• The forums will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday 6th June, when they do return they will initially be in a degraded state with some features missing, but normal posting/reading will be possible. The main website will not be affected by these updates.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.
    Some other features of the forum are also currently disabled.

Getting in to playing at an older age

Inside Forward said:
I’ve been thinking this too. I’m 32 and have never played (only really started watching about 3 years ago) but it’s my favourite sport and I’d love to have a go at playing it.
Click to expand...
32!? The way you're always garn leet on match/test threads I had you down as 50 marra :lol: You'd be good at sledging I reckon.
Inside Forward said:
Silly question is it acceptable to wear a bucket hat whilst fielding? Would prefer to wear one of them instead of a baseball cap next season.
Click to expand...
I'd say more than acceptable. Be the coolest fielder on the pitch.
 
Last edited:

Beamish and East Stanley CC are looking for new players, struggled the last couple of seasons due to players leaving but a good bunch of lads (and lasses) if anyone fancies it. 😜
 
Jap Stammer said:
Depends. Majority still play in all white, but the NEPL teams have different (club-coloured) kit for 45-overs games and T20s.
Click to expand...
This is all the way down to Div 10, for every game. Wouldn't mind but the club colours are shite. Mustard and maroon. Vom.

Some good deals on maroon pads about though but :lol:
dangermows said:
I'd say more than acceptable. Be the coolest fielder on the pitch.
Click to expand...
Knars
 
We’ve started playing 16 overs a side on a Thursday.

The real stuff on a Saturday starts a week tomorrow. I can’t wait.

Feel like my bowling has really come on. Previously I was just happy to bowl a legal delivery that the batsman could hit. Now I’m thinking about taking wickets.

My batting on the other hand has regressed. I feel well out of nick. I’d found something that was working for me but started tinkering with my technique and I can barely strike the ball cleanly at all at the moment. Instead of having a clear mind as the bowler is running up I’m thinking about getting on the front foot or the back foot instead of just reacting.
 
Inside Forward said:
We’ve started playing 16 overs a side on a Thursday.

The real stuff on a Saturday starts a week tomorrow. I can’t wait.

Feel like my bowling has really come on. Previously I was just happy to bowl a legal delivery that the batsman could hit. Now I’m thinking about taking wickets.

My batting on the other hand has regressed. I feel well out of nick. I’d found something that was working for me but started tinkering with my technique and I can barely strike the ball cleanly at all at the moment. Instead of having a clear mind as the bowler is running up I’m thinking about getting on the front foot or the back foot instead of just reacting.
Click to expand...
When my brain gets scrambled with batting I revert to simple mantras just to ensure I’m focusing.

I say to myself repeatedly “watch the ball, just like the nets”. This unclutters my brain and relaxes me, just got to find something that takes you out of yourself - good luck 🏏
 
Last edited:
Inside Forward said:
We’ve started playing 16 overs a side on a Thursday.

The real stuff on a Saturday starts a week tomorrow. I can’t wait.

Feel like my bowling has really come on. Previously I was just happy to bowl a legal delivery that the batsman could hit. Now I’m thinking about taking wickets.

My batting on the other hand has regressed. I feel well out of nick. I’d found something that was working for me but started tinkering with my technique and I can barely strike the ball cleanly at all at the moment. Instead of having a clear mind as the bowler is running up I’m thinking about getting on the front foot or the back foot instead of just reacting.
Click to expand...
Only practice will get you out of this - and one day it will just click and everything will seem as normal again.

Don't wait until the ball has left the bowlers hand (or worse, until it pitches) to try to make your decision - by then, it will normally be too late. The human brain can't get the signals to your feet and hands quick enough.

Try and develop a 'trigger movement' that gets your feet moving prior to the delivery being released - I used to wait until the bowler was in his/her delivery stride then press forward slightly, picking the bat up as I went. From there, I could adjust further forward, or press back as necessary, onto the right line. It's at that point that instinct and experience kicks in and your brain automatically decides which shot to play. Try not to premeditate your shots - there's a time and place for that, but never when you're out of nick. All this comes through practice, practice, and more practice.

