Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: uknsaunders on October 20, 2015, 08:53:31 AM
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Though I sometimes joke about my usefulness to my team, I like to think I have played enough to know what I can and can't do. I also like to think I realistic, to the point of appearing reluctant, about who should be doing what in front of me. To be fair I think most CBF members I have played with are the same. Anybody think they are probably better or worse than they are? Maybe been a bit of a pain in the (No Swearing Please) when stating their ability to the skipper, "give me the ball, I'll get them out" or the guy who has all the ability but hides a bit because of others?
Probably a bit easier to discuss is anybody who is totally deluded about there cricketing abilities at your club - @Simmy no Bindman talk just yet lol!
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I personally think I am a superstar. But in reality I am a fat keeper batsman that can catch and can't bat lol as I have proved this year. But made me laugh when Asians lads used to come to play at Headingley saying they batted and bowled. And they look like they have never played the game
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Think everyone becomes a better cricketer after a few beers! That simple waist high catch suddenly turns into a blinding one hander for the ages.
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Hahahahahahahaha!!!! I am all over this thread!!!
I find it best to seriously down-play my abilities with the ball, so that when freakish wicket-taking delivery and the rare unplayable spell happens, it comes as a pleasant surprise to everyone.
I've also been playing in the lower levels long enough now to see most self-professed 'superstars' look like dicks - particularly in batting it seems!
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having played a higher level when younger and could bowl I know I'm useless now compared to then which gets frustrating at times as I think back to when I had wheels thinking I'd like to knock this guy on his backside with a short one but now at my pace he would loose the ball haha
weirdly having dropped 5-6 leagues I see more deluded players lower down than in the higher leagues
more big fish small pond people who think they should be worshipped as they get 30-40 wickets a season at their level but wont move up a standard as they like being the big fish
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This is a question I ask myself at the end of each season!
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I think I'm fairly realistic. Im not as good a batsman as I used to be, I am definitely a slower runner and a weaker thrower. However, my bowling has got better. My 7 league wickets this season is testament to the lethal I swinging Yorker I bowl accidently..
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This is a really good question actually!
Nowadays, I think I'm pretty realistic - I know I used to be pretty decent(*), but that I'm well on to the sticky slope toward eventual retirement now - I'm still confident that I can score runs at the level my club plays, but I no longer think I could do much of a job higher up, I know I'll catch most things at slip, but wouldn't even try to delude myself that I'm anything but a liability in the outfield.
* this is actually a more interesting one given some of our ages - the question of how realistic we are about our former abilities. I don't bowl nowadays, have not done so since having my knee and shoulder reconstructed almost twenty years ago. Before that, I know I was pretty decent - 30-50 league wickets a year in a very decent league - but I'm sure that with every passing year the glasses become slightly rosier in their tint - I probably bowled mid-high 70s at my best, but it feels now like I must have been pushing 90 :)
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Isn't this the question!
I'm still young (20) which theoretically gives me plenty of time to develop and become a better cricketer. In ten years time or so I could be really quite good. But I'm at the age where some counterparts are pulling away from me now, and I can feel a slow decline into mediocrity. Stupidly, I think the hardest thing for me to grasp is that I won't make it at high standard (very deluded) like minor counties or the like. Still, it isn't all bad! I scored my first 100 last year, and I hope that with a full season of games I'd become quite good.
I guess I already think I'm quite good (deluded), but in reality the mental side of my game is all over the place. At least I can field, right???
I can't be the only one here who has considered emigrating abroad in the hope of finding international cricket, right? :P
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I was fairly deluded when I was younger, I think it was the frustration of seeing lads I played representative cricket with go on and play first class and international cricket (if they can why can't I? etc). Now I'm older and wiser(?) I've accepted my ability and now just enjoy playing with a good bunch of lads at a decent standard. I'm still young enough to improve aspects of my game but old enough to know it's not the end of the world knowing that there are players who are better than I am.
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I think I'm crap!
My club has 6 league sides now, but it was 5 when I came through the ranks. I went from 5th XI ornament to 2nd XI regular in a season.
The 1st team were short for a pre season friendly, and being keen for some cricket I played. I took 2-29 off 5 bowling my spin at the death and on the back of that I've been in the 2s ever since.
