Pre-game rituals in cricket

Picture the scene. The league cricket match starts in ten minutes. I am tearing down the High Street, cricket bag bouncing on my back, bat jutting out and jousting with unsuspecting pedestrians.

I am late. Why am I always late?!

If we bowl first, I am opening the bowling from the top end. I always want us to bowl first, even on a scorching hot day where I end the innings an exhausted pile of sweaty cricket whites.

I duck into Tesco and with absolutely minimal thought, grab a cheese and onion sandwich and bottle of Lucosade Sport. Ever the finely-tuned athlete.

Lunch on the fly. Inhaled on the move or at the ground.

If we bowl first, I might have to get through 20 to 25 overs. Often in a single spell. As the minutes tick down, I am wondering about the nutritional value of a supermarket sandwich.

This was my ritual once upon a time. No gentle warmups. No pre-game tactical meetings.

I pull the heavy wrought iron gate back that groans at my tardiness and enter the park.

I have at least come prepared. Dressed in whites to save crucial time. Have the captains done the toss yet? Who’s batting? Is it us?

My eyes spot on a scattering of white dots settling into place. Our captain is tinkering with the field to eat up valuable seconds while the opening bowler, me, drops his bag and jogs on apologetically.

Time to have a bowl.

Looking back, probably not the best condition to arrive at a game wheezing and flustered. In terms of pre-game rituals, at one point in my playing career, mine seemed to involve buses, prayer and Tesco Meal Deals.

You’ll be pleased to hear I got more punctual and when captaining, I kinda had to be there before everyone else.

So, what are your own rituals on the day of a cricket match? Anything you do consistently? Any superstitions? One Premier League batsman used to wash his car before each game after doing it at the start of one season and getting a hundred.

Thanks to those sharing their own on our Facebook page. They ranged from a pre-game Spoons and a pint to putting on a match shirt last. Batting pads in a certain order and wanting the face the first ball. Or not!

If you’re an umpire or scorer, what’s your routine before a game? As a player, any quirks you want to share? Maybe you’re a groundskeeper who has a definite way of things on the day of a match?

All the best with your cricket, whatever form that takes. I’ll have more articles this summer on aspects of playing to get the conversations flowing.