News Archive | KIRTLEY BLOG - 23 May 2007
KIRTLEY BLOG - 23 May 2007
EARLY SEASON WOES
It's the start of the cricket season 2007. We won the double in 2006, we've been to the UAE for a really productive pre-season training camp (the first abroad for a few years) which gave us the perfect opportunity for quality practice and some important team bonding after an 'interesting' winter - but we are bombing.
As one of the more experienced players in the team I have seen some of this before, although for me, it was very much on a personal level. The questioning of my bowling action and the rebuilding of my game was a difficult experience that brought a new meaning to the phrase "dig deep". My reward in being recalled to the England A's against Bangladesh was absolutely fantastic but today, mine (and everyone else's) mind is on winning for Sussex. The euphoria at the end of last season and then a low at the start of this - we can't seem to get the results we want, although sometimes it's so close we can almost touch it. And then the external pressures begin and whilst the management and sponsors remain strong, we want a win for them more than ever.
Many have spoken or written of our disappointing start, but as a team, we don't see it like this. We need to find our form, of course, but our morale is high and we think we can do very well this season. Of course, we say that luck is against us. We've lost 8 out of 9 tosses but we lost against Warwickshire and Kent by an innings and the backbone of our fielding, Matt Prior, is lost to the England First Team - a big loss to us but fantastic that Sussex may have produced a new star.
But hang on, we still have our magnificent captain, we have the very talented Andrew Hodd as our wicket keeper who brings a different energy
and enthusiasm to the team and we have real faith that our talents will show themselves more generously as the season progresses.
Naive? Maybe, but as the European's Champions League comes on the TV in our Worcester hotel, our attention for a few hours turn to Liverpool and where they were, this night, two years ago, I'd think carefully before writing any of us off too soon.
James
It's the start of the cricket season 2007. We won the double in 2006, we've been to the UAE for a really productive pre-season training camp (the first abroad for a few years) which gave us the perfect opportunity for quality practice and some important team bonding after an 'interesting' winter - but we are bombing.
As one of the more experienced players in the team I have seen some of this before, although for me, it was very much on a personal level. The questioning of my bowling action and the rebuilding of my game was a difficult experience that brought a new meaning to the phrase "dig deep". My reward in being recalled to the England A's against Bangladesh was absolutely fantastic but today, mine (and everyone else's) mind is on winning for Sussex. The euphoria at the end of last season and then a low at the start of this - we can't seem to get the results we want, although sometimes it's so close we can almost touch it. And then the external pressures begin and whilst the management and sponsors remain strong, we want a win for them more than ever.
Many have spoken or written of our disappointing start, but as a team, we don't see it like this. We need to find our form, of course, but our morale is high and we think we can do very well this season. Of course, we say that luck is against us. We've lost 8 out of 9 tosses but we lost against Warwickshire and Kent by an innings and the backbone of our fielding, Matt Prior, is lost to the England First Team - a big loss to us but fantastic that Sussex may have produced a new star.
But hang on, we still have our magnificent captain, we have the very talented Andrew Hodd as our wicket keeper who brings a different energy
and enthusiasm to the team and we have real faith that our talents will show themselves more generously as the season progresses.
Naive? Maybe, but as the European's Champions League comes on the TV in our Worcester hotel, our attention for a few hours turn to Liverpool and where they were, this night, two years ago, I'd think carefully before writing any of us off too soon.
James