Basically an opportunity came up, I took it and proved I wasn't a total donkey and the rest is history.
All that said I still think of myself as a 5th XI player done good
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To me it's a breath of fresh air when I play with somebody who knows they are rubbish and is honest about it. Stuff like, "don't worry about giving me a game, I would rather we win" makes captaining alot easier.
However, cricket seems to attract people who overstate their ability. We played a Sunday game this season where the oppo kindly lent us a player. That should always set alarm bells ringing, any team travelling with 12 and happy to give you Mr X must be up to something. The guy seemed fine until he eventually got into bat. We have 5 overs left and 6 wickets in hand and he proceed to block every ball apart from the last one of the over. He would poke it straight at a fielder and run, almost running the non striker out in the process. We accumulated 4 in 4 overs before we eventually got out. When we fielded he was at the captain all the time for a bowl. He invented nicknames for everyone after being on the field for 5 minutes. Finally, having pretty much secured a win, we let him bowl the last over. They still needed 19 to win but had some half decent batsman been out there then the first 3 balls would of gone for 6. The guy tried to bowl left arm spin but his bowling arm just flopped all over the place and some massive grenade popped out. We were right on one side of the square and it was only 40 yards to the leg side boundary. I'm not sure how we weren't picking the ball out of the field, apart from the batsman almost giving himself a hernia trying to mow it. He did eventually get the tailender, caught on the boundary fourth ball. We were lucky, he lived to far away and didn't drive so he couldn't play for us anymore.
It does make me wonder what goes through some peoples minds! I like to think you benchmark yourself against your peers. If you are scoring hundreds of runs then you warrant a place up the order, same for taking wickets. Stats never tell the full story but you have to have some nerve to demand a place in the top 6 if you average 1.48!
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Stupidly, I think the hardest thing for me to grasp is that I won't make it at high standard (very deluded) like minor counties or the like.
I think this is a problem for many people. Understanding how good you can be. As a rule of thumb, if you bowl pace or bat then by the time you are 30 you will be at your peak. If that's Div 6 village then don't expect to get much higher. Many players reinvent themselves, ie bowl spin and become more useful cricketers later on in life. Ultimately though, it is a downward curve. Possibly hardest on those who have played briefly at a good level and think in later years they still warrant a place in the 1st/2nd XI's.
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I have zilch confidence in my own abilities. But I big myself up, I am the type of person who bigs myself up to others to cover up the insecurities, almost trying to fool myself. But a pat on the back and a well done now and again makes me happy and peps me up, to make me think I'm not too bad.
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I think this is a problem for many people. Understanding how good you can be. As a rule of thumb, if you bowl pace or bat then by the time you are 30 you will be at your peak. If that's Div 6 village then don't expect to get much higher. Many players reinvent themselves, ie bowl spin and become more useful cricketers later on in life. Ultimately though, it is a downward curve. Possibly hardest on those who have played briefly at a good level and think in later years they still warrant a place in the 1st/2nd XI's.
I agree entirely. I'm coming round to the concept of enjoying the game now, which is a start I think. :)
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I know im rubbish but would like to be 10 times the player i am. I was pretty epic at Brian Lara cricket on the megadrive though
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Very!!
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To me it's a breath of fresh air when I play with somebody who knows they are rubbish and is honest about it. Stuff like, "don't worry about giving me a game, I would rather we win" makes captaining alot easier.
That's always my attitude - if you are really desperate I'll play, but pick your best players first. I turned down some games early season as we hadn't lost and I wanted the guys to keep the run going as long as possible.
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Im old and slow. Reaction speed is terrible. Im playing low grade turf one day cricket and i hope to average 20 batting 1-4 and take 10-15 wickets. I train two nights a week and know I am there to fill the bottom two teams even though i was asked to open in the b grade. I enjoy cricket still and like playing the game win, lose or draw, but i play to win and play in the spirit of the game.
