Under The Lid - Inside Pro Cricket Podcast

Three Seaters To Three Figures – Under The Lid with Andy Umeed

Join Jack Brooks and Katherine Sciver-Brunt for Under The Lid - Inside Pro Cricket Podcast - with special guest, Scotland and Somerset batsman Andy Umeed.

Tell us what you think using the #UnderTheLid hashtag on socials or email hello@underthelid.co.uk

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Duration:: 1h 0m
Broadcast on:: 01 Aug 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

I was stuck in sleeping in Melbourne airport, and I was like, maybe I'm not living the dream. Smashing things to bits is just fun. There's your niche just triggering people, absolute panic and despair. Someone needs to be steaming in from, you know, my end. Hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, whatever time of day as you are listening or watching with me, Jack Brooks. And me, Catherine Sivebrandt. And as always, this podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Cricketer and the PCA. I just wanted to roll something past you. I played a PCA Legends game last Friday, my first one, which is when they pick, you know, those are retired old. Tends to be X England or internationals. The player, you know, a club bid for them and pay for these old battered players to turn up and play a charity game. And I got roped into it last week. I was getting Edgeworth in Bolton. I don't know if you've heard of that. No. Great club. But I went up there after a long, long, long morning in the car. I managed to get through one over a couple of paces, faced about 12 balls. About five or six hundred people there watching. It was actually quite a, quite a good day in the sunshine up in Bolton. But some big names like Adam Holyoke were playing. Ryan Syve, opened the bowl with Ryan Syve bottom, so we rolled back the years. Lovely. I just got a question. Would you ever be keen to play any of those games? Are you officially officially done from ever playing cricket? Well, the PCA did actually email me and say, asking me what size clothing I was. And I was like, this is a bit rogue. And they were like, oh, we just want to get you, you know, some, some kit sizes for PCA legends. And then also for the MCC contact with me as well, for my kit. And I'm like, no, you don't understand. I'm not playing cricket anymore. Like ever. Like not one pace, two pace, three pace. No. Back in 11. No. Nah. I just like, I was wheeling myself pretty much in a wheelchair at the end of my career. I don't need to be, you know, embarrassing myself and being in a wheelchair at the same time. I can't tell you how little I did on Friday. I know, but I just can't do it. I just can't. Fair enough. Just sat on the boundary, just ails taking a mick out of those with a plane. It does sound like a good crack, to be honest. And all the lads say, like, it's a good day. A good day out. But honestly, when I said I was done, I was like, done, done, done, done. I'll hold you to that. I'll wait for you to, when you play your first MCC match, I'll be straight on to you. I'm happy to umpire. I think I'll be quite good. There we go. There's your niche. Just triggering people for fun. See you later. I'll stick to the stuff I've been doing, which is obviously a lot of commentary. And finally, actually, one of my recent commentary gigs, just recent, during the England New Zealand series, I bought a house in auction. There we go. You bought another property. I know. Everyone was like, oh, what would you have done if it came up the bit where you bid, like, wilds you on? Because it could easily have been there. And they was like, oh, yeah, I didn't really think that far. It just still happened to perfectly align itself with not being on. And, yeah, so I've got the keys for that leave it there. That's pretty cool. Where is it? On Yakshir. Obviously. On Yakshir. Is it a cheapy chips? Yeah. Cheap as chips. I tell some of my mates from the south, because most of my mates are from the south. What, how much I pay for the houses that I do? And they're just like, what? What? Do they exist? Did you get a roof with that? They're just like, this is it, guys. You just don't know. So, yeah, I got cheap as chips. And then I like to do the ripouts. Yeah, you said this before. You're on on, yeah. Everybody thinks I'm a bit mental, but it's like something I really enjoy. I really don't mind doing it. And I actually enjoy it. But I do. Oh, yeah. But it's not about that. It's just like my thing. It's my smashing things to bits. It's just fun, you know? Our guest today is into his, into his property. So you'll be able to chat to him about... Oh, yeah. Let's guess. Your passions for property. We can move on to him as well. Because I've been helping prep, sorry, for the Metro Bank comp. And I'll be with them for the rest of the competition. And this guy has had an unbelievable Metro Bank last season. And at the start to this season, he started with a big hundred and an 80. He bottled another hundred last week here. Hit it long up to mid-wicket, but we'll take the piss at him for that in a minute. It is a good friend of mine, a former teammate at Somerset. And somebody of a really interesting background on story in Pro Cricket. So I can't wait to speak to him and get underlid with Somerset Batsman Andy Umid. Hey guys. Hello. Okay. How are we? Great mate. Thanks for coming on, but how are you? Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. And just in, in, I can robot what you said there. Sometimes you just get a good ball, Jack. I mean, sometimes there's just nothing you can do about it. I haven't had a chance to message you about it yet. I did look at your dismissal on Envy Play. Like, I do with most of my mates or when you're going through the games. And I was like, how did he get out? Usually when he gets in, he doesn't give it away. And I saw this long up and I was like, oh, he probably got caught in the boundary. Oh, no, no. He's nailed it straight to mid-wicket and just, you just drop your head straight away. Didn't you, as if to say, what have I done? Yeah. Had a good laugh about it on the bus with Leachie. You kept watching it on replay. Sat right next to me. He can start laughing. Great teammate. Excellent mate. Just a little reminder for our listeners, you can send in any feedback or questions by using the hashtag under the lid or email us at hello@underthelid.co.uk. Now, Brunty, what have you got for us on Andy? Well, I've got a lot. We've got a lot. So, you know, prepare yourself. So we'll talk about you early days as a cricketer, obviously, because that would be a good place to start. And growing up in Scotland, no less, we've had, this is our second Scottish fellow cricketer on the show, so welcome. And then moving down to Birmingham. So how, firstly, how was the cricketing scene in Scotland? Was it actually even popular in Scotland? Or did you have to just chase your passion? I mean, it didn't feel that unpopular. It was probably not until I moved down to Birmingham. I realized that there wasn't actually that much of a cricketing scene going on. I mean, my dad loves his cricket, and he's from Pakistan, so he's just crazy about it. He was kind of pushed me to be involved in cricket and kind of love cricket. So we were always, it was kind of my coach and, you know, we always trained together. So from that point of view, cricket was a big part of my childhood, but it wasn't necessarily, you know, a big, a huge thing in Scotland. I mean, there were a few good clubs in, in, in the West of Scotland around Glasgow, and the East League was probably stronger at that time as well, but other than that, there's not a huge amount. Yeah, I mean, you say that. So your parents or your dad was the one that got you into cricket then. Any siblings? I have an older sister, and she had no interest in cricket. No interest in sport whatsoever. Yeah. No, she was, she was sporty. She was a good swimmer, good at athletics, but she was, she's a lot smarter than me. And subsequently has a PhD, and I'm just, you know, trying to hit a bat, a hit ball with a bat. So, so yeah, she was, she was a lot brighter. She kind of went down that route, but she actually came on Friday to, that was the first time she'd, she'd seen professional game of mine, she'd seen because she's married to Brazilian lives in Brazil. So she's been abroad for the last few years. So yeah, that was cool. My niece was there as well. So they really enjoyed that day. That's awesome, mate. I know I'm obviously knowing you quite well, and the influence your, particularly dad's had in your cricket career. How, how influential was he and how helpful was he as you growing up as a youngster in, and men's cricket as well? Yeah, he's a, he was, to be honest, it was a tough relationship because he pushed me very hard, but in hindsight now, I wouldn't sort of be, I guess, a player I am, sort of have the hunger and, and I guess resilience in a lot of ways if he hadn't. So, but that was tough when I was young, because he really wanted me to do well as, as every parent does, but he was obviously being the coach. He was there every day to see when I, when I didn't do well. And, which seemed like a lot more days than I did do well when, when he dad's looking at me shoulder. But the, and hindsight, you know, he instilled a lot of good values in me. You know, my work ethic, you know, gave me a real sense of that. I didn't really, I didn't really deserve anything. It was, you know, everything I'd get was what, what I'd earn, you know, and if I wasn't the first name on a team sheet, you know, the coaches had any doubt in the mind that you hadn't sort of done your job as a player. So things like that, I guess kind of old school sort of traditional kind of values in a sporting sense that he was really big on that. So that's sort of stood me in his good stead. So you made it to Birmingham. