Oxford

A day in the life

I feel the first class fixtures for the UCCE’s are a great tool for a young cricketer’s development. An extremely high percentage of players on the scheme, which runs in the 6 centres across the country, have a burning ambition to become professional cricketers themselves. To be able to observe how these players operate first hand is the best way to map out your own path into the professional game, whether this be in their preparation, or the way they conduct themselves on and off the field.

Our coach Graham Charlesworth, or ‘Coach’ as we call him, told us to take as much from the experience as we could. He encouraged us to try to talk to the players and seek their thoughts on the game we were playing in or on the game in general. Coach had sent me an email a couple of days before the game and informed me that Leicestershire were playing Claude Henderson, a friend of his, and I might want to ‘pick his brain’ about the art of bowling slow left arm. Henderson has played Test cricket for South Africa and taken over 600 first class wickets. I was looking forward to watching him bowl and maybe less so about facing him!

Our warm-up commenced at 9.45am on day 2 and after we had loosened up and done some team fielding exercises, it was time to do our individual skills. I saw Henderson bowling in the middle to their wicket keeper. Coach suggested I go over and bowl with him. I dismissed this at first, feeling anxious; I didn’t want to interrupt his warm-up. At this point coach grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and dragged me over there, and I’m glad he did! It turned into a scene from when Test Matches were shown on channel 4, and they had the master-classes during the lunch breaks with famous past cricketers!

Needless to say, I gained a great deal from that meeting and the couple of chats later in the game I had with him, especially the feedback he gave from his observations of me in the game. I planned my subsequent winter program around some pointers he gave me. I am very thankful firstly to my Coach for being the catalyst for this help and to Henderson for his interest and his patience. This to me shows how the game can be played. In good spirit, at a high intensity on the field and with a friendly and good-willed nature off it.

Unfortunately, we lost the game by an innings which was extremely disappointing for us, as we were very competitive for most of the game. Henderson also dismissed me in both innings! All that said and done, this experience was invaluable in my quest for becoming the best cricketer I can be and I am relishing the next opportunity that might come my way in the following seasons. This first hand exposure to first class cricket has just made my ambition in the game burn just that little bit harder!

Luke Ryan
23-25th May 2007, Oxford UCCE Vs Leicestershire.