by Abhai Sawkar
Cricket and other sporting events may have come to a standstill, but amid the times of strife, there have been moments to relish and appreciate. Peter Younghusband, the legspin bowling allrounder of the Wellington Firebirds in the New Zealand domestic circuit, has been part of the squad that clinched the Dream11 T20 Super Smash title at home against the Auckland Aces during the recently completed 2019-20 season. Wellington also won the Plunket Shield, which is the 4-day competition, after a strong first six rounds from October to November and then in February. Despite an injury depriving him of game time in the longer format late in the summer, Younghusband featured more often in the shorter formats. The season may have been cut short, but he definitely enjoyed the headway in his game. “The season went very well from a team perspective for the Firebirds. We won two out of three competitions and put ourselves in a good position at one stage to get to the playoffs for the 3rd competition but it wasn’t to be. Personally, I was very happy with how I was tracking, my overall game and especially my bowling was progressing and I was learning a lot each time I played. I was unfortunately struck with a back injury and ruled out for the season from February onwards.” Born in Harare, Younghusband spent part of his early life in Zimbabwe, until relocating to New Zealand with his family. He was a relatively later starter in cricket, and that wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing work and cricket wasn’t an easy task by any means, but as the saying goes, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Younghusband made his domestic debut for Wellington in early 2015, but a year and a half later came the more heartening news - a confirmed first professional contract. “I was only young when I moved. I was just about to start high school and had to learn the Kiwi way of life. Cricket only started progressing at the end of my schooling days. I went to University after this and then I tried to take cricket more seriously. The hardest part of my cricketing journey was the 4 years of training and working part time when I wasn’t a professional cricketer. Spending as much time training but then trying to earn a living on the side was a very tough time so I’m grateful I eventually got awarded a contract.” Adjustment to new beginnings wasn’t as comparatively difficult - his early cricket began in the South Island until he decided to shift north to the capital to further his chances. He has been a regular part of the Wellington A side before making it to the first XI. “I went to High School in Nelson, NZ, then played for a club in Christchurch before moving to Wellington for club cricket. My time playing for Wellington after this probably prepared me best for first-class cricket. Over the years you play with and against a lot of guys who are now playing first-class and even international cricket for that matter, so it’s familiar faces each time and you’ve shared a lot of different battles over the years.” Interestingly enough, prior to entering the first-class scene, Younghusband had a gig with the Blackcaps as a substitute fielder. He’s been involved in Tests and ODIs, in series against India and Pakistan. Considering that he wasn’t officially part of a domestic side, this was quite the achievement to cherish. It was a successful home summer with series wins against both teams, and his on-field contributions were more than impactful. “I loved it. I was in awe of the players I was with and being able to spend time acting like an international cricketer was a great experience. To be able to take the field and get two international catches, including Virat Kohli, before I even got my first professional contract is something I am very proud of.” Known for his agility and athleticism on the field, Younghusband draws inspiration from one of the world’s best. It’s been a years-long dream to reach the highest level and be the impact player, and the time spent with the Blackcaps in 2014 has undoubtedly paved the way. In addition, he looks up to one of New Zealand’s flamboyant and decorated international cricketers as a motivational figure. “I always liked Jonty Rhodes growing up. I wanted to be the best fielder in the world from a very young age. My experiences later including the time with the Black Caps gave me a huge respect for Brendon McCullum and his leadership style, which I wanted to emulate with my own game.” During the off-season, Younghusband often plays club cricket in England and the change in scenery and conditions has provided plenty to learn. While a subcontinent visit is a key item in his cricketing bucket list, the opportunity to play at various venues in different places has been an eye-opener in more ways than one. “I have predominantly only played in England and once in the Netherlands over the past few years. I would love to play in India at some point too. Each time overseas is a good experience, particularly in England where I enjoy seeing so many unique grounds across the country. The main difference I guess in the cricket side of things is adjusting to the ball. Compared to the Kookaburra, the Duke ball behaves differently and requires you to learn to play the ball very late if you can.” Across all formats, Younghusband has played 37 games in the domestic circuit to date: 7 first-class, 24 one-day, and 6 T20s. He’s tirelessly been working towards becoming a mainstay, and has shown his capability and potential with both ball and bat. Primarily known for his bowling, Younghusband’s early exploits for the Firebirds were as a lower middle-order batsman during his first full season, highlighted with a solid 97 against Canterbury in the tenth and final round of the 2016-17 season. As a spinner, he’s established himself as a containing bowler in limited-overs cricket, and the Firebirds have often benefited from economical spells. Even though he hasn’t received consistent chances to bowl long spells in 4-day cricket, it’s to be noted that he took his maiden 5-wicket haul in the format in only his second official game. His go-to delivery is the wrong ‘un, and his game plan is quite clear-cut: to go from strength to strength and take full advantage of relatively better conditions. “This is very pitch dependent. Any time we can generate turn on modern day wickets is a bonus and you have to make the most of it. For the most part, pace is your next best weapon and being able to get any variation off the pitch so you test both edges of the bat is important. I do enjoy bowling the googly the most.” While it might be disappointing that the season came to an abrupt end due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s plenty to reflect on as well as extra time to rest up and recover. During these testing times, safety and social distancing are both of the utmost importance. Younghusband’s season came to an end a few weeks earlier due to injury, and he’s clearly laid out his plans to focus on in the near future: “Right now, it’s isolation. I am looking to work on my body and get my rehab going so I can be in the best shape for the new season. It’s a very strange situation at the moment so who knows how long we will be homebound for?” With precautionary measures implemented worldwide, it’s crucial to take good care of yourself as well as maintain composure and optimism. Younghusband’s strong determination and grit since his early days in cricket are a great example on how to assess difficult circumstances. We’re in a global crisis at the moment, and it’s time to stay safe, sound, and strong and take it day by day.
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