Off Season Review

Has been a very strange off season for me: I have hardly picked up a bat or ball other than when coaching, which has taken up a lot of my time, have done very little actual fitness work as the old body needed far more rehab than I had thought or indeed hoped, and the weather has been awful (wet and cold) so played hardly any golf, and struggled to get outside to train very much at all. Factor in that once again my playing schedule is still very fluid and you might think that it is a all a bit ‘doom and gloom’?

However, that is far from the case!

My body is in a far better condition than I ever thought (mechanically and structurally) and whilst it is still a work in progress I am really pleased with it. I also have clarity on what I want from my own cricket, and am confident that I have the options to pursue this and am determined to focus just on playing and none of the associated ‘stuff’ that has always been around cricket and cricketers.

Rest

Other than walk the dogs I took two weeks off from any stretching, rehab, or training of any sort. The objective was to give my body time to rest and tell me what parts were hurting because they were tired from the season and which needed to be prioritised rehab wise.

No huge surprises, the areas to focus on were: lower left outer calf, outer left thigh, left hip and groin, right hip and lower back, glutes, right shoulder and arm, and neck.

The good news was that they all felt a lot better after the rest than I had expected, and during this two weeks I started sleeping with a pillow under my knees to keep them bent as they tend to ‘lock’ when straight and become very painful impacting on my sleep and ability to walk when I first get out of bed. This made a huge difference.

Rehab

I was determined to give myself at least a month doing nothing other than rehab three times a day, walk the dogs and play some golf which I had down as rehab as a) I wanted to keep some parts of my body that I was rehabbing moving and b) I saw golf as a significant way to improve my concentration and control.

October

I was expecting the rehab to hurt and be tough as whilst I had to work on a few soft tissue areas, the main work was going to be on ligaments, tendons and body posture. It is not always good to be right!

Two weeks in and my body was in bits BUT the pain was from the areas being worked on and the results were encouraging. I was starting to think that I may have been a tad optimistic with my schedule, and two months may be required before I started training!

I went to Spain which gave me opportunity to walk on level ground without dogs, which allowed me to focus on a longer and more targeted stride pattern and it was good how my body reacted. For the first time I felt that I was actually at least half way round the corner. As we are still sorting Spain out the daily DIY also showed me that body was so much better and when you factor in as well how little discomfort the journey was on my glutes I returned feeling pretty optimistic!

The optimism continued as the work on my neck/shoulder/arm also started to pay off, and if I tell you that I got to the stage where I could get out of bed and pretend to bowl a ball without any warm up and very little discomfort you really would have no idea what an improvement this was.

I had to make a decision: more rehab, or start training so after a visit to physio I decided to start fitness training with the initial focus being on body shape ie. making sure that I did everything with a full and correct range of movement, supported by a daily rehab session.

November

Had a really good month working on the various issues, reinforced by a glowing report from Sports Therapist. In reality there was a very fine line at this point between rehab and general stretching, so I decided that I would ‘officially’ end the rehab and concentrate on strengthening the key areas and basically see how they reacted as I increases my exercise levels.

Golf

As mentioned above I wanted to use golf for three things:

1. Time on legs
2. Improve my mental concentration
3. To improve my control over body shape and posture.

October

Played twice, and the actual golf isn’t too bad, and I am starting to get more consistency but the real measure was the second game: virtually no pain in my body, felt much stronger and fitter and legs more comfortable so really pleased.

Can see how it will help with the cricket: staying mentally focussed for 4 hours, same set up and trigger movements, switching on/off regularly.

November

Best laid plans and all that: the wet weather and a few family issues meant that I didn’t play in November, but I did join the Chase Golf Club and intend to play once a week (even if only 9 holes) in the New Year.

December

Weather, Tim being away and a general apathy meant I played just once, and it was very very cold. Body felt pretty good, golf wasn’t so good.

Main thing is that as far as the BIG PLAN goes I had started playing, was playing quite well, joined the club, and started to get some discipline back.

