Raza has his fingers crossed for Australian summer
Aamir Raza has his fingers crossed that he can return to play cricket in Australia later this year.
Having spent the last three summers in Australia, Raza is keen to get back and play a second season with Taylors Lakes in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
Having had to leave Australia in a rush to get back to England when the pandemic set in, Raza knows that it is a waiting game.
“The last six weeks I’ve been concentrating a lot more on my Australian preparation,” he said.
“Here there isn’t any competitive cricket going on, it’s all just friendlies.
“Obviously it can change overnight here and it can change overnight in Australia.
“Ten weeks down the line, they might slowly start reopening things . That’s why I’m still planning as such that I’m still coming out. I’m crossing my fingers and praying.”
Returning to play for Taylors Lakes was an easy decision for Raza, who signed a new contract a couple of weeks after returning home.
After a slow start to the season, which included breaking his foot in a T20 game, Raza finished the season on a high as the Lions snuck into the finals.
“The first few weeks you know no one, but I fitted in quite well.
“Lakes captain is quite a competitive bloke and we got on really well as we both didn’t like losing.
“I broke my leg prior to Christmas… I was in a cast for six weeks and missed three rounds.
“In the last three games I scored three 40s in a row to qualify for finals.”
For Raza playing for finals spots was something different to what he was used to back in England.
In England, the team that finishes on the top of the ladder is crowned the champion.
The Lions were knocked out in the first week of finals, which would ultimately be the last weekend of cricket before the season was shut down.
It meant a quick exit for Raza as he tried to get home before borders shut.
“We played the Williamstown game on the Saturday and the Sunday and we got knocked out that weekend.
“On the 21st, Emirates gave me a call and said by the way, the last flight leaving Melbourne before we stop our flights is one tomorrow. There is a seat on there and it will only cost you about $20 more.
“I jumped on that flight to get out. It was quite a rush the last 48 hours. I don’t think I told the club until five hours before the flight.”
Having played with CATS in the Latrobe Valley the move to the second top competition in the state was a big one for Raza.
Previously, he spent time at the Darren Lehmann Academy in Adelaide.
He said playing at a higher level in the VSDCA meant he had to step up his game.
“The difference between Traralgon and Taylors Lakes was that each team usually had three or four good players and as soon as you got those players out you won the game.
“If your cricket wasn’t at the highest standard, you could still fudge your way around.
“Moving to sub-districts, I felt each team had players who could do everything.
“In this league, you got found out pretty quickly. I felt the extra responsibility and it did me well for my cricket career.”
The 21-year-old said it was a no brainer to have another season at Taylors Lakes, despite approaches from other Australian clubs.
“With my performances prior to the last three games I didn’t think they were going to talk to me, because i hadn't set the world alight.
“ whatever is put on the table I’m taking. There's loyalty to the club. They trusted me as a 20 year-old to come out and play cricket for them.
“I enjoyed my cricket there. To fit in at a new club again it takes a lot of hard work.”
If he makes it out to Australia, Raza will be an assistant coach with the Lions this season.
He’ll be responsible for fielding and match day preparation.
He said it was something that he was looking forward to the challenge of stepping up and helping the side climb up the ladder.
Raza’s focus is trying to help the club be more professional, something that he is used to back in England.
While he waits to see what happens, Raza has returned to the field with cricket allowed to get underway in England last weekend.
He said he was keen to get some cricket under his belt, after a period of no play.
Longterm, Raza wants to make a career playing cricket.
“With no county second XI cricket this year, it’s a little bit of a hindrance.
“Hopefully coming out to Australia in the winter, I’ve been training every day. I think that drive to carry on and push for the county space.”