Posted on: May 17th 2013
By Oliver, Form 6Cricket is an acquired taste; it takes time to appreciate the subtle qualities of the game. Such as how much like a ‘family’ the team becomes, if you have been playing with your team-mates for 3-4 years you begin to get to know each other very well. I have heard people say; ‘cricket is for pansies’ and when I hear this I just tell them to go out to the wicket and face a ball from one of our quickest bowlers and see how long it takes them to change their view!
Cricket is a game that is played on a grass pitch but also in the mind. Without a positive mental attitude you will not last five minutes. Some games go brilliantly and you score 30, 40 or even 50 runs and the next game you can be out for the dreaded duck (0 runs). You have to be able to bounce back.
I first got into cricket when my Dad took me to Saturday morning cricket training at North Middlesex Cricket Club when I was 7. I played my first ‘hard-ball’ cricket match that year. The next season I joined Hornsey and began to play regularly in the under 9’s and under 10’s teams playing in league and cup games and training regularly in the nets. I began to specialise as a wicket-keeper batsmen after taking the gloves in an indoor match and doing well.
I was asked to attend trials for the London Schools Cricket Association which is made up of players who attend schools in the London area and is of a high standard. I was selected for the team and am now the wicket keeper for the u11 team. We play against county and strong school sides, last week I played matches against Dulwich College and Essex. You always get a good tea at those games.
Recently I was selected for the Haringey squad which is the first step towards playing for Middlesex. If you do well for your Borough team you are asked to play for the ‘Area’ team and from there you can be selected for the county. No matter how far I progress I will always enjoy playing cricket for the challenge and the sheer fun of the game.