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Thank God. It's in the youth system, obviously. What lessons did you learn back then before starting your pro career? I think it was a big shock to begin with. I spent a little bit of time at Durham, like playing under 14s and stuff. So I'd played a few, I'd been around the county a little bit. But when I went down to trial, when I was 16 down at Warraiture, it was a completely different sort of environment. Obviously, Edge Bass, I mean a huge stadium, getting a tour of the stadium, you know, seeing pros train, guys like Ian Bell, Jonathan Troy, you know, seeing these guys in the flesh was completely different. So immediately, I was sort of hooked to that feeling, that environment. And I guess that's sort of where I probably started to learn more. I guess technically like fundamentals of Red Ball batting. You know, my dad had always tried to make sure I was technically sound as a player, but Red Ball and longer form cricket isn't so big. You know, in Scotland, it's more white ball and one day stuff. So experiencing that and seeing all the big players and just being around that whole environment was really cool because you do it times, get to ball at the pros and you know, you're just around it, you're involved with it. So that was a real sort of eye opener. And then I guess it kind of made it easier when I played second team cricket, was around pros every day and then getting signed, it felt like a lot easier transition. For that exposure. Yeah, so fast forward a little bit. When you realize you're going to be leaving work, sure. What was that process like just for, you know, people listeners or pros out there that don't know? Absolute panic and despair. It was very mixed because that year I'd actually done quite a few things. I actually done quite well in sort of context and hindsight. I'd still scored quite a few runs in the second team, but they just signed, you know, a few more players and we got relegated year before, so we're in Div 2 for that summer. And guys were just churning runs out left, right and center. Belly and Troni were still playing as well. So there was kind of just no way into the team. And I remember Jaille sitting down and being like, "Look, we're not going to offer you a contract." And he said, "I think you'll be the first person that I don't offer a contract to. It actually goes on to do well." Which at the time I was just like, "It's not really very helpful." Because he was trying to be nice. But yeah, it was tough because obviously it had been a dream all the way through as being a kid to be a professional cricketer and then doing all the work to get in, you know, doing okay for a young player and then just kind of having everything taken or felt like it was just taken away from it was actually a really sort of tough time. And I was probably in denial about how tough that was and I was kind of acting like everything was alright. And I'll just go away to Australia for winter and try all next year and everything will be alright. Was your dad or your family supportive in that or did he give you a good hiding? My dad would have been like, "Yeah, I think a bit of both." Like I think by that stage it's the kind of the usual sort of things you get told. Well, things I got told by my dad were already sort of internalised in my own head. So I kind of already had that voice and that noise in my own head. And then everybody obviously tries to be supportive. But you can kind of feel that they're sort of panicking for you as well. They don't want to sort of disappear everything you've worked hard for. You know, they've invested a lot in you as well and they just kind of want to see you do well. For them a little bit as much as you, which is understandable. Yeah, so I mean it was, he probably, he definitely was not happy when I told him I wasn't coming back to UK to play cricket ever again. That was definitely a lot more difficult conversation. I was going to say a minute. Yeah, that moves us on to the sort of next phase of your journey if you like. Certainly not your career at the time. So that panic and despair and no longer a professional cricketer. Obviously there is a happy ending if you like. Because you now are back in the game churning doing very well and you've had a bit of a journey which is fantastic. We'll get on to that in a second. But that sort of second phase that took you out into Australia. You spent a winter, but did you not end up spending like 12 to 18 months, basically growing your hair, surfing, travelling a van, hanging around with European backpackers and just maybe not ever going to play cricket again? I'm like, can you explain to Catherine the listeners what your head was that? You just exposed the thing that people don't really know much about me now. So that answers come out the window. No, no. Yeah, yeah, pretty much exactly as you described. So I got released from work here. That last month of the year, I was trying to get released early so I could go and trial and stuff. And it was taking like, it was a bit of a process because nobody wanted me on loan and then I was trying to get released earlier. And then I went on trial to Darby and I got 100 in both innings for them in the second team. And they said, we've got no money. Come back next year. So that was kind of the final nail in the coffin. So when I went out to Australia, I was like, not really enjoying cricket with the club I was at, didn't really do well. And eventually I just went, I'm not going back