blake
School Cricketer
I grew up in the suburbs of Brisbane, Australia as a young boy. I was, like many other children, cricket-mad, although perhaps I was even more dedicated about cricket than the rest of the children. I idolised the Australian cricket team even at an extremely young age and I used to spend hours in the backyard each day practising my shots against the wall, striving to become the best cricketer I possibly could, despite being just seven years of age.
I started playing competitive cricket at Under 10 level when I was just 8 years old. Initially I had been a bit worried about playing up a year grade, but at the time I would reassure myself that if my future was going to be in cricket I would have to start soon, and I used the Australian players as my motivation. I was positive the likes of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting never would've had it easy and that if I was going to play for Australia, my dream had to start somewhere.
I developed quickly and in my first year I was already our team's star batsman. The years of playing backyard cricket as a small child had paid off and I regularly hit quick 20s and 30s opening the batting against the best of Under 10 before I was called to retire. At first I was disappointed - after seeing the big centuries hit by the international players I wanted to be just like them and score huge runs. Still, however, I had a huge talent. I was just 9 years old when I hit my first half century.
I continued to dominate in junior cricket, scoring many half centuries and even a century in Under 12 cricket before being selected for the regional team after trying out as an opening batsman. I was delighted, and my love of cricket was burning as strongly as it had when I was just 8 years old. I had a successful tournament with my regional side, and hit some of the best and future bowlers of Queensland for my age group around, and I averaged an excellent 42 for the tournament.
However, it was when I was 14 that the biggest incident occurred in my life. My family decided it was time to pack up and it was announced that we would be moving to England.
It was exciting at first, moving to England, but after that I soon began to dislike it. I didn't fit in at school and whilst I was one of the most popular kids in the class in Australia, nobody seemed to want to talk to me here. Just one thing stood strong now, my love of cricket.
I found a cricket club which was in a rather low division and finished my junior years there - being their top run scorer for each year. I was only developing more and more with my cricket, and since nobody particularly liked me in school I had plenty of time to practise it, which I did every day. One of the benefits of moving to England was that there was a cricket net not too far from home which was almost unused, and occasionally I would go down with my brother and practise my batting technique.
At 17, I left the cricket club in search for one with some first-grade clubs and I quickly found a team. I played my first few games in the fourth-grade and scored 128*, 82 and 109 before they moved me up to their first-grade team. I found it slightly harder, as the bowlers were quite good, but I still scored runs, and averaged 62 for the season.
Just as I graduated high school, I received an offer after the game. A Gloucestershire scout had turned up as I had hit 52 in my last match and despite my score not being huge, he had supposedly liked what he had seen and I now had an offer to join the Gloucestershire academy. I quickly accepted - this was the offer I had been waiting for. My dreams to play professional cricket were slowly growing larger and I was delighted.
I practised even more now, knowing that I might get the chance to bat in front of the Gloucestershire selectors. I would hit the ball against the brick wall in our small backyard back and forth, and although it was hardly like a match experience it still further improved my rock-solid technique.
I was now off to the Gloucestershire youth academy to give it my best shot at 17 years of age. Upon turning up for my first trial, I realised there were plenty of people younger than me and I cursed myself for not being chosen earlier - but then again, it was hardly my fault. Still, I was a dedicated cricketer and I wanted to have the best shot at playing professional cricket.
I arrived a few minutes early - I was incredibly eager to have a go at impressing the selectors. I walked in and shook the hand of the scout who had told me to come here. He pointed out the Gloucestershire selectors to me, and then he told me to pad up.
I quickly padded up, and whilst doing so one of the selectors walked over to me.
"Listen, we've heard exciting things about your batting so head over to that net once you're done and we'll see how you face up."
These were encouraging words but I didn't want to let it show that I was excited so I just nodded and headed over to the net.
Meanwhile, the selector headed over to where the bowlers were bowling and had a word in the ear of one particularly mean-looking quick bowler. The quick bowler, who I later learned his name was Dom, headed over to my net. He looked pretty threatening but I was confident enough facing him - however, nothing could prepare me for what came next.
He took a medium paced run-up and as he was running in I thought he couldn't be too quick - yet the pace he delivered the ball was truly stunning. It kicked off the synthetic pitch and skimmed just past my head, whilst I stood like a confused idiot.
I managed to bat solidly for an opening batsman - I lost my wicket just once when I got an outside edge fending away with a back foot drive, but overall I thought I handled the paceman pretty well with solid technique. He turned out to be nice enough as I met him afterwards and we talked about selection for a while before I headed home.
After numerous visits to the academy, it turned out I was good enough to take the next step and I was offered a youth contract offering 1000 pounds a year in the Gloucestershire 2nd Team. I quickly accepted, and that brings me to now.
Gloucestershire aren't the worst of teams, but 2009 was not their year. They stumbled through Division 2 in the County Championship, winning just one match out of sixteen, and they lost all eight matches in the Pro League to earn relegation. Whilst they made the Twenty20 Quarter Finals, they faded away in the Champion's Trophy to finish 5th in the group and overall it was a dismal season for them. I was more than happy to sign for them though and their lack of form might just mean they would be requiring some new youth.