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hmmm. good thread, judging by some of the comments I see on here there's certainly some who must of played a very high standard.. :)
personally i'm now finding a home in the thirds at close to 50 years old. Or as Manormanic referred to it 'the stiffs'
so i'm not much good nowadays and have just had the worst season ive ever had-no amount of different bats changed anything
but I was good, and hold the club record for number of runs in a season, and the club has been going since 1935.That record still stands today.
But now, past it and just enjoy the game(or try to) !
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Great thread this! I think it touches onto some intersting psychology. I think I could have been (and maybe still can be in my dotage) miles better than my stats say I am (but then maybe we all think that!!!), if only I had a bit of the innate self-confidence that good batters have. I've not got great hand-eye coordination however I think I understand the game well and got a good self-taught technique considering the level I've always played at. Every now and then, if I really nail a shot without any effort, I think THAT'S the player I can be. Instead most of the time I tend to beat myself up if I play and miss or I can't hit a c**p bowler off the square, at times like that I forget I'm meant to be playing for fun. I think we need to delude ourselves a bit to give us that self-confidence, though there’s nothing worse than bigging yourself up in front of your club-mates/opponents.
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Meh, don't really care as long as I have fun. Can get embarrassing occasionally
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Great thread this! I think it touches onto some intersting psychology. I think I could have been (and maybe still can be in my dotage) miles better than my stats say I am (but then maybe we all think that!!!), if only I had a bit of the innate self-confidence that good batters have. I've not got great hand-eye coordination however I think I understand the game well and got a good self-taught technique considering the level I've always played at. Every now and then, if I really nail a shot without any effort, I think THAT'S the player I can be. Instead most of the time I tend to beat myself up if I play and miss or I can't hit a c**p bowler off the square, at times like that I forget I'm meant to be playing for fun. I think we need to delude ourselves a bit to give us that self-confidence, though there’s nothing worse than bigging yourself up in front of your club-mates/opponents.
That is me.
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An interesting theme how many people enjoy the game more as they get older. I can empathise - when I was "good" at 17-21 I pretty much hated cricket a lot of the time because I was playing to "prove myself", and not always to myself - I got to the stage that when I wrecked my knee and was told that I'd miss a season, I nearly cried with relief.
Now, I'm "average" - I have good days, bad days and definite limitations. But I play with ten guys I get on with, mostly on nice grounds, mostly against decent opposition and have a laugh along the way and....its good. If I retired tomorrow, I wouldn't miss the stiffness the next morning or the muscle strains, but I'd miss the craic.
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I'm rubbish and I know I am. I can't seem to get off the mark at the crease and my bowling is an excuse for whoever's batting in the nets to go for a bit of a slog (flight attracts sloggers i've found). What gets on my nerves is that I know that I can take wickets in games if i'm just given a chance but never get given the ball. When asked by the stand in first XI skipper last year what I can do, the proper skipper (serving a 10 game suspension at the time) chirped up with "he fields well" so at least that's a positive.
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Very guilty of telling our skipper 'bring me back on, I'll get this muppet out' in one match this season when one bat was smashing us absolutely everywhere! Although in fairness it only took me three balls to get him bowled.
Clocked at 79mph when I was 15, sadly after a couple of seasons a few years ago playing as a specialist batsman fell into bad habits and now I'm sending them down at 70ish. 40 wickets this season but not bowling how Id like to be still, bit guilty of thinking I'm a bit quicker than I am (isn't every seamer?)
Sorted some bowling coaching, first session saw big action improvements straight away but then I broke my leg. Hoping to carry on with it once I'm healed and bowl like my brain remembers I can next year!
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Id like to think Im quite open about my ability. Im a batsman now due to injuries and mobility, but in my head im still a bowler who bats. I feel a million dollars when ive got runs or im hitting the ball well (soft hands when I play the ball later), loose shrapnel when im feeling out of nick (hard hands, trying to get bat on everything). I am always thinking that I shouldnt open as there are better batsman around but when I get off the mark and away I try to think that I need to bat all afternoon.
I think most of us on here would like to think we have a good captaincy brain and can work people out as a form of both attack and defence.
I would like to think im a good team player. I am unlikely to top the batting charts but will be handy.
One thing that I will stand up and say is slip catching off spinners is the best part of our fielding innings. Love the concentration. Our seamers havent found an edge in years!!