to UK, but a van. Traveled the East Coast, like you said, grew my hair, started surfing. All the coaches think of didn't wear shoes, started to learn to be bizarre. And yeah, just sort of traveled and thought I was living the dream. Well, I was living the dream at that time. And yeah, so then I did another season out in Australia, the winter after having lived in Spain that summer back in Europe. So yeah, I just didn't play any cricket. I kind of only went back out to Australia to sort of play cricket just so I could get back out to Australia. I did OK that season, but wasn't really that invested in it. It was just mainly surfing and traveling and stuff. Yeah. And then, and then COVID hit and I was stuck in sleeping in Melbourne airport and I was like, maybe I'm not living the dream. Oh my God. I tell you what they made like that whole journey through ours, Spain, a bit of club cricket, sleeping in an airport, not knowing where your life was going. Does the word perspective still hit you every day when you're playing cricket or because I know I'm playing an environment with you and I didn't have the same background or journey. But I obviously came to the game late and they've had that perspective about really appreciating playing sport for a living and actually making the most of it, not faffing around, but still trying to enjoy it rather than getting to down with all the downs that come with it. But how big because of your journey as perspective? Yeah, I think huge. I think it's probably, it's probably the fundamental shift really for me. I think it's a difficult thing to sort of explain to people or give people that feeling if you've not sort of lived it and seen it yourself. But I remember in my last summer at Warcher, like fielding in a second team game, having not like got runs again or nicked off again. Just thinking like, oh, I could be doing this. I could be doing that. I could be doing so many things that are better than this. And then I sort of went to do all those things that I thought were like amazing and the things I wanted to do. And they were amazing and really fun, but also I did kind of feel like I was retired at 23 years old. You know, you go to another beach and it's like, it's a beach, you know, and it's beautiful. Or you go for a swim and then it's like, what do you do the rest of the day? You know, after a while it kind of, especially somebody who was like quite driven and just always had like a goal of mine, it was going for something. It just sort of made me realize that the grass is not always greener. And actually, I really enjoy the process of working towards something, having a goal, sort of having a purpose and kind of actually grinding at something. That was, I actually enjoyed that and there are difficult things in it, but, you know, it could always be worse, you know, especially after that having worked like a sort of normal office kind of job. You sort of realize like, yeah, there's stability and it's quite normal and you don't really have those days where you get out and you feel bad about yourself. You know, you don't have the highs of like winning games for your team, playing in front of a crowd and, you know, playing for a new family and, you know, being with the lads stuff. Right, it's epic. That's such a cool story and hopefully it inspires or does make people sit up and notice you're listening saying that, well, that can be achieved. So then fast forward a little bit. We'll move on to your Saka Journey, a South Asian Cricket Academy, which you very kindly helped set me up into and I've been working in their set up since the beginning of last winter. How big a role have they played in getting you back into first-class cricket and how good is that initiative? Yeah, it's a great initiative. I mean, the proof is in the pudding, right? The players have come off that and been signed. For me, it was just sort of a right place, right time, sort of thing, bony, I'd spoken to bony on and off during the time I was away traveling and stuff and he was like, we're thinking about setting this up. And I'd be interested in stuff and kind of, I've been traveling. I was kind of, oh, you know, I'm not sure if I'll be back when I'll be back, kind of thing. And then during Covid, when I was back, he was like, look, when things start up again next year, cricket and stuff, you know, this is going to be, we're going to have the green light for this. You're keen on what you come and captain and if you don't want to play, like, can you coach and stuff? And I was, at that point, I'd already played that little bit of a season where we had like three or four games after Covid and it was in August and we played like three or four games in a club season. So I was already back playing cricket and I was like, you know what, got the bug for it again. Like, let's give it a crack. So having not really trained much that winter, put in a few performances against counties, Yorkshire being one, which I eventually trialled with. And then from actually just badgering Greg, Greg Kennes, the second team coach, Somerset, just messaging him loads and he left me on red loads of