Abstract
This chapter presents a biographical case-study of Coach via the self-narrative around which he constructed his identity as a former professional cricketer and umpire. The story of ‘Coach,’ and the themes around which he constructed his identity, sets the scene for what a commitment to a life in professional sport (cricket) entails which players used as a point of reference when projecting their lives into the future. Coach’s symbolism is integral to his players’ transitional journeys as student-cricketers with his commentary featuring as a major source of insight into the student-cricket experience, and what university cricket was preparing players to step into.
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Notes
- 1.
Former first-class cricketer of the early 1950s to late 1960s.
- 2.
Parlance for a scoring shot that leaves the field of play that is worth either four or six runs.
- 3.
Fielding position in front of the batter.
- 4.
Nickname used by Coach in reference to the cricket ground’s former curator.
- 5.
The outer edge of the playing area demarcated by a rope.
- 6.
Sir Alex Ferguson, former manager of Manchester United Football Club.
- 7.
Cricketers on trial for professional contracts.
- 8.
For more information on the MCC Young Cricketers pathway see: https://www.lords.org/mcc/youth-cricket/mcc-young-cricketers/.
- 9.
Former England and Middlesex cricketer.
- 10.
Upmarket suburb of Cape Town and location of Newlands Cricket Ground, a South African Test Match venue.
- 11.
Former England Captain and batting coach.
- 12.
Former England and Hampshire cricketer.
- 13.
Current headquarters of Hampshire County Cricket Club also known as the Ageas Bowl.
- 14.
Former England and Worcestershire cricketer.
- 15.
Former first-class and Test Match cricketer of the early 1950s to late 1970s.
- 16.
Cricket parlance for ‘leg before wicket’—a mode of dismissal caused by the ball (delivered by a bowler) striking the batter’s pad. The batter is only given out if the ball’s projected path is deemed by the umpire to be going on to hit the stumps in accordance with the circumstances set out by the MCC in Law 36 of the game of cricket.
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Bowles, H.C.R. (2018). Mr Cricket: The Story of a Cricket Aficionado. In: University Cricket and Emerging Adulthood. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76282-1_2
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