Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Manormanic on November 15, 2015, 03:21:34 PM
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A bit of a different topic to consider guys - how do you know when its time to go?
I'm 38 now. I've always been a cricket-nut - I started played when I wsa seven and, aside from a year off when my knee had to be completely reconstructed, have always played widely - as a junior I once managed 114 games of cricket and 68 of rugby in a single calender year, and even as a senior I've usually been in the mid-50s until last season. But over the last 18 months, life has changed a lot - lost two parents, undergone a few other changes and the truth is, I din't enjoy playing at all last year.
Its not that I did particularly badly - 450 league runs in the ones, decent enough level - though I am well aware that I'm in the last phase of my evolution as a cricketer - the top club level quick went with the knee injury to be replaced by an improving batsman. Well, now I'm definitely back to being a declining batsman, and the fielding is starting to hurt...
So, is it time?
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It's down to enjoyment at the end of the day. If there's still enjoyment to be had then carry on, even if you cut down a little, imagine how long a weekend is without cricket!!!
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I think it depends on a number of things. Maybe you should miss some of next season and see whether you notice not doing and don't enjoy the fact your not playing. As well as that I think you need to decide whether although you didn't enjoy it much last season whether maybe dropping down to a lower level might bring you back some enjoyment and lastly whether you have other things which you would prefer to do. I think you only ever know when you have had enough when you can answer those questions without regret or uncertainty.
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I don't believe the time to go should be decided by age or the number of runs or wickets taken decisions should be made around your own enjoyment and how much your body hurts and how long it takes to recover I do agree though if playing Is in your blood when we stop for whatever reason we will all miss it.
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The most important factor for me is enjoyment and people I play with. It is very hard to find a group of people that you enjoy playing cricket with.
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I play rugby as well as cricket and i have really bad knee problems. I considered retiring from rugby this season but then i remembered what a saturday afternoon feels like when cricket is rained off and changed my kind.
Think about what you would be doing instead.
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You know you've had enough when the floor is unstable when you stand up, your lips have gone numb and the bar lady who was a ropey 4 when you went in becomes a 9/10. Don't purchase anything other than a McDonald's or a kebab while in this state...
Oh, wait. Enough Of playing cricket. :-[
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My advise is to take a year or two off, your far to young to give it away.
You don't stop loving cricket you just get a bit tied of it.
After a break find a team that plays more for the enjoyment and company of each other.
I've known quite a few blokes that have done this and they come back to the game
like they were kids again, each week looking forward to Saturday coming around as quickly as possible.
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If you're not enjoying it because you don't get on with the people in your team then move clubs.
I'm 40 and I suffer in the field. My shoulder hurts when I bowl, my elbow hurts when I throw (limit myself to 3 hard throws a game).
I have had a knee athroscopy and I'm having my other knee done tomorrow.
I also still play hockey.
Sometimes I get frustrated with myself/teammates, but at the end of the day sport is a good way to spend a day.
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I've stopped playing league cricket on Saturday when my daughter was born and just now play pub standard t20 on a Monday night- best decision I ever made. Maybe this is a way you could go, playing for fun for me is now far more important than stats, etc
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Simply has to be down to enjoyment. If the enjoyment isn't there then it's time to consider why. Is it the fact that winning isn't quite as important anymore but enjoying it is.. Are the opposition teams to serious to be enjoyable?
Is it the amount of time it takes ? If so, (although it's not cricket) 2020 evening crap might be the answer for a season
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I'll give up when I'm told too
I've played over 40yrs now, from local club stuff to lancs and ribb league and now back to local club stuff in Oxfordshire
I couldn't imagine not playing? I've missed seasons due to injuries,(back and knees, and eye op), missed to look after my son for a coupla years when I split up with his mum,(who hated cricket!) and missed a few odd games here and there for whatever reason.
I've met people from all walks of life and all parts of the world, who all shared a love for cricket,
Played at some lovely grounds .
Introduced my son to the game.
Made many many friends from playing.
Just joined a gym, and just been told I've still got twenty twenty vision, so roll on next year as physically there's no reason I can't carry on playing
Mentally, I'm still as hungry to PLAY, as I was 40yrs ago
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Echo that I think I'm going to play until the whole body gives up! Currently carrying a shoulder injury,neck injury and the worst injury of all....my ability is fading
But the key,as has been said,is enjoyment and realising you ain't as good as you were at 25
If I could play with a bunch of mates now like I used to-I wouldn't care about anything else :)
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I turned 40 in July. Probably fitter now than in my mid late 20s so fitness isn't an issue. I guess for me I missed out on eight years of playing, through working abroad and uni. I absolute love playing and I'm a better player than before I took a break.
I have goals in the game. A maiden ton, helping the team to promotion and bringing younger players through.
