Chasing the dream: Trying to become a professional cricketer

Meet Sports News Blitz’s Lawrence Walker, a university student, and aspiring professional cricketer.

The first time I ever played cricket was when I was four years old; mum and dad tirelessly threw balls at me hours on end while I used an old Gunn and Moore cricket bat which went up to my chin.

This is where my love for cricket started, and it has only grown ever since.

My journey thus far

I first played for Devon cricket board at the age of nine and finished when I was eighteen.

Throughout this time, I was fortunate enough to both captain and vice-captain age groups as well as pick up numerous awards at end of season dinners.

After a winter developing my skills in Australia, I came back ready to showcase my improvements and hard work.

The season ended with me being the top run scorer in the NCCA Championship Division One for Devon County Cricket Club and the second top run scorer in the Devon Premier League.

Further to these achievements, I attended a trial at Sussex County Cricket Club this winter and hope to train with them throughout the coming season.

The nature of cricket

No matter the skill level of a player, in cricket there are more bad days than good. It is within the nature of the sport.

A great example is England’s historic World Cup win on home soil in 2019. Just four years previous they were shockingly knocked out the 2015 World Cup by Bangladesh; a result no one saw coming.

But through hard work, dedication to the game plan and a fearless mentality, they were able to achieve their long-term goal.

These three traits are what will help me reach my dream of becoming a professional cricketer.

Social barriers within cricket

46% of professional cricketers in England are privately educated. Questions have been raised over why this is the case.

From someone who was state educated as well as privately educated, it is the facilities, the coaching and the opportunities that each individual student is exposed too that gives privately educated students an upper hand.

Throughout my two years being privately educated, I was encouraged to work harder; attending S&C and cricket sessions before class became the norm.

Through this both my fitness and cricket skills dramatically increased, and it showed me what real hard work was.

So, the question you may be asking is “what are you doing to give yourself the best chance to become a professional cricketer?”

Luckily enough I have crossed paths with successful cricketers’ who I have been able to learn from.

Psychological skills such as note taking to manage pregame nerves or technical advice about my batting has aided my development significantly.

As well as this, I try to mirror their training habits and the detail they go into; what bowlers I will face in the upcoming matches, ground dynamics and specific formats for example.

Being exposed to these types of standards has only improved my game and made me more invested to achieve my dream of becoming a professional cricketer.

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