendar square apart, both walking back for nothing on 8th May. The third fixture of the weekend, mercifully or otherwise for this column, proved a vegan affair — no ducks to report, all concerned got off the mark. 📊 Week in Summary Two ducks from three matches, both struck on the Saturday, both keeping curious company with a duck laid down on this same date back in 1994. Consistency of a very particular kind. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Roly Edwards — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) 2. Piers McDonald — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) Early days yet in the 1999 campaign, but the leaderboard already has the shape of a proper scrap. Who adds their name next weekend? The club watches, waits, and — as ever — celebrates. 🦆🍩0️⃣

A weekend that will not trouble the honours board. Three fixtures played across the club this weekend and, remarkably, not a single soul was persuaded to walk back for nought. Every bat that took guard found its way to at least one run — a rare and faintly suspicious state of affairs for a club that usually prides itself on its supply of scoreless heroism. The exclusive zero club held no inductions this week. No golden ducks, no pairs, no king pairs, not so much as a Family of Ducks to warm the honours reel. The art of not scoring, it seems, took the weekend off. 🏏 Across the Club All three sides — wherever they were turning out this bank holiday weekend — batted through without incident. Eleven players a side, thrice over, and not a single nought among them. Frankly, a shocking lack of commitment to the cause this early in the season. 📊 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard The 1999 campaign is freshly underway and the honours board is, for now, entirely bare — no ducks logged yet means no leaderboard to report. A blank slate, ripe for the taking. Someone has to be first. 🔮 Looking Ahead Let this early-season drought not lull anyone into a false sense of security. History tells us the Duck Club rarely stays quiet for long — somewhere out there a top edge, a leave that wasn't, or an unplayable jaffa is already being prepared. Get out to the middle next weekend and do your bit for the collection. We watch. We wait. We celebrate — nought. 🦆

A single fixture out on the paddock this week, and — brace yourselves — not a single duck to show for it. All batsmen present and correct, every one of them troubling the scorers, the zero club's doors firmly bolted shut. 🏏 The Match One game played, eleven-plus pairs of pads strapped on, and the dreaded nought evaded capture entirely. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family affairs on the honours board this week — just, rather inconveniently for this column, some actual batting. It happens. Even the most dedicated purveyors of the art of not scoring have their off weeks — off in the sense that they insist on scoring runs. We shall not hold it against them, though we do reserve the right to be a little disappointed on their behalf. 0️⃣ Duck Hunting Season leaderboard The season's young — 25 April, first blood yet to be drawn — and the honours board sits pristine and unblemished. No tallies to report, no percentages to crunch, nobody within reach of Full Membership just yet. A rare and fleeting moment of dignity for the LPCC top order. Enjoy it while it lasts, gentlemen. 🍩 Looking Ahead The exclusive zero club remains, for now, exclusively empty — but cricket has a long memory and an even longer season, and Linton Park's top order has rarely gone two weeks running without someone offering themselves up for ceremonial induction. Openers, middle order, tail — the crease awaits, and so do we. See you all out there next weekend. The ducks won't catch themselves. 🦆🏏