walking wounded

noun

• casualties, as of a military conflict, who are wounded but ambulatory.
• Informal. persons who have been damaged or defeated psychologically or emotionally by their experiences in life.

Word History and Origins

Origin of walking wounded¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

1. The Mighty Greys fielded first. Opening bowlers Chris Fouleton and the inevitably patched up walking wounded Robbie Hoare started well. Chris building pressure with 2 maidens and Robbie finding the inside and outside of the openers bats which were fortunate to go for runs rather than wickets. Chris making the breakthrough having an opener caught in the slips (proper cricket moment) and demonstrating the efficacy of the caught and bowled rather than relying on one’s team mates.
2. Dave Day joined the walking wounded having bowled just one over, tweaking his back reaching down to field a low ball.
3. Does long time Greys stalwart Terry Burgess count as walking wounded? He certainly runs between the wicket as if he is. Perhaps it is just age? Anyway, his first spell was garbage (only “bettered” by Duncan’s 2 overs going for 27). But found his “groove” and bowled much better in his second spell.
4. Despite his offseason “couch to 5km” running training, Chiefy looked and fielded like the walking wounded/walking dead – a particularly memorable moment was his running round in circles grabbing at the air multiple times in an “attempt” at catching a ball dollied up to him at mid-wicket. However, he bowled well, finishing his marathon spell of 9 overs with 3-51.
5. Inevitably, Robbie Hoare added to the walking wounded when dislocating his shoulder diving to save a four on the boundary (proper cricketing injury). Cuckfield ended their innings with an imposing 253.
6. The Mighty Greys carried on their bowling form into their batting with Jerry and Biff bowled by inswingers and Bumbo Ashton joining the walking wounded by putting his back out stretching for a ball outside off stump.
7. Walking wounded Dave Day recovered sufficiently to build a solid 79 run partnership with Duncan “the clunk” – who smashed his first ball for four straight down the ground (proper cricket – PSM). Greys former “whipper snapper” James Hoare followed suit swinging his bat for a quick fire and “edgy” 5.
8. The Greys innings petered out as Ben and Terry fell caught behind and at slip from the fearsome pace of Meader. Chris and Chief put on a brave stand but the Greys were finally put to the sword at 135 all out. As the walking wounded ruminated over the day’s play in the pub, Biff summed up, “Greysmen may be immortal but we can be maimed”.

Statto’s report
The sound of one hand stat-ing.
After a tremendous season starter The Mighty Greys came crashing (quite literally in some cases) back to earth. In the season’s stats Chris F (aka Axel) sets the pace in the bowling and is also throwing his weight around in the other charts as well. The only one in which he’s not in with a shout, at the moment, is the new and very hotly contested Sidnell-Hoare Award (ouch!).
In the lifetimes nada…
Next week it’s off to the bright lights of Surrey, and Horley…good luck to the skipper for getting a team together as Greysmen troop dejectedly towards the knackers yard…