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Amar Virdi - Blog  1

Amar Virdi - Blog 1

News Editor20 Jun 2020 - 21:45
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From Sunbury Cricket Club to England training!

I must pay tribute to all my coaches at Sunbury from the early days from my very first coach the lovely Frank Sharman and latterly to John Maunders who as captain of the 1st X1 helped me tremendously
- Amar Virdi

Sunbury’s Amar Virdi recently joined England’s 45 man training squad and now he is off to the Ageas Bowl for a 30 man ‘behind closed doors’ training group before the Test Selectors name their final squad for the firstTest against the West Indies

This is the first of an occasional Virdi Blog which all Club members may find to be both heart warming and of interest

Tony: How has it been during the past weeks being part of the special training group?
Amar: It’s been really good being back in for training after a few months off. At first it felt a bit strange with all the new protocols. A typical day for me has been a decent bowl followed by some fielding drills, then some fitness work and finally some batting sessions – much in splendid isolation

Tony: Where were the sessions held?
Amar: Luckily for me all at The Oval although with strict training programmes some I could do at home mainly in the back garden thanks to the lovely weather

Tony: When you were based at The Oval how did you manage with social distancing.
Amar: Fortunately for me I didn’t need any public transport to and from the ground.
The Oval is a very safe place to train and all the sessions have been very much in line with all government guidelines and in all probability in line with the ECB regulations which all my friends at the Club are working to. I would love to play any games in the Surrey Championship later in the year if I can so you all need to get fit!!

Tony: As a result of your hard efforts how did it feel when you found out you were included in the final 30 for the ‘behind closed doors’ training group at the
Ageas Bowl
Amar: I am extremely excited to have been selected for the 30 man squad. It’s one step closer to my dream of playing Test cricket. Being in the training squad will certainly give me a closer insight into the environment so I’m really looking forward to that, and who knows I might even get an opportunity to play in the England inter-group 3 day game at The Ageas beginning on 1 July prior to the squad selection for the first Test against The West Indies

Tony:Do you feel in any way overawed by the next few weeks in front of you
Amar: Fortunately Surrey are providing 4 other players to the squad in Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes (once of SCC)- all also all from the Surrey Championship so although I might be ‘the new kid on the block’ I honestly think it will be an awesome experience and I will try my hardest not to be overwhelmed by it all

I must pay tribute to all my coaches at Sunbury from the early days from my very first coach the lovely Frank Sharman and latterly to John Maunders who as captain of the 1stX1 helped me tremendously……hopefully I will update you over the next week or so with another Blog – ‘Life with the Big Boys’

Regards and Stay Safe
Amar

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