I didn't think playing cricket was for me but ...

This article was written by Sarah Davies (Jan 2025), a valued member of Menai Bridge Cricket Club, regular player in the Women and Girls Team, attentive scorer, club volunteer, mum of two budding cricketers and wife to a cricket and outdoor sports fanatic. 

"That's me on the end, at the left-hand side of the picture. Hubby is at the other end and the kids are sprawled out on the grass. It was a fabulous summers day at the club when the kids challenged the parents and adults to a match. Guess who won!?

Cricket for all

When you grew up watching cricket, listening to cricket on test match special; naturally you eventually get drawn to playing cricket. I never thought that was me. However…

When the rest of your family start to play cricket, kids on a Friday night and your husband on a Sunday. You start to get drawn to the club more and more and eventually spend a long time sitting watching and talking about cricket. Menai Bridge becomes a perfect location for a Sunday game, a Monday night match or a Friday night out. 

From afar, I would watch the women's training on a Monday night thinking it looked fun but playing cricket wasn't for me. I love the game but I’m too nervous to participate and I’ve definitely not got the skill set. But the sessions looked good. The camaraderie made me jealous and the thought of being part of a sporting team, which hadn't happened since school, was exciting, but also daunting.

An unlikely moment at the end of year social evening had me saying to the ladies captain that I'd thought about joining, or giving it a go. Two weeks later, I found myself nervously walking into the local sports hall for a winter nets sessions, hiding behind my 8 year old, having been persuaded it was the right thing to do. 

All I can say is a year on from winter nets and an outdoor season under my belt. I'm still going…

I'm not the best, I have a love hate relationship with bowling but I love being a member of a team. We play hard, try and win but most importantly it's inclusive. The feeling of being a part of a team, losing together, trying to win together creates a great bond and an overwhelming feeling. The social nights are a good laugh too and perfect for team morale, but not great if you have an early Sunday morning game!

"Here's me with some of my fellow team members at Lancashire Cricket Ground, Old Trafford in the summer of 2024. It was The Hundred series so we enjoyed a full day of both men's and ladies games."

At Menai Bridge we have members of all ages, all fitness levels and experience, but on a Sunday afternoon on a trip down the coast we are one team.

Not only is it great for my fitness and to be healthier; it’s also great for my mental health. Every week I wonder how I can fit in training or a game around everyone else's commitments, but once at the club the worries of the week disappear and the time spent learning a new skill gives me a better focus.

The club is a perfect place for me, with friendly supportive faces, many experienced coaches who will drop by to give us top tips (I still hate bowling!); it's great to feel like I belong.

Roll on the summer, maybe we'll win more games this year or maybe we won't, but I'll know that I am lucky to belong to something special. 

"And here's the kids, pictured with their friends in the 2023 winning MBCC Dynamo team for 8-11 year-olds. They love it!"