*Using Test Cricket to make sense out of the turbulent life of an early-20 year old*
It's an interesting period of play this. You've seen off the new ball and got a taste of how the pitch is. The odd ball has stayed low, but it has come on to the bat as it should on the first day. Suddenly the leggie turns one sharply from the foot marks outside the leg stump. Slightly shaken, you think twice before you committing on to the front foot from now on. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. The strike fast bowler has come in for an energized third spell. It's starting to reverse on a hot afternoon. They bring back the third slip and the gully. You try hard to look for the shine, and get beaten anyway. More than you'd like. It's ugly and not what you imagined it to be. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. Pace from one end and spin from the other. In-out fields. Men at catching positions. A man for the drive and a man for the hook. A lapse in concentration results in an uppish-shot. Your heart is in the mouth as you watch it fall just short of deep backward square leg. You thank all your Gods. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. Plan 'A's have failed, so have the batsmen at the other end. You're still leaving balls outside the off stump but it's time to improvise. You change your guard and push a ball from outside the off stump down to mid-wicket for a single. It's not a boundary, but you've got the bowler scratching his head. Little moral victories are all you need sometimes. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. With 20 minutes to go, the part timer comes on. You've worked really hard to get here and don't want to throw it away. You cut a short one down to deep point and get to 50. The dressing room stands up and applauds for the valiant effort on a tricky wicket. You acknowledge and realize that the job's only half done. You want to sleep well tonight knowing you've given your best. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. You've seen off the new ball and got a taste of how the pitch is. The odd ball has stayed low, but it has come on to the bat as it should on the first day. Suddenly the leggie turns one sharply from the foot marks outside the leg stump. Slightly shaken, you think twice before you committing on to the front foot from now on. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. The strike fast bowler has come in for an energized third spell. It's starting to reverse on a hot afternoon. They bring back the third slip and the gully. You try hard to look for the shine, and get beaten anyway. More than you'd like. It's ugly and not what you imagined it to be. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. Pace from one end and spin from the other. In-out fields. Men at catching positions. A man for the drive and a man for the hook. A lapse in concentration results in an uppish-shot. Your heart is in the mouth as you watch it fall just short of deep backward square leg. You thank all your Gods. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. Plan 'A's have failed, so have the batsmen at the other end. You're still leaving balls outside the off stump but it's time to improvise. You change your guard and push a ball from outside the off stump down to mid-wicket for a single. It's not a boundary, but you've got the bowler scratching his head. Little moral victories are all you need sometimes. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
It's an interesting period of play this. With 20 minutes to go, the part timer comes on. You've worked really hard to get here and don't want to throw it away. You cut a short one down to deep point and get to 50. The dressing room stands up and applauds for the valiant effort on a tricky wicket. You acknowledge and realize that the job's only half done. You want to sleep well tonight knowing you've given your best. It's life. It's Cricket. Just got to dig in and get to tea, mate!
