Ireland cricketer Simi Singh became the first batsman to score a century while batting at No. 8 in ODI cricket, which was also his maiden international cricket hundred as he ended up scoring 100 not-out against South Africa in the third ODI.
Simi is a former Punjab age-group cricketer and he had left India for Ireland in 2005 to pursue hotel management. In 2006, he joined Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin along with his studies.
“It was really an emotional knock. After completing my century, at that moment, I saw my entire journey in a flashback. Scoring a century at this ground, where it all started, is going to stay forever with me,” he told India Today.
“The most satisfying thing about the knock was that it came against the likes of Nortje (Anrich), Shamsi (Tabraiz), and Maharaj (Keshav), a top-class South African attack. On top of it, my strike rate was also good,” he added.
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Simi revealed his Ireland teammate, Harry Tector was his student when he used to be a coach at the YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin. “Harry was 12 when he joined the academy at the YMCA Cricket Club. I was his coach, and then I was the one who handed him his debut cap. It has been quite a journey,” he said.
The 34-year-old opened up about his batting style and said now he gives himself more time at the crease. “I have started to give myself more time. For example, when I came to the crease in the third ODI, we were 92 for 6. So I took my time to settle down and then started playing my natural game,” he said.
Simi wants to bat higher in the T20I series against South Africa, starting from July 19. “Hopefully, I will get to bat a bit higher in the coming matches,” he added.
The Punjab-born recalls his struggling days in Ireland and he used to work at a grocery store to afford to play cricket. To play every weekend at Malahide Cricket Club one needed to pay five euros per game.
“When I look back, it inspires me to excel more. Those are the days I still cherish the most,” Simi said, who has ECB Level 2 coaching degree.
Simi is hopeful of the rise of Ireland cricket and he believes the current set-up has got better with time and they are no more dependent on only one player. “Our fielding standard has gone up. In the ODI series, we even fielded better than South Africa. There’s more focus on fitness.
“We are playing consistently against the top teams, and it certainly has helped. There’s no fear factor in this team. We don’t get awed by opponents anymore. Lastly, Ireland is not just dependent upon one cricketer. This team is not dependent on the likes of Paul Sterling or Kevin O’Brien,” said Simi.
(With India Today Inputs)
