Topped off with a Cherry

Back at Cresselly.
Dan Cherry pictured with Eleri Williams

Dan Cherry has been in work since 7am. He’s liaised with the club’s stewards, checked the security, ensured the maintenance of the ground is up to scratch and he’s linked in with the umpires, ground staff and the cricket liaison officer from the ECB.

It’s been a busy morning for the 37-year-old and it’s been an even busier morning for the Glamorgan batsmen. For the second game in succession, their top order has capitulated. Last week it was away at Northants, this week it’s at home to Worcestershire.

At the time of speaking with him, they were 82-6

Ten years ago, Cherry would have been in the thick of the action opening up for the Welsh County but any dreams of doing so now have long gone.

“Three or four years ago, yes,” says the club’s head of operations. “I would have liked to be out there but I don’t feel like that anymore. I’m busy enough with this job and to be honest it’s the next best thing to playing. I’m still involved in the first class game and still involved in cricket and besides, I’m not the player I was.”

He may not be the player he once was but he’ll still be good enough to do a job for Cresselly this year after admitting he’ll be returning to the club of his youth.

There have been whispers around the Pembrokeshire rumour mill for months suggesting the punchy left hander will be back and it was finally confirmed last week.

Cresselly have made a number of signings for this season and Cherry is undoubtedly the best.

He’ll play when time allows which given his demanding job with Glamorgan will not be much.

“If I play six or seven times I’ll be lucky,” he admits although he said he’s itching to get back to his roots.

“My job is very busy and that comes first but I’ve got a huge affection for Pembrokeshire cricket and if I can give something back to it that would be great.

“Some of my best friends are involved with Cresselly and I was spotted by Glamorgan playing for Pembrokeshire U19’s against them many years ago so I’ve got nothing but happy memories from my time there and it will be good to come back.”

From an early age Cherry’s talent was evident after he scored a century aged 15 against Pembroke in the final of the Duggie Morris Cup.

His runs helped Cresselly pip their opponents by one run although his efforts were not merited with the coveted man of the match award as that went to Pembroke’s Mark Fraser who also scored a ton in the run chase.

“I was disappointed not to get it but he played a great innings too so it could have been decided with a toss of a coin,” he added diplomatically.

That innings was the kick-start to a number of great knocks culminating with his highest first class score of 226 v Middlesex.

It was an innings was scored at Southgate and not at Lord’s the home of cricket and Middlesex. His highest score there was 42.

“That was my highest one day score for Glamorgan. It would have been nice to have made a century but it wasn’t to be.”

Although better known for his performances in the four day game as opposed to limited overs it was in another one day game for Glamorgan that another memory stands out.

That of facing Shoaib Akhtar in a game against Worcestershire.

Widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, Cherry was tasked with doing a job; he was told to take one for the team.

“My job was to blunt him, take him out of the attack. At the pace he bowls he’ll only go for four or five overs before finishing his spell so I was tasked with seeing him off.

“I did and we went on to win the game.

“It was just a case of watching the ball, trusting your technique and letting your instincts take over.

“He’s the quickest bowler I ever faced but he didn’t get me out!”

At the other end of the speed gun a much slower bowler did, although the player in question did that to a few batsmen over the years. His name being Shane Warne.

“He just had so much presence and so much skill,” adds Cherry. “He was just a great, great bowler.”

Cherry’s time in the first class game ended almost as abruptly as it began. He became a regular in 2005 and a year later had lost his place and fought hard to regain it. He did but in 2007 he didn’t play well and was left out again.

Matthew Maynard then came in as head coach and with his own ideas on how he wanted to shape the team, he signed Matt Wood from Yorkshire and Cherry was told he wasn’t in their future plans.

He was released in August 2008 and while a few counties were willing to offer him trials his head overruled his heart and he decided not to pursue them.

“I had to earn money and trialling doesn’t secure your finances. Luckily Mike Fatkin (Glamorgan’s former Chief Executive), called and said the club needed to create an operational manual for the ground.

“He offered the job to me. It was a six month role and it’s grown from there.

“Yeah, I would have liked to have played more but it wasn’t to be and like I said, this is the next best thing.”

Overseeing the operations for two Ashes test, an ICC Champions Trophy Match not to mention other Internationals and high profile County games is testament to that.

Who wouldn’t want to be involved in cricket at that level?

More recently Cherry has been playing high level club cricket with Port Talbot as their former professional and coach. He was captain for the last four seasons but there will be no such pressures at Cresselly.

He’ll be playing purely for enjoyment, despite being the most prized wicket in the County for the few games he can play!

Welcome back.