Five Times!

One of the drawbacks to being an active lower Grade cricketer is that you miss some important milestones in 1st Grade of players you respect and are also friends with.

Last weekend, Sam Wolf came through with arguably the bowling spell of his career, snaring his first five wicket haul in 1st Grade. His 5/25 spanned a 17 over straight spell. All five wickets were top order batsmen.

It is a mark of the continued maturity of Sam Wolf the Cricketer, that this was possible. Playing a Jamberoo side that contains batsmen that, though perhaps not out-and-out sloggers, are capable of some hard cross-bat hitting, on a ground that is intimidatingly small for a bowler if you are not on song, it takes patience and a good line and length to pull off bowling figures like those that Sam returned.

Three seasons ago, Sam was a good 3rd Grade bowler, knocking on the door of 2nds, but he had some control problems. He made his 1st Grade debut that season, eventually being ordered out of the attack after 1.5 overs against Warilla for continued head-high full tosses (I think that is the polite way to phrase it). He finished the season in 3rd Grade, with half the wickets at almost twice the cost as he had achieved in the previous season. Something had to change.

The following season, Sam's work ethic at training and in cricket in general picked up dramatically, and the results showed. He played the entire season in 2nd Grade, apart from one match in 1sts, and finished with 32 wickets at 14 for the season. His bowling had improved out of sight, he was staying taller in delivery, and his line and length had become good enough to trouble the best batsmen 2nd Grade could provide.
Last season, Sam graduated to 1st Grade on a full-time basis. Though 18 wickets at 26 doesn't sound impressive, it is the knowledge he gained from playing the entire season, being able to watch what the other 1st Grade bowlers did to take wickets, that was invaluable.
And now, the benefits are obvious. In just the 3rd match of the season, Sam now has 11 wickets at 11, has become the opening bowler Kiama needs, and the foil that 1sts need when Josh Jones returns to the fold.

No one now trains harder, or works harder at their game, than Sam Wolf. No one is more enthusiastic or passionate about the Kiama Cricket Club. He has assumed the mantle of leader of the Club's Victory Song, and he guards it with both honour and glee.

No doubt in his own mind, and most certainly in the minds of his 1st Grade opponents, he has now graduated as a 1st Grade Bowler.

It was a shame not to be there to share it with him.