Commiserations to Sharktail - although congratulations on your newly gained Associate status. Hopefully you can get some pride back in the second Test, you more than deserve it. Thanks for the help with the scorecard too!
Good luck to everyone else for the final round, as well - it's been a good season, and hopefully we've gained a few new RPers.
Good luck to everyone else for the final round, as well - it's been a good season, and hopefully we've gained a few new RPers.
PLOUGH ISLANDS CRICKET ASSOCIATION
XI FOR SEC'D TEST AGAINST SHARKT'L
PLAYER BAT BOW
BK Scarbeck RHB
II Postukhov RHB
SLC Weaver RHB RLB
A Whittall RHB ROB
KCT Laing (c) RHB RMD
AC Leggett RHB RLB
OD Fedorov LHB
IT Lebed (w) LHB
DV Andreyev RHB RMF
S Ashe RHB ROB
NA Salisbury LHB SLA
IRONWORKS GROUND (PITCH MOD.: -1)
in the 2022 edition of their handbook, the Plough Islands Cricket Association wrote:IRONWORKS GROUND, REDCLIFF
Chimneys End (north), Pavilion End (south) ☭ ~11 500 capacity ☭ -1 to -2 style modifiers (first-class)
Twelve kilometres upstream from the port of Marsh, set into the hillside of the country's highest point, and surrounded by nickel and iron ore mines, Redcliff city is the the industrial capital of the Plough Islands, and the mist in the sky above the Ironworks Ground is heavy with the acrid scent of creation. Despite all this, though, the name of the ground is something of an artifact; the iron works itself moved operations to a much-celebrated modern, efficient facility east of the city centre in 1989, and many of the old brick buildings either made way or were incorporated into what has become one of the biggest and best-equipped workers' recreation and welfare complex in the country, with the cricket ground at its heart.
The redevelopment also saw what was one of the Harrison Cup's most cramped outfields turn into one of its most open, although due to the addition of a nets and practice area to the southeast of the square, the midwicket/third man boundary can be several metres longer than the rest of the perimeter. The 'new' sides on the north and east are also considerably more comfortable for spectators, with unobstructed sightlines and more space to roam compared to the early 20th century pavilion and western stands, which shelter people on two tiers from within an intricate wrought iron framework. The two halves of the ground are connected to each other and the rest of the complex by an often confusing network of corridors and interconnected rooms, with new batters unfamiliar with the ground as likely to end up in the sanatorium baths as the pavilion entrance.
While most visiting teams will still regard the slow outfield and spongy grass as being a spinner's track, the Ironworks Ground has a reputation within the cricket community in the Plough Islands as the fastest pitch in the country, and this is largely due to location. Redcliff is high enough to escape the pervasive sea fog, and far enough inland to be sheltered from extreme weather; this drier microclimate, and meticulous preparation by the Cricket Board of Redcliff, generally allow for longer and higher scoring innings and an environment in which the relatively few in number pace bowlers of the islands can thrive, especially at the start of a match.
This is a place of high scoring matches; the first Test at the ground saw the Foxes hold the then top-ranked Liventians to a high scoring draw, and indeed in four Tests the Plough Islands are unbeaten at Redcliff. Only Krytenia, thanks to a six-for from fast bowling all-rounder Gavin Udall, have managed to come away from the Ironworks Ground with victory (in the 60th Anniversary one-day series), and as the highest capacity ground in the country outside of Sutton, the national team have always enjoyed significant support when playing here.
