During these challenging times for all, we want to help keep everyone associated with the club and wider community positive and engaged. We’re in this together and Together, We Are All Derbyshire.
Throughout 2020, Derbyshire will be producing a variety of content tailored to what supporters want to read, watch or discuss, including answering your questions about the club.
From how he came to become an all-rounder, to dismissing Usman Khawaja and sparking a run of form last summer, Anuj Dal answers your questions in Lockdown Q&A.
Staying fit during lockdown: “We’re very fortunate, we’ve been in very close contact with Jonty [Norris, S&C Coach) and Fran [Clarkson, Lead Physiotherapist] and they’ve put together plans for us as players, to make sure that we’re maintaining our physical shape.
“It’s pretty much a five or six day programme that we’re all getting through, it doesn’t take and it’s a bit of homework for us.
“One of my favourites that Jonty has done is ‘suitcase bicep curls’, where we fill the heaviest suitcase we’ve got with books and do our curls that way.
“It’s little things to get us through the day and to keep us occupied.”
On being an all-rounder: “Throughout the process, when I was growing up in the age-group system, I always batted and bowled.
“Batting was always the skill I was better at, but I think as you get older you realise if you are good enough to contribute in all facets.
“There was a time where I contemplated whether my bowling was good enough to play first-class cricket. I think the harder you work at a skill, the more confidence you’ll have in it.
“Half of the battle when playing first-class cricket is trying to deal with the mental side of the game, so the more confidence you can have in your skills, the better you will be able to execute them.
“I’m constantly working on all my skills: batting, bowling and fielding, but it’s nice to be considered a genuine all-rounder.”
On dismissing Usman Khawaja: “That whole Australia game is a bit of a whirlwind. To be bowling to the likes of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith was a bit of a shock to the system.
“I was as surprised as anything when I saw the bails come off, I almost has to double-take and check that I’d actually taken the wicket. It was just pure relief at the stage, because we hadn’t taken a wicket other than a run-out.
“It was great just to get the chance to bowl, we were quite low on bowlers and Tony had gone off injured in the first innings, so I even took the new ball in the second-innings.
“Development-wise, it was fantastic and looking back, playing against greats like that gives you the chance to check where you’re at. Obviously it didn’t quite go to plan with the bat, but it gives you that checkpoint to really hone your skills and see where you can develop from there.
“Mentally, it gave me that nudge to get into a good place for the end of the County Championship, where we had three or four games left.
“It was nice to get some overs under my belt, especially at those kind of players, and it led into a nice run of confidence for me and it showed that I can do a job when asked for.”
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