Chapter 13: Joining The Academy
Joining the cricket academy was a dream come true for Nat, but the road to improvement was anything but easy. The academy's training sessions were rigorous, and Nat found herself struggling to keep up with the seasoned players who had years of experience. Initially, she had been a spinner in gully cricket, but the academy's coach saw something in her delivery that made him suggest a shift in her playing style.
"Your spin isn't bad, Nat," the coach had told her one day, "but I think you have the build for pace. If you switch to fast bowling, you might have a much stronger chance at professional cricket."
Nat, unsure but willing to try, worked on her pace bowling with the coach's guidance. At first, it felt unnatural. She was used to the rhythm of spin, the subtle movements of her wrist and fingers, but fast bowling was different. The run-up, the focus on speed, the power needed to deliver the ball—everything was new to her. But she trusted the coach, and more importantly, she trusted herself.
The early days of training were tough. Her body wasn't used to the demands of fast bowling, and she struggled with consistency. Her deliveries were often too short or wide, and she found herself getting frustrated. But instead of backing down, Nat pushed herself harder, determined to make this work. Every practice session felt like a battle against her own limitations, but she was starting to notice subtle improvements.
As weeks passed, Nat's confidence grew. Her fast bowling began to take shape, and though she still struggled with the mechanics at times, she was seeing results. The coach, who had originally been tough on her, began to acknowledge her progress.
"You're starting to get it," he said one day, watching her bowl a clean, fast delivery. "You have the potential to be a real pacer if you keep this up."
Her teammates, especially Sina and Gade, were amazed at the transformation. "I can't believe you're a pacer now, Nat!" Sina said, incredulous. "You've come such a long way!"
For Nat, this was the reward of persistence. She had gone from a gully player with little experience to someone who was shaping her new identity as a pacer. Her body, once awkward with the fast bowling motion, was now adapting. Her speed was improving, and the control over the ball was getting better with every practice.
At times, Nat missed the comfort of spin bowling, but she never let the doubt take hold. Instead, she embraced the change, realizing that this was her path to success. The transition was difficult, but with each challenge, she grew stronger, faster, and more confident.
Through the relentless training, Nat realized the true power of persistence. Her switch to fast bowling had been a huge leap, but it was a decision that could define her future in cricket. Every failed delivery, every rough training session only brought her closer to mastering the skill. She learned to embrace each failure as part of the process of improvement.
The coach, seeing how hard she was working, grew even more supportive. "Keep up this pace, and you'll soon be ready for the next level," he told her after one particularly strong session.
Nat no longer viewed herself as the girl who had just learned how to bowl. She was a fast bowler, a pacer, and she was proud of it. Her journey had just begun, but with the power of persistence driving her forward, Nat knew she could achieve whatever she set her mind to.