Trials and tribulations

I thought I may be short of things to write about now that the cricket has ended, well the season has ended but the cricket goes on...and on...and on!

This week has seen the start of the County Trials for both my boys. I find this harder than they do! They could have had a wonderful season, played superbly and then their selection for the County squad is based on a few sessions in the indoor nets. No outdoor fielding, no fitness tests, just batting and bowling in a school sports hall.

Number 2 son has played for the county for four years now and his elder brother has trialled every year before and after his brothers selection and has not yet been successful. I find it very difficult and am amazed that he wants to carry on with the trials. It is very definitely his descision and not ours, he does so want to be in the squad.

There was one particularly difficult year which I'll never forget.

The two age groups handled the selection process very differently and number 1 son's trials had ended and we were to be informed by letter of the outcome. Number 2 son's coaches decided to choose the squad and tell the boys face to face on the day of their final session. You can guess what happened, unfortunately I didn't forsee it. Number 1 son arrived home from school to find a letter waiting, he had done particularly well that year but was up against some very good cricketers. He opened the letter to find he'd been unsuccessful, and then within an hour we had to be at number 2 son's trial where he was told he'd been selected.

We didn't know whether to celebrate or comiserate. To give him his due number 1 son was and always has been very proud and supportive of his younger brother, but it was so hard. I think I shed a few tears at the time.

And every year we go through it again. Number 1 son unsuccessful and number 2 selected. Number 1 son is a talented sportsman but doesn't have that self belief or the drive and motivation. Number 2 has drive and motivation by the bucket load!

So the trials started this week, I'm not sure when they'll end as there are stages and if you get put through to all of them it could end as late as March 2013! Oh dear I'll be a nervous wreck by then!

I'll keep everything crossed but I do expect the same outcome as in previous years I'm afraid.