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An interesting theme how many people enjoy the game more as they get older. I can empathise - when I was "good" at 17-21 I pretty much hated cricket a lot of the time because I was playing to "prove myself", and not always to myself - I got to the stage that when I wrecked my knee and was told that I'd miss a season, I nearly cried with relief.
Now, I'm "average" - I have good days, bad days and definite limitations. But I play with ten guys I get on with, mostly on nice grounds, mostly against decent opposition and have a laugh along the way and....its good. If I retired tomorrow, I wouldn't miss the stiffness the next morning or the muscle strains, but I'd miss the craic.
Reminds me of a former team-mate of a few seasons ago. Played England age-group and minor counties but evidently found it all too serious and gave it up in his 20s. Didn't pick up a bat for 25 years or so but got badgered by his missus to play for his local village team to get him out of the house at weekends. Fantastic batsman with timing to die for, and playing alongside blokes not worthy to tie his shoelaces (though was always very complimentary about my ability :)), but not an arrogant bone in his body, absolutely the opposite of the stereotype in this thread. Just played for fun, though horrifically injury-prone.
Mind you I've met other guys who used to be "good" and go on and on about it...
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Im phenomenal, a freak of cricket! Actual fact, im a very average cricketer, who just plays to enjoy being with his mates on a saturday afternoon, and happen to have managed to become a half decent off spinner! I just enjoy social and beer which happens to work well with cricket!
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Personally I'm starting to realise I'm not as good or consistent as I used to be, 2012 I played 45 odd games over the last 3 seasons I haven't played 45 games in total. Had confidence knocked a bit last year actually being dropped from both the 1st and 2nd team for a new club I joined since moving to Suffolk.
I'm still a decent player, personally think my days as an opening bat and keeper are done, and maybe keeping kit should be retired but know at div 1 or 2 I can do a job at top if the innings and need to focus again on bowling when needed. Like has been said maybe some of this comes with age. I'm 32 and every day still wish it was cricket season but for the first time I'm generally just thinking about playing sat only and T20 cricket. I'm not sure if this is me feeling sorry for myself having a really rough season last year or because I didn't make the impact I would have liked to make at a new club and maybe just maybe I'm bit as good as I think I am!!
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Quite old now in cricketing terms can't run that fast in the field or between the wickets but eyes still good feet movement good Okay for to bat for 30 overs at the top of the order before concentration and stamina goes.
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I'm in transition, was a medium pace economy bowler and low order tonker, injuries have forced a change and last season was moved up order (1-4) and medium pace is now slow dibbly dobbly. Batting got better as season went on, bowling started well, but as I was used less and less it went very downhill. Captain wants me to focus on opening the batting and not bowling, which I understand because I sucked last season, but will see how I do at nets, see if I can get my shoulders working. I did notice as I struggled with my bowling my fielding improved, trying harder to make up for poor bowling.
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Had a decent eye when I was younger, and a good fielder that could bowl a decent in swinging Yorker .
But lacked patience when batting
Still play coulda shoulda woulda, but the pasts the past.
Still love playing, and will carry on as long as my optometrist and chiropractor can keep me playing
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Reminds me of a former team-mate of a few seasons ago. Played England age-group and minor counties but evidently found it all too serious and gave it up in his 20s. Didn't pick up a bat for 25 years or so but got badgered by his missus to play for his local village team to get him out of the house at weekends. Fantastic batsman with timing to die for, and playing alongside blokes not worthy to tie his shoelaces (though was always very complimentary about my ability :)), but not an arrogant bone in his body, absolutely the opposite of the stereotype in this thread. Just played for fun, though horrifically injury-prone.
Mind you I've met other guys who used to be "good" and go on and on about it...
Ah for me it wasn't the standard - highest I played was a few County U19 games that were nowhere near as impressive as they sound (I was a squad player after the professional Academy had taken nine out of consideration, so the equivalent of a good county U19 3rd XI player!) and a bit of NYSD D1 & Northern Prem on a few quid a game. It was more the constant expectation (I was better at rugby and it was even worse there), the feeling that you'd never quite been good enough.
That's enough of my complex psyche though!
