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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

[M77]

which Cherwell team have you joined Marcus? Played against a fair few of them.

Abingdon Vale bud, I had to do it! Plus it was right next door to where i played footy for years... It felt like i had collected the set! 

[Vantage_Cricket]

I'm mixed with this, having just moved to Surrey from Worcestershire I'm wondering what to do - I have played a game for a club (in Surrey) in which my flat backs onto which is quite handy, however they are only a friendly team and the standard is quite poor. Nice guys and enjoyable however I haven't enjoyed playing for my previous saturday club due to them not netting, not training, struggling for players and not having a great selection policy - So I feel that I should be pushing myself to join a club who take their cricket seriously. I haven't been coached since I was a youngster and I want to be the best player I can.

However there is also a part of me that loves the social side to cricket and realistically that's what I play it for - so I do want to find a happy medium really.

[uknsaunders]

Abingdon Vale bud, I had to do it! Plus it was right next door to where i played footy for years... It felt like i had collected the set! 

played at Abingdon 20 odd years ago. Always nice to play a Sunday game out that way.

[Kulli]

Abingdon Vale bud, I had to do it! Plus it was right next door to where i played footy for years... It felt like i had collected the set! 

We played there on our pre-season tour this year, one of our lads brothers plays there.

I think it depends on the 'enjoying yourself at a lower standard', no real issue with guys playing at a level where they can do OK without training etc, but got very little time for it when I see people averaging 70-80+ with the bat and sub 15 with the bat year after year, that's verging towards bullying IMO 

At the moment I probably play a touch below my level (think i finished with 25 wickets at 13 this season), but we got promoted so there's no no higher left to go in Norway.

[97notout]

I voted enjoying my cricket. I returned to playing this season after an absence of nearly 20 years. Having gone to winter nets was asked if I would play for the 3rds, played a game for the seconds and then went in the firsts.

We survived relegation on the last game of the season and stayed up, so what with the weather and only winning 3 times, you can imagine what it was like, but the club were great. They made me really welcome and are a good bunch. Okay home matches is a 15 mile journey but its worth it and at 52 years old I look forward to each game like a 22 year old, just wish my body was like it was 30 years ago.

So I will return to Wightwick and Finchfield in the staffs premier and whatever happens will enjoy my cricket, god willing  

[dhackett89]

I voted enjoying my cricket. I returned to playing this season after an absence of nearly 20 years. Having gone to winter nets was asked if I would play for the 3rds, played a game for the seconds and then went in the firsts.

We survived relegation on the last game of the season and stayed up, so what with the weather and only winning 3 times, you can imagine what it was like, but the club were great. They made me really welcome and are a good bunch. Okay home matches is a 15 mile journey but its worth it and at 52 years old I look forward to each game like a 22 year old, just wish my body was like it was 30 years ago.

So I will return to Wightwick and Finchfield in the staffs premier and whatever happens will enjoy my cricket, god willing  

I look forward to playing at your ground again next year! glad you stayed up as i couldn't have faced a trip to bloxwich or Springvale

[97notout]

It's interesting reading the different posts. I think most of us would agree that for whatever reason we play, we all like to do well and win, but if we get a caneing we don't dwell on it too much, well hopefully not, cricket is for most of us something we do in our life not the other way round.

As you can probably work out by my number of posts today that I have a day off. I'm house sitting whilst we have a new kitchen fitted and thought I'd make the most of, quality

[Cys1]

Good topic! Going through an interesting time a the moment. I'm 33 and I've got a 7month old son and this has definitely changed the way I feel about whether I'm playing for enjoyment or at the highest level.
Always played cricket at a reasonably high level, Provincial stuff as a junior and then moved on to First Class as well as being a pro in the UK. Reached a stage when I had to realize that I was not gonna make a living from being a Professional cricketer and that was a pretty hard decision to make. Then decided to just play the best level of club cricket that I possibly could. Now although I would love to keep on playing a the highest level I also need to spend time with my wife and son and I cannot play all the matches anymore and I'm thinking of playing social cricket instead. Just not sure if I'll be able to slot into it that easily.

[MJB3]

Very good topic. I fall into the play at highest level possible, but I am one of those people who is ridiculously competitive, probably over competitive at everything. I play 1XI cricket and would regard making 40 for them over an 80 for the seconds, to me its a question of how hard I've work for the runs and the quality I'm facing. However to add to the age debate, I am 18 and whilst my place in the team is secure, but I really want to score big runs, but haven't quite managed yet. Id say im my biggest critic, which adds to the desire to play at the highest level

[jblowe]

For the past three years I have played in the lowest league in Oxfordshire, won it twice and it looks like I will be playing in it again next season. To be honest I quite enjoy it.

Now I am to Old and to Rubbish to play anywhere else!!!

[M77]

Now I am to Old and to Rubbish to play anywhere else!!!

Not from what I have seen ol' boy! 
 
If you hadn't already committed last season i'd have had you in my first 4 in a flash! 

[Buzz]

to be honest you should be able to have both. just ask Chris Gayle!

[Colesy]

I've been told I could player a higher level and have been asked to play for other clubs but staying put because I enjoy it where I am and know if I play at a higher standard it's not necessarily going to get me anywhere.

[thecord]

I've been told I could player a higher level and have been asked to play for other clubs but staying put because I enjoy it where I am and know if I play at a higher standard it's not necessarily going to get me anywhere.

You're on the up anyway mate so a new standard to test yourself as it is.
I voted for the enjoyment side. Played for the same club all my life pretty much and in that time a few have left to play a higher level but most have ended up coming back having not enjoyed it. Think I'm getting a bit old now too to be trying to push on!

[charlie15]

Good question, having only played 2 seasons after good 12-14 years of not playing I've certainly set myself the aim of playing as high up within the club as I can.  Last season was a shocker for me, that was mainly down to my technique rather than anything else.  It wasn't until the en of the season when I made a couple of adjustments that I felt better at he crease.  As a result I didn't particularly enjoy myself or the pressure I was putting on myself to succeed, which was only magnified when I took on a captaincy role.

I'd like to be able to spend more time on my game and play higher up, but being 34 and with work, fatherhood and everything that comes with it I've realised that I can't and need to settle for enjoying the game and playing to the best of my ability (whatever that might be), which isn't easy for someone who is naturally competitive!  I'm hoping that if I can just relax a bit more and with some of the coaching sessions I'm hoping to organise, I'll be able to improve enough to start to enjoy myself more as well.