ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
As the weather begins to warm up and blokes start showing up at the pub in shorts, a familiar question has started circulating among Betoota’s fourth-grade cricket teams.
“So, are we having a net soon?”
Leading the charge is local fourth-grade captain, Mitch ‘Big Mitch’ Saunders, who’s been keeping a keen eye on the sartorial choices of his teammates and fellow pub-goers.
“You know it’s time to start thinking about cricket again when you see fellas ditching the jeans,” Mitch explained while surveying the scene at the the Betoota Catholic Club on Roberston Road in Betoota Heights.
Mitch, who’s captained the North Betoota Rockchoppers fourth-grade for three years, has developed a finely tuned radar for the unofficial signals of the cricket season. And nothing says dust off the kit quite like the sight of men in board shorts and thongs, beer in hand, soaking up the early spring sun.
“It’s a bit of a tradition, really,” Mitch says.
“As soon as I see the boys swapping their winter wear for shorts, I know it’s time to round everyone up for a net session. Got to shake off the rust before the season starts. Get the DOMS over and done with before September. Nothing worse than feeling like you’ve torn a pec, side muscle and back for week, only to realise you’ve gone and bowled at 100% with cold muscles off zero exercise for 9 months.”
While some of his teammates might still be focused on winter sports or enjoying the last few lazy weekends, Mitch is already mentally assembling the squad.
“It’s never too early to start getting the boys back together. Plus, there’s no better way to spend a weekend afternoon than having a hit and a some cold drinks after.”
More to come.
