Is it Really That hard to become a international cricketer?

[Armadillo]

In England, it is

School - Club - County - A Team - England. so , i dont have to go through all the grade things like in Australia

I am currently 15 and i hope to have a destructive season so i can get into the reckoning for Essex for next season. I am pretty confident that i will be quick enouh to play in Essex coz even other teams coaches cannot believe how quick i am. and opposition players always think i play for Essex.

If their is any Essex person out there, they will probably know about Gidea Park and Romford and about half their U-16s play for Essex. There is a rumour about scouts being there so if you want to get essex trials, play well at Gidea Park.

Had a match there last season and i had a right howler. too much pressure probably. but this season, i should be more equiped to destroy them [fingers crossed]

Speedking, I know a few players from GP and Romford. Most of them seem to think that its a pretty poor club at colt level. Who do you know in the Essex academy?

 

[telsor]

The team I used to play for had as a coach a guy who had just dropped down from playing grade cricket ( one level below first class ) and was considered a good/ordinary player there..ie, good enough to regularly make the first 11, but no chance of playing first class cricket.

We had several players we thought were pretty good ( alas, I wasn't one of them ), but I still remember the first net session where he decided to attack the bowlers just to see how they'd react. It was brutal. All the bowlers, even the 'good' ones got savaged. I was paid the 'compliment' of not being hit one ball because he liked my attitude ( I kept trying to get him out rather than going defensive ). The scary part is, he picked the ball, deduced my intent, and THEN decided to how play the ball and defended it straight back to me.

A couple of interesting snippets he passed on that might help show the divide in quality.

Good batsmen attempt very attacking few shots, but they get value from them. Check how often a test batsman hits an attacking stroke ( not just a well timed push ) to a fieldsman and compare that to the level you play at.

Shane Warne's average ball is at a pace we'd have considered a quickish medium.

The only time he was ever scared was facing Malcolm Marshall...and then only after he turned around and noticed just how far back the keeper/slips were. ( he lasted 2 balls..not due to fear, he was just beaten ).

 

[Barney Rubble]

I'm pretty young so I've only recently started playing in BACA (besides NCCA, the other big cricket league here). I'm not sure about the names of the 80 mph guys, but I'm certain there are a few because I've seen plenty in the 70s who aren't that highly reputed and I've heard quite a few speaking of these 80 mph guys, so I doubt it's rubbish. Then that Canada guy, I just found him on cricinfo and realized he wasn't joking when he put on that official Canada cap in our match this weekend .. my closest claim to fame, playing with an international (albeit superminnow) cricketer.

I think Neil plays with a Luxembourger international and a Spanish international.

 

[Goughy]

I'm pretty young so I've only recently started playing in BACA (besides NCCA, the other big cricket league here). I'm not sure about the names of the 80 mph guys, but I'm certain there are a few because I've seen plenty in the 70s who aren't that highly reputed and I've heard quite a few speaking of these 80 mph guys, so I doubt it's rubbish. Then that Canada guy, I just found him on cricinfo and realized he wasn't joking when he put on that official Canada cap in our match this weekend .. my closest claim to fame, playing with an international (albeit superminnow) cricketer.

The reason I ask is that I have a number of contacts in San Francisco and know a few guys who play in NCCA.

No disrespect, but I would look to play NCCA rather than BACA if you have the choice. It is a big step up in standard at the higher level.

 

[adharcric]

I think Neil plays with a Luxembourger international and a Spanish international.

well then, adharcric >> neil_pickup (in terms of claim to minnow fame)

 

[adharcric]

The reason I ask is that I have a number of contacts in San Francisco and know a few guys who play in NCCA.

No disrespect, but I would look to play NCCA rather than BACA if you have the choice. It is a big step up in standard at the higher level.

It definitely is. I'm not quite seasoned and experienced enough for that level yet though. Furthermore, I don't get time to practice as I only go back from college on weekends to play matches. Hopefully in a few years I'll make the shift.

It doesn't quite help that I still haven't figured out what I really am. Started out as a kid specialist fielder, then a high-school captain & batting all-rounder, then a club level opening bowler, at the moment a league level potential all-rounder who is struggling to regain his bowling rythm and penetration. As sad as it sounds, reminds me of AA (I hate the guy too, damn ..).

 

[open365]

Yes and no. Being gifted is only part of the equation. You have to be able to knuckle down and show hard work and progression.

The world is full of freakishly talented players who never made it.

Most FC and test players will not have been that much more special than their contemporaries (obviously good players) growing up.

The development and improvement happens once the player has been identified and has 100% focus on cricket. What is important is that a coach or a selector sees something they like.

I have seen a number of guys go onto be successful that didnt appear head and shoulders above the rest and others who were out of this world not get close.

Also, saying score lots of runs and take lots of wickets is overly simple. Players are seldom picked on production but on potential and what they can become. Doing well will obviously get you noticed but unless you project a "high glass ceiling" you will go no where.

Final point, The cricket in the US is not as weak as made out by some in this thread and there are many players who would be surprized if it was compared to the level of their club.

I have to dis-agree in part.

Playing cricket as much as i do, you see all the county hopefulls, and you see the real things.

