Time (again)

I played my final game of the 2023 season last week.

A disappointing exit from the National KO stages, although we did get to enjoy a rather charming (if slightly confused) away-day to Worcestershire for the Vase quarter final.

After a Championship-winning season with the over 60s 4th team in 2021, and a barely believable glut of runs (by my standards, at least) in 2022, 2023 has been less fun.

It’s been hard work this year. In spite of my best intentions, and the encouragement of the CricFit programme, I have struggled for fitness all season.

I carried a painful quad strain from the first games in May, which was only partially resolved by mid-July with judicious strapping using “KT” kinesiology tape.

Playing mostly as a make-weight in the 2nds – 3rd- or 4th-change bowler, batting no.7 behind a solid but sometimes unenterprising top order.

The new balls from Stonehill Sports polish up nicely beyond 20 overs (I generally didn’t see the ball until the mid-innings drinks break) and swing quite enough to beat the bat. But I was reduced to a 6-pace shuffle to the bowling crease for most of the season and the snap has gone from my delivery.

Time to switch to spin.

Or give up.

Back to regular coaching over the winter, for the first time since 2020. I’ll be working with a “reception” group again, which will be fun.