Devon Over 60s 1st XI
| Over 60s 1st Report 2024.pdf |
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CAPTAIN: Steve Hunt 07786 332045
Cricket has always been my true sporting passion that started as a young boy in the garden with my equally enthusiastic cricketing Dad. If you had told me then, that 60 years later I would be a retired GP in North Devon - and playing cricket 5 days a week I would never have believed you! Instinctively an aggressive opening batsman, Sussex county cricket club did their very best to mould me into a more subdued "modern" cricketer of the time! I played for the county at all junior levels and captained Brighton college 1st X1. In my further education I was appointed captain of The Royal free medical school and London University 1st X1s and selected for the British Universities team as a batsmen / wicket keeper. I have an interesting memory of a certain David Gower attending a winter net session at London University having started his first term as a law student . He came with some reputation but we thought he looked a bit average!! Through my teens and twenties I played cricket in Sussex , Middlesex and Essex at premier league level. These were halcyon days of club cricket when world class cricketers were turning out for club sides. Tony Grieg, Garth la Roux , Imran Khan and Merv Hughes (to name but a few ) were all lucky enough to play against me! My forceful batting style resulted in my selection for an Essex 2nd X1 limited over side that reached a national final. Medicine and family life were soon to interrupt my cricketing adventures when I finally settled in North Devon. After a few seasons opening the batting at Instow I became disillusioned with all -day Devon League games that often ended in boring draws. With no time to practice,cricket became more difficult and the runs dried up. I packed away my cricket kit and picked up a tennis racquet instead! Tennis was my new passion and cricket became a distant memory. After much endeavour I ultimately became north Devon singles and doubles champion and represented Devon nationally until a chronic wrist injury prematurely ended that sporting chapter. Golf fulfilled a sporting vacuum in my life but I found it rewarding and frustrating in equal measure. I missed the team element and after a 30 year hiatus I returned to my first true love - cricket!! I remember with some sadness my father playing in his 50 s and he could hardly hit the ball off the square. Depressing end for a talented player. That would never be me I declared. Wind the clock on and here I am playing with a bunch of aging gentlemen and loving every minute of it! With modern bat technology , good diets , exercise and modern healthcare we play cricket at a level my Dad could only dream of! In my wildest dreams I would never have imagined being awarded my 1st England cap this summer! As I stood to attention during the national anthem I felt intense pride and good fortune. A decent and curious crowd gathered and while fielding on the boundary edge I dived full length to prevent a four (unsuccessfully ) A young lad said " wow Gramps - good effort. Hope I can do that when I am as old as you!" From a lifelong love of sport let's just keep doing what we do for as long as we physically can and enjoy these special moments . May they never end... |
Steve Hunt
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