Afghan II: First In

Batting at four this bat was the first to see action. Regularly ‘in contact’ during a 50-day patrol, games of cricket and pop quizzes were regularly played in-between enemy engagements to enhance morale. Being in direct voice communication with Al Qaeda and Taliban commanders (through interpreters using Motorola radios) enemy combatants were regularly heard commenting on our prowess with the cricket bat, sledging us from the mountains. We invited them down from the hills to play us in a game, but they declined. Unfortunate for them as we bombed them later that night – they should have got one more game in. Note the numerous hat-trick takers.