January

The cold weather and then my cough/cold really put any golfing plans on hold, which I was OK with as I see this very much as a March through October sport for me to help with fitness and mobility and remove stiffness during the season.

Finally got a game in during the last week and whilst my left knee was incredibly sore and I limped round, it did not affect my swing and the rest of my body was great: no soreness in hamstring, right hip or shoulder. Played the best I have since I started playing again and own 6&5!!

February

Weather and focussed on rehab of knee meant no golf this month, weather being the main reason

March

Played with Tim at his club. Very wet underfoot and had to carry. Played pretty well, but still slicing too many woods, and knee held up well to what was a very tough walk!

Rain curtailed every other game I had planned.

Weight

In recent years I have found it really hard to lose weight. I had a pretty healthy diet, didn’t drink much, but I think the fact that my life has a ft of sedentary time in between activities doesn’t help: I pick when I am stationary!

On my 60th birthday I decided to be “at least” vegetarian, with a view to going vegan in the new year, and I decided that I would only drink alcohol at home: an occasional whisky and a bottle of my favourite wine at most once a week.

October

Nothing startling but lost 1.4kg

November

Not the best at all: I weighed in 1.9kg heavier than when I started the winter schedule which means I put on 3.3kg in a month!! My body does not respond well to alcohol (drank a lot of whisky), pastry (mince pies) and nuts (peanuts with the whisky) so the answer is simple and the same as ever: drop the alcohol, pastry, nuts, sweets (been trying a variety of vegan sweets and protein bars. Increase the cardio and the weight should drop off. It needs to at a minimum of 2kg a month for the next 4 months!

Focus was on on finding Vegan alternatives (which was easier that expected) and on eating well. As I was spending a lot of time letting the body recover and not doing much cardio work I wasn’t expecting much and it was always going to be Q1 of 2024 that was the real focus.

December

Awful. No discipline, not a lot of exercise and all the usual Christmas Junk. Wasn’t overly surprised or concerned, but very aware that this had to be a big focus in Q1 2024. Another gain of 2kg in a month so heavier than I have ever been BUT I don’t look it and as I am a lot stronger some of it may be muscle and I did weigh myself after an evening out (curry and beer) and my body it bad at retaining fluid so (grasping at straws) I was probably a little lighter, but still a huge task lay ahead!

January

Week One: nothing dramatic but stuck to the Vegan diet and no drinking, and really cut back on snacks, and tried to focus on not eating after 7pm.

Week Two: finding it easy to stick to being vegan and never have had any issues with not drinking. Also trying to not eat after 7pm (breaking a very old Spanish habit) and that is having a positive effect on my sleeping. Eating fewer nuts and no sweets other than some vegan ‘haribo’. Dropping the retained weight from the Christmas rubbish, but not doing enough cardio work to drop much at the moment.

Week Three: cough and cold mean virtually no exercise and quite a lot of food (feed a cold, starve a fever), but my diet is good, my snacking is way own on what it was, and despite the fact my usual remedy for a cough/cold is a lot of panadol and whisky, I remained off the booze.

Week Four: upped the exercise (until issue with knee) and lost more weight. According to scales lost 3.7kg in the month, but a lot of that will have been retained rubbish from Christmas.

February

Week One: with virtually no exercise (knee) hopes were not high, especially as I don’t look like I am losing much weight so was pleased with another 1.3kg loss. It all seems a little weird though: I am not on a strict diet, am not doing a lot of cardio work, although have upped it overall and am now vegan and currently not drinking alcohol, and to date this year the scales say I have lost 3.4kg, which will include fluid retention and Christmas crap, but my body doesn’t look 3.4kg lighter!

Week Two: still very little exercise and not a huge push on the diet although the vegan diet means eating a lot healthier. I did have a whisky to toast the loss of Fleur. Put on 0.1kg so happy enough with that ….. Spain will be ‘interesting’ as it certainly not the pace to be for a vegan non drinker!! Plan is to have a few glasses of red with friends, maybe a whisky at home, and to eat all my meals at home and avoid the tapas!!!!

