I am resuming club cricket after a decades gap.
The pro monsoon club season is expected to resume on the day of "Dussehra" festival later in this month. My decision has been backed by my club mates, coach, wifey and others who are dear to me.
That's what prompted me to change my username as well. Enough of sitting in comfort of my home and office to criticize international cricketers. Now it's the time to play more practically than chit chat. Maybe now i will find out how tough the game of cricket is once i am on the field playing proper cricket
The formats we play are 20 overs, 40 overs, 50 overs and two innings matches.
It's nice to be around some professional club mates and coach. One of the club mate / friend being Rohit's coach. He's backed me to come back to cricket during few session of drinks. The coach being a who's who in Mumbai cricketing circle. He's served two tenures , each of four years as MCA committee member under the leadership of ICC chief Sharad P, and was involved in selection of Indian cricket team during his tenure. Some other clubbies playing as well as doing jobs in cricketing profession like coaching/umpiring/ground administrators of 2011 WC etc. The club too is a renowned one in Mumbai and sponsored by Indian companies. They give us their sponsored logo based clothes, kit bags and we have to wear them during our annual 15 day cricket tour to cities /states apart form Mumbai/Maharashtra. Although, this time i won't be able to do cricket tours out of Mumbai/Maharashtra due to job and family reasons.
Personally, i don't know how successful i am going to be. It will take few months atleast to bag the "Best batsman of the Series ' awards etc In spite of having batted previously at 4 in 90% of my club matches, i might be moved anywhere in the batting order. I still think my coach remembers my batting order and he will keep me in the middle order. Expecting few katoris (edges) fetching fours at fine leg / third man during the initial comeback days. However, i have beenwatching the batters and fielders closely about technical skills of batting, fielding and diving. My gym sessions for the past 4 years will help. Also for past 5 months, my gym sessiona have been modified especially for the batting and fielding aspects. As there is better understanding of cricketing skills than i had when i played during my school and college days, i am hopeful about exploiting the experience to the fullest. However, practically the in touch club bowlers might have my wicket for breakfast for the first few months or so in the nets as well as in club matches. Fielding wise too i will have to catch up a lot during high catch and slip practice sessions. It will take some months at fielding to to be on par with the regular clubbies or what i was in the beginning of my club career. My coach always thought we as a useless specialist bowler at club level even though i was one of the best at street cricket. In his views i am a candidate for selection as specialist batsman rather than a specialist or even part time bowler.
Have to buy a new helmet. My old grilled helmet has not been returned by one clubmate for so long. The cricket bat has worn off after lasting long enough. The pads, thigh pads, abdo guard , chest guard, elbow guard and the whites need to be purchased gradually. Okay i am over estimating Mumbai wickets for bounce but you never know when someone bowls a bimmer at club level to hit the forearm or anywhere on upper body.
How my idols who will help me indirectly.
Sachin: Technique, composure, determination, patience, humbleness. Nice to practice Sachin's straight drive during shadow practice or socks method.
Rahul: Shadow practice , especially the weight on the cover drive due to more bent knees.
Ponting: Arguably the most successful captain and brilliant fielder, quick running between wickets. taking the field even after a big ton unlike other cricketing greats who lose stamina and prefer to rest while they have to field.
Jonty: Diving fielding technique, the way one has to use the toes position to gain fielding advantage.
Lara: Big knocks.
Kallis:A very reliable and consistent specialist batsman.
I will have to fill the MCA membership form yet again like all club crickets ( affiliated as well as registered ones )in Mumbai do. Great to be part of Mumbai cricketing system once again
Test FL's - 8 , ODI and Tests Combo FL's - 1, ODI World Cup - 1, ODI FL's - 7, ODI and T20i combo FL's - 1 ,
T20 Franchisee FL's - 7, T20i Cup FL's- 1, T20 FL's- 5 , 50 Overs Domestic FL's - 1, 40 Overs Domestic FL's- 1