Print

[six and out]

What does Cricket mean to you??

I realise this is quite an open question but what i am talking about is the current cricket you are playing.

The reason i ask is because this weekend i have a game that will probably decide who wins the league - it is 1st vs 2nd (we are 2nd) - winner probably takes all as we are so far ahead of 3rd and pretty much the best sides in the league and i don't see either side dropping points for the rest of the season.

However, i find myself not really being that bothered whether we win or lose, as long as it is a good game, i do my best, have fun etc.... if we lose so be it.

Am i doing my younger club mates a dis-service who i know this means a great deal?
Is it just me getting old?
Have i just played too much cricket that the level i play now it isn't about the winning for me - but should it be?

I am interested what is it like for others??

[ppccopener]

Hmm...good question.at the moment it's a chore probably because of a few reasons
Not fit enough(other thread!!)
No longer good enough at the level(div 1 2nds)
The game (league) is less social and,most of the time,I'm a friendly bloke

But when it comes to Saturday I give it all Ive got to win the game if the field or with the bat

Ive played with and against some very good players in the past and pretty much seen it all
But as far as competing yes still have the drive mentally to win for me and my team mates

[GoodLeave]

I play for the enjoyment.

Sure we play to win, but it's really not worth getting upset about if your personal form is terrible or the oppo is chucking. We play because we love the game, not because we want to open for England.

Be disappointed by your duck, but come back next week promising to make at least 1 run.

I pay my tenner match subs for the tea and the banter. If I score double figures I'll take that as a bonus.

[sarg]

I like this question.

Ive played for over 30 years, 3 clubs, 1 school. I enjoy playing in a team, I enjoy how simple the objective is and how hard it is to be successful. I enjoy training, buying kit and before,during and after a game talking a lot of 'sounds like kit'. I enjoy the fellowship and fun of playing cricket.

Playing cricket means fun and excitment.

Watching it is not really the same.

[SOULMAN1012]

I love my cricket especially the banter and meeting the lads one or twice a week.

League cricket on a sat for me is more important than Sunday league cricket which I don't often play these days. For me at the moment it's helping the club get to the league we deserve to be in having had to start in the bottom leagues due to moving regions last year.
Had a miserable year in 2015 but since joining my current club feel I have really settled into Suffolk, partner and daughter are involved with the wives and Girlfriends and daughter is enjoying her cricket in the jnr section and her batting is really coming on.

All in loving cricket at the moment and that rubs off on my batting which so far this year has been really good

[JTtaylor145]

I've played cricket for a long time. I've scored hundreds and I've taken 5+ wicket hauls but when I think about it those aren't the things I remember. When I look back over the years I've played cricket I think about the blokes that I've played cricket with, laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes. I remember winning close games and the enjoyment of beating an opposition that you didn't really like. I remember the league championship wins; hitting the winning runs and singing songs in the clubhouse. I remember batting with my older brother who was my cricketing hero and hitting partnerships over 200 together or when we opened the batting once (a rarity) and knocking off 168 for 0 from 32 overs against minor counties bowlers. My brother moved away and part of my cricket died because I would never get to bat or even play cricket with him again. It makes me emotional just thinking about it and typing it on a computer screen. That is what cricket means to me.

This year has been horrible. We are a very, very poor side. I'm able to hold my own in the team and can still average 40+ but in truth we only have 2/3 players that are good enough for that standard. We have only won one game all year. I'm injured at the moment and perhaps could be playing if I really pushed myself but I don't want to. I've stopped enjoying it. The players that I used to play with have given up or move away. I've played for the same club for pretty much 30 years and I live 500 yards from the ground.

Cricket has changed over the years but it's not the personal glory that sticks in my mind it's the laughs, banter, brotherhood and just the fact that cricket is a bloody amazing, frustrating and truly wonderful sport     

[Seniorplayer]

What does Cricket mean to you??

I realise this is quite an open question but what i am talking about is the current cricket you are playing.

The reason i ask is because this weekend i have a game that will probably decide who wins the league - it is 1st vs 2nd (we are 2nd) - winner probably takes all as we are so far ahead of 3rd and pretty much the best sides in the league and i don't see either side dropping points for the rest of the season.

However, i find myself not really being that bothered whether we win or lose, as long as it is a good game, i do my best, have fun etc.... if we lose so be it.

Am i doing my younger club mates a dis-service who i know this means a great deal?
Is it just me getting old?
Have i just played too much cricket that the level i play now it isn't about the winning for me - but should it be?

I am interested what is it like for others??

I am in the same situation  as this week will decide if we are first or second also been around a long time do I always want to win yes.
We are also in the Saturday cup quarter finals so to win a league and cup double  after  50 plus seasons  would be nice  but cricket  for me is being on the field being involved and doing the best I can.