Week Three: again, not a great week as no exercise other than walking the dogs, post Spain and had a cold, but lost 0.2kg so happy enough.

Week Four: lost 0.7kg and now down 4.2kg this year, and body is starting to look different!

March

Week One: not a great start as my body is back to playing YoYo with my weight: was more relaxed and drank some alcohol, had a currey, ate more nuts and bread but at the same time did some strength work so maybe a little more muscle, resulting in a gain of 1.5kg!!

Week Two: pretty much given up trying to lose weight as not doing any Cardio work (see below). Am being sensible what I eat, but have had a few drinks. Lost a little but until I get outside, get busy and get my leg sorted I am not going to make much progress BUT I am lighter, stronger and fitter than last year so am relatively relaxed.

Week Three: another fail, in no small part because I have pretty much given up worrying about it until body and weather allow me to get outside and be more active, and I have been having a few glasses of red with Sands. But I am fitter, thinner and stronger than last year and will get rid of a few kg before the season I am sure.

Week Four: another small loss, which considering have been doing more strength work and very little cardio is good!

Week Five: a few days in Spain is good for the diet food wise but not alcohol wise ……..

Fitness

November

I wouldn’t say that I started training, but I did start testing my body out with the range of movements that I want to have:

Shuttles: jog throughs really but was encouraged that the left hamstring was only a little tight and the knees and legs in general felt really good.

Jogging: well the off 30 yards with the dogs on Cannock Chase, but again encouraging.

Bike: legs felt strong and no issues

Strength: arm and shoulder weights, core, lunges and squates and again was really pleased with how good things were.

Decided to have a more intense couple of weeks in December, then a rest over Christmas and then ‘go for it’ based on the theory that the problem areas are all fixed in terms of what they can do, and just need using and strengthening.

December

Continued to just test the body with a lot of rest and then some exercises to see how things felt: and overall was very pleased. Three problem areas remained the right arm/shoulder, left hamstring and right hip, but all significantly better and felt like what they really needed was an extended period of being used.

January

Week One: priority was to stick to the schedule, which I did albeit a revised schedule as outdoor running was very limited due to the weather (did manage one 1m run and once I had got through the pain of having no breath after 250m it was pretty good and no after effects), so a lot of work on bike and back to stretching, core and strength work. The three problem areas feel so much better, and it does feel like they still capable of improving more.

Week Two: really wet and cold so very little outdoor, but managed a few session with the feed machine in garden and some catching with tennis ball to check body movements and start to get eyes used to following a ball again. Really pleased with shoulder/arm/back and the right hip is a lot better. Post running I am getting a pain in my left leg, but not so much the hamstring so it feels like the fact that is improving is putting pressure elsewhere, and that strain is transmitting into knee which is quire sore and stiff for a couple of days, but then is really good so no alarm bells at the moment.

Week Three: first net session of the year and could not be happier with the way the body was. I was running much better, amazed myself how far and strong my throwing was, could play all the sweep shots I had been practising and no pain at all bowling. And the good news continued the following day with no muscle stiffness or significant discomfort in my arm, shoulder, hip or hamstring. My left thigh and groin were tender and this transmitted down to quite a tender knee behind the knee cap so not a mechanical problem ir reaction, just pain at the contact point which will hopefully get better in the coming months but would be something I could live with as it wore of quite quickly. Rest of the week was a little strange: I came down with a bad cough/cold so knocked all exercise on the head other than walking the dogs, which was frustrating but necessary, but at the same time my body bounced back from the weekend net and has never felt this good for years! I think I have pinpointed the area on my left leg which is transferring the pain to the my knee and it has got so much better. I don’t really feel my hamstring or hip when walking and my shoulder and arm …. well at times they feel normal! Week ended with a visit to the physio ……. and the news was great! Green Light to start training with some specific post training exercises to help reduce the impact, but the areas discomfort is all down to tendons/ligaments and a little muscle being used for the first time in a long time, no mechanical issues.

