Guess who's back? Leary's back

Upon his return to Hampset Cricket Club, Alex Lear offered an insight in to his cricketing career.

With the 2019 Cricket Season fast approaching, winter nets underway for many of the clubs across the nation, and the new kit being purchased, I took the chance to meet with Alex Lear. Having known Alex since playing alongside him in the indoor cricket leagues, I have umpired Alex batting at the top of the order for his former club Midsomer Norton on several occasions. Despite getting himself into trouble on occasions for antics outside the cricket field, which he admits were not clever; he remains a gentleman on the field of play. Emblematic of this was his most recent invitation to become a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club. I was fortunate to catch Alex in Bradford on Avon where he currently resides to discuss his cricketing journey.

Despite his Dad playing for Combe Down Cricket Club 1st X1, Alex started his cricket in the youth setup at local neighbours Hampset. Emerging as a ‘fast’ bowler, Alex learnt through his Dad which way round to hold the bat and managed to protect his wicket. However, when the bowlers got taller and the ball came down a bit faster, Alex had to develop his batting skills to not only protect his wicket but his body also. Originally called up to the 1st X1 at Hampset under then Skipper, Tim Hankins, as a young bowler, his role on the field of play slowly changed. With the number of overs he bowled reducing; Alex had to transform his batting from protection, to production. The Hampset team benefited from his cameos both bowling and batting and gradually he moved up the batting line up to the middle order. His performances at Hampset caught the attention of other clubs in the local area.

‘Why Midsomer Norton?’ I asked Alex, ‘Nick Pang’ he replied. Having been persuaded by Nick Pang, someone he had played against in Sunday Cricket, and having given it a lot of thought, Alex decided to take on the challenge of playing for Midsomer Norton in the 2011 season, the season which saw the club playing in the Somerset Shrubbery League having been relegated at the end of the previous season. In the build-up to his inaugural season at Midsomer Norton, as a late teen, he joined Rob Cunliffe’s Cricket Academy through the winter which he attests had a distinct correlation to his batting improving throughout the subsequent seasons.

His first season at his new club, was a different one for Alex as the team took the Shrubbery League by storm. Having been used to playing a bigger part of the match at Hampset, Alex took more of a back seat throughout the season, including some matches where his batting kit was not required as the match was already won. Nevertheless, batting in the middle order for the next couple of seasons, and having been demolished by Clevedon the week before, Alex’s captain, Nick Potter, asked Alex if he fancied opening the batting. Grabbing the opportunity with both hands, perhaps having had a few alcoholic beverages, Alex started his time as a top order batsman. Putting the time into his batting, patience and being in the right time resulted in Alex seizing his opportunity and demonstrating he had the skill set to bat in the higher leagues and remained at the top of the order for the club.

Being top of the order, he has followed a routine of hitting a few balls, listening to some music, and ‘trying to survive’ the first few overs. Nevertheless, getting out first ball of the match has always been in the back of Alex’s mind, but by following his normal routine and watching his first ball right from the bowler’s run-up he sets himself for the remainder of his innings. Facing good bowlers, county bowlers and ex-international bowlers such as Ian Harvey, Mark Alleyne and Roelof van der Merwe opening the batting was no easy feat for Alex and some Saturdays, having been dismissed early on, were long days for him. However, Playing with a plethora of Midsomer Norton’s recent cricketing talents he gained a lot of advice, experience and success in the West of England Premier Leagues. Play Cricket shows Alex eleventh in the club’s batting table, in the good company of the long successful Cox brothers, Andy and Martin, John Harvey and both former and current club Captains, Nick Potter and Nick Pang. Accumulating 4175 runs in 174 matches (an average of 31.39) for Midsomer Norton in his 8 years at the club, the peak of his time at the club came in 2016 where he amassed 697 runs in the season which saw the club reach the West of England Premier League 2. The final game of that season being the title decider against Winterbourne which I had the pleasure of umpiring. His efforts under newly appointed captain, Nick Pang, sees Midsomer Norton poised for another strong season in the 2019 West of England Premier 2 Bristol & Somerset League.

During his time at Withies Lane he took to the field alongside several Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) playing members. In 2017 he was nominated and seconded to qualify for the MCC during a given time frame. Over the past two seasons, he has represented the MCC with club captain Nick Potter and other West of England Premier League players. He has been honoured to have been presented with the opportunity and contribute with notable performances which have led to becoming a full playing member of the MCC. Moreover, Alex enjoys the games of cricket throughout the summer, seeing different grounds, being part of the event and being an ambassador of the sport playing against School 1st X1s or clubs whilst advocating the spirit of cricket to the next generation of cricketers. Whilst setting the precedent on the field, he, as other members of the MCC, has made many trips to Lords Cricket Ground to integrate with other members in the long room, a sight to behold for any cricket lover.

Following his 8 years at Midsomer Norton, Alex announced that he will be returning to childhood club, Hampset CC. He is excited at the prospect and hoping to provide runs and experience with the aim to push the club forward. Alex’s mindset is ubiquitous with Hampset’s vision for the upcoming season as expressed below;

Momentum and excitement are building nicely into the 2019 season at Hampset CC. We’ve had a productive winter with plenty of new and improved initiatives coming to the fore including new kit, new training facilities and our Annual Dinner with guest speaker Peter Trego (Somerset CCC) which always kick starts the season with a bang!

Hampset will be running 4 senior, league teams each weekend and of course the aim would be to get as many of these promoted as possible. That’s where the addition of Alex Lear is a fantastic announcement for the club moving forward. All teams look to improve their player pool during the off season and we are fortunate to have recruited a number of new and returning players for 2019, Alex foremost of these recruits. He will bring plenty of experience into the changing room having played a number of successful seasons at a higher level. On the pitch, his quality will add another dimension to an improving top order where players such as he will be a great example to an already developing team.

Alex is, of course, a former Hampset player. He came through the youth section and cemented himself in the 1st team before moving up the leagues several years ago. As a player already built into the culture of the club, we are sure Alex will serve as a great inspiration for other young, budding cricketers progressing through the senior teams. All in all, we are massively looking forward to the 2019 season on and off the field and the potential it and he will bring.

As we edge closer, week-by-week, net by net, to the 2019 season, both Alex and Hampset will be eager to get their campaign underway and start as they mean to continue in Division One of the Bristol and District Cricket Leagues. Time will tell how successful the combination of the seasoned cricketers supporting an ever-expanding youth system will be for Hampset Cricket Club. Perhaps, in the coming seasons, Hampset will find themselves in the West of England Premier League divisions once again.

Umps