DEBUT DATE DESTINY

I’ve been thinking about Matt Prior and his debut test century. This may seem strange, but I was there and am a Sussex girl, so felt proud by association. On doing so Matt joined an illustrious group of debut test centurions, previous notables including Alistair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Charles Bannerman in the first ever Test match.

I wonder what it must be like to do such a thing. To completely blow your childhood dreams out of the water by not only representing your country but making a debut test century. Imagine the nerves and flittering butterflies, all tumble drying inside of you alongside excitement, pride and I imagine sheer terror.

When do those moments of real anxiety occur in real life? Job interviews and first days at a new job, a new baby? And almost certainly first dates.

I recently, after months of resisting pressure from my various friends, joined mysinglefriend.com. My mate Dawson, who isn’t really called Dawson, but really looks like the Creek boy, wrote my profile and there I was – online and looking for a man. The website is something like shopping for fruit – you just pick the ones you like the look of and add them to your favourites or send them a message (not that you would ever send fruit a message – that would be strange and what would you say?).

Anyway, my excursion on the website led to arranging my first date, which in itself led to an immense feeling of anxiety and nerves. What if he thought I looked nothing like my picture and was a mule? What if we didn’t have anything to say to each other? What if he had spinach stuck between his teeth? All of these thoughts and more were swimming round my head, in addition to dating seeming a million miles from anything that I had experienced in recent years and well, very American. Next I was going to talk about going steady or something.

Luckily as it turned out, it went well and there I was, um, dating. First go, debut date, I meet a nice chap and I was in my own little way feeling as debutant international centurions feel – relieved, happy and well a little flabbergasted that this could happen. And also, maybe a little bit cocky – this is easy, what was all the fuss about?

Of course my cockiness was ridiculous and within three dates we stopped seeing each other. The ‘this is just not worth it, internet dating sucks’ road beckoned but before I could step along the path, a friend pointed out (yes another cricket geek using cricketing analogies), that this was just second innings nerves. So, it didn’t go as well but would the greats of cricket, walk away? No, they would practice, practice, practice and this is what I have decided to do - and what does practice make…? Probably not perfect but it has to be worth trying….