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The Highest level of your ability

54 (47.4%)

Enjoying yourself and your cricket

60 (52.6%)

Total Members Voted: 114

[mickyp]

Having played the first half of the season in the 2nds, and then moved up to the 1sts for the latter half, I think it is good to test yourself at the higher standard. I was on track for 50 wickets in the season, but then the call came from the 1st team, who already have two quality slow left armers. As expected, didn't get much of a bowl for the rest of the season, but then on the plus side I found myself applying myself to my batting much more, and ended up making several good contributions in the middle order. I know other people at the club who would have stayed at the lower level to take wickets or make easier runs, but my philosophy is to play at the highest level you can for as long as you can. Plenty of time to drop down when you're knocking on a bit and the young bucks come through!

[trypewriter]

I think that one of the bugbears for some is that to play at a higher level, you have to establish yourself at that level. This depends on your club policy. If it's one of those (and I suspect there are a few) where if you are promoted to a higher level but are not given much opportunity to bat and/or bowl, I'd imagine that it can get a bit frustrating.

[uknsaunders]

noted with mickyp that he was on track for 50 wickets until he played in the ones and couldn't get a bowl. That would infuriate me no end. If you go up a level you should be given the chance to do what has got you promoted in the 1st place. That's one of the issues and hurdles to overcome when stepping up. I know one of my team mates moved to a higher level and wasn't allowed to bowl, he missed not doing it and came back.

[trypewriter]

Quite. OK, if you open for the seconds you might not expect to open for the firsts, if promoted. But neither should you be expecting to bat 8 or 9 - as can happen.

[ajmw89]

That's happened the odd game I've been promoted to the 3's.  I usually open, but didn't expect to open in the 3's, maybe come in at 4 or 5, but ended up coming in at 9 with about 2 overs left.

[uknsaunders]

one of the things my old club were quite strict on when they formed a 2nd XI. If you go up you must be doing the same kind of stuff, ie. batsman bat top 6, bowlers get a run out. Sometimes you have a filler, if they are happy to help out.

Allrounders in particular get abused or pigeon holed as one or the other when they move up a level.

[trypewriter]

Last season we had one guy promoted - No. 3 bat and opening bowler for us. DNB x DNB in the firsts, and to be honest he's not the quickest of fielders. I don't think he enjoyed it all that much.

[Manormanic]

Its difficult, isn't it.  The First XI skipper will obvious want to have his very bet go at winning every game so may not rush to trust new players, but in doing so will never find anything out about them to know whether or not they are up to playing/capable of performing at the higher level, so he ends up trapped in a cycle of rotating the same 12-14 when available regardless of form or attitude.  Which, given that the differences in standard are actually pretty minor at most clubs between levels, is a poor way of doing things.

Obviously, there is another factor that affects this, which is that first XI's tend to have a disproportionate number of people who are genuine all rounders - that is to say, people who are good enough to bat top five and bowl 10+ overs per game - because they will have first pick of the most naturally gifted sportsmen.  This can mean, as happened when I came to play for my current ide (who were at the time somewhat better than we are now) that you have two opening bowlers who bat one and four (one of whom the kind of guy who would happily reel off 26 over spells most weeks), a first change seamer who hits the ball a country mile and tends to come in five, a slow left armer who opens and an overseas player who bats three, keeps wicket and bowls very good off breaks.   That first season, we regularly won games with five or six guys only ever fielding...

[uknsaunders]

some good points raised. Trying to stay on topic, when you move clubs you have to get "trust" from you new captain and if you get off to a bad start it can wreck your chances. I've been lucky that my first couple of games I've put in my better performances to hoodwink the captain   .

However, if you land yourself with a clique it's an uphill struggle. The 2nd XI I played for years with was like this, it got worse when I became 3rd XI captain and quite often I ended up "fast-tracking" youngsters into the 1s to avoid them being starved of cricket. One story that still makes me laugh is the promising colt opening bowler who went up into the 2nd XI and didn't bowl for 4 weeks in a row, even when the oppo scored 320 against the 2s. When I asked what reason he had been ignored they said "we couldn't find the right time".He eventually came back down to the 3s and about a week later the 1s came knocking for his services. The skipper was pretty sympathetic and said he would give him a bowl. He was true to his word and he opened the bowling for the rest of the season for the 1s! Meanwhile the 2's were still grumbling about him not getting enough "exposure" in the 2s to learn his trade. The lad in question is now an MCC Young Cricketer and 12th man for England on occasions.

[trypewriter]

Love that story UKN 

[mickyp]

UKN, in fairness I was batting top 5 for the 2s as well, it's just that the bowling seemed to click. I went up fully expecting to bowl less, the 1s skipper was very up front about it. Obviously, the captain of the 2s was miffed, but my attitude is that if called up, then you go and do the best you can in whatever role you find yourself. Ended up batting pretty much every week against better quality bowling, so that helped me improve that aspect of my game.

[trypewriter]

Ended up batting pretty much every week against better quality bowling, so that helped me improve that aspect of my game.

It's worth doing just for that. - In my limited experience, when I did drop back down it was like having my grandad bowl at me.

[uknsaunders]

UKN, in fairness I was batting top 5 for the 2s as well, it's just that the bowling seemed to click. I went up fully expecting to bowl less, the 1s skipper was very up front about it. Obviously, the captain of the 2s was miffed, but my attitude is that if called up, then you go and do the best you can in whatever role you find yourself. Ended up batting pretty much every week against better quality bowling, so that helped me improve that aspect of my game.

fair enough if the skipper has been upfront and you are getting involved. If you were on course for 50 wickets, I wouldn't leave it long before you have a word with the skipper. If you are young it's important they develop all your skills and not cherry pick what they need now.

[Mr Cricket]

good standard while you can at a young age, then more sociable when your on the down-slope of ability.

both together if possible.

[mickyp]

I'm in my 30s, but have had a 10 year hiatus from cricket while living in London. Another reason why I wanted a crack at it, not getting any younger! I played to a good standard in junior cricket and at uni, so it was more like a return after a long absence!