Week Four: week started really well but after a day that included walking dogs, bike and running my left knee pretty much ceased up. Generally all over, but particularly on the inside but as it relaxed depending on position I was reasonably relaxed that it was the result of the tendons and ligaments reacting to all the exercise. Still, lots of icem hot baths, stretching and ‘light duties’.

February

Week One: knee was really bad, and although I suspected it was a reaction and was getting better I went to physio who confirmed the good/bad news. Good is that my body does seem to have finally ‘clicked’into place and is so much better. Bad is that my knee is suffering from adaptive issues as all the tendons and ligaments that go through the knee are being used in a different way, and they don’t like it. No structural damage and no reason it won’t all settle down, but is going to be painful for a while.

Week Two: more rehab than fitness as restricted activities to walking the dogs, stretching and rehab on knee which is a LOT better but still far from right. Is worse at night, followed by periods of inactivity when the muscles push on ligaments/tendons if not kept in a certain position. It loosens up quote quickly and overall feels strong and mobile and it should all settle down in a week or so, but it is frustrating! The good news is that it is a lot better, doesn’t feel far off being sorted (possinboy better than before if physio is right) so I headed off for a few days in Spain looking forward to rest (if not the journey as that never good on my knees/back) and planning lots of walking and stretching.

Week Three: knee/leg a lot better but still far from sorted so another week off with the exception of dog walks and two days on bike and doing daily stretches etc. Did s lot of stretching of the two problem areas on leg and visited physio, who just thinks it’s a case of time and more of the same.

Week Four: knee is a lot better, probably as hood as has ever felt and whilst still sore/stiff when not used for a while (which is very likely always going to be the case) O have been better at the nets, and have been on the bike most days. Still not running on it, but will start proper training in March.

March

Week One: a cautious but encouraging start to the month. Priority was sticking to the training schedule, with short runs to test the knee out and weights and exercise to get the whole body involved and not put any specific strain on it. Need to ensure the pain/discomfort is from use not because of use.

Week Two: fitness on hold for now as I focus on my left knee/leg. I think my overall fitness level is good enough for now. Have seen some real progress on leg (downside being it sore between sessions) so decided to focus on Rehab again.

Week Three: again, not doing much at all as still working on my leg and have finally (I think/hope) found some stretches and exercises which seem to be making a difference!

Week Four: lot more rehab and trip to physio who is really pleased so off to Spain with a very intense rehab schedule, and a taped up knee to see if that eases the discomfort caused by kneecap having no cartilage!

Week Five: had a good few days in Spain where i got some miles into the legs with fast walking which legs coped with well, although still a few muscles and ligaments still not quite right.

Skills

My focus was on: revised trigger and stance, fewer nets and more targeted skills training. Facing faster bowling, better decision making, building an innings, finishing games, more wicket taking deliveries.

November

No nets but as part of the Fitness program above I started to focus a lot more on the range of movements: throwing, bowling action, stance and trigger and playing the sweep shot! No real idea why as not I shot I have much need for but I figured it was a good measure of how the body was doing!

December

Other than picking up the bats to knock them in I started to go through a range of shots several times a week to see how balanced and strong I felt, and was pleased, especially as I was able to play the sweep, slog sweep and reverse sweep which was a very good sign.

Threw a few stones regularly on dog walks and again pleased with how the arm and shoulder felt.

January

Week One: the incredibly wet weather delayed any outdoor skills (and fitness) training so I concentrated on more exercises based on cricket so long barriers, bowling, throwing, batting and the body felt pretty good.

Week Two: still very much me, a bat and a mirror but did a few drills in the garden (see above)

Week Three: as above, really pleased with first net. Wasn’t a net that I could work on my own game much but was good to bat (and we alternated every ball with a single so did my fair share of running) and timed it pretty well, bowled well but the highlight was my throwing, running and general mobility. Rest of the week was victim to the cough and cold though as I did nothing at all.

Week Four: really please again with the way the body was at the second net and my general skill level, although my batting is not being challenged yet. The body feels so much stronger, mobile and used to the way cricket uses it.

