I’ve been meaning to write this post for the last two weeks and have finally got round to putting digit to keyboard prompted, more than anything, by the fact that my brother Tom has finally started netting down in Kent. Up here in the North we’re a bit keener than that and tomorrow will be Rasen’s fourth net session of the year.
With the slightly slimmer figure and improved fitness (well, compared with last year at any rate) I’ve found nets an awful lot more enjoyable than last season. Whilst you couldn’t describe me as gamboling around the gymnasium, I’m definitely moving better than I did. What’s been most positive though is that, for the first time since I became involved with the club, we have, so far, been fairly inundated with players coming along. Both nets have been over-subscribed on each occasion and we’ve even had wicket-keepers practicing separately at the same time. Amazing stuff.
Whilst I find nets enjoyable and invaluable before the start of the season I do find it hard to get the most out of them from a cricketing perspective for the following reasons:
Firstly:
The tendency to want to smack the living-whatsit out of the ball. Anyone who’s seen me bat in an actual game will find the concept a little worrying, but for some reason when I’m batting in the nets I become convinced that there’s a Twenty20 monster just waiting to be unleashed. Watching Tendulkar and Kallis in this year’s version of the IPL doesn’t help, but I find it strange. Once we’re out on the grass you can be assured that I’ll be eschewing every attacking stroke save the square cut and grinding my way to another gutsy 13.
Secondly:
My bowling gets completely tonked. Again, anyone who’s seen me bowl in a game won’t be surprised. As even Mrs R has been known to comment I’m ‘no Shane Warne‘. On grass I seem to be able to find a modicum of control – certainly in Lincs League 4 – that breeds if not respect, then a wary recognition that the line’s reasonably tight and there’s the chance that the ball might turn in a minute or two. In the nets it’s merely a question of how many of the bricks at the back of the gym the lads (and lasses were there any) feel like trying to crack tonight. I blame these big bats they use these days!
Lastly:
Bowling one in every 4 or 5 deliveries. This is the only drawback to lots of people turning up. Whilst it’s great to see them all, bowling one delivery followed by a 2 or 3 minute gap before your next one is strangely discombobulating. Getting into a rhythym seems impossible and you end up trying too hard to turn every delivery into a wicket-taking one, rather than getting the stock ball right.
Being in knowledge of the above one would think I would be able to combat the above and bat out a net session in grim Tavare-like defiance and concentrate on my stock ball, but it never seems to work. The best intentions go out of the window as soon as someone sends their first delivery soaring into the gallery. Hey ho. There’s always next year!
Well bowled, Harold! 