Diary of a Vegan Cricketer (Week Twenty One)

C is for ….. Cricketing Know How (or more accurately lack of) a common subject of discussion amongst us old timers, another Staffs Seniors loss, the end of my league season with Church Eaton, and more than one eye on the off season.

2024 Season Week Twenty One: August 19th – August 25th

Highlight of the week was finding out that the Fish and Chips shop outside Edgbaston sold Vegan Pies, which along with some very well cooked crisp chips (hate soggy chips) and some vegan gravy resulted in a totally inclusive experience and two happy vegans eating their lunch whilst watching the cricket (red ball not white). Was a result in more than one way as had arranged a meeting over lunch but was no Vegan option in the members lounge but was told the chef could produce something (good …. but a sign telling people would have helped), and the server couldn’t tell me what it was …. but wanted to know if I wanted to order it …. whatever it was!!

Our meeting was to discuss NBCC activities over the off season, which increased my feeling off my season being all but over. Much of my recent discussions have been involved the observation that whilst many clubs are doing great work teaching the the mechanics of the game, not so much is being done with the approach to the game: the spirit of the game if you like. Cricketing Know How is a tough one to explain and teach, as in many ways it is an accumulation of years of experience and observing good practice. It is the lack of good practice that many of us oldies comment on most: fielding with hands in pockets, not walking in, not backing up (be honest how many clubs have a weekly fielding session that includes the art of fielding as well as the mechanics of fielding!?). BY way of an example: I was batting the other week and we were already into our tail and the oppositions opening bowler (a good young spinner) had one over left – the next over to be bowled. I turned down a single off the last ball of the over so that I could take the strike as I wanted to take the last over, see the bowler off, and not lose any more wickets. I batted out a maiden and then after the game had to explain to several players why I had done it. To be fair they all got it, but they didn’t think that way. Judging the game situation and adapting your and the teams approach is a key element of cricket, and one I don’t see too much of: “this is the way we play” seems to be the modern way, but ….. even BazBall has moderated, adapted and decided judging the game situation makes sense.

I wasn’t available for Church Eaton this weekend, nor will I be next weekend which is the last game of the league season. There are two weekends of a T15 ‘league’ but I have NBCC games/commitments so my Saturday cricket at Church Eaton is over. There are a few Sunday games, but I have a number of NBCC commitments so suspect I may be done with Church Eaton this year. It has been a stop/start season with more lows than highs, but they have been very welcoming and are a good club, and hopefully I can contribute more next year.

Combined with Staffs Seniors this year, I have a lot of clarity for the off season and next season.

Staffs lost their game in Durham which should have been the end of our season but other results means a win against Suffolk on Tuesday and one or two other games going our way and we will be in the semi final.

Played my best game of golf this week since I started to play again: the new swing and clubs are starting to feel more comfortable, but the greatest contribution is my overall fitness and significantly improved shoulder/neck.