Cricket Diary: A Weeks R&R

A much needed week off from anything other than walking the dogs and some stretching gave me the opportunity (well no excuse really) to get some jobs done around the house, which is actually a good way of gauging how well my body has done over the winter.

My knees in particular benefitted from a rest after all the cricket nets, with the Staffordshire Cricket, Birmingham Unicorns and Milford Hall ones in particular being tough on them (will not be doing anywhere near as many next winter!). I took a few days off stretching which was good for my body but reinforced that my body needs stretching every day. The main issue now is the lack of elasticity in the body. I have a better range of mobility and movement than for years (literally 20+), I am much stronger in the legs and core, and I really don’t have any injury issues that will get any better (other than my shoulder/arm and that may never improve). Yes I should fitter in general and lose weight, but that will improve a little over the summer hopefully and will be the priority for next winter. For now the focus is to keep stretching and hope that once I start playing the actual game movements help loosen up a few parts.

My plan for the week was to not pick up a bat at all, and as far as playing or practising I didn’t BUT I did spend a lot of time knocking in two new bats:

Huge thank you to Gray Nicolls for the donation of this beauty to our No Boundaries Cricket Club kit bag to be used by girls and women

I was gifted this beauty, and after much deliberation (5 seconds), stuck a grip on and added it to my already over complicated kit bag. After all I do have the matching pads and gloves already!!

My own playing situation this season took a few small steps forward. I reluctantly informed Barlaston Cricket Club that I would not be playing this year. Although inevitable it was a tough decision and one that I didn’t enjoy making. The reality is that as they only field two teams on a Saturday and have such a wealth of great juniors now playing senior cricket I was not going to be considered on a Saturday. I could have played on a Sunday but I need to be realistic and until I know a) if I am playing Staffs Seniors on a Tuesday and b) how my body reacts I can’t consider playing every Sunday. I am very grateful indeed for the way they welcomed be back, have a lot to thank Phil and Peter Taylor for and fully intend to go and watch some games with my parents, who plan on going still most weekends whilst Mum can.

I also accepted a couple more invitations to guest in charity games to help them and raise the profile of No Boundaries at the same time.

That’s it for positive news though! I have not found a new club to play on Saturdays although for some reason or another I am not short of offers! Little weird really but three clubs have said that would like me to play which is a pleasant experience but at the same time a little (OK very) surprising. I have pre season games on 14th and 16th of April, a Staffordshire Seniors squad game on the 19th after which (weather permitting) I will have a better view on what I can do.

Staffordshire Seniors is not looking overly hopeful at the moment, although that depends on who I am talking to. I am very relaxed about what happens this year, but being told that the age limit for the Over 70’s friendlies on a Monday was very relaxed did not fill me with too much hope that I was going to be playing on a Tuesday anytime soon!

Still the sun has started to shine a little, the county season has started, the garden is all ready for what summer we have so time to ‘switch off’ enjoy the Bank Holiday and hopefully start some outdoor training on Monday followed by a T20 pre season in London on Friday.