Cricket Diary: Aspirations & Targets

Anticipation and apprehension mount in equal measures as the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions means that at Penkridge Cricket Club we have our first training session of the season scheduled for Thursday (apprehension), a working party on Saturday to tidy up the nets (party! what do I wear??) and on Sunday my first net is scheduled (anticipation).

In the meantime it will be another week focussed on the bike, running, walking, general exercise and batting in front of the mirror, which is not as easy as it sounds when you are trying to suck your gut in so you wont look too stupid in the latest fashion for skin tight whites: oh for the days of a normal white everyday shirt, baggy flannels and a BIG sweater!

Seriously though I do need a very good two weeks as although I have made good progress since my decision last year on my fitness and old injuries, I have not exactly “killed it’ during Lockdown and I reckon at best I am 6/10 and I need to be 8/10 before the season starts. Thursday will be a good test of where I am at as I have not caught a cricket ball either off the bat or thrown at me by someone else for 33 years: ditto thrown one or fielded one. At times I think I am mad and it will all be one big embarrassment, but then I look on You Tube at the many club cricket clips and I don’t feel so bad!

I have never been very good at just seeing how things go so whilst my Day 1 target is to get on the pitch, survive a full day and be picked again, I also have one eye on Staffordshire Cricket’s Over 60s team! I think this is a reasonable target, but until I get onto the pitch I wont know.

Of course I need to get selected which first means I need to spend time with other club members and captains so they can form an opinion, so Thursday is not only a first practice session it also feels very much like an initial assessment.

For now though 3 more sleeps until training and 6 more sleeps until nets start.

In other news …….

I am pleased that my suggestion for an annual NHS Heroes charity day has received positive comments and support and is being discussed by the committee at Penkridge Cricket Club on the 13th April and I have started to receive some sponsorship pledges as also mentioned in my supporting the NHS this season post.

I have spent the last couple of weeks getting up to date with my cricket reviews of bats, pads, guards, helmets, gloves and bags! I have ended up with way far too much stuff, partly because I am a big kid with an addictive personality but also due to the kindness of Gray-Nicolls, Masuri and a mate who plays the game professionally. I have even spent the endless hours on the bike working out how I will use it all split between nets and match days, so subject to selection it should all get used.

You will probably all be busy sitting in the garden with friends this week, but if you still have some time to kill pre season then why not catch up on previous diary posts.

And finally ….. the ground is being worked on at Penkridge and looks great

Thank You

Gray-Nicolls are generously providing financial support to this diary and my return to cricket for the 2021 Season.