It's not all about the great game of cricket......

Cricket in many aspects of its definition is a very selfish sport in more ways than one.  Expensive to start off, it lasts for an entire day or up to 5 and may even go on for months being away from home and loved ones.

It's a sport that many love.  May it be the arm chair supporters or the fanatics that watch every home game and those that travel the world to watch their franchise and or country.  Cricket however is not just played on a lush green outfield around the world and followed be millions.  The popularity and growth of the sport should actually be accredited to all those loved ones back home awaiting their husbands, fiancés, boyfriends, dads, kids, parents and grandfathers to return home and spend time with them.

The life of cricketer and a management staff can actually be lonely at most.  Living out of a suitcase for long periods of the year is actually difficult and mentally draining.  Take the Proteas for instance.  They have been in the UK, since August 2012.  At the conclusion of the T20 games against England they then hand off to the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka which ends on the 7 October 2012.  For those involved in Champions League which begins on the 13 October 2012, it could be a long haul.

With a traveling and successful sportsman comes a very patient, compatible and understanding better half.  Part of the success should be accredited to their loved ones who help greatly to their mental state and approach.

Follow me on twitter @Craig_gov

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The Irish Tour that was...

28 August 2012, saw the team head back to SA; a week earlier than expected. The decision to leave Ireland was made purely on the unpredictable nature of the weather. The Irish Times, was quoted as saying this period has been the wettest in a 100 years.  

I personally saw the tour as an anti-climax. We basically prepared for the tour way back in June, with the series against  Sri Lanka A and the Triangular A series in Zimbabwe.  This tour was planned to con inside with the Proteas tour to England and provide them with players should there be injuries.  

Which we did with great results.  The A team, handed over the Proteas  4 One Day players. Wayne Parnell whom performed  exceeding well in the Tests with his first two 5 wicket hauls in first class cricket.  Dean Elgar whom was the domestic one day player of the year.  Justin Ontong, the captain of the Test team and a player who has earned his position in the team with a good record over the past few seasons in domestic cricket.  Ryan McLaren, the allrounder from the Knights whom has tasted Protea success in the past.

 

With them leaving after the Test series, they were replaced by the one day and T20 players.  Kyle Abbott (fast bowler from the Dolphins), Roelof Van Der Merwe (International one day and T20 star for from the Titans), the Yorkshire T20 hero and Dolphin batsman David "Funky" Miller and the up and coming left arm fast bowler from the Titans, Rowan Richards.  Not forgetting the big hitting Richard Levi.

The tour was however cut short, after the first T20 was washed out, with 3 remaining.  The powers that be, rationally put their heads together and decided that the facilities would not allow the Protea World Cup T20 players in squad to practice and prepare for the T20 matches against the English.

They would therefore head back to SA and prepare for the English as well as the WCT20 tournament in Sri Lanka.

So that's the end of my tour with SA A Team.  A journey that began way at the HPC, Pretoria in June.  South African cricket is extremely blessed to have the abundance of talent available.  Any member of the current A Team could easily fit into the Protea team.  The professionalism and dedication shown by individuals proves their desire to play at the highest level.

From an injury point of view, there were no injuries during the Ireland Tour due to the lack of cricket, as compared to the injuries sustained during the Sri Lanka A series and the Triangular A series in Zimbabwe.

I now head back to reunite with the Highveld Lions and prepare for the long season ahead.  The team has been preparing since June and will be boosted by the national and county players returning.   We will begin the season with 2 Sunfoil First Class games and then begin the much anticipated T20 Champions League Tournament, hosted in South Africa.