Welcome/Introduction

On the 2nd of July 2009, I leave Australia with 22 Collaroy Plateau Cricket Club associates, including my Mum, Dad, brother, sister and Grandfather on route to England where I will experience the most exciting cricketing and travelling adventure of my life. At least 11 games of cricket are scheduled for me to take part in, including one in Singapore and one in Amsterdam, and I am hoping to advance the quality of my performances from this tour.

I am writing this blog so I can track my preparation, the build up to the tour and then record the happenings on the tour itself. It will focus mainly on the cricket and my own experiences. I don't care if anyone reads this or not, it is here as a personal record. But if anyone does decide to follow my progression through this exciting period of my life, then I hope you enjoy your reading and I will strive to make it as interesting as possible!

For those who don't know me, let me start by saying I am by no means a high level cricketer. I am 18 years of age and last season played B2 grade (the 5th lowest division of park cricket in my area, the highest being A1s) and struggled to play to the standard that I expected of myself. I class myself as a right handed bowling all rounder. I bowl medium fast outswingers and have opened the bowling for my team for years now but feel that since I injured my lower back 3 years ago, my bowling has never reached the potential that it showed before then. On the batting side of things, I was all over the place last season. I am at my best opening the batting, but gave that up a while ago in order to concentrate on my bowling - it was just too much to open both. Nowadays I am almost regretting that decision, because I have been shafted all over the place in the batting order where instability and uncertainty is something that I don't like and believe hampers my performance. Amongst all this I managed at least three significant innings, so I am not too disappointed with my batting currently.

Ok, so that covers the introduction side of things. My preference for next season here in Australia would be to try for grade cricket. I know that I will have to improve to be successful there and therefore am placing a great importance on this tour of England.

This coming week I plan to begin my physical preparation. I have a lot of time on my hands as I am enjoying a gap year after finishing school last year. I plan to have a bowling session at the nets on either Wednesday or Thursday to warm up for a tour practice game which I will play on Sunday (on turf), although the weather report says possible showers: hopefully they stay away.

Over the next few days I will post our playing schedule and also list the people I am touring with (nicknames or first names will be used throughout this blog). A report on my midweek training will also be posted.

That's all from me now. Cheers.

TC