Good Evening.
The season just gone hasn't been as successful as the season before. Last year, I broke into the first team for the first time as a Sileby Town CC member. I had been a top order batsman and a key bowler for the second team for a few year, even at such a young age.
The story over the past few years has been quite crazy. Three years ago, the season had began, and I was batting at three and bowling long spells at 15/16 years of age. I had been enjoying my cricket, the season before that. I hit my first half century, my first senior century and taking plenty of wickets even at Leicestershire Young Cricketers. Going back to the season after, I had a slow start. I went in at three again, and one game at 4. I scored no runs, literally, and didn't get a bowl. But it took a turn; I had a shock call-up to the first team. How?! I will never know. Skipper Matt Ellis at the time asked me to go to with them away at Lutterworth. And how cricket can be a funny game..
Current professional Jacques du Toit of Leicestershire CCC was on-song. He opened the batting on a rain affected game, overcast and drizzly, and was hitting boundaries for fun off bowlers Phil Hackett and Matt Ellis. "Get loose Mick" said the skip. But my first spell was delayed as rain forced the teams off. Eventually we came back on the field to play, and Hackett resumed his spell, and the first ball back, a half 'tracker' from Phil and du Toit mis-timed his shot and I got the catch at mid-off. And boy what this day would turn out to be. Even if I can say so myself, I had a fantastic debut, and one to remember. I bowled at the Pavilion End, and immediately caused havoc to the Lutterworth middle order. A devastating 6 over spell had Lutterworth at 80-6. I took three massive wickets including one of Karl Smith the captain who had the potential to destroy any bowler. I returned with 3-18 off 6 overs. Admittedly, my batting didn't change the course of the game but I never looked back.
I finished up on 20 first team wickets, and had a steady average at number eight of 24. This would see me as the third highest average in the first team, and second leading wicket taker as well. As a result, I claimed the Player's Player award, voted by the rest of the first team, recognising my performances all year. As well as this, I claimed the 'Alan Trasler trophy' - Junior Cricketer of the Year. This has to be one of my biggest achievements to date, along side a Leicestershire YC cap, a Midlands call-up and runner-up in the National Knockout Championship at Bournemouth at Under 15's.
The following season came round, and I was ever so excited. But unfortunately, I couldn't hit the same notes as the season before. Shortage of runs and wickets had cost me my place in the First team, but it didn't take away the claim of bowling at Saqlain Mushtaq, ex Pakistani spin bowling legend. I also had the privilege of facing him too, and not managing to get out to him!
Back to where I was, my poor performances had seen me dropped. New captain, taking over from fairly new-ish captain, Jake Gillet, Mo Khan had no choice but to replace me. I started back in the Two's at Ratby, and I came back impressively. Taking 4 wickets bowling 22 overs without stop and hitting the winning runs, but this wasn't enough to regain my place in the First team. I struggled all year, confidence had gone, wickets dried up as well as runs. I hadn't enjoyed my cricket, and couldn't of waited for the season to go any quicker.
Three months on, and I am ready to go again. Undecided on where I am playing next season, I could well be at a club up north, or back at Sileby, but at the moment, I just want to pick up a bat and ball again. University of Huddersfield have cricket nets on, on a Friday night. This would be ideal for me, early nets, early training, improvement of fitness. It's all there for me. I can't wait.
My main aim, academically is to concentrate here in West Yorkshire, but professional cricket is my ideal aim. I love cricket. I live it, breathe it, drink it. I'm raring to go, and looking to win some trophies and medals again.
