One of the veterans from
the mid Eighties, Adrian just keeps rolling on, arm getting lower each year in relation to
the waistline getting larger. It's all a question of balance, you see,
and he rarely manages to keep his. Without alcohol. Actually won the
bowling award in 1990 and since then it's been downhill all the way -
that's the end he prefers
to bowl from these days. Given up on his his claim to have lost weight - by doing his
trouser-belt up a couple of notches he WAS the "Michelin man." Held the
prestigious "You're Shit - aarrgghh! award" for three years running, a club
record. He says that's enough (see below).
The
original "Trigger" appendage came about for raising his index finger whilst
umpiring, allegedly before the bowler had lodged an appeal. Garbage, the ball WAS on line
and the batsman was NOT six feet down the wicket. Just don't ask the batsman
(Paul "Doc" Bates for the
record), that's all. On the other hand another of his nick-names, "Barripper" is
the name of a Cornish team we played on tour in 1998. No, it makes no sense to us, being
another Tim Lamb creation but
everyone uses it anyway....
Announced
his intention to spin for WECC in 2000. This proved a wholly successful strategy right up
to bowling his first ball of the season. As such, by the end of the tour (ie the first
two
games of the SEASON) he had staked his claim for the "Your Shit -
AARRGGHH!" award for THE rotten over of the year: 25 and counting
(a single, tree fours and two sixes), just waiting for that last six (or is
it twelve) to come down in the adjoining field. Video footage
of this unique event exists, with Jason Walliker
giving his totally encouraging commentary! After this, he reverted to medium-pace swing
and cut, which vastly reduced his average to about 36.00. Never mind, the award he set his
heart on never winning again was once again his. Now bowls at a
directionally-challenged medium pace on the basis that if the bowler
doesn't know where the ball is going, what chance does the batsman?
At
the 2000 Annual Awards Evening, Adrian was presented with a limited edition, cut-glass
book from the Hundredth Test at Lords (which England amazingly won) in recognition of his work for
the club. |