Q&A: 3rd XI's Philip Smith looking to promote young talent in 2023
Over the next few weeks, MHVCC will be publishing interviews with team captains ahead of the new season. Today it’s the turn of the 3rd XI skipper.
First let’s look back at last season. How do you feel the 3rd XI performed in 2022?
The 3rd XI enjoyed another winning season, finishing third in Division 10 South, behind North Enfield 2nd XI and Old Haberdashers 2nd XI, without ever really threatening promotion. Having beaten Old Habs both home and away and only losing to North Enfield on the last ball of the match, things could and possibly should have been a bit tighter for the run-in. But after a very slow start, losing the first three games of the season, it was always going to be an uphill battle to get back in the promotion race. Seven defeats in total was just too many. Eleven wins was a good return though and it was very pleasing not to suffer any rain-offs or cancellations for other reasons across the season. We saw positive contributions throughout the team, young and old alike.
What are your hopes for your team for the 2023 season?
Our aspiration at the start of any season should always include us being able to challenge for promotion. Over the past few years, the 3rd XI have been consistently finishing near the top of the table, so it would be nice to get a bump this season.
However, getting promoted in this new regionalised structure is a little more difficult. Nowadays even finishing second does not guarantee a promotion. But whilst success on the field is important, it is by no means the only criteria by which success in the lower reaches of the league structure should be measured. Consistently getting four teams out every week is a major success in and of it itself. Making sure that all the teams include a healthy proportion of junior playing members graduating into adult cricket and progressing up the teams in line with their ability is also a major aspiration and the sign of a healthy, integrated and successful club.
It is also hugely important to play the matches in a great spirit: one of fun, sportsmanship and love of the game. Win, lose or draw, my hope is that everyone enjoys their cricket in the 3rd XI.
What are your personal goals for the season?
As lead coach of the junior section, I get immense satisfaction from seeing the youngsters who have progressed through the junior ranks make a meaningful contribution to the success of the adult teams. I’d like to see this step up another notch in 2023. I think we have a significant number of juniors ready to breakthrough and have a really positive impact across all of the teams.
One of my other goals is to see others take on a little more responsibility. I don’t just mean taking on more jobs and helping out, although that is needed! I also mean responsibility for understanding what it takes to help make a club and a team successful. I know I have a role to play in encouraging and facilitating this.
I will be seeking to share captaincy duties around this year, wherever possible: giving a few individuals a chance to see what is involved, on and off the field.
Clearly I’d like to score a boatload of runs opening the batting too ….. but maybe the new budding captains may see me in a different role - a solid No. 11 perhaps! That would serve me right!
What will be the key to having a successful season this year?
Enjoying the games, win, lose or draw. Enjoying each other’s company and each other’s successes.
Tell us about the journey you’ve been on as a captain.
Given that my captaincy experience started over 30 years ago, the journey has been nothing if not long! Over the years my outlook and emphasis has moved away from win at all costs towards play for the enjoyment and make winning a by-product of that by fostering a positive team environment.
What have you learned about yourself as a result of being captain?
Not being a bowler, I have a healthy respect for their skills. This does not stop me getting frustrated when a long hop is served up! In my view, bowlers win more matches than batters at our level. When I give advice to the juniors I always recommend them to focus on their bowling. Being a batsman only can be difficult, particularly when your game can be largely over one ball into the match. And bowlers get to bat anyway, more often than not.
What are the most important attributes to being successful as a captain?
Confidence is a huge part of it: Everyone feeling good about their game and knowing their role within the team is enormously beneficial. Success breeds success. I’ve seen many occasions when a team I’ve been involved in have turned around near hopeless positions, just because they have won a few games in a row and believe that they can. Conversely, a team low on confidence and on a losing streak can throw away winning positions so easily because their confidence is brittle and they don’t really believe.
Is there anything you’d like to see change around the club or the Saracens Herts Cricket League this season compared to previous years?
Generally I find the Herts League to be very well run. I’ve been a little disappointed with the trend towards an ever shorter format in the Herts League. But there is little we can do to reverse this. It is what "the public" want, if the outcome of the surveys that the Herts League undertake, are to be believed.
In terms of Mill Hill Village Cricket Club, as always, I would like to see more members helping out and supporting the club. There are many, many ways to support the club. Work party attendance [where various tasks around the club get carried out], pre- and post-match ground set up and clearance, attending functions and AGMs, taking on committee roles, etc. Too much of the work is done by too few members. I guess it was ever thus and I am sure we are no different from other clubs in this respect. But I would really like the members to feel like it is their club and for everyone to have and feel a personal investment in making it as good as it can be, whether that is measured by the success on the field or the camaraderie we enjoy off it.