times. But one day just replied and said, you know, seeing you've been playing, like, we've got a game next week, fancy it. And I was like, yeah, sure. So, so did well in that game. And then obviously ended up with Somerset. But without Saka and those sort of those opportunities to do it against second teams to do against counties to be seen and noticed again, I think it's one thing people saying, you know, there's a decent player down there, he's a decent player. And coaches and opposition see it in real life. It's a different thing. So I think just having that exposure and that sort of ability to people just see, you know, there's something there, something to work with is huge. Obviously no guys are in there in the winter and they're getting, you know, contact time with, with cultures and stuff like that, which is, which is amazing as well. It's done an amazing job. It's, well, for those who don't know anything about it or don't realise what goes into it, it's basically an extremely professional setup, particularly through the winter with the training you get. And basically, if you commit to it, you can get moved to an apartment or a clubhouse and live with other lads who are involved, aren't you? And you're there and you're given the gym program, you've got access to decent coaching. And you live the life of a cricketer. And I think you get given coaching work around it, don't you, particularly up at the Rashid cricket center up in Bradford. And it's basically just the laid out for you really, if you really commit to it and you get lucky with your ability and your chances, you can actually make it. And I think his sham can is just signed for Worcester for the Metro. He's the 10th graduate of the Saka scheme. And was it three years now? It's been my, you were the first one, were you? I was, I was second. I was trialing and Cashew was signed just before me. So Cashew was a first. But yeah, 2021, I want to say. Yeah. No, sorry, 2022. Yeah. It's a fantastic scheme. It's, and they're still having seen them this year as well. They're still maybe. I reckon three or four lads there who are certainly close to going to get contracts or should be contracted. And yeah, so that long way I continue. Now it is South Asian Heritage Month currently. I think I have a pretty unique perspective because obviously for those people who don't know, my mum is Scottish, white, born and brought up, made a name Robertson. So I've got that complete sort of opposite ends of the spectrum. My dad was born brought up in Pakistan. So it's, it's interesting because I don't. I feel like when I was in Pakistan and the times I've been there, I'm too British for the, for the Pakistanis. I feel like probably I'm more British than Pakistani. But I mean, definitely culturally, like a lot of, a lot of my friends, and Birmingham, a lot of people were involved in cricket, obviously. I'm South Asian background. So there is always that kind of connection. I think sort of the biggest thing is, is the passion for cricket. I guess that sort of the outlook of it is kind of like a way of life and it's sort of like an art form rather than just, you know, like a sport you play that sort of feeling. That's sort of been, been instilled to me and transferred sort of to me. So yeah, I guess, I guess that's, that's, that's what it means to me. Anyway, let's move on to your time in Somerset, because that's obviously now fantastic. And how things have like compared to when you were back in more x-year? Yeah, obviously Somerset's Taunton is very different to Birmingham. I mean, I've actually, I love my time down in Taunton. I think I was a bit surprised at first how small it is. Obviously people say it's small, but how small it is. But I've actually, I've actually grown to really enjoy it and kind of find Birmingham bit too busy when I go back now. It's nice how it's quite parallel down here. He's gone country. Yeah, he's gone country. And I'll be sharing shit now. No, no, no. Just Kohler. Kohler's had more. He, he went from there to, and he said, because we were like, how did you find the change? Did you think it was a bit, you know, from Leeds? And he was like, no, I really enjoy it now. He loves it. He loves it. So yes, just surprisingly. Yeah, I mean, firstly, like the cricket, the ground is, it's an amazing ground. Amazing atmosphere. The club is in the centre of the town pretty much. And there's not really much other sport around. So everything's just cricket focused to begin with. People are really friendly. They're really excited for you to be there and sort of doing well and, you know, just sort of the kids, like when you're in a cafe, they'll be like, oh, such and such. Like they'll say hi to him. So it's just like a really nice, friendly environment. The lads spend loads of time together because there's not a huge amount to do, other than hang out with each other, go for coffee and stuff like that. And personally, it's just, it's been nice to sort of kind of focus on the cricket with no distractions. For the first sort of year I was up and down between Birmingham, but this sort of last six, 12 months I've been in the