As for going on about it, I occasionally give our lads some stick about how many runs I've scored for the club - best guess I must be pushing 20k now - but that's my post injury, fun career as a batsman with twenty variations on the forward defensive. I can't say too much about my earlier days as a quickie because, well, they only know me as the broken down old lad who can't even turn his arm over anymore. I kinda like it that way! :D
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Incidentally, am I the only one having this discussion and feeling suddenly a whole lot better about the game?
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In all honesty i was never good enough to play 1st 11 at my club, but saw myself as a good 2nd team player. Nowadays i'm really not great, but play in the 3rds to help the club. I'd like to think my experience of 25 years league cricket helps our kids to be better, but of course they know better!
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Accessing my ability wasn't hard but what really is hard is to keep it current and accept it. In my head I am a early 20 something fit guy but reality is I am older with lots of injuries and not half as good as I once was :(
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I like to think I realistic about my own and others ability tbh. The reasons I think so is because I've come to the game late ( 2009) and couldn't bat (basically had the moo and that's it) and couldn't land the ball on the wicket. By the end of 2009 I'd got 34 wickets and could bowl (probably around 70mph but could swing /seam it almost at will). Did my knee in 2010 winter so missed 2010 season totally and went from 22 selection fitness to fat codger. Obviously with no knee, no fitness and lost pace I couldn't bowl so learnt to bat.
Since 2011 I've basically been like the 13yr old youth at your club and am now like 18 in my development. Will I ever reach the potential I obviously have?? Nah, doubt it as the body will let me down but I enjoying trying to be as good as I can while learning as I go. I'm joe average IMO, to me people in the premier leagues should be nearly pro class but sadly the level just isn't that high so it's quite disappointing to see he lack of quality around. I think I'd make an average prem class opener in another year or so but don't see the point of doing it as all it means is pressure and I starting to want to just play for fun.
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In all honesty i was never good enough to play 1st 11 at my club, but saw myself as a good 2nd team player. Nowadays i'm really not great, but play in the 3rds to help the club. I'd like to think my experience of 25 years league cricket helps our kids to be better, but of course they know better!
Jump in the car with @Maverick79 and have a change next year ;)
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One minute I'm deluded the next minute I'm rubbish, but since having kids I've been able to add some perspective. I'm enjoying cricket more now than I ever have, just wish I had the time to play as many games I could when in my 20s.
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Iam 33 now and in all my years of cricket it only takes one ball to get out and one ball to get some one out if you enjoy your cricket no matter what level you play at cricket has a funny way of comeing back to bite you
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im a very happy village cricketer. i usually open the batting and know i will have 2-3 match winnings in the season. i bolw medium pace and get a few wickets and dont go for many runs.
i know im never to to play at a high standard and i enjoy playing in my local league
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I am tad perplexed on this. I know I was terrible and have improved since I started playing club cricket (in 2009), but I am still not good enough as I think I can become better. Few guys know me how I was in the beginning and how I am now who have helped me tremendously, in particular @Buzz and @roco
I practice with those who play top level of club cricket in Canada (or North America). Maybe seeing them I am deluded but then I wish to try and fail rather fail by not trying.
I just try to enjoy cricket. I pay to play, and play where I'm picked. As long as I make some runs and help the team win then that's enough. I have enough worries in real life to add to the load where crickets concerned.
My favourite post of all time.
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In my head I am a early 20 something fit guy but reality is I am older with lots of injuries and not half as good as I once was :(
Lol, I know what you mean @tushar sehgal . Since I started back at the gym last year, I've found I regained a couple of yards of pace and it showed this summer, where I was actually being begged to play for one of the first times in my life! I think they were just short... Still, nice to know that at nearly 40 I am still considered good enough to play 2s level cricket...
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I live off past glories, still bat in the top 6 despite not making a score over 50 (plenty of 30's and 40's!)for three seasons because I hold the club record for most runs in a season and a couple of other batting records. Truth is my batting has been rubbish for 3-4 seasons but my team still believes I'm one of the best top order players we have and we don't play a high standard and I don't feel like I'm a worse batsman than the guys below me in the order so I haven't asked to be moved. Although saying that I was skipper last year and did demote myself from nailed on number 4 down to 5/6 most weeks and played as an all rounder, did top our wickets tally though :)
Should point out due to work commitments I've only played midweek T20 for the past 7 years.