[LcWoodward]

Great Question....

Love for the sport, first and foremost.
But I've played for 1 team for my whole senior career despite many many chances to move on.
It's about winning with a close group of friends, we win together & Lose together.

We've got a big game coming up at the weekend, we where cheated at their place(No umpires) and its how everyone comes together to support each other which I love. It's been my first year of being skipper and I'm growing to love it.

[Boondougal]

It is a good question.

TBH I can completely understand your position and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

I would say that my preference is to be competitive... I think if as a team you are being competitive then generally speaking win loose or draw most people will get the best out of the game.

We have had people in the past only bothered about winning - almost at all costs, and although I can see how alluring success is and why playing at the highest level can be important to those that have the ability to me that will always come down to being competitive. If you have the ability then you will raise up the league, if you don't then you won't... but being competitive alows the failures and success to have a balance which I think is the best position for a club to be in.

[play-yourself-in]

Friends, family, fun, laughter and a nice cold beer.

[LBWCandidate]

Just makes me happy being on the field and doing good. You get to hang out with the boys away from busy lives. I do get upset if we lose but not as much as I used to.

[ppccopener]

I play for the enjoyment.

Sure we play to win, but it's really not worth getting upset about if your personal form is terrible or the oppo is chucking. We play because we love the game, not because we want to open for England.

Be disappointed by your duck, but come back next week promising to make at least 1 run.

I pay my tenner match subs for the tea and the banter. If I score double figures I'll take that as a bonus.

Great post.This.....is the karma position I need to get into.still work to do :-)

[Biggie Smalls]

Im competitive,  love challenging myself , so i pride myself on performance.  If i play like crap , its certainly not due to lack of effort.  If you go hard , playing wise , that is all that is in your control . Sure , you hope you win , but all you can do is try to maximise what you can control /influence  (your performance) and hope all the other pieces fall into place for a win .
Btw , when i mean compete , i mean competing with yourself ..... i find it enjoyable trying to better myself in this way .
I also love  the grounds , different pitches,  traveling to venues with mates , seeing young guys improve (especially if you've been able to help in some small way) .
I love the memories and how certain things trigger a 'flashback' of sorts to childhood happiness.  Certain smells ( like fresh cut grass , linseed oil , the plastic/rubber smell of new equipment ) make me feel like an excitable kid again ..... that's something that's a simple pleasure , but always easy to experience.
I love sitting around with teammates having a laugh . Its kinda cool when a bunch of blokes who could easily be moping around , lamenting their dismissal , or being too nervous in anticipation of their upcoming innings , seem to provide each other with countless funny and interesting moments .
I love the anticipation the night before a game . It's like being a teenager about to go on a date .
I also love managing systems , so collecting , maintaining my cricket gear is endless fun too.
I love seeing new gear come onto the market , and 'perving' on bats .
I love seeing quality facilities.
I could go on . And on . And on .

[Seniorplayer]

I've played cricket for a long time. I've scored hundreds and I've taken 5+ wicket hauls but when I think about it those aren't the things I remember. When I look back over the years I've played cricket I think about the blokes that I've played cricket with, laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes. I remember winning close games and the enjoyment of beating an opposition that you didn't really like. I remember the league championship wins; hitting the winning runs and singing songs in the clubhouse. I remember batting with my older brother who was my cricketing hero and hitting partnerships over 200 together or when we opened the batting once (a rarity) and knocking off 168 for 0 from 32 overs against minor counties bowlers. My brother moved away and part of my cricket died because I would never get to bat or even play cricket with him again. It makes me emotional just thinking about it and typing it on a computer screen. That is what cricket means to me.

This year has been horrible. We are a very, very poor side. I'm able to hold my own in the team and can still average 40+ but in truth we only have 2/3 players that are good enough for that standard. We have only won one game all year. I'm injured at the moment and perhaps could be playing if I really pushed myself but I don't want to. I've stopped enjoying it. The players that I used to play with have given up or move away. I've played for the same club for pretty much 30 years and I live 500 yards from the ground.

Cricket has changed over the years but it's not the personal glory that sticks in my mind it's the laughs, banter, brotherhood and just the fact that cricket is a bloody amazing, frustrating and truly wonderful sport 

Excellent  forthright post

[iand123]

Used to love cricket, I guess I still do but I just don't want to play anymore. I'm just not very good and even did some statistical analysis of my last 6 years and playing for different teams at different levels I've always been rubbish. The most annoying thing is my 5 year old son is just getting into cricket and has been at allstars, I've. It played for a month and haven't missed it one bit, sad times