flats at the ground. So I've just kind of been focused on cricket, training. And yeah, I guess for some people that would be great, you know, living at the ground. But for me it's been, it's actually been nice to just kind of focus on the cricket, settle in here and, and yeah, really enjoying it. Well, seems to be a winning formula anyway. Get them all out of the city centres and get them knuckled down. Suit some people. It's super cold. But yeah, Pepsi suits. Is there anyone in particular you're missing down in Taunton, the last sort of? Nobody's left in the last year. Definitely not. No, obviously, obviously Jack, yourself. Obviously I'm missing yourself. And it was great to see T20 finals day the other day. Well, I'm back the year yourself, Steve Davies missing him. James Hildreth as well, obviously only spent a short period of time with Hildy, but he's just a great man in such a good attitude towards a game. And obviously he was an unbelievable player. And his sort of aura around the club. Same as Tres, you know, just their legends sort of gods walking once. He's got a stand named after him, trust costs it's got a pavilion. We've had a joke with Bronte on here actually what Bronte is going to get named after it. He doesn't got anything yet. Still waiting. Now that you're on a committee or is your role there? No, surely you could just write. First of all, that gate, that stand, that bar is now named after all. Somebody not got a floodlight. A floodlight. I don't want a floodlight. Who wasn't the got a floodlight? Does somebody not have a floodlight? Alex Hartley. Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Which he like, you know, petitioned for that. She put it on Twitter. I don't want that. I want, you know, I need that to be a say petition. She didn't put a petition out there. She just said something on, you know, social media. But I would quite like to just, you know, do that out of the kindness of your heart. You know, Yorkshire, that would be nice. Someone's got to steam in. Someone needs to be steaming in from, you know, my end. I'll help you out. It's very, it is an ends pretty big deal, isn't it? There's only, there's only two. So there's a bit of competition there. Um, anyway, let's about ends and more about your 172 not out last year. Against our share. Um, was that a bit of a game changer in your, um, career following your break? Um, I think that competition probably was. Um, last year, I think. Oh, hundreds, isn't it? Um, three, three last year in the comp, three last year. It was funny because we were joking, the lads are joking about it. This year as well. It seems like it sounds like you never get positive feedback from your mates. I mean, they are positive at times, but. They were joking because last year I got not in both warm up games. Um, one more in Devon. And then I got four and nicked off and then got caught down like side. First, like, first two games of the comp. Um, so they were saying again this year, I did, I did again. Same thing again. Ram itself out and. Oh, no. At least you know, at least they couldn't get you out. Yeah. Yeah, at least you can get me out. At least the lads have a sense of humor about it. Um, but, but yeah, last year is comp. Um, yeah, I think it was because I think I'd always been trying to sort of break the mode and break the sort of label of being just a sort of traditional red ball player. Um, the label had kind of just descended upon me through no choice of my own. Um, and it just kind of had stuck. And, um, yeah, it was just like, it'd been pretty difficult to shake. And it honestly, it was something that really irked me when I was like away traveling. And was thinking if I never play Korea again, like this is like really going to annoy me that I didn't get to do it like my way. And like the kind of person and personality I am like just didn't come out on the pitch at all. Um, so it was, it was quite satisfying last year to sort of not only put together a sort of stack of runs in a tournament, but to do it kind of in different ways at different times and sort of finally kind of put myself out there and sort of show in a, in a first team competition, you know, what I can, can actually do and how I want to play. So, yeah, I think it definitely was. Um, and I mean, a lot, a lot said about the one day competition and, um, and hundreds of split and stuff like that, but you know, if there wasn't arguably, if it wasn't the opportunity for me with guys going with the 100 that I wouldn't have been able to sort of kick start, you know, things and kind of get the ball rolling and subsequently was picked in the red ball off the back of that and stuff. So yeah, I mean, it definitely, probably looking back now is, was a bit of a turning point. I think personally in terms of confidence as well, you know, you always, you feel you can do it, but it's just nice to sort of have those runs and have those positive memories just kind of drop on. It must have impacted positive journey back. You've been running down the wicket bombing and I'll be in a champer game first over the match, don't you? That's also spending time with