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[Gelds]

Afternoon,

2014 has comfortably been the worst season I've ever had. I started off batting 6/7 in the first team but given the stop/start nature of the season up in Yorkshire this summer I never really got going. The one innings I played well was when I filled in for our opener (this is my natural position and where I have played most of my cricket, I scored over 2000 runs between 2010-2013 in the 2's from here) when I got 26 but was triggered. (Given ct behind but hit my pad) The next week I was back down at 7 (a postion I struggled to adapt to, coming with 5-6 overs to go and having to go at 7/8 rpo isn't my game)  and for the rest of the season didn't pass 20. I'm also a reasonable bowler (probably a 1st change in 2's and a 5th/6th bowler in the 1's) but I didn't bowl a single over in the 1's all year despite us struggling and regularly chasing 220+ scores.  Around August time I spoke to the skip (virtually pleading to be released back to the 2's) who said he wanted me in the team and I'm a 100%er and he said he felt I would come good. I still didn't and I was starting to hate the game. I was so annoyed and fed up that I couldn't contribute.
Skip finally let me play in the 2's the penultimate week of the season. I opened the batting and made 14 before I got a ball that misbehaved (just about only one in the game that did) and took 2 wickets in the 2 overs I bowled at the end of the match (we were all out for 110 and they knocked them off with ease!!). The final week of the season was rain affect and I didn't bat but I did take 4/15 from 5 overs and felt the ball was coming out really nicely.
I've spent the past 2 months thinking about what I want to do next season and as I see it I have 2 options. I can once again play in the 1's batting down the order and not bowling but playing a higher level and hopefully doing better, or I can go back into the 2's and get to bat and bowl every week, albeit at a lower level. I think I have to admit I am not good enough to play in the first team and give myself the best opportunity of enjoying cricket again even if it is at a lower level. I wish I had been given a proper shot in the 1's to play in my position but it wasn't to be.
Apologies for the long post but I feel loads better for getting it off my chest! Now has anyone got any advise on bouncing back from a rotten season and hitting the new season running? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[WalkingWicket37]

Play some golf in the winter and you'll forget any frustrations from cricket!

Then buy a new bat or 5 over the next few months and play 2s next year. No point playing if you don't enjoy it, we're (nearly) all club players on here, so if you're not enjoying your cricket you may as well not pay to not have a good time in my opinion.

[Vitas Cricket]

I had a similar thing before i left my hometown club (i still live within walking distance of the ground)

I got frustrated at the lack of proper opportunity in the first team, making up the numbers is fine when you are young lad looking for experience, but not for 2/3/4 seasons in a row. Eventually i left for a new club with a first team at a slightly lower standard. We are now in the same league as my home club and last time we played we beat them. I also finished top of the whole league pyramids dismissals charts for keepers in my first year away from my home club.

If leaving for pastures new is not an option, i would suggest making it clear that you will play for the first team if given a fair go in your preferred position. If it doesn't work out after 5, 10, 15 or however many games then so be it. If it doesn't work out or if they don't agree to it, then request to be left to it in the twos. I coach a lot of people who are shot to bits because they serve one role in their second team and then are told to do something completely different when called up into the first team. In the end they are not really doing well at either and become fed up with the game.

[TBONTB]

When I was a bit younger I played rugby fairly competitively (development squads etc) and a bit of cricket. And try as I might I could never quite get passed that hurdle. And as time wore on I began to like it all less and less.

But now playing for the worst cricket team in the world (yes you read it write) has actually been really liberating. Obviously I like to win, but going out to bat know that if you do not make a great score you will not get shouted at or those disappointing looks. I am not advocating that everybody joins the worst team in the world, but you should play at the level that makes you the happiest rather than where you or others think you should play!

Or ignore me and do what you want, after all we are properly rubbish.

[KIPPERS]

Well you cant all join the worse team in the world we haven't got enough spaces available. Same problem happens at most clubs. Unfortunately the first team have to go out with eleven players. Our club at the moment just dont have enough guys of the right standard, which means 4-5 people are just there to make up the numbers, even thou they would have had a far better game in the two's What can the skippers do?

[Buzz]

my suggestion is that you should not worry about next season now, certainly not which team you play for, it isn't your choice anyway.

Use the off season to get fit, have a few net sessions and play some squash or similar sport.

attack the new season with a clear mind and now expectations.

[trypewriter]

Play for pleasure, enjoy every sandwich (as the late Warren Zevon advised) - you are a long time retired...

[TangoWhiskey]

Yeah it's an issue with all clubs unfortunately. I've also been there to make up the numbers and it isn't fun. Unfortunately due to the nature of the game there is always a possibility you won't get any action unless you are a top order batsman or bowler.

[Gelds]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm happy at the club and the direction were going in so moving clubs is not an option for me at the moment. Guess now is not the time to worry too much about things. Really looking forward to nets starting January and getting back in to it 

[Seniorplayer]

Clear your head and your mind forget  season 2014 go to the nets and prepare properly play in the 2nds in your natural position  and enjoy it Look after yourself first of all  and resist playing in the 1sts unless you can open for several successive matches.

[ProCricketer1982]

Amateur cricket is for fun. No ifs or buts either.. You pay to play so you should get enjoyment from it. If you are simply there to make up the numbers or watching your subs get wasted on egos/pro players then sack them off. I would not out up with makin up the numbers because it's a waste of my time and you are simply there to give others a game.  No point. If the club haven't got enough at the required standard then they need to drop to an appropriate level OR spread those not so good in the order and not just bat the same 4-5 etc. Ok you can say 'it's league' but it's amateur crixket, not Lvcc

[Alvaro]

Amateur cricket is for fun. No ifs or buts either.. You pay to play so you should get enjoyment from it. If you are simply there to make up the numbers or watching your subs get wasted on egos/pro players then sack them off. I would not out up with makin up the numbers because it's a waste of my time and you are simply there to give others a game.  No point. If the club haven't got enough at the required standard then they need to drop to an appropriate level OR spread those not so good in the order and not just bat the same 4-5 etc. Ok you can say 'it's league' but it's amateur crixket, not Lvcc

Can not quibble with that at all. Spot on.

[AverageCricketer]

Well last season, I was in a similar situation, not getting a bowl, batting at 8 or lower and being 12th man most of the time. This season, I am still playing for the same team, but I am opening the batting now, and enjoying it.

[rahul_1987]

I had a similar experience last year. Began the season with back to back 50s but struggled to get past 20 in all other games. I would get out on silly balls and after sometime you start to think too much while batting rather than focussing on playing the next ball but I believe its all a confidence thing. You just need one good innings to get that confidence back again and start scoring runs again. I would say don't think too much and focus on fitness at the moment.

[Parkman]

The number of times I've seen opening batters from the 2XI promoted to 1XI to then bat at 7 & surprise surprise...not get runs because it's not their natural game! I would enjoy the winter & come January work really hard in the nets to show the club you're  an opening batsman who deserves to get a real chance. You may find that the other openers won't be trying as hard as you & your hard work will pay off. What goes around comes around!