My journey, as a fresh faced 17 year old, starts now.
I started playing competitive cricket at Under 10 level when I was just 8 years old. Initially I had been a bit worried about playing up a year grade, but at the time I would reassure myself that if my future was going to be in cricket I would have to start soon, and I used the Australian players as my motivation. I was positive the likes of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting never would've had it easy and that if I was going to play for Australia, my dream had to start somewhere.
I developed quickly and in my first year I was already our team's star batsman. The years of playing backyard cricket as a small child had paid off and I regularly hit quick 20s and 30s opening the batting against the best of Under 10 before I was called to retire. At first I was disappointed - after seeing the big centuries hit by the international players I wanted to be just like them and score huge runs. Still, however, I had a huge talent. I was just 9 years old when I hit my first half century.
I continued to dominate in junior cricket, scoring many half centuries and even a century in Under 12 cricket before being selected for the regional team after trying out as an opening batsman. I was delighted, and my love of cricket was burning as strongly as it had when I was just 8 years old. I had a successful tournament with my regional side, and hit some of the best and future bowlers of Queensland for my age group around, and I averaged an excellent 42 for the tournament.
However, it was when I was 14 that the biggest incident occurred in my life. My family decided it was time to pack up and it was announced that we would be moving to England.
It was exciting at first, moving to England, but after that I soon began to dislike it. I didn't fit in at school and whilst I was one of the most popular kids in the class in Australia, nobody seemed to want to talk to me here. Just one thing stood strong now, my love of cricket.
I found a cricket club which was in a rather low division and finished my junior years there - being their top run scorer for each year. I was only developing more and more with my cricket, and since nobody particularly liked me in school I had plenty of time to practise it, which I did every day. One of the benefits of moving to England was that there was a cricket net not too far from home which was almost unused, and occasionally I would go down with my brother and practise my batting technique.
At 17, I left the cricket club in search for one with some first-grade clubs and I quickly found a team. I played my first few games in the fourth-grade and scored 128*, 82 and 109 before they moved me up to their first-grade team. I found it slightly harder, as the bowlers were quite good, but I still scored runs, and averaged 62 for the season.
Just as I graduated high school, I received an offer after the game. A Gloucestershire scout had turned up as I had hit 52 in my last match and despite my score not being huge, he had supposedly liked what he had seen and I now had an offer to join the Gloucestershire academy. I quickly accepted - this was the offer I had been waiting for. My dreams to play professional cricket were slowly growing larger and I was delighted.
I practised even more now, knowing that I might get the chance to bat in front of the Gloucestershire selectors. I would hit the ball against the brick wall in our small backyard back and forth, and although it was hardly like a match experience it still further improved my rock-solid technique.
I was now off to the Gloucestershire youth academy to give it my best shot at 17 years of age. Upon turning up for my first trial, I realised there were plenty of people younger than me and I cursed myself for not being chosen earlier - but then again, it was hardly my fault. Still, I was a dedicated cricketer and I wanted to have the best shot at playing professional cricket.
I arrived a few minutes early - I was incredibly eager to have a go at impressing the selectors. I walked in and shook the hand of the scout who had told me to come here. He pointed out the Gloucestershire selectors to me, and then he told me to pad up.
I quickly padded up, and whilst doing so one of the selectors walked over to me.
"Listen, we've heard exciting things about your batting so head over to that net once you're done and we'll see how you face up."
These were encouraging words but I didn't want to let it show that I was excited so I just nodded and headed over to the net.
Meanwhile, the selector headed over to where the bowlers were bowling and had a word in the ear of one particularly mean-looking quick bowler. The quick bowler, who I later learned his name was Dom, headed over to my net. He looked pretty threatening but I was confident enough facing him - however, nothing could prepare me for what came next.
He took a medium paced run-up and as he was running in I thought he couldn't be too quick - yet the pace he delivered the ball was truly stunning. It kicked off the synthetic pitch and skimmed just past my head, whilst I stood like a confused idiot.
I managed to bat solidly for an opening batsman - I lost my wicket just once when I got an outside edge fending away with a back foot drive, but overall I thought I handled the paceman pretty well with solid technique. He turned out to be nice enough as I met him afterwards and we talked about selection for a while before I headed home.
After numerous visits to the academy, it turned out I was good enough to take the next step and I was offered a youth contract offering 1000 pounds a year in the Gloucestershire 2nd Team. I quickly accepted, and that brings me to now.
Gloucestershire aren't the worst of teams, but 2009 was not their year. They stumbled through Division 2 in the County Championship, winning just one match out of sixteen, and they lost all eight matches in the Pro League to earn relegation. Whilst they made the Twenty20 Quarter Finals, they faded away in the Champion's Trophy to finish 5th in the group and overall it was a dismal season for them. I was more than happy to sign for them though and their lack of form might just mean they would be requiring some new youth.
My journey, as a fresh faced 17 year old, starts now.
Good update as well, great writing.
