It has been a very frustrating summer so far. To be kept off the field by injury for any length of time is tough and, though hopefully I will be back quite soon, there have been some difficult moments.
During times like this, you have to keep a sense of perspective and what has really helped me to do that this summer is meeting some of the people around the cricket community of Warwickshire. I have met some truly uplifting and inspiring people.
Firmly in this category is the Warwickshire Access team who I visited to present some shirts and caps. I was left open-mouthed when watching them play and chatting to them about their journeys. I was only meant to be there an hour but stayed two and a half. It was incredible,
There was Phil who, two years ago just gave me a shy fist-pump and ran away. This time he told me all about his cricket and it was a joy to see how much confidence he has developed. Dean has had his leg amputated but his attitude is a lesson to us all. Kearan’s arms end at the elbows but he was landing his off-spin on a sixpence.
I was having a bit of a down day about my back and the fact that I wasn’t playing and had gone backwards a little bit in rehab, and they put everything into perspective. My back? Yes, of course, I’d like to be playing, but just look at these guys and what they overcome…wow!
In a different way I also loved my visit to Edgewick Community Primary School. Myself and Ethan Brookes went along to help out and it was fantastic to see 50 youngsters just loving cricket. It was carnage at the start (some of the kids had never played before) but Warwickshire Cricket Board’s fantastic coaches soon got things settled. The kids had a great day and hopefully fell in love with the sport and, you never know, in that session maybe was the next Sam Hain or Joe Root. Even if not, if the children ended the day having enjoyed it and feeling good about themselves and ready for their schoolwork next day, then great.
The kids had a blast in the fresh air and we chatted to parents and got them involved and talked to the teachers, one of whom came to the Bank Holiday game against Lancashire. It wasn’t just about the kids, it was about everybody there. I think that’s what Warwickshire, as a club, does so well, whether it’s the Access team or the LGBTQ+ team or coaching kids, they are really good at getting into the community.
I’ve worked quite a bit with the LGBTQ+ team, partly for selfish reasons because I am looking to get into coaching and it was a chance to coach adults, but I really enjoyed working with their players. Everyone deserves to be acknowledged for every aspect of themselves in this changing world. It’s about making sure you are open and respectful to everyone, so if you can educate yourself in all aspects and areas of the game, then great. Hopefully the Unicorns are becoming better cricketers and have a safe space to play cricket. As a professional cricketer it is your duty to try to spread the game as safely and well to as many people as possible.
Another visit I made was to Kineton CC for the unveiling of their new pavilion and again it was really uplifting to talk to the members about all the stuff they did to raise the money they needed. As pros, we are lucky enough to go to amazing places with great facilities and then you hear of these lads who cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End to help raise over £120,000. How much do I admire them?! It really brings you down to earth.
In all these examples, you go and represent your club and visit places and hopefully make some people’s day’s better, but it’s also brilliant for you as an individual. It’s not a duty, it’s a privilege. Yes, it’s rubbish to be injured, but I have been reminded by all these wonderful people I have met this summer how very lucky I am.