JCL Grand Final 30 October 2011

By Kris Bayne

Deep into the 2011 season our path looked destined for anything but a Grand Final. After a historic, fighting win in 2010 to capture our first JCL Crown AND first ever win over arch-rivals, Tokyo Wombats, the Shark’s prospects for a chance to defend it looked about as exciting as a week of yude-dofu, straight. But some forfeits and a strong showing in the final stages gained us a semi finals berth. And there, a Sancheti-fuelled, you-shall-NOT-pass win against the undefeated Wyverns now sees the Chiba Sharks take on Sano in the 2011 J.C.L Grand Final.

Every Shark who could play wanted in on this one, but the cricketing XI is a sacred number, and not all can be thus anointed. Not for us the crowded special teams, the mindless hootings of sideline minions, nor the linguistic affront of OFFence or DEfense line-ups. There is no bench. No subs. No tactile, prefunctional, grudging half-praise liaison at a touch line. No self-gratifying end-zone gyration. No ball-grasping air time sightbites. We don’t slam. We don’t rotate. We play cricket. And he who plays for the Chiba Sharks plays up, and plays on. That is the way.

The squad for the 2011 JCL Grand Final is:

Patrick Giles-Jones (Australia) (Captain)

Christopher Thurgate (Australia) (Vice Captain)

Anton Lloyd-Williams (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Keiichi Warabi (Japan)

Varun Sancheti (India)

David Lollback (Australia)

Sagar Waghunde (India)

Ubaidus Sobhan Sayeed (Bangladesh)

Charles Steinhardt (United States of America)

Mohammad ‘Sumon’ Razaul Haque (Bangladesh)

Prashant Kale (India)

12th Man: Kris Bayne (Australia)

It has been a season where our 2010 stars have been missing or underdone. But others have stepped up in their stead. We have had our Achilles. Our butterfingers and blowout of wides and extras. And only a Shark knows how to collapse in such spectacular fashion… But… Who will be the hero? The vital wicket taker. The player of the defining ‘knock’. The taker of that game-breaking catch. We had them in 2010. Who’s turn is it?

Let it be yours.

Take no prisoners.

Take the chance.

Take the prize!