Play to Win
In 1971, yes that long ago, I was selected to play for Lancashire U15’s. I was 14yrs old. Back then I was a little wicket keeper who batted at number 8. I wasn’t very good.
I think I was taken on the Southern Counties tour to gain experience for the following year. The Manager had been in office for many, many years. Under him Lancashire U15’s had not lost a game for 10 years. This record was very precious to him.
The game back then was not 50 overs per side. It was good old fashioned cricket. The side batting first tried to score as many runs as they could and then declare, leaving enough time to bowl the opposition out. If the side batting second did not pass the first innings total, and the bowling side did not take 10 wickets, the game was a draw.
As I said, good old fashioned cricket.
I can’t remember who we were playing. I can’t remember the ground. I can’t remember any of the scores, but what I do remember changed my life in cricket. Batting second it was a close run affair. We were up with the run rate, having worked out approximately how many overs they would bowl in the allotted time. Unfortunately we were also losing wickets. It was a very exciting tense match.
Being only 14yrs old and very inexperienced, I found myself sliding down the order and soon was number 11. I must confess I didn’t like being pushed from number 8 to number 11. I wanted to get in and do my bit and help us to an exciting victory.
When I arrived at the crease there were two balls left in the match. We were 9 wickets down and we needed 4 to win. The batsman at the other end was number 10 and I thought, not as good as me. The first ball I took a wild swing and missed it. It went through to the keeper who took it cleanly. No run.
One ball left, 4 to win.
This was it, my second and final opportunity to win the match for Lancashire. The ball was pitched up outside the off stump, perfect, I took a big swing and missed it. The keeper took it cleanly, match over. A draw.
I walked off disappointed in my failure to secure victory. I expected a “Well tried, never mind” from the manager.
What he did say was not anything I had expected!
“What the hell were you playing at? Two balls to bat out for a draw, nine wickets down. Do you realize if you had been out playing those stupid shots, we would have lost for the first time in ten years!
“ I was trying to win the match sir”
“Win, win, who gives a damn about winning? We’ve never lost in ten years, ten years!”
I may have only been 14 yrs old, but in my mind he was wrong. There is only one reason to play in competitive sport, to win!
I didn’t then and never did play for records, statistics, averages.
I played cricket to win. There is nothing better than fighting for an improbable victory and winning.
If I had my time again and had the opportunity to face those two balls again, I’d try to win the match, even if I knew I’d get told off.
My advice to you? Play to win, always!
Graeme made his first class debut for Lancashire in 1979 and was awarded his county cap in 1981. He joined Durham in 1993 and played in 21 Test matches and 26 ODI's for England.
Follow Graeme on Twitter @GFoxyFowler
Memory added on March 12, 2013
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