I cannot remember the team we were playing but I do remember we were playing on our home ground at the former Banyule High School. Trace Bakker who had taken up cricket at the relatively old age of 21 and single handedly was responsible for one of the worst smells I'd ever smelt, was fielding at point. (Trace's flatulence one pre-season night had cleared the indoor cricket- training centre in Eltham. I'll never forget the sight of fully-grown men from our club and some other unfortunate club walking around the centre holding their jumpers up to their faces and over their heads in an effort to curb the stench. Not too surprisingly the centre closed a short while afterwards.)

The batsman facing the second over of the day played a half hearted cut shot that should have been easily taken by Trace. I'm pretty sure Trace would admit he was daydreaming and closed his hands too early as he fell forward. The ball hit the back of both of his thumbs and ballooned into the air. Trace fell face down on the ground thinking he'd grassed a simple and straight - forward chance. It was then that the ball came down and landed between his shoulder blades, rolled down his spine and rocked to and fro in the small of his back before coming to rest. The team shouted at Trace to lay still. Our 'keeper Paul Carroll ran across and raised the ball to the umpire who dutifully gave the poor bewildered batsman out.