I can’t describe how I felt on Thursday afternoon. Like most amateur cricketers around the country I clocked off at work and headed to training not knowing what to expect.
I don’t think I’ve ever been less excited to kit up but I, like the 10 or 15 blokes who could bring themselves to, felt a sense of obligation to get on with the job. Albeit, down a level.
I started by bowling at a mediocre pace in the nets, and nothing remotely short. I couldn’t get the image of a mistimed pull shot out of my head and didn’t want to be the one who injured one of my mates.
Padding up to bat in the nets was tougher again. I was never a strong batsman and a pull shot at eye level is not in my repertoire, so the thought of handling a bouncer at low light was terrifying.
But when I walked into the nets with my partner he said something along the lines of “You bat at 11, I bat at 5. If we’re in together in a game your job is to not get out and get me on strike as much as possible.”
And with that I completely forgot about the outside world, I had a job to do and I was damn sure going to do it. The only thing on my mind was watching the next ball and moving my feet – two things I have serious trouble doing.
It was this net session that made me realise, we have to stop cancelling cricket.
I love cricket, I love the challenges it presents me. I hate failing but the failures make me enjoy the successes that little bit more. I love the camaraderie built up by seemingly endless days in the field. I love standing up and applauding a batsman passing 100, and I love nicking the top of off stump and hearing that death rattle.
And for all these reasons I would hate to see people missing out on what they love. Playing and watching cricket is a big part of Australian culture and I think it would be unfair to all involved to cancel any further games.
I don’t think anyone has questioned the decision to abandon the current round of Sheffield shield matches. “Today is just not the day to be playing cricket.” A beautiful statement from Cricket Australia that echoed the way the country was feeling at the time. But where do we stop that?
This week is not the week? This month? Most Australians would hate to see the cancellation or postponement of the first Test against India.
As I sit here on a Friday afternoon I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing that playing cricket tomorrow. Fair enough if some people aren’t up to it, I can understand that but don’t deprive the people of what they want to do, in paying their respects to Phil Hughes by playing cricket.
As I understand it, all day two action of Sydney grade cricket has been called off and the matches abandoned. I don’t know if this was the right thing to do, however I’m not in a position to judge. Maybe a lot of Sydney grade cricketers are a lot closer to this situation than the rest of the country, and have been more affected than other parts of the country. For that reason it’s an understandable decision.
But as far as I know, my ACT fourth grade side will carry on as usual and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This tragic accident as a timely reminder to spend your time doing what makes you happy and those are my intentions for this weekend.
As for the first Test, it should go ahead as planned. A lot of players would want to go out on the field and play in memory of Phil. Of course not everyone will be up to it and if that’s the case there should be no obligation or pressure for them to play.
Let the willing play, and let the country celebrate Phil’s life.
I don’t know a lot about Phil Hughes’ character, but from what I can gather through news and testimony is that is the kind of guy who would let nothing get in the way of representing his country. We should let the players choose.
The result of the first Test is not important in my eyes. Going out and celebrating life and cricket is.
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