Watch the pros - their trigger movements tend to be to go back and across, covering their stumps. This gives them more time to play the required shots as they are generally facing bowlers a lot faster and more accurate than us neck-enders. However, it requires much better hand/eye co-ordination than us lads as if they then miss the ball they're wide open to LBW appeals.

Try and work out what suits you best and paractice it until it becomes automatic.

Above all, stop worrying about it as that just makes it worse.
Helmerroids said:
When my brain gets scrambled with batting I revert to simple mantras just to ensure I’m focusing.

I say to myself repeatedly “watch the ball, just like the nets”. This unclutters my brain and relaxes me, just got to find something that takes you out of yourself - good luck 🏏
Click to expand...
Top advice.
 
If the lad is still on here that plays for Cleadon, great game today, although result didn't go out way I really enjoyed it. Well done 👏
 
Aquinn said:
If the lad is still on here that plays for Cleadon, great game today, although result didn't go out way I really enjoyed it. Well done 👏
Click to expand...

It certainly went on longer than last year's fixture :lol:

objectively a great game but was nerve wracking in the field by the end. Brilliant knock by your captain
 
First game of the season yesterday. We made 127 all out after 33 overs on a wicket with variable bounce. I managed 18 coming in at 6 which included 3 fours. Annoying that I’d managed to get through their opening bowlers but then succumbed to the first ball a new bowler, tbf to the young lad it was a great ball which I edged to the keeper.

We thought 127 was under par yet managed to bundle the opposition out for 50! :lol: Great start to the season and it felt great to be out there again with the lads.
 
Bossworld said:
I'm late to this thread, and I've got 5 years on you, but in the same boat.

My kids play for one of the local sides, eldest having started in All-Stars.

They put a call out for Dads to come along to nets sessions for the main team. I've never played, my school was in a crap part of town and it was just never a thing. I've always enjoyed watching, and my Dad always had TMS on the radio in the house (the switch might as well be glued to 198 longwave). I'm reasonably up to speed with rules and fielding positions.

Had a blast bowling in nets once I got my length right, but sadly IMO it's difficult to start at an older age if you've never played. The lads were really accommodating but I was acutely aware/overthinking if I sent one badly wide, I was f***ing up someone's limited batting time.

Almost need a kwik-cricket esque setup for adults to get into it. Reading the rest of the thread, pleased you've found a way in.
Click to expand...
I know this is an old thread but I left it after the above post in 2024 after a single session. But, over the summer, I forked out about £300 for a 'Village Cricket Co' bat, a Kookaburra bag and helmet, 'Adidas' pads and GM gloves, and resolved to start up again this year.

I've been turning up at my local nets since the end of January and I've had more fun than I've had in years. My poor bat has a bunch of red marks off the offside edge where a bunch of stuff I hit would have edged to first slip in a proper game, but tonight in particular I was finding some power in shots having
You must be logged on to see external links
and ended up in the pub with the other lads post-nets. Also bowled one of the other lads twice having finally found my line and length, and started to try and apply a bit more power and some off-cutters tonight.

If anyone else is debating getting into it at an older age (I'm now 38), then just go for it, you've nowt to lose.
 
We’ve started our indoor nets now. At the ripe old age of 34 I do feel it the following day after an hour of bowling. :lol:

Looking forward to the days fielding in (hopefully) lovely warm sunshine in a few months.
 
Loads of friendlies booked in for the upcoming season for the Cleadon Griffins. 40 over Sunday games & midweek t20s.

Perfect for anyone looking to getting back into playing or playing for the first time.
 
chopsfc007 said:
What's the standard like
Click to expand...

Varies. A lot of the clubs on the friendly scene will have a mixed squad of differing abilities which balances out well. We had a few players last year play cricket for the first ever time and they all absolutely loved it and continued with it.

Games were more often than not very close. We had one tie, a 1 run loss, a 3 run loss and a 3 run win from memory. Exciting stuff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top