Snow is still visible on the hills around Freiburg. It has been raining intermittently in last few days. So the wind is humid and chilly. Spring is slowly making its way.
Without waiting for the spring weather to set in the Freiburg nomads were today back on the cricket field to mark the beginning of new season. The fact that it's Easter Friday today did not stop them to start the season on schedule.
I have not been keeping good health this week but the motivation was just too strong to keep me at home. And it was absolute delight to return to the cricket field -- hold the read leather ball in hand, run few yards and hit the stumps few times. I was a bit surprised by the turnout for the first practice session. There were some 16 odd guys showed up. Several of them were new faces. So I entered the cricket field with great deal of curiosity about the new talent.
The practice session started as it used to in last season. The organization was very chaotic, perhaps a rather unexpectedly high number of players showed up. Initially we wanted to play a short game -- yes, on the first practice the season!! But that idea somehow got dissolved within first minuted of implementation and players ended up batting in pairs and pretended to score runs. Because there was no plan for the training today it was all very confusing. The IPL effect was visible straightaway. No one who batted today found it useful to set the eyes in and get used to the ball. It was all IPL style, see the ball or not but swing the bat, if you are out its fine there is always a next ball, if its in the air, dont worry, no one will catch it....
I think it was supposed to be that way today because of the new players and no one knew their strengths and weaknesses to begin with. Hopefully we will do better next time...
As of my curiosity -- it was just a hope without any logic and reason. There is one new player who looked good, who has the right attitude and a great bowling action. Other than that I did not see any new talent and I dont foresee any of the today's newcomers winning us matches in near/far future. It is needless to say that we need good players for the coming season which is going to be tougher than ever before. The Freiburg nomads under a new management, have decided to participate in the Baden-Wurtemberg Cricket league.
On a personal level I was quite satisfied that the six month long off season time did not effect my line and length and I still have the control. I need to work a bit on my action though, I realized that I am not bending my back enough.
As such the season is not starting on a good note. We have lost our wicket-keeper and a key batsman. Vijay apparently bumped into a tree while attempting to take a catch in a tennis ball cricket match and broke his nose and he will be out of action for at least a month. And the new challenge for the team is to find out a new wicket-keeper.
Irrespective of the near chaos and confusion at the practice, I was very excited that cricket season has finally started, and I could see the same enthusiasm in all who were on the field today (On a Easter Friday -- that is commitment).
right arm over
Arvind
Without waiting for the spring weather to set in the Freiburg nomads were today back on the cricket field to mark the beginning of new season. The fact that it's Easter Friday today did not stop them to start the season on schedule.
I have not been keeping good health this week but the motivation was just too strong to keep me at home. And it was absolute delight to return to the cricket field -- hold the read leather ball in hand, run few yards and hit the stumps few times. I was a bit surprised by the turnout for the first practice session. There were some 16 odd guys showed up. Several of them were new faces. So I entered the cricket field with great deal of curiosity about the new talent.
The practice session started as it used to in last season. The organization was very chaotic, perhaps a rather unexpectedly high number of players showed up. Initially we wanted to play a short game -- yes, on the first practice the season!! But that idea somehow got dissolved within first minuted of implementation and players ended up batting in pairs and pretended to score runs. Because there was no plan for the training today it was all very confusing. The IPL effect was visible straightaway. No one who batted today found it useful to set the eyes in and get used to the ball. It was all IPL style, see the ball or not but swing the bat, if you are out its fine there is always a next ball, if its in the air, dont worry, no one will catch it....
I think it was supposed to be that way today because of the new players and no one knew their strengths and weaknesses to begin with. Hopefully we will do better next time...
As of my curiosity -- it was just a hope without any logic and reason. There is one new player who looked good, who has the right attitude and a great bowling action. Other than that I did not see any new talent and I dont foresee any of the today's newcomers winning us matches in near/far future. It is needless to say that we need good players for the coming season which is going to be tougher than ever before. The Freiburg nomads under a new management, have decided to participate in the Baden-Wurtemberg Cricket league.
On a personal level I was quite satisfied that the six month long off season time did not effect my line and length and I still have the control. I need to work a bit on my action though, I realized that I am not bending my back enough.
As such the season is not starting on a good note. We have lost our wicket-keeper and a key batsman. Vijay apparently bumped into a tree while attempting to take a catch in a tennis ball cricket match and broke his nose and he will be out of action for at least a month. And the new challenge for the team is to find out a new wicket-keeper.
Irrespective of the near chaos and confusion at the practice, I was very excited that cricket season has finally started, and I could see the same enthusiasm in all who were on the field today (On a Easter Friday -- that is commitment).
right arm over
Arvind
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