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[uknsaunders]

Though I sometimes joke about my usefulness to my team, I like to think I have played enough to know what I can and can't do. I also like to think I realistic, to the point of appearing reluctant, about who should be doing what in front of me. To be fair I think most CBF members I have played with are the same. Anybody think they are probably better or worse than they are? Maybe been a bit of a pain in the (No Swearing Please) when stating their ability to the skipper, "give me the ball, I'll get them out" or the guy who has all the ability but hides a bit because of others?

Probably a bit easier to discuss is anybody who is totally deluded about there cricketing abilities at your club - @Simmy no Bindman talk just yet lol!

[Simmy]

I personally think I am a superstar. But in reality I am a fat keeper batsman that can catch and can't bat lol as I have proved this year. But made me laugh when Asians lads used to come to play at Headingley saying they batted and bowled. And they look like they have never played the game

[Lwesty143]

Think everyone becomes a better cricketer after a few beers! That simple waist high catch suddenly turns into a blinding one hander for the ages.

[FattusCattus]

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!  I am all over this thread!!!

I find it best to seriously down-play my abilities with the ball, so that when freakish wicket-taking delivery and the rare unplayable spell happens, it comes as a pleasant surprise to everyone.

I've also been playing in the lower levels long enough now to see most self-professed 'superstars' look like dicks - particularly in batting it seems!

[roco]

having played a higher level when younger and could bowl I know I'm useless now compared to then which gets frustrating at times as I think back to when I had wheels thinking I'd like to knock this guy on his backside with a short one but now at my pace he would loose the ball haha

weirdly having dropped 5-6 leagues I see more deluded players lower down than in the higher leagues

more big fish small pond people who think they should be worshipped as they get 30-40 wickets a season at their level but wont move up a standard as they like being the big fish

[gerhard303]

This is a question I ask myself at the end of each season!

[Gurujames]

I think I'm fairly realistic. Im not as good a batsman as I used to be, I am definitely a slower runner and a weaker thrower. However, my bowling has got better. My 7 league wickets this season is testament to the lethal I swinging Yorker I bowl accidently..

[Manormanic]

This is a really good question actually! 

Nowadays, I think I'm pretty realistic - I know I used to be pretty decent(*), but that I'm well on to the sticky slope toward eventual retirement now - I'm still confident that I can score runs at the level my club plays, but I no longer think I could do much of a job higher up, I know I'll catch most things at slip, but wouldn't even try to delude myself that I'm anything but a liability in the outfield.

* this is actually a more interesting one given some of our ages - the question of how realistic we are about our former abilities.  I don't bowl nowadays, have not done so since having my knee and shoulder reconstructed almost twenty years ago.  Before that, I know I was pretty decent - 30-50 league wickets a year in a very decent league - but I'm sure that with every passing year the glasses become slightly rosier in their tint - I probably bowled mid-high 70s at my best, but it feels now like I must have been pushing 90  

[billyb]

Isn't this the question!

I'm still young (20) which theoretically gives me plenty of time to develop and become a better cricketer. In ten years time or so I could be really quite good. But I'm at the age where some counterparts are pulling away from me now, and I can feel a slow decline into mediocrity. Stupidly, I think the hardest thing for me to grasp is that I won't make it at high standard (very deluded) like minor counties or the like. Still, it isn't all bad! I scored my first 100 last year, and I hope that with a full season of games I'd become quite good.

I guess I already think I'm quite good (deluded), but in reality the mental side of my game is all over the place. At least I can field, right???

I can't be the only one here who has considered emigrating abroad in the hope of finding international cricket, right?

[Mr_Orange]

I was fairly deluded when I was younger, I think it was the frustration of seeing lads I played representative cricket with go on and play first class and international cricket (if they can why can't I? etc). Now I'm older and wiser(?) I've accepted my ability and now just enjoy playing with a good bunch of lads at a decent standard. I'm still young enough to improve aspects of my game but old enough to know it's not the end of the world knowing that there are players who are better than I am.

[WalkingWicket37]

I think I'm crap!

My club has 6 league sides now, but it was 5 when I came through the ranks. I went from 5th XI ornament to 2nd XI regular in a season.
The 1st team were short for a pre season friendly, and being keen for some cricket I played. I took 2-29 off 5 bowling my spin at the death and on the back of that I've been in the 2s ever since. 
Basically an opportunity came up, I took it and proved I wasn't a total donkey and the rest is history.

All that said I still think of myself as a 5th XI player done good

[uknsaunders]

To me it's a breath of fresh air when I play with somebody who knows they are rubbish and is honest about it. Stuff like, "don't worry about giving me a game, I would rather we win" makes captaining alot easier.

However, cricket seems to attract people who overstate their ability. We played a Sunday game this season where the oppo kindly lent us a player. That should always set alarm bells ringing, any team travelling with 12 and happy to give you Mr X must be up to something. The guy seemed fine until he eventually got into bat. We have 5 overs left and 6 wickets in hand and he proceed to block every ball apart from the last one of the over. He would poke it straight at a fielder and run, almost running the non striker out in the process. We accumulated 4 in 4 overs before we eventually got out. When we fielded he was at the captain all the time for a bowl. He invented nicknames for everyone after being on the field for 5 minutes. Finally, having pretty much secured a win, we let him bowl the last over. They still needed 19 to win but had some half decent batsman been out there then the first 3 balls would of gone for 6. The guy tried to bowl left arm spin but his bowling arm just flopped all over the place and some massive grenade popped out. We were right on one side of the square and it was only 40 yards to the leg side boundary. I'm not sure how we weren't picking the ball out of the field, apart from the batsman almost giving himself a hernia trying to mow it. He did eventually get the tailender, caught on the boundary fourth ball. We were lucky, he lived to far away and didn't drive so he couldn't play for us anymore.

It does make me wonder what goes through some peoples minds! I like to think you benchmark yourself against your peers. If you are scoring hundreds of runs then you warrant a place up the order, same for taking wickets. Stats never tell the full story but you have to have some nerve to demand a place in the top 6 if you average 1.48!

[uknsaunders]

Stupidly, I think the hardest thing for me to grasp is that I won't make it at high standard (very deluded) like minor counties or the like.

I think this is a problem for many people. Understanding how good you can be. As a rule of thumb, if you bowl pace or bat then by the time you are 30 you will be at your peak. If that's Div 6 village then don't expect to get much higher. Many players reinvent themselves, ie bowl spin and become more useful cricketers later on in life. Ultimately though, it is a downward curve. Possibly hardest on those who have played briefly at a good level and think in later years they still warrant a place in the 1st/2nd XI's.

[ScottParko]

I have zilch confidence in my own abilities. But I big myself up, I am the type of person who bigs myself up to others to cover up the insecurities, almost trying to fool myself. But a pat on the back and a well done now and again makes me happy and peps me up, to make me think I'm not too bad.

[billyb]

I think this is a problem for many people. Understanding how good you can be. As a rule of thumb, if you bowl pace or bat then by the time you are 30 you will be at your peak. If that's Div 6 village then don't expect to get much higher. Many players reinvent themselves, ie bowl spin and become more useful cricketers later on in life. Ultimately though, it is a downward curve. Possibly hardest on those who have played briefly at a good level and think in later years they still warrant a place in the 1st/2nd XI's.

I agree entirely. I'm coming round to the concept of enjoying the game now, which is a start I think.