Glowing

Without doubt the best day of the summer so far. I wanted to get out with the Earlybirds first thing but I decided that I really couldn't squeeze that into the day along with everything else. Having been away for a week I needed to get some bug fixes sorted, so I decided to get up early to get stuck into that instead. That meant that I'd have more time to go out for a ride with No.2 son, before watching No.1 son play cricket in the afternoon.

After all the enthusiasm of last week I could tell that No.2 son wasn't really up for a ride today, but I ignored his protestations of tiredness. We'd been planning to go to Barden Bridge and do the big climb to Halton Heights, but just on the gentle spin out through Nesfield he was hanging back. I still find this difficult as a parent, trying to judge how hard to push the kids when they are not truly willing. It's a difficult balance. At Bolton Bridge I asked him what he wanted to do, and he decided that was to return home. I was disappointed, mainly because I knew he was now going to be down on himself and will not be feeling the same buzz tonight that he was enjoying last week. He wanted me to carry on though, not wanting to spoil my ride, and despite some misgivings I decided that would be best for both of us. Having missed out on a ride this morning I really wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather. You only get a handful of days like this all year ... if that. So, I headed to Barden Bridge, took the climb up from Skyreholme, across to Greenhow and back via Thuscross Reservoir and Blubberhouses. It was a stunningly beautiful day, with the Dales looking at its very best. I kept flipping between coasting along in the hot sunshine, enjoying the scenery, and putting in efforts, enjoying the toil. The legs have still not come back properly to life. The last hill onto the moors above Askwith was as hard as it usually is after a much longer ride. I was happy to get back after 30 miles and was actually quite thankful that I hadn't contrived to enter the Ryedale Rumble happening today not too far away. I think that would have been hell!

No.1 son had already informed me that he was opening the batting for the 3rd XI, which had been one of the reasons for putting some effort in, followed by another call where I was informed that they were fielding first, enabling me to ease off a bit. I grabbed a long drink before going down to the cricket club. My lad had been brought on unusually early so I only caught the last over of his first spell, which was apparently good but wicketless. When he came back on a bit later, much to my relief because the game was going a bit dead at that stage, things got quite lively. His fourth ball was a real ripper of an off-break, pitching on a perfect length, beating the defensive push and removing the bails. The next ball was spooned up in the air for a straightforward catch. The hat-trick ball hit the pads somehow but was a bit wide and was survived. Then, with the very first ball of his next over he delivers another ripping off-break which is a carbon-copy of his first wicket. That made three in four balls and the new batsmen was very lucky to survive the rest of the over. I'd been waiting to see my boy perform like this all year. Last season I was treated to a couple of such displays, but this season he just hasn't been given many opportunities, and that's when he's been playing at all, with the weather having been so bad. The innings was wrapped up pretty quickly thereafter and I wallowed in fatherly pride during the tea interval.

Just as I've not seen No.1 son take too many wickets this season, I've not seen him score too many runs either. I never get more nervous than when he's batting during a period when the runs aren't coming for whatever reason. He wants it so bad. And I want it so bad for him. I also know how hard it is. Cricket is a ruthless game. Just one moment of indecision and it's all over. Because he'd got a few wickets and would now take something away from the game regardless, I felt a little less concerned than normal, and he was more relaxed too - which meant that he started with a lot of fluency, the very first ball flicked off his legs for a perfectly timed boundary. I soon lost my nerves watching him because he looked so comfortable at the crease. I still find it amazing to watch my 16 year old do things I was never able to even aspire to do myself. The team were only chasing 137 so he had plenty of time. He was very patient and assured in defence, waiting for the bad balls to come along, which he dispatched with increasing confidence. It was such a pleasure to watch. I can't even begin to imagine the joy of being able to time the ball as sweetly as he did this afternoon. For a player of his natural ability it is odd that he'd never got a fifty before. I guess I was a little nervous when he got to 46 today, but he was gifted a full toss and it was despatched with disdain for a boundary and I was able to witness that first milestone in his career. I can hopefully look forward to seeing a lot more. By now, in the searing heat, he was clearly exhausted but he held his concentration well and carried his bat for 62 not out. The team only lost two wickets, but the other batsmen all said how hard it was out there and were amazed that my lad had kept going so well. Perhaps he is fitter than we both think! All I know is that I took more pleasure from that experience today than I have in any of my own achievements this year. I feel like I'm still glowing, with equal amounts attributable to the sun and to fatherly pride!