Peter Howard has been a mediocre right-arm leg spinner for a decade. Like most ‘90s kids, he idolised the late Shane Warne, switched from medium pace to leg spin in his teens and stuck with it (while carefully copying Warne’s action), although he’s struggled to turn the ball and has played the majority of his cricket in fifth grade.
But a recent one-dayer for the fifths proved life changing.
Frustrated by another poor return (0/25 off five overs), Peter was feeling sorry for himself at mid-on when Adam, the debutant leggie (one of his teammates’ sons) came on to bowl.
”This kid was only 14, but he bowled beautifully. Tempting flight, nice turn, and a decent pace,” said Peter.
But Peter’s admiration soon turned to sandness as he realised just how good this kid was.
”The more I watched him, the sadder I got as I realised he’s already better than I’ll ever be!”
As the game drifted along and Adam picked up 2/20 off his full 10, Peter contemplated quitting cricket for good.
”If Adam sticks around, I’ll never get a bowl. There’s not much point playing if I can’t bowl.”
Later that night, Peter was browsing YouTube over a few beers, deciding what sport to play next. His choices included indoor soccer (“too boring”), basketball (“murder on the knees and I’m too short anyway”), mixed netball (“too stop-start”), and touch footy (“nowhere near fast enough”).
Eventually, he found a video of Rashid Khan bowling in the BBL and had an idea.
”If I can’t match Adam’s flight and turn, then why don’t I bowl faster leggies? It doesn’t matter if I don’t spin it much then,” he said. “I’d seen Khan bowl on telly before, but hadn’t properly watched him until tonight.”
Peter went to his spacious hallway and started grooving a new action, based on Khan’s simple running approach. It didn’t take long for it to feel comfortable.
”It’s like when I was 14 and would tape Warney’s overs and watch them on repeat, trying to perfect his action. It’s exciting.”
The next morning, he went down to the local nets and got to work. While he sprayed a few at first, he eventually found his rhythm and was bowling pretty well.
He then spent every afternoon after work practicing his new spinners. The hard work paid off the following Saturday, taking 2/24 off 10 overs. He bowled in tandem with Adam, who took 3/12 from his 10, leading to a comfortable win. Peter was so happy with his wickets that he didn’t care that Adam had outbowled him again.
Fred, the fifths wicketkeeper, was amazed by Peter’s extra pace and improved accuracy.
”I don’t know where the hell that came from, but it worked. At least he’s finally being useful.”
The Gurgler presents stories of the Park Cricketer, where we explore the lower reaches of the great game of cricket from the suburban ovals to the rural grounds across Australia.
