Off Season Plans: Fitness, Rehab & Training
Here we go again another off season that starts with the need to rehab an injury I have been carrying since the second game of the season and which I …
Season Two: Reflections
Time for some post season reflections again, a season which in many ways mirrored last season, my first playing again after 33 year break between innings. Next Season then, what are …
Season Two: September Round Up
Final month of a very mixed season: dominated again by injury, but when I played I played much better than last season, introduced myself to Staffordshire Seniors, got more clarity …
Season Two: August Round Up
Last month was a very mixed month with the focus being on rehab and getting my mind around my future cricket. To that end August saw me sign up to …
Season Two: May Round Up
If last month was a mixed start to the season then May has been very mixed, very frustrating and very rewarding. Fair to say that following my limited involvement in …
Season Two: April Round Up
A mixed start to the season! It was a nailed on certainty that after all the winter nets, the analysis of my game, the talking rather than doing that in …
Season Two: I have a plan
I have a plan, well several actually, for Season Two and they involve wearing tights! I think that anyone reading the diary last year will have worked out that it …
Taking Stock (Off Season Reflections and Next Seasons Intentions)
In a recent post I discussed the Edgbaston Indoor Nets and what a great insight they had provided as to how the pros train, and given me some thoughts not …
Cricket Diary
Returning to play cricket in 2021 aged 57 following a 33 year absence from the game was one of the best (and worst) decisions that I have made. Neither my …
Cricket Diary: Looking Back & Planning Ahead
End of season but already looking ahead to next season and I have a plan but first, rest, LOTS of rest, then a return of the long Sunday Lunch. But …
Cricket Diary: Reflections (Old Stuff)
An old rivalry, old friends, rolling back the years and umpiring! Last but one week of the season. The Week That Was Monday: woke up with a headache which took …
Cricket Diary: Reflections (New Stuff)
As the season enters it’s final stages a look back at the ‘new stuff’ I encountered, but first – who would be a Cricket Club Official, hats caps off to …
Cricket Diary: Spirit of the Game
A three day Bank Holiday weekend with no cricket. Two great days at the Test Match. A new hobby/business/addiction and “Suits you sir”. Bothered by no cricket? Being honest not …
Cricket Diary: Balance
Can’t remember the last time I wore sunglasses! This was the outcome of a discussion with Sand about the weather this summer. WellI say summer! We only have two summers …
Cricket Diary: Primary Club
Yes, no, maybe, sorry …… has been yet another up and down, in and out, on and off week both in terms of not playing and not watching cricket! Last …
Cricket Diary: Perspective
No Cricket (again), England Batting Collapse in Test (again), Cancelled Hospital Procedure (again), Bought Cricket Gloves (again) ….. A key ingredient of a cricket diary is cricket, yet once again …
Cricket Diary: Old Haunts
Another cancelled match. Another failure with the bat. Another blow on the finger. Another familiar old ground and a few beers with an old foe! The Week That Was No …
Cricket Diary: the Siesta is back.
Gooseberry Ice Cream. Parents 60th Anniversary. Siestas. Two totally different losses, The Hundred & Bat Refurbishment. Who needs Spain eh!? A frustrating weekend playing no cricket on what was the …
Cricket Diary: Less is More
Probably shouldn’t have booked Hermes to bring it home. No nets for me on Monday as I was not netting on Tuesday (ODI at Edgbaston), Wednesday (Over 50s match at …
Cricket Diary: Second Time Round
The week that was, then wasn’t, then sort of was again. I am a very organised person. Primarily my personality but career wise it was a necessary attribute and now …
Cricket Diary: Sledging, Jugs & Fines
As I said last week I took the opportunity to have a short mid season break (not the best term in hindsight) this week so I have spent the majority …
Cricket Diary: Mid Season Already
Picked up another two bruises this weekend: one on my inner left thigh, one on my right forearm. Any guesses which one resulted in my dismissal? Monday evening I netted …
Cricket Diary: The Art of Drinking
One of the unexpected pleasures of my return to cricket has been a number of trips down memory lane although not always directly cricket related to be fair. Monday saw …
Cricket Diary: Reflections
Last week I consumed more beer, bread and pastry in three days than I normally do in a year so I sit here typing this weeks diary fighting an urge …
Cricket Diary: Muscle Memory
In an early diary entry I ruminated on the fist pump over the handshake. This weekend I was delighted to shake the hand of WIlliam James (maiden century), Olly Mills …
Cricket Diary: An Allrounder!!??
I cleaned the patio on Sunday. Not the most exciting start to a diary post I agree, but a month ago I would have given you long odds on me …
Cricket Diary: The Rain In Lichfield
Once again the weather dominated the cricket this week, or to be accurate the lack of it! Nets on Monday as usual, but with a junior game being played not …
Cricket Diary: Drinking In The Rain
I have news, we have a new boiler. This is news, but is not the news though. The new boiler is way more powerful than the vintage one we inherited …
Cricket Diary: A Weekend Without Cricket Is a Weekend Without Radox
Amazon sell a pack of 10 (5 pairs) of Hot Hands Hand Warmers for £3.99 (£3.79 if you set up a monthly subscription), which are air activated and provide up …
Cricket Diary: H Is Revealed
Amazon sell a pack of three Red Smoke flares for £23.95. This is not a random fact I just happen to know, but the result of a morning researching distress …
Cricket Diary: On Golden Spond
Starting at the end. A great win for the Penkridge 4s, which for some of a certain age may sound a little like the Guildford 6, for which I apologise. …
Cricket Diary: Down To Earth With A Bump
Not quite as promising a week as last week to be fair, but more of that later. Week started off trying to train the dogs that if they needed to …
Cricket Diary: Come Hail Or Shine
Growing up I don’t ever recall thinking “oh good it’s April, the cricket season is starting” and as I donned bobble cap, base layers, snood and winter coat and headed …
Cricket Diary: Getting Real
All started to get real this week: real hot, real cold, real stiff, real sore, real painful, real aches, real pains, but also real smiles, real humour, real good spirit, …
Cricket Diary: Aspirations & Targets
Anticipation and apprehension mount in equal measures as the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions means that at Penkridge Cricket Club we have our first training session of the season scheduled for …
Cricket Diary: ECB Coaching Foundation Course
Back in November 2020, on the 1st to be exact, I attended Day One of the ECB Coaching Foundation Course. Pretty much the first thing they told us was that …