February

Week One: limped through a coaching session and did a little bowling and batting but is all on hold until knee settles down

Week Two: a better net but still limited myself to some batting and bowling off a couple o paces, but apart from the knee the body does feel really good, especially the arm/shoulder, right hip and left hamstring.

Week Three:not doing much in the nets to protect leg, but bowling and batting OK.

Week Four: couple of Church Eaton nets now, but have been dragged into coaching so not doing much on my own game so next month am stepping back a little fro coaching overall and starting to work on my own game.

March

Week One: ventured outside for some throw downs. Coaching not good for practising my own game but what I have done has been fine, and any improvement on last year is going to be dependent on my body.

Week Two: No outside work (rain) but I did get a good bat in the Church Eaton nets against some quick First XI bowling and taking the terrible lightening into account I was pleased enough with how I did.

Week Three: finally had a decent net: half an hour batting and half an hour bowling and fet good. No adverse reactions and the areas I have been wanting to work on seemed pretty solid. Add in a few throw down sessions and a lot of coaching and the body is getting quite a lot of use which is great, and so far have been no adverse reactions.

Week Four: managed a few really good outdoor session with the bat, but to wet to run up to bowl safely. Batting feels pretty good, and body holding up well.

Week Five: rain rain go away ….. nads, once again!

In Conclusion

So what now?

Last year my performances were hampered a lot by the issues with my body, and the effect that had on me physically and mentally. Batting wise I felt good at the crease and confident in my ability, but I knew I couldn’t run that well and I certainly had no confidence in the thought of batting a long time and this impacted me in terms of where I batted (middle to lower middle) and my approach (too aggressive). My bowling was steady, but generally painful (although often eased as my arm warmed up), but my arm/shoulder and hip certainly impacted on my ability to get through the action and impact much spin. You are never going to be that good (or comfortable) in the field when running, throwing and diving all really hurt!!

I have worked on all of these really hard over the winter and I am far more comfortable with what my body can do (and I know it can do), how to use that to it’s best advantage, and mentally I have been working hard on my approach: both on and off the field.

As for thoughts and hopes for this year I will need to manage my workload and be sensible by not always batting and bowling, by ‘nursing’ where I field, and not always playing competitive games so a lot will depend on which team(s) I play for and as I write this I am still expecting a fairly mixed season in many ways.

As I write this I am still pretty much in the dark as to what my role(s) will be, and for who:

Church Eaton: I have accepted the role of VC’s for the 2s where I will open the batting, bowl my overs as required and be ‘looked after’ in the field by much younger legs. I accepted on the understanding that I would be considered for the 1s (when they are short!!!) where I would expect to bat lower middle and bowl my overs, and again be looked after in the field.

Staffordshire Seniors: absolutely no idea! I had one conversation with the 2s captain which basically said will be ‘same old’ which for me means not knowing from one week to the next where I will be batting, but would bowl my overs and be one of the more ‘athletic’ in the field! I can see myself covering in the 1s when they are short, and batting lower middle and not bowling, so all in all a tad underwhelming BUT as I have other options where I will get to develop my game I will just take each week as it comes and decide if I am playing based on how the body is feeling, how much travel is required, and the situation with family as I do see these games as the ‘self indulgent ones”

Birmingham Unicorns: has been an interesting last couple of months as the club has a few internal growth pains to address, so am very much sat back and letting them sort that out. For me playing wise that means I could end up not playing at all (by far the most likely and in all honesty the most preferable), or playing every week as a middle order all rounder, with younger legs doing the running in the field.

Is a little frustrating but I have a range of other options on a Sunday: Church Eaton, Charity Games, NBCC so I will just wait and see.

All of which is just fine with me. My mind is in a really good place and my body is catching up! My game ( I feel) is pretty solid now and I have a flexibility and range that not many of my age offer.

I am enjoying Church Eaton being so close so I can pop down for an hours training either on my own of with a mate, and I have more requests to coach than I can handle.

Factor in the plans for No Boundaries and I think it is going to be a busy season, one way of another!