TL;DR: I suck and always have (probably always will) but I get to play twice a week with a group of my oldest mates and we win more than we lose (just) and get to go for a pint afterwards on what other wise would be very boring Wednesday/Thursday nights.
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I am well past my peak. In the good old days i used to be an attacking middle order batsman. I played both 40 and 20 over games. Took a break for 2 years due to marriage, new job, relocation etc. Joined a new team and i noticed my stamina levels are nowhere close to play a 40 over game. Promotion at work lead to more workload which meant T20 games on sunday afternoon is my only workout :D ...
Now focused on being a better batsman by rotating strike and facilitating younger blood to play the big shots. Bowl a bit of medium pace and nice sticky pair of hands at fine leg/deep fine leg. From an attacking batsman to an average all rounder, the transition has been difficult to digest but my age is certainly catching up with me. Reflexes are not what it used to be and injuries have certain slowed me down a bit. I think i have a couple of years left in me ... lets see ...
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I'm the best player on my street :)
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But genuinely, with the bat I am nowhere near as good as I had hoped, or potentially could be. Having seen myself bat on video, it looks completely different to how I felt I looked.
My keeping again could be much better, but despite my size (tall and chubby for a keeper) I am fairly agile, but concentration drifts, and at times footwork and hands let me down
In the field, without the gloves, I actually think I am awesome. As arrogant as that sounds, I do tend to back that statement up with my performances and have won plenty of awards for it.
So I wouldnt say I am deluded, I have probably under-performed and not yet played a full season to my potential, and because of that I have turned down 2 offers to move onto bigger clubs at a better standard, as I still feel I have things to prove at my current level, although saying that, I would back myself to be able to compete at that higher standard
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I'm the second best player in my house!
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Been told I play straight very well,
Have a good v when playing in this Areas but sadly no cutting for me but I do pull okay,
Bowling wise jet try to hit a good awkward length with varying pace
So could be and do better
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If people 'could' be better, why don't they train more or get coaching etc??
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I like to think I'd have been decent if I'd played regularly during my formative years. I loved cricket so much when I was a kid.
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If people 'could' be better, why don't they train more or get coaching etc??
It's funny you say that as I've just booked in for some coaching sessions this winter. Feels weird as a 31 year old but as my bowling days are over I want to bat better, last time I was coached I was in the under 14s!
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It's funny you say that as I've just booked in for some coaching sessions this winter. Feels weird as a 31 year old but as my bowling days are over I want to bat better, last time I was coached I was in the under 14s!
Maybe I'm just being hopeful but I'm not sure the age brackets we use for pros apply to amateurs. Obviously it's fitness/injury dependant but I think players at 40 who are fit are more than capable. So 30's are still able to learn, improve IF they want to.. They might have to work harder and longer to improve though
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I just try to enjoy cricket. I pay to play, and play where I'm picked. As long as I make some runs and help the team win then that's enough. I have enough worries in real life to add to the load where crickets concerned.
I do think though that when we are playing it allows us to escape from all the worries and pressures of our day to day lives.
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Would I not be right to say that there is enough information out there for you to work out technical stuff for yourself? What is important is good, focused practice. Right?
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If people 'could' be better, why don't they train more or get coaching etc??
I think this is called self-handicapping. People like to say, "I would be good if..." Thus giving themselves an excuse when they fail.
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If people 'could' be better, why don't they train more or get coaching etc??
Never thought of that
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Never thought of that
Lots of people on here joke but how many put the hours in to improve ? As someone says below,mothers is enough out there to not need a coach but you do need to out the time into focussed training. Easy to say but it seems very hard to do
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If people 'could' be better, why don't they train more or get coaching etc??
Definitely agree, in fairness training can be hard to do simply from a logistical point of view though - my club is sadly pretty anti-training which makes it pretty difficult to practise sometimes given the lack of people and facilities! Coaching is a big help though, I've decided to get some coached sessions for my bowling over this winter and think it's going to result in big improvements. Much easier to improve than trying to figure it all out yourself!