My advice? See how you feel at the start of the season and if you feel the same as now, take a year out. That will hopefully add some perspective and help you figure out your cricket future.
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A bit of a different topic to consider guys - how do you know when its time to go?
I'm 38 now. I've always been a cricket-nut - I started played when I wsa seven and, aside from a year off when my knee had to be completely reconstructed, have always played widely - as a junior I once managed 114 games of cricket and 68 of rugby in a single calender year, and even as a senior I've usually been in the mid-50s until last season. But over the last 18 months, life has changed a lot - lost two parents, undergone a few other changes and the truth is, I din't enjoy playing at all last year.
Its not that I did particularly badly - 450 league runs in the ones, decent enough level - though I am well aware that I'm in the last phase of my evolution as a cricketer - the top club level quick went with the knee injury to be replaced by an improving batsman. Well, now I'm definitely back to being a declining batsman, and the fielding is starting to hurt...
So, is it time?
Go and play at Marlow with Pistol ;-)
I think you can keep going until into your 50s. Fitness plays a big part in your later years but playing a level you can contribute to is also important. You don't have to be jonty Rhodes in the field and as long as people understand that then you can contribute in other ways.Experience is important.
I find now that I want to play cricket for the experience. New grounds and surroundings are my thing. Are you sure the tvl treadmill hasn't just worn you down? It got to a point with me where I went direct to every ground as I knew them inside out.
As you get older I think you play for enjoyment and its worth trying another club, league, setup if you aren't enjoying it.
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Good god man, no. Drop down a team and you'll still be classier both batting and in the field than most!
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Indeed! I am 50 but as fit as most still.
Once I get slower, it is just a case of dropping down a level!
There is no reason why you can't carry on playing until you are in your 60's or later, health prevailing!
And even then you could always take up coaching or umpiring?
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I promise not to get angry when you drop slip catches anymore...
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I promise not to get angry when you drop slip catches anymore...
I'd be a geriatric if I stood there long enough for you to get a bloody edge!
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I think the fact that you are asking the question speaks volumes. I retired this year after 30 years of playing top league cricket. Just lost the hunger so stopped playing as I didn't want to stifle the progress of youngsters. I now go and watch both my kids play on Saturdays and the most frustrating thing is to watch 50+ year olds open the batting etc when you have 15year olds sat on the boundary.
Didn't miss it one bit.
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It really does depend though can 15 years olds do the job in senior cricket from experience not many can also no point in getting them to open in league cricket for the experience as it's not fair on them if they are out of there depth.
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yes agree it does depend on the standard.
I do think though that experience is overrated. The only people who bang on about experience are old codgers.
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can 15 years olds do the job in senior cricket
I was 15 last year and I held up pretty well, even after my 5th xi captain picked me on the Wednesday, and then dropped me on the Friday night saying he got other (better) players, yet the week after he did this to me the second time I took 4 wickets when top of the league were cruising at 100-3 needing 150
We bowled them out for 130 and won
It was my second game, and there were only 2 people over 17 in that team!
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Pleased you did well but I've seen many fail.
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We had a twelve yo keep wicket this year and many oppo were impressed not only with his keeping but with his batting too
Top scored in his first game batting ten
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We had a twelve yo keep wicket this year and many oppo were impressed not only with his keeping but with his batting too
Top scored in his first game batting ten
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Depends on the level again. Higher you go the less youth (u17) you see because they aren't up to it
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Our 1s this season (Home Counties) had 5 u17s and an average age of 21
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Our 1s this season (Home Counties) had 5 u17s and an average age of 21
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Ok, you're awesome. Sigh
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The CMJ paradox: cricket has to be serious to be fun.
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The CMJ paradox: cricket has to be serious to be fun.
that's so true - I enjoyed the Saturday out with my mates part of it this year...just really didn't feel that serious about the 100 overs of running around pre-beer!
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I think there are just some folks, myself included who live for their sport on a Saturday afternoon. Working all week is chore, everything else is a countdown to Saturday. I'm lost on a weekend when there is no fixture or the game has been called off. What else could you do with yourself? Golf? I play cricket in the summer and I love it, I'm relatively new to the game and as much as I regret the years I missed, I'm loving the learning curve. Football in the winter which I've played forever and age really is plaguing me but we're sportsmen, failed ones, but sportsmen none the less ;)
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I think there are just some folks, myself included who live for their sport on a Saturday afternoon. Working all week is chore, everything else is a countdown to Saturday. I'm lost on a weekend when there is no fixture or the game has been called off. What else could you do with yourself? Golf? I play cricket in the summer and I love it, I'm relatively new to the game and as much as I regret the years I missed, I'm loving the learning curve. Football in the winter which I've played forever and age really is plaguing me but we're sportsmen, failed ones, but sportsmen none the less ;)
Nice post. I deeply regret the years I missed. This is my reason for playing when really I'm too old