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[tim2000s]

On Wednesday night at our net session, one of the Kent Women U-19s was batting in the net next to ours. Talking to the coach, she has represented England at U19s as a bowler (she's about 5'4" and apparently hits around 75mph). What was far more disconcerting was the significant difference in the batting performance versus our net. Lucky old me was the first person batting and boy did she put me to shame. And she's a bowler.

While the first thought that goes through your head in that situation is "How was I never this good?", and then the second was "Maybe I should just give it all up".... It does show the significant gulf in ability that exists at the different levels.

Have you had any experiences like this?

[Tom]

Have netted with Jimmy Anderson - and my first thought was "How has he scored more than 4 runs in a test match?". He asked for the machine on 80mph, and was clean bowled the first 2 balls as he tried to smack them over cow and missed the next. We brought it back to 65mph and he ended up playing a little better. It was a net in front of a bunch of school kids, and I think he was trying to impress.

Netted with Kevin Pietersen who makes it look so so easy. I'm there playing and missing against a 70mph BOLA. And he waltzes in to have a go with my 'Goose, asks to borrow my gloves, sticks it up to 75mph in his jeans with no pads and effortlessly hits it to all parts.

[ammo]

You have netted with KP 

[RightArmRapid]

Used to net withan england u19s bowler at school, he is very quick and tall. In school cricket he was top order think he bats 9 for england!

[uknsaunders]

Used to see a few of the yorkies net at Headingley. Adil Rashid last year had the bola on 70+ and was busy smacking it all over the shop. The netting is tight to avoid balls flying through but we were 2 nets down and nearly got hit a few times, such was the power.

[tommo256]

Used to net withan england u19s bowler at school, he is very quick and tall. In school cricket he was top order think he bats 9 for england!

Topley?

[imogzyboy]

I was young at the time but when Stuart broad was at Leicestershire I netted with him, also netted with a couple of other Leicestershire players at the cricket academy one being hoggard

[justnotcricket86]

Raj Maru, the Hampshire legend, used to launch tennis balls at me at what felt like 90mph during S.E Hants coaching sessions...

[Buzz]

Raj coached me at school too. Decent coach too. he bought one of his hampshire mates to a net with us, none of us got close to getting him out!

[Bulldog Cricket]

I played against raj for Somerset board v hampshire board. Hit him flush on the shin when he was fielding at silly point !!

Faced Andy Caddick in the nets and in a match. Hit him for six over point. He was only coming off a few paces. Needless to say he was not pleased and ripped my middle stump out next ball !!

[Simmy]

Used to see a few of the yorkies net at Headingley. Adil Rashid last year had the bola on 70+ and was busy smacking it all over the shop. The netting is tight to avoid balls flying through but we were 2 nets down and nearly got hit a few times, such was the power.

haha i batted next to him felt well (No Swearing Please)!

he hit me on the leg with one of balls

"sorry mate"

you bloody well will be pal lol

[Leddster138]

I've been alongside Matt Maynard in a net a few years back and I've still never heard anything like it. His timing was impossibly good! Most pros train all year round to keep up a standard like that but he seemed to be very much in the "see ball, hit ball, unbelieveable eye" mould.

[vividgreen]

During our Aussie season we get many county cricketers playing in our domestic comp and in this time i have played against a few.
A few moons (years) back, i came up against a young Moeen Ali (i think his name was) and from memory he was the Englands U/19 captain. Quality bat for an 18 year old in our first grade, dominated us for a quick fire 40. Came up against Michael Carberry about 5 years back and took his wicket quite cheaply after he couldn't handle a few overs of my away swing (was a good scalp, at the time). Played with Luke Proctor (Lancs) when he was 18 after we secured his services at our club - he has something special about him as an allrounder and set the club record for runs in a season - keep an eye on this lad....
Also played against Masceranus (hampshire) about 8 years back and at the time he was quick and a destructive batsman, who hits a hard ball.
Another interesting player i have came up against about 8 years back, was an Australian international indoor cricketer, who also played outdoor. Probably the most differcult bowler i have every faced - could make the ball talk both ways and at high speed (130km +) off 4/5 paces (unbeliveable).

What gets me about all these guys, is the time they have when batting - they pick the ball up early and play like time has slowed down... The shot making is effortless.

[Red Ink Cricket]

During our Aussie season we get many county cricketers playing in our domestic comp and in this time i have played against a few.
A few moons (years) back, i came up against a young Moeen Ali (i think his name was) and from memory he was the Englands U/19 captain. Quality bat for an 18 year old in our first grade, dominated us for a quick fire 40. Came up against Michael Carberry about 5 years back and took his wicket quite cheaply after he couldn't handle a few overs of my away swing (was a good scalp, at the time). Played with Luke Proctor (Lancs) when he was 18 after we secured his services at our club - he has something special about him as an allrounder and set the club record for runs in a season - keep an eye on this lad....
Also played against Masceranus (hampshire) about 8 years back and at the time he was quick and a destructive batsman, who hits a hard ball.
Another interesting player i have came up against about 8 years back, was an Australian international indoor cricketer, who also played outdoor. Probably the most differcult bowler i have every faced - could make the ball talk both ways and at high speed (130km +) off 4/5 paces (unbeliveable).

What gets me about all these guys, is the time they have when batting - they pick the ball up early and play like time has slowed down... The shot making is effortless.

I played with proctor in the rep sides in perth in 2005/2006 ish. was class then, odd action but decent pace and scored buckets of runs. your not based in perth are you? cant remember what side he played for. think it began with an S.

[Jenko]

During our Aussie season we get many county cricketers playing in our domestic comp and in this time i have played against a few.
A few moons (years) back, i came up against a young Moeen Ali (i think his name was) and from memory he was the Englands U/19 captain. Quality bat for an 18 year old in our first grade, dominated us for a quick fire 40. Came up against Michael Carberry about 5 years back and took his wicket quite cheaply after he couldn't handle a few overs of my away swing (was a good scalp, at the time). Played with Luke Proctor (Lancs) when he was 18 after we secured his services at our club - he has something special about him as an allrounder and set the club record for runs in a season - keep an eye on this lad....
Also played against Masceranus (hampshire) about 8 years back and at the time he was quick and a destructive batsman, who hits a hard ball.
Another interesting player i have came up against about 8 years back, was an Australian international indoor cricketer, who also played outdoor. Probably the most differcult bowler i have every faced - could make the ball talk both ways and at high speed (130km +) off 4/5 paces (unbeliveable).

What gets me about all these guys, is the time they have when batting - they pick the ball up early and play like time has slowed down... The shot making is effortless.

Who was the ozzie indoor player mate? Wasnt one of the Otto brothers was it?? Faced one of them who played for Australia Indoor in outdoor cricket, he also played for QLD 2nd's, I was 17 at the time and shitting myself he bowled 130km/hr plus as well. Played against Bell Drummond in a Kent Premier League game, he tore us apart.....awesome eye and could place the ball anywhere he wanted. Geoff Paulsen used to play at the same club as me too when I was a youngin, he played for Australian Country and has also had a couple of successful stints in the Kent Prem League. He is a super talent with the bat.