Chelmsford Cricket Club in England signed former Proteas fast bowler Andre Nel recently.
Nel debuted for the club’s second XI last week, completing figures of zero for 22 in seven overs. He hit 23 from 19 balls at fifth position in the batting order.
‘As long as they don’t expect me to bowl all the overs’
“My mind wants to get angry but my body can’t back it up and it’s pointless now,” Nel told BBC Essex.
“People might say things to me and hit me for four, but I’ve got nothing to prove. I played international cricket, for me it’s now about the pleasure and privilege of helping the youngsters and making them better.
“I didn’t expect to be playing a lot of cricket at all. I think it started in January when I entered the London Marathon and started getting fit.
“I said I’ll be interested in playing as long as they don’t expect me to bowl all the overs, do all of the batting – not take a position off the youngsters, but to play with the youngsters and help them as much as possible.
“I bowled seven overs on the trot and the next couple of days I was pretty sore and stiff.
“I bowled far too short and my timing was slightly off with my wrist and where it should be, but the biggest thing was I fielded mid-on and mid-off and spoke to some of the youngsters bowling and that’s the reason I started,
“It’s not about me performing as such, I just want to help cricketers in general and it’s a great opportunity for me to do it on the field.
“Just talking them through constructing their overs, telling them what to do, to see what the batsman’s feet are doing so you can change your game plan, that’s the thing I enjoyed the most.”
Nel has worked with the Essex coaching staff in the County Championship – and was recently named England Over-40 head coach.
The 45-year-old Nel played 36 Tests, 79 ODIs and two T20Is from 2001 to 2008.
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