An interview with 3rd XI Captain – Paddy Lambton
Q: Paddy, with the new season just around the corner, how is the excitement building for the 3rd XI?
PL: As always, once the sun starts shining and you start smelling that freshly mown grass, speaking for myself, all I want is to be out on a cricket field. The 3s are in a slightly more competitive league this year compared to last, with many more fixtures. So there is a genuine excitement to see how we will stack up in that.
Q: Have there been any new faces or exciting juniors coming through during the winter we should keep an eye out for?
PL: You never really know what might happen over winter with juniors. Sometimes a wiry 15-year-old comes back a foot taller and able to bowl 10mph quicker after the winter break. I am excited to work with the junior coaches to identify the next crop of players ready to make that step up into senior cricket.
Q: How important is your team in developing players for higher levels of club cricket?
PL: I think that the 3s is vital in acclimatising younger players to senior league cricket, but with a little less pressure than might be found in the Saturday teams, so they can enjoy it and find their feet.
Q: As captain, how do you approach managing a side with both senior players and developing juniors?
PL: With juniors in the side, I always try to take the pressure off their shoulders where I can. I think it is very easy for youngsters to get carried away when things are going well and down when they aren’t. I try to instill in them that we play a certain way, win or lose, and as long as we are putting in the effort on the field and in training and showing a good attitude then I cannot ask for any more than that.
Q: How do you make sure the experienced players support and guide the younger ones?
PL: I think I have been lucky in terms of the senior players who are in the team, as they all think the same way about the game as I do, so I just let them do their thing. The only special measure I occasionally need to take is to position a senior player at mid off or mid on to be in the bowler’s ear if a batsman is looking to get after them or something like that.
Q: What does it mean to you personally to lead the 3rd XI?
PL: It’s something that I am very proud to do. If I can create a team where we all work for each other and enjoy and celebrate each other’s successes, then I feel I will have accomplished something worthwhile.
Q: What lessons from past seasons will you be carrying into this one?
PL: I think we had a pretty successful season last year, so I think it’s just a case of more of the same and try to build on that foundation again this year.
Q: Are there any particular fixtures you’re looking forward to or rivalries that stand out?
PL: Not particularly, we have moved league this year into the GMCL Sunday division 2, so we won’t have played most of the teams for a few years. I’m very excited to see how we fare.
Q: How do you see the 3rd XI contributing to the overall success and spirit of the club?
PL: I think that every team at the club is important and has a part to play. We came second in our league last year and I would love it if we could go one better than that this year but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Q: What message would you give to parents of junior players involved in the team as well as supporters of the club?
PL: Get down on a Sunday and watch us play. It’s a great way to spend a day and we really appreciate any support. We also have a habit of having close games in recent times (including a tie last year) so you will fulfill your sporting excitement quota for the weekend.
Q: And finally, what do you hope players take away from being part of the 3rd XI this season? PL: My main hope is that everyone goes home after every game having had a great day out and can’t wait for the next one (Winning games helps massively in this regard). That’s ultimately why we all play, isn’t it? For enjoyment
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