Headingley CC

Foxy
So Jezza, how's things? enjoying life in England so far?'

Jezza
Yeah, No problems.
Loving it in England. Weather could be a bit better but other than that great. Living with a good bunch of lads and playing cricket with a great bunch of guys as well.


Foxy
glad you are enjoying it pal, got to say the weather has been unusually poor, even for england, so what brought you over to Leeds and that most iconic of cricket suburbs Headingley?


Jezza
The guy I'm living James, I worked with in Australia. When I mentioned I was thinking of visiting he suggested I come stay with him. He had a room open up. So it's great having someone to show the sights and help me settle in. I'm a Leeds supporter too. It made sense.

Foxy
How did the Leeds United allegiance come about? have you managed to take in much other sport since you've been over?

Jezza
Once upon a time when Leeds were a decent Premier League Club they had 2 Aussies playing for them. Viduka and Kewell and even though they've left you stay loyal. But other than that no other sports here. I'm overdue for a hit of golf with the boys though.

Foxy
Ah yeah, good team back in the day, so is it just cricket you play back home?

Jezza
I play cricket and Aussie Rules back home. I've dabbled in soccer (your football) and netball. Despite the height no basketball.

Foxy
Busy boy, tell us about the cricket club scene back home, and Aussie Rules, what's that all about?

Jezza
Cricket back home is a bit different. Within the league I'm involved in there is only one turf pitch. It's mostly played on synthetic pitches. We play 14 games a year. 7 one day games. 40 overs a side and 7 Two Day Games played across 2 weekend. 80 overs a side. There is only one 20/20 comp played once a season. So the volume of games is very different.

As for Aussie Rules, it's hard to get your head around of you aren't a local. It's a full on sport. I'll give everyone a tutorial if you wish :-) It's a great game to watch live, the atmosphere is electric, 14 games a season I mean.

Foxy
Aussie Rules is good watch, but i have no idea what is going on, I am surprised Clifton or Gilbank haven't produced a rugby ball yet this season there's not usually one far away down at Glen Road, it could become part of the training routine, I am sure the cossies would be up for it!

Anyway, back to the cricket, the early season pitches over here must be a bit different to what you find back home, have you had to alter your approach much?


Jezza
In terms of the Aussie Rules, Its not too hard to understand. Just moving the ball forward through the big sticks. The complications are the many rules it has. Cossies would make good Full Forwards.

Cricket wise, I prefer the ball coming onto the bat back home. Bit more bounce and pace. There's swing early in the season but not too much after. It's taught me to be patient and wait for the bad balls. Not too much bounce either so I've had to put away the pull and hook for a while!


Foxy
I believe you met up with the Costello twins for a quiet drink in Headingley the other Thursday, brave move, how did that go?


Jezza
Yep. Just a quiet drink. Haha. Hard to keep a pace with those 2! I've never seen two blokes "Strawpedo" a bottle of wine before! Was a good night out. I paid for it the next day though!


Foxy
many a club member has paid the price of drinking with them to be fair, froz fled the county & big beardy dave wyatt was left in something of a mess to name but two. Sadly you aren't just here for the cricket, I believe you have got some travel plans too, what's the itinerary?


Jezza
Well I've lived to tell the tale and Im sure I'll give it another crack before I leave.
Right you are, not just the cricket.
Being right into my music Im off to do a few European Music Festivals.
Think ill rattle off 6 in 6 weeks. Sadly Jason and Kylie aren't playing any. Nor is Peter Andre.
So taking in Northern ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany and Belgium.
I'll come back and do a full cricket season and maybe bring a mate with me!

Foxy
Sounds good, you know you'd be welcome back at Headingley CC, and in the event of any future Punters, Warnies or McGrath's want to travel and play, I hope you'd put a good word in for us
who are you looking forward to catching music wise? You'll be jealous to know I saw Andre live in his early years, but i was involved in a purely professional capacity and not as a fan, but between us we have clearly been an influence on his work out and gym routine.

Jezza
Theres a few Im looking forward to & Its quite a mixed bag.
I'm looking forward to seeing The Cure, after all these years they've still got it.
A couple of bands who have recently got back together, The Stone Roses and a band called Refused.
Blink 182 who haven't toured Australia in a very long time.
I'll be interested to see how a few Australian bands like The Temper Trap are received overseas.
Also some old favourites like Wilco, The Flaming Lips and The Rapture.
Hopefully I can stick around when I return and take in Leeds Festival.

Foxy
The Stone Roses reunion is long overdue and obviously heavily hyped, lets hope it lives up to its billing & The Cure seem to have kept a really strong following going over all these years, i think its france where they are still huge, Leeds Festival is a fair old event, you'll love that, Anyway back to the Cricket , HT20 kicked off last thursday, how did that go?

Jezza
It was a good start for H.C.C.
Playing at the slightly downward sloping ground of Horsforth.
The opposition won the toss and chose to bat.
We managed to take wickets at regular intervals. With each bowler taking at least one.
Spin played quite a large part for us and worked very well. They never really upped their run rate and I thought 102 was very gettable.
However we lost 3 wickets in the first over. From their we were made to scrap for every run. Stu Costelo played a great innings of controlled agression to finish with 51* and Knighty did his bit with the best 0* you'll see. We passed them 9 down in the last over.
It was different to 20/20 back home. As we have a few more rules in play. A 20 metre inner circle and fielding restrictions for 5 over blocks. Also we bowl 5 overs straight from one end then change. I guess to save time. So its a little more tactical.
Every game is a different experience over here.

Foxy
And talk us through your knock

Jezza
Not much to talk about!
Struggled to start my innings facing spin. Was trying to get a single and get Stu on strike.
Sometimes I think too much about my shots. Just have to let it come naturally.
So after getting to 3 I tried to push the scoring rate and got caught.

Foxy
Great Knock from Stu, superb lesson in 'finishing' from the young fella, a really measured, responsible innings did you go out and celebrate or had you had enough of drinking with the Cossies on Wednesday ?

Jezza
As good as it would have been I had to turn down the offer.
Even at 26 I cant go as hard as I used to and I still havent quite got used to drinking pints. I drink them too quick because they get warm!
I'll tip a few jars in tonight in Newcastle.
Maybe a few in London too.
Then have a few farewell drinks next weekend with 2 wins on the board.
What was the result of the hearing for the 2's?

Foxy
Another two wins would be great, and its another busy week with two T20 competitions on Tuesday and Thursday too, win all of them and I am sure beers will be in order, I'll try and get my pass stamped, and let the Cossie know you are up for a big session.