Winter’s flaw? It’s just not cricket

IT IS approaching my favourite time of year.

When the mornings are warmer and there’s no need for layer upon layer of clothes just to get to the office without early-stage frostbite.

The warmer weather and the extra daylight always gives me a lift.

I’ve pushed through the doldrums of winter and I’m ready for more of what Geelong served up yesterday — a top of 24.8C.

Give me a 30+ degree day over a 3 degree day any day.

In the air there’s a feeling of summer, and with that the memories of last summer are easily recounted.

There’s plenty of fun to be had as the seemingly endless summer nights are not too far away.

The days of swims after work, evening runs and nights at the beach are almost here. What a time to be alive.

But first I’ll have to navigate spring, the dreaded hayfever season and the mess that usually leaves me with constantly itchy eyes and a pouring nose. I was pleased to read yesterday that our relatively dry winter could mean a lower than average pollen count come spring. Once that’s over, all will be in readiness for summer. For me summer is all about cricket, cricket and cricket — whether it be playing or watching it on television. More than 20 years after I began to play, at the start of each season there’s always a feeling similar to that a kid would feel at Christmas. A mixture of passion, anticipation and expectation is how I’d describe it. August and September is when this feeling intensifies as the hope of achieving personal and team success builds.

I hope I can achieve some success but I’m really looking forward to the mischief a new cricket season will bring.

There’s already in-club fines that need collecting for preseason slip-ups.

But as much as the anticipation of the season is building, so is the hope that an umpire won’t abruptly put an end to the on-field joy.

Last year a bat handle saved me from broken ribs after an umpire thought an armpit-high full toss was a legal delivery. I’ve only just repaired the broken bat handle which saved me.

For me, summer also spells more family time, when gathering seems to occur more regularly.

So bring on summer and all it offers, I say.