Pepsi. Yeah, open the back with Cola Cab more trying to out hit each other in a championship game. It's a big event. Well, it's great. So you get the opportunity, mate. And obviously the Somerset's batting in 2020 is legendary, isn't it? And trying to get into that top six is very, very difficult. But the way you play now and the change, well, I say changed again. You've always had that game that you are going to be hit as big as six is as there's anyone in that squad that I've seen at first hand. So is it quite frustrating that you've not had a go in the T 20 yet knowing you've got all this sort of form and sort of power behind you now? I think if you'd asked me last year or maybe even the start of the year, I probably would've said yes. But I think I don't know if I'm getting older or what it is, but I just, I feel like the lads are winning and I'm learning so much just being around them. It's that kind of thing. I was on the list to go on low and would love to be playing T 20 cricket, obviously. But at the same time, I really want to play for Somerset. I don't want to win games for Somerset. I don't want Somerset to win. So if they win the T 20 again, you know, it's, for me, it's like the best team that they think is out there at a time should be the best team. I'd love to play and I will do everything to try and get in that team. But it's just as exciting watching Somerset win. So I guess, you know, there is an element of frustration, but I do think, you know, the time will sort of come, you know, for me. And if I'd been at another club, I don't know if I would've had the, the white ball exposure that I've had at this club, you know, spending time with, with Cola Cadmore, Banton, Smeade, you know, all these guys, like even Tom Abel and Sean Dickson, just, just everyone. You know, the way, you know, yourself, the way cricket is when you come and play at Taunton, the way white ball cricket is when you come and play at Taunton, it's completely different to, to really any other ground in the country. Um, it's probably the most similar to kind of like the IPL cricket that we've seen this year is like just balls flying everywhere, the bullets know like they can't miss and when you go to other grounds, you know, everybody's skills are just, are really sharp. So I think I've been very fortunate, you know, in a way to, to be at Taunton. So yeah, I'm just, um, hopefully my time comes sometime and at the right time, um, but yeah, I think I'm, I'm patient and I'm, I'm happy I'm, I'm, I'm sort of learning. Well, it sounds like you've, uh, been, what, what pushed you on to do that in the first place. And then you've also, when you heard an opportunities presented itself, you've seized it so far. So that's pretty much the way it goes in that people always get injured. My, one of my best friends, Beth Langston, she played for England, um, for a few years, um, and then got dropped after winning a World Cup. And then she moved to play with me at Yorkshire, just to have a pal open the bowling with her. Uh, I retired, she carried on opening the bowling and then she did her ACL, ruptured ACL, bowling around this, um, in the hundred and then had, had two years out with loads of injuries, um, and just like no confidence whatsoever. And just like that after two years and just so much doubt and, um, you can imagine how much rehab and how that is like just played a game, got a six for first game back, got a six for, and then off the back of that, got a hundred contract. So it just happens like that. It's just like opportunities and it's, there's always people that either get injured or just drop out for some reason or just haven't, don't get given a contract, but I have no doubt an opportunity will arise for you like it has been because it just seems like things just keep sort of, you've followed a path and it works out and it's great, I love it. It feels like everything's happened for a reason for you. Yeah, I think that's the thing and I think there's been times where I've maybe had opportunities or had conversations and thoughts and trying to, you know, kind of force things. And then in hindsight, I look, you know, if I'd taken that turn then or if I'd gone to this club at that time, you know, I wouldn't have been in this situation that I am. So really kind of that being patient and, and the thing is as well as, you know, if some of us it's, we're in the top four of the championship, we won the T20 last year, we're with the two quarter finals again this year, like they're, they're a proper club with, with proper players, you know, so if you want to be at a club like that, then you're going to have to put in performances consistently over a long period of time to really give people the confidence that if you are playing on finals day and it's your turn that you can, you can flick the switch and really do the business. So there's an element of that where when I look at it like that, which excites me and I sort of see it as a big challenge and, and a lot of confidence in that if there's some of the best white ball players and red ball players in the country playing at this club, and if the