It is great to be back in and training after a timely break for Christmas.
The rest came at a good time following five weeks of hard work, but, personally, once I get to the new year, I feel ready to go again. I am happy enough keeping myself in check at the gym, but it’s the lack of cricket focus and social interaction that makes me keen to return.
I think the same can be said for a lot of the lads. Everyone grafted to come back in good shape – some players’ skin folds have actually gone down over Christmas which is good going – and that is evidence that we are ready to work hard.
On the cricket front, I’ve mentioned before that the first block of pre-season training is about exploration, whilst the second is focussed on consolidation.
We put ourselves in performance scenarios more often during this block, and having that batter against bowler kind of focus once a week has been really good to prepare us technically and mentally going forwards.
Healthy Competition
We have had a number of sessions at Loughborough in this block, using the big net facilities there, and it is really helpful to have that at our disposal. There is plenty of room for Rooster to put us through our paces with the fielding, and having the gym on site makes it easy to get our work done.
I've been batting with Ben Slater for the last couple of weeks, and we’ll be facing Fletch off his long run, Brett off his, or Chappy who has been steaming in. You can see the competitiveness within everyone, trying to impress. I think that is healthy in all professional sports, and we are able to grow from it.
Having trialed a few new shots through November and December, I feel like I have added to my game. To remain at that level, I try to bat an extra two or three times against the bowling machine each week to practice certain shots or hone specific skills. It goes back to the idea of consolidating.
Generally, I just want to be in a rhythm, ready to compete. My approach when it comes to facing bowlers is to give them nothing, and when they miss their lines or lengths, I score, it is pretty simple, but it’s a method that works for me.
With the bowling, I have still just been off a three-quarter run but I have been able to bowl at batters, which I didn't do before Christmas, and that makes a world of difference.
Shiney is encouraging me not to get too giddy. There is definitely a patient side to coming back from injury, because I've got to slowly build that robustness up. I am progressing at an enjoyable rate, though, and it is nice to be in the main net instead of doing drills on the side.
That said, I did get a telling off this week.
I was bowling against Dane Schadendorf with Chappy and Mull. He was playing really nicely, and got a couple of balls away. On my last delivery, I wanted to test him out a bit so I gave him a short ball. It was a decent bouncer, but a mistake. I tried to just sneak it in while Shiney wasn’t looking, but I turned around and he had his arms folded, asking what I was doing.
With the bowling, I have still just been off a three-quarter run but I have been able to bowl at batters, which I didn't do before Christmas, and that makes a world of difference.
Deep down he is a bowler, though, he knows what it is like when a batter is playing some expansive shots you want to give them one.
On a serious note, I have had two or three weeks of bowling at batters, with some longer spells of six overs. The back feels good, so it is a positive that I have the confidence to deliver that kind of ball. I have got full trust in Shiney and I'm sure I'll be ready, once the first game of the season arrives, to bowl as much as needed.
New Season Beckons
We have almost the full complement of our squad now after a few overseas tournaments throughout the winter.
Mooresy has obviously gone to the Pakistan Super League, but the intensity in training is really high, and that is testament to Franksy who has slotted in seamlessly to lead things. I’ve got no doubt that when Mooresy, and the players in that tournament, return, our progression will be clear to see.
We received notice of our fixtures this week, and that is obviously exciting. There is so much cricket to be played, but we have found success just enjoying the process of preparing and playing each game and that’ll be the way we go about things again.
Of course, when those fixtures come out, there are certain things you look for. The big one is the first home game against Glamorgan because everyone loves playing at Trent Bridge and is champing at the bit to stake a claim for a spot in the side.
You also keep an eye out for the derby fixtures, which everyone is really up for. We have got a lot of local boys in this squad now who get what it means to play in those big games, and we all share the passion of our members and supporters in wanting to win them.
On the whole, though, it doesn’t matter who we play.
In the Championship we know what our job is, to perform on the pitch and get ourselves to Division One. We are building up to being at a point where we can do that.
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