Great news! We've got the date for our first game of cricket.Huh?? Cricket??? Not exactly the stuff of rebels for this anarchic OnWeGo blog?
But consider this….
Ever since childhood I’ve had a problem co-ordinating with a moving ball. Heading a football – I’d miss it! Driving to the boundary in cricket – I’d miss it! Returning serve on the forehand – I’d miss it!
I just accepted that if it was moving - I’d miss it. Mind you it never stopped me playing any of these games, and I was so very proud to be picked as goalkeeper for my infant school. This may have had something to do with me being tall. Not that I could reach the crossbar or cut out crosses; as if!!! But I was nearest to fully occupying the goalie’s pullover, kindly supplied by JC Howell our class teacher.
I still vividly remember that claret woollen pullover. I remember how I felt as I put on what seemed like the ceremonial robes of a gladiator destined to die. I can even remember how it smelt, on account of having to breathe through the huge roll-neck collar that smothered my face. Always a handy excuse for missing the shots that whistled past me. We lost every game. Defeats were always heavy.
The aversion continued into later life. 5 years back, a 6-0 drubbing at tennis by a girl friend recovering from foot surgery reaffirmed this lack of sporting self-esteem
So when invited 2 years ago to make up the numbers for the office cricket team, my acceptance was entirely altruistic. The invitation to play again the following year was not earned by previous success, but necessitated by dwindling numbers.
Except that this time I thought... I can do this! I remembered the advice of an old boss from way back, who said “know when you can’t ...and listen and learn from somebody who can!” In this case it was our cricket guru and Company Accountant Bill. “Watch the ball and step towards it” was his advice; advice which I trusted without question.
I don’t normally trust accountants but when on a Company "do" you’ve shared a room and seen a chap in his “Y” fronts, a trust is established.
So there I am, 3rd in. My new white cricket pullover makes a statement of bold intent. Maybe my subconscious was at work, deleting memories of that claret roll-neck I couldn't fill? Watch the ball and step forward: 1st ball…. block. 2nd ball….2 runs. 3rd ball...a glorious 6 over the boundary!! Then another awesome 6!!! 10 balls later I am compulsorily retired on 25 and stride back to a rapturous pavilion.
So bring on this season’s matches! I can play this game now!
It's just a case of listening to somebody who knows how, and maybe wearing the right pullover.
Ever since childhood I’ve had a problem co-ordinating with a moving ball. Heading a football – I’d miss it! Driving to the boundary in cricket – I’d miss it! Returning serve on the forehand – I’d miss it!
I just accepted that if it was moving - I’d miss it. Mind you it never stopped me playing any of these games, and I was so very proud to be picked as goalkeeper for my infant school. This may have had something to do with me being tall. Not that I could reach the crossbar or cut out crosses; as if!!! But I was nearest to fully occupying the goalie’s pullover, kindly supplied by JC Howell our class teacher.
I still vividly remember that claret woollen pullover. I remember how I felt as I put on what seemed like the ceremonial robes of a gladiator destined to die. I can even remember how it smelt, on account of having to breathe through the huge roll-neck collar that smothered my face. Always a handy excuse for missing the shots that whistled past me. We lost every game. Defeats were always heavy.
The aversion continued into later life. 5 years back, a 6-0 drubbing at tennis by a girl friend recovering from foot surgery reaffirmed this lack of sporting self-esteem
So when invited 2 years ago to make up the numbers for the office cricket team, my acceptance was entirely altruistic. The invitation to play again the following year was not earned by previous success, but necessitated by dwindling numbers.
Except that this time I thought... I can do this! I remembered the advice of an old boss from way back, who said “know when you can’t ...and listen and learn from somebody who can!” In this case it was our cricket guru and Company Accountant Bill. “Watch the ball and step towards it” was his advice; advice which I trusted without question.
I don’t normally trust accountants but when on a Company "do" you’ve shared a room and seen a chap in his “Y” fronts, a trust is established.
So there I am, 3rd in. My new white cricket pullover makes a statement of bold intent. Maybe my subconscious was at work, deleting memories of that claret roll-neck I couldn't fill? Watch the ball and step forward: 1st ball…. block. 2nd ball….2 runs. 3rd ball...a glorious 6 over the boundary!! Then another awesome 6!!! 10 balls later I am compulsorily retired on 25 and stride back to a rapturous pavilion.
So bring on this season’s matches! I can play this game now!
It's just a case of listening to somebody who knows how, and maybe wearing the right pullover.
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