I could never be accused of overachieving - you might call me the comfort zone personified. Risks? No. I'd rather have a nice sit down. Try something new? Mmm, not sure - it looks kind of funny. I am the opposite of Icarus - you wouldn't catch me flying a bit too high. No, I'd rather sit & watch the birds (martlets, obviously) from a safe distance. Preferably in a deck chair.
Perhaps this is why all the talk of Rory Hamilton-Brown being offered the captaincy at Surrey at the age of 22 has made me feel a bit queasy. It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL! Do you hear me, Rory Hamilton-Brown in Rory Hamilton-Brown world?) to lose such a rising star from our team when we had pretty much written you into our future narratives (you know, the ones that involve our plucky fightback to division 1 next year). It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL! ) to realise that we really are just the little team, who can be bought up by the much bigger team, who are basically being a bit like a slightly crazed Man City (sorry Chris Adams, but it's true). It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL!) to not be allowed (by myself) to like Chris Adams as much any more because he's trying to nick our team, when really I should be allowed (by myself) to like him forever for being such a legend at Sussex (I think the technical term for that is cognitive dissonance, & I bet they weren't words you were expecting to be reading).
No, it's not just those DREADFUL things. It's also because the thought of someone who is 22 & who has only played a handful of games being made captain (& captain of a team of proper grown-ups, too) scares me. It scares me so much that I have to keep reminding myself that it's not actually me who's been offered the job, it's Rory Hamilton-Brown (what can I say? empathy has always been a weakness of mine). It would take a brave, brave person to say yes. And imagine if he pulled it off? Imagine if he were a huge success. Imagine if he stays there for 15 years and is responsible for the most successful years in Surrey's history? (Imagine dramatic music playing now...)
But it's not a film, is it? And I just can't imagine all that happening except in a film. If I was Rory Hamilton-Brown, I'd be sitting in a corner of a dark room feeling too scared to come out. No, I wouldn't. I would have already said no & signed a contract extension for 10 years at Sussex. But there's a reason why I'm not a professional sports person & it's not just that I'm a bit of a lazy arse with a weakness for oreo biscuits. It's also that the thought of putting myself on the line so publicly when you don't really know at all how it might work out is really too traumatic to contemplate. No, I prefer a safer, easier existence.
If he goes, then we will be gutted, but also - perhaps - a little amazed (& impressed?) that anyone might have the confidence to take that on. But I hope he stays. It would feel like a victory not only for Sussex (& our team spirit) and smaller clubs across the country, it would also feel like a victory for me. Smaller steps, Rory, smaller steps. Sussex can take you where you want to go ...in the end ... the safer way.
Perhaps this is why all the talk of Rory Hamilton-Brown being offered the captaincy at Surrey at the age of 22 has made me feel a bit queasy. It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL! Do you hear me, Rory Hamilton-Brown in Rory Hamilton-Brown world?) to lose such a rising star from our team when we had pretty much written you into our future narratives (you know, the ones that involve our plucky fightback to division 1 next year). It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL! ) to realise that we really are just the little team, who can be bought up by the much bigger team, who are basically being a bit like a slightly crazed Man City (sorry Chris Adams, but it's true). It's not just that it would be dreadful (DREADFUL!) to not be allowed (by myself) to like Chris Adams as much any more because he's trying to nick our team, when really I should be allowed (by myself) to like him forever for being such a legend at Sussex (I think the technical term for that is cognitive dissonance, & I bet they weren't words you were expecting to be reading).
No, it's not just those DREADFUL things. It's also because the thought of someone who is 22 & who has only played a handful of games being made captain (& captain of a team of proper grown-ups, too) scares me. It scares me so much that I have to keep reminding myself that it's not actually me who's been offered the job, it's Rory Hamilton-Brown (what can I say? empathy has always been a weakness of mine). It would take a brave, brave person to say yes. And imagine if he pulled it off? Imagine if he were a huge success. Imagine if he stays there for 15 years and is responsible for the most successful years in Surrey's history? (Imagine dramatic music playing now...)
But it's not a film, is it? And I just can't imagine all that happening except in a film. If I was Rory Hamilton-Brown, I'd be sitting in a corner of a dark room feeling too scared to come out. No, I wouldn't. I would have already said no & signed a contract extension for 10 years at Sussex. But there's a reason why I'm not a professional sports person & it's not just that I'm a bit of a lazy arse with a weakness for oreo biscuits. It's also that the thought of putting myself on the line so publicly when you don't really know at all how it might work out is really too traumatic to contemplate. No, I prefer a safer, easier existence.
If he goes, then we will be gutted, but also - perhaps - a little amazed (& impressed?) that anyone might have the confidence to take that on. But I hope he stays. It would feel like a victory not only for Sussex (& our team spirit) and smaller clubs across the country, it would also feel like a victory for me. Smaller steps, Rory, smaller steps. Sussex can take you where you want to go ...in the end ... the safer way.
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