I think every player at county or above level has imcomprehensable amounts of talent. There's a player at my club(don't take this a definite example, i'm just using it singulary) who scored 50 or plus EVERY game he played in, his record score was 150* from 40 overs against a v.good side, yet he couldn't make it even into the age group sides.

I've been smashed around the park by fringe county players, moral-county players are just a cut-above mere mortals.

 

[Goughy]

I think every player at county or above level has imcomprehensable amounts of talent. There's a player at my club(don't take this a definite example, i'm just using it singulary) who scored 50 or plus EVERY game he played in, his record score was 150* from 40 overs against a v.good side, yet he couldn't make it even into the age group sides.

As I said in my post, runs are wickets are not the currency for getting selected. Selectors need to see a spark that excites them. Once they are included in the system the progression is incredible.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I think Neil plays with a Luxembourger international and a Spanish international.

The Luxembourger has vanished under the radar lately, and I've got the Spaniard out.

 

[Neil Pickup]

As I said in my post, runs are wickets are not the currency for getting selected. Selectors need to see a spark that excites them. Once they are included in the system the progression is incredible.

From a selector's perspective (even if it's only East Devon Youth), I agree. I've been to trials days, picked a 16, then looked at batting and bowling averages once I've got home and wondered how the hell those figures came about.

 

[Sir Redman]

A couple of interesting snippets he passed on that might help show the divide in quality.

Good batsmen attempt very attacking few shots, but they get value from them. Check how often a test batsman hits an attacking stroke ( not just a well timed push ) to a fieldsman and compare that to the level you play at.

Shane Warne's average ball is at a pace we'd have considered a quickish medium.

The only time he was ever scared was facing Malcolm Marshall...and then only after he turned around and noticed just how far back the keeper/slips were. ( he lasted 2 balls..not due to fear, he was just beaten ).

That's true. I've found that the higher the level you play, everything - even the spinners - are noticably quicker than you'd think. A guy in my team, who played first-class cricket for Northern Districts about 7 or 8 years ago, said that even the medium pace dibbly-dobblies at first-class level like Scott Styris are a good 5 or 10 km/h quicker than your average club paceman.

 

[adharcric]

That's true. I've found that the higher the level you play, everything - even the spinners - are noticably quicker than you'd think. I guy in my team, who played first-class cricket for Northern Districts about 7 or 8 years ago, said that even the medium pace dibbly-dobblies at first-class level like Scott Styris are a good 5 or 10 km/h quicker than your average club paceman.

What would you say the average club-level paceman would clock? What about the slowest club-level paceman? (I'm trying to guess my own speed )

 

[vic_orthdox]

What would you say the average club-level paceman would clock?

115 km/h

 

[Sir Redman]

Yeah, 115 km/h is about right.

A "quick" opening club bowler would come in at around 120-125 (my team has two ) and a third seamer would generally clock at only about 105.

 

[adharcric]

Guys, that means I clock Ganguly speeds. Man I feel like trash now ... and I'm glad I'm not playing for India

 

[Nate]

Wow... my mate has been clocked at 115km/h. And I can face him.

That feels good inside.

 

[Goughy]

Wow... my mate has been clocked at 115km/h. And I can face him.

That feels good inside.

but 115 kph is slooooooow.

I cannot beleive (maybe I am naive) that there is any healthy man in the world who cannot bowl 115 if they tried.

 

[adharcric]

but 115 kph is slooooooow.

I cannot beleive (maybe I am naive) that there is any healthy man in the world who cannot bowl 115 if they tried.

Are you saying that from personal experience or as a fan?

If the former, then keep quiet and don't rub in the fact that I'm a "league cricketer" who can't cross 115.

If the latter, then I think it just seems like 115 is slow because we've been watching international-class batsman beating the pulp out of even 130 kph bowling.

 

[Neil Pickup]

but 115 kph is slooooooow.

I cannot beleive (maybe I am naive) that there is any healthy man in the world who cannot bowl 115 if they tried.

It's all about the combination of fast-twitch muscle fibres and limb length, isn't it?

I'm capable of 100-105, flat out, and I'd like to think I'm reasonably fit. I only bowl medium-pace at kids, because it's quick enough to seem properly fast to 11 and 12 year olds; whereas at other adults it's pathetic. My leg spin is around 70-75, with the slider/quicker ball probably around 80 (and telegraphed, and down legside. It needs work). Some of us just can't do pace.

You then work with 10 year olds who are already capable of 75-80 (and also happen to have actions that are stunningly similar to Glenn McGrath - seriously), and 12 year olds who are quicker than I am - plus, as I mentioned in one of the many placed I've abused Irfan Pathan, 15 year olds capable of 120+. Some of us can.

 

[Demolition Man]

The first post suggested cricket was 1 % talent, IMO cricket is one of only a few sports that natural talent and thus genetics play a massive role in determining how good a player will be. No matter how hard most people train they will not be able to do what international cricketers do. Similiar to F1 drivers, but then there are some sports that I believe you can go very far with hard work. I prefer to watch genetic freaks that can hit something coming at 150kmph .

I think it would be much easier for an ordinary guy to train really hard and become an international tennis player than train really hard and become an international cricketer.