Sydney Thunder batsman Jason Sangha has had just two visits to the crease this summer.
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One was in a Sheffield Shield game for NSW in Adelaide almost two months ago, and that followed on from a classy 95 for Randwick-Petersham in the first day of a Sydney first-grade match against Blacktown.
With Cricket Australia's second XI competition not running this season due to COVID-19 cost cutting, Sangha hasn't had a batting outlet other than countless hours in the nets.
He was in the Adelaide Shield bubble with NSW which prevented him from playing grade cricket, and for the past fortnight has been stationed in Canberra with his Thunder teammates.
"I'm not going to lie, it's been really weird - I've played one and a half games [this summer], one was a Shield game and the other was half a grade game where we just batted," Sangha said.
"It's so weird to think about going potentially into the new year only having two bats. It's so bizarre.
"It's really important for guys who aren't playing - for us it's about making sure we keep the nets as competitive as we can and really try and simulate games as much as we can."
The Thunder will play an internal centre wicket match later this week to try and stay fit, given their eight-day stretch without a game between Monday's win over the Brisbane Heat, and next Tuesday's clash with the Perth Scorchers at Manuka Oval.
That will at least give Sangha a chance to push his case in front of head coach Shane Bond who has assembled a well-rounded squad this season.
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"Stuff like that's really important to make sure you can try and simulate a game as much as you can, if you've only played one and a half games it's a bit hard from a comfort point of view," Sangha said.
"You've got to keep exposing yourself to a competitive environment and make sure you're ready to go.
"I've been batting pretty well lately, it's all I've been doing, hitting balls in the nets. I'm coming along pretty nicely, I've just got to wait for an opportunity and when an opportunity comes I've just got to grab it.
"No doubt all the guys who are playing right now are doing the right job. We're one from two out of our first two games, it is important to start well but knowing our squad depth and what we have for the remainder of the season, I think we'll be in pretty good stead."
Tuesday's clash with the Scorchers will be the third of five for the Thunder at Manuka Oval this season. They also play the Melbourne Renegades on Boxing Day, and the Melbourne Stars on December 29.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
