"The batting order has a little change right now. There'll be an exchange between no 3&5. No 5 will come at 1 down and 3 will come after 2 down. Since it's a big score, we'll need a bit of aggression. So play based on that."
The target today was high. We'd lost the toss and were told to ball first.
If was flat, was the same pitch as the previous game and that was why, I was getting worried.
What if it ends up like the dah before where chasing down 244 was difficult.
Cracks on one side of the pitch opened up in the second innings.
The ball was holding on the pitch and there was also uneven bounce.
If was like a classic test match pitch. Only difference was, it was only happening on 1 end, the other end was absolutely flat.
So maybe I can count on that.
Hey, what? I'm batting 1 down? Aren't I 5? Wait a second...
"Sir..."
I still can't adjust to those inswinging and outswinging balls.
"Hmm? Do you have any problems ji Yeong?"
Can I just up and reveal my weakness in front of so many people?
Something as fatal as that?
"I... It's nothing sir."
"... I see, fine. Pad up you are next."
"Yes sir."
I went to the dressing room to pad up.
I got this white jersey, from the team.
While th kit is mine.
My kit included a helmet, wicketkeeping gloves, batting gloves, some protection. Pads, and 3 bats.
The standard, that everyone usually carries.
I used my lucky bat most of the time but I also have 2 other spare bats.
They are all used so none of them is new.
My lucky bat is at it's wits end.
By dad bought it for me after knowing I wanted to play cricket.
He didn't even know about the game but still researched about it and got it for me.
He's as great dad I know.
He might feel different about it now...
Since I haven't had a proper job even after graduation which happened 2 Years ago.
When I was 19, yes... I completed graduation by 19 mostly because, I started schooling when I was around 1 year younger than the normal age.
Because my mom was the principal of that school she used her status to start my studying because she believed in 'teaching em young'.
That's exactly what she said.
My real mother and my mother in this world are totally different in personalities.
My mom was timid and introverted, she never really interacted much with people outside my family members.
While my mother from this world is the opposite, she's very outgoing and cracks jokes every second.
It's sad that my mom and dad are divorced after their differences.
My dad finally got over his divorce and married another women.
While my mother? She's still the principal of the same school.
She is currently one of the most famous personalities in the world.
Especially because she is the head of the prestigious Korean Sports Academy.
She was just recently appointed one.
She isn't just knowledgeable on 1 subject.
She has knowledge and teaching skills on every single subject anyone could probably think of.
Sadly... She's severed all ties with us.
Honestly nobody would believe that she married a man like my dad.
Who works at a normal office and does a normal job and looks absolutely Below average.
She on the other hand was beautiful had an excellent carrier and was extraordinary in every given sense.
We were two very ordinary people that shouldn't even be associated with her.
We'd probably be asking for her autograph if she weren't our mother and we saw her one day.
She was by the way also a bit of a model aswell.
Same with my stepmom, she does gags and some short time roles in films and drama.
She can't take care of her child alone after her husband's untimely death so now she's found my father to make her life easier.
While hoping to make it big in life so she can get out of this house.
Yaa that's right. You could say she's using us in a way, my father knows it too.
He knows that once she makes it big which in sure she pretty soon will with her increasing popularity.
After her recent side character role, as a ice queen teacher.
Even I was feeling things inside me which I never felt before after seeing her act like that.
Even by dad realised it won't be long until she leaves.
That's also why... I was very desperate for something to happen because of nothing happened.
I'd mostly have to settle and give up on my dream of being a cricketer.
The only reason I was still able to play cricket was because of my Stepmom who is also helping my dad out.
The moment she leaves, there's... No way of knowing how the tide will shift
He isn't in any situation to both take care of the bills and look after me.
So I can't really continue on with my make belief Game, in a make belief Dream.
Especially in a place where it being popular is almost Impossible.
I was actually hoping that I get some kind of spotlight from playing for korea and somebody offers me to play for their country.
because that appeard to be the only way, I could even hope to do anything at all.
I even went as far as opening a youtube channel to show my batting and how I played.
Teaching people who never played it on how to play the game.
I hoped someone would be inspired from my Way off play and just recruit me into ipl or any other premier league.
That way I could make a ton of money and we wouldn't have to worry.
But, nothing like that ever happened. Right as I was about to give up.
That damn news came in as if telling me that there was still hope.
For that too was that day that started to change my life forever.
"Ooh, finally after an eventful start... They have the first wicket."
"They are 1 down after 9 overs. It's 52/1 after 9."