Unlocking the Cricket Keeper: How my General Knowledge Class Sparked a Cricket Obsession

24.06.2024

I spent some time wondering what exactly I wanted my first article on this blog to be about. I went through blocks, breaks and procrastinated extensively before finally discovering my muse – an old photograph of me, a cricket bat in hand, wearing the Sri Lankan team jersey at the time. I thought the best way for you to learn about the voice behind this blog is to go back in time to the unexpected beginnings of my cricket obsession. Trust me, it is definitely not the story you may expect. 

I was seven years old, not on a cricket field, but in front of the television, happily watching my favourite cartoons, when my family insisted on tuning in to a match between Australia and Sri Lanka. I had no idea, that this seemingly mundane decision would pivot the direction of my life. At that age, I had no interest in cricket. To me, it was just another sport.

In an interesting turn of events, however, the next day in my General Knowledge class, my teacher quizzed us on the very game I had reluctantly watched the night before. To my surprise—and everyone else's—I was the only one who got every question right. Being the best in class was all that mattered in the second grade and for that one 30-minute lesson, I was the best in class. I concluded that cricket must be the best sport in the world, a notion initially motivated by the prospect of acing future quizzes. Though I quickly realised that wouldn’t be the case, my affection for the sport had already taken root.

I taught myself to bowl by mirroring the actions of my favourite international players, honing my skills through countless games of indoor cricket. Much to my mother’s dismay, this often resulted in broken light bulbs, shattered glasses, and, on one particularly memorable occasion, a cracked window. I vividly remember aiming for an imaginary cow corner, swinging with all my might. The result? complete daylight between bat and ball, but a solid shot against the window, leaving a crack right down the middle—an incident I've never quite lived down.

Just when I thought my passion for cricket had reached its peak, I made a ground-breaking discovery: women play cricket too! Yes, there was a time when I was unaware of women's cricket—simply because I had never seen it. But then I turned on the TV one day and stumbled upon a women's match between Australia and England. I couldn’t tell you who the players were, but the joy and excitement I felt watching them play was unparalleled. So, when I finally got the chance to join an academy, I dreamt big dreams and there was nothing that could stop my growing love for the game. The best part was that it was only the beginning.

Fast forward fifteen years, and here I am, introducing you to the Cricket Keeper – a labour of love, born out of childhood fascination and nurtured by years of unwavering devotion to the game. Why am I doing this? The answer is simple, I love talking cricket. It has inspired me in more ways than I can count. This blog is my way of sharing that passion - celebrating the players who have brought me countless moments of joy, and of expressing my gratitude to the game that shaped my life in more ways than I can count.

While you may be used to the insights, analysis and match-focused conversations, I hope to bring a new perspective for you to consider when watching professional sport. I’m not a certified expert, nor have I played at the top of the tree but I am a fan of the game, just like you, and all I want to do is talk cricket with you.

That’s why in the upcoming articles, I look forward to delving deeper into various aspects of cricket, sharing stories that celebrate the beauty of the game. But for now, I hope this glimpse into my journey has given you a better understanding of the person behind The Cricket Keeper.

Stay tuned for more cricket-centric content, and thank you for joining me on this journey.