I played cricket every day for 8 years before I began working. I’ve been playing since I was around 8. I was eager to get back into playing cricket when I moved to Australia in 2015. I was introduced to a cricket group through a work colleague and in my first year with them, I was mostly the 12th man and a substitute. Cricket in Australia is far more organised than it is in India. You have be part of a cricket club which in turn requires to be part of an Association. All of this was new to me and I busy trying to make sense of this all.
In the 2016-2017 season I was a regular for the club which was aptly named Never Too Late Cricket Club. The group was made up of all age groups. We were a band of cricket enthusiasts who still wanted to keep as fit as possible while enjoying the game we loved.
This season was the highlight for the club. We lost only one game. In the semis, we played the defending champions who we had beaten quite comprehensively in the last league game with me taking 6 for 22 in 15 overs. That may had a role to play when we faced them again in the semis and we got them all out for 100 and me with figures of 4 for 32 in 14 overs. We faced our arch rivals in the grand finals and over the two days we ended up winning quite comfortably. We had done it!! We were champions in Division 3 of the Churches and Community Cricket Association.
My personal contribution saw me finish with 21 wickets at an Average of 11.57 in 10 games handing me the Best Bowler for the Club that year. It has since been 2 years and the fire to play still rages. I started playing indoor cricket. During the winters I play a T20 tournament, apart from trying my feet at football. Cricket is a sport I love to play, and am self taught. Considering that, I am very happy that I can hold my own when I play against professionals. I wish to continue to contribute in whatever possible to the sport and aspire to keep playing, health permitting.
Samir Varkey
Adelaide
2016