coaches think that you're one of the guys that should be starting, then the right, you know, that you get a lot of confidence in that. So I think that's, that's definitely one way as well whenever younger lads have asked me what my perspective is on, on what they should be doing or how I look at things, it's always something I tell them that is, so one thing you'll get some is that is, you know, you'll get honesty where they think you are in terms of cricket and when you're ready, you know, you'll know you're ready because people have been around and seen, and seen a lot of cricketers come and go. So yeah, I think that's, that's one thing I kind of hold on to as well. Before we get on to your ventures off the field, which are very interesting as well, we'll quickly touch on your international career of Scotland. You made a debut this year, remarkably it's taken you this long to get picked by Scotland. Quickly sum up what it was like to represent Scotland, mate, the country of your birth, and who you grew up sort of watching, I guess, and living, living in. I guess it was, it was a weird sort of, it was a bizarre kind of feeling because it felt like I'd never been away, but also I felt kind of old at the same time because it was like 10 years, people are saying, Joanna's asked me, it's 10 years since you last played for Scotland, I'm like, has it been 10 years? I don't feel old enough for it to be in 10 years. But yeah, it was 10 years, but then a lot of the guys I was playing with, either played on the 19s with or played Scotland A at some point with, so I knew most of the people were really well. But I think it's, yeah, it was pretty special. It felt very satisfying again, like I've said, in other things. It was like feeling like I kind of righted a few wrongs that I had and sort of had gone full circle and kind of been on this whole journey and, you know, coming out the other side to represent Scotland again and sort of full old eyes and hopefully a lot more in the future. So yeah, it was, it was pretty special until I snapped my finger in half in the first game. Up until that moment, it was great. Great, it was great until then. Yeah, it was great. You got to belt out the anthem and then you went and snap your finger and then you came back on there. I'm sure we'll be back in soon, mate, and they can't ignore your class for too long, hopefully. So good luck getting back into the Scottish set up, mate. But I'm excited to talk to you about your off-field venture as well, which I'm not sure Frontier or listeners will know too much about. So you're now a YouTube sensation as well, aren't you? You're documenting your gricketing journey on social format. I've seen a few things. Yeah, wow, you know how it is. I'm just multi-talented, multi-tasking, everything. This will definitely be going on there. So if you see this on Instagram, great. Please like. Great. As long as it's exposure for under the lid, mate, we don't give a *******. Yeah, talk to us about that, mate. What made you think I'm going to put myself on my cricket journey all over the internet? Well, why not? Exactly. Brand Umid. Yeah, brand, brand Umid. To be honest, I wish, you know what actually started it, was back in 2020 during COVID when I finally got back to Melbourne, I finally got back from Melbourne Airport. And I'd actually, I put on the backpackers group when I was in Melbourne Airport, like, is anybody in Melbourne I can stay with. So I stayed with some randoms. Very kind, like British and Australian girls had let me stay there. And then I got on the next flight. So when I eventually got home, don't look like that, Jack. But I eventually got home. But I eventually got home. Um, I was, uh, just like, oh, I want to hit some balls, want to get back playing cricket. Like, I'd had this thing. Like, I want to, I want to be a pressure cricket again. So obviously, nothing's open. So there's a park across my road in Glasgow. So my dad was chuffed a bit. So I got the old, like, bag of balls at the attic and, like, dusted off his side arm. And so we went to the public park, which had, like, a astro, like, strip in the, in sort of the middle of the field. So we, like, I was like, started, and I was like, okay, this is going to be day one of my journey back to Fresh and Cricket. So like, started, like, documenting it. And then I didn't continue it. So fast forward, like, three years. And I'd actually done it. And I was like, gutted that I didn't document it, start and continue it. You know, so I was like, right. Another three years is going to go by and you're not going to have done anything. So like, you just got to start now. So I spoke to, like, the people that I know who are kind of in that industry, social media, marketing, whatever. And they sort of had talked me through some things, like, general direction, I should head in, you know, kind of the usual stuff, like, narrative, you know, what kind of things you want to content, you want to share, like, da, da, da. And then I just sort of got cracking. And then when I broke, like, we had a touristy Sri Lanka, and then I was going to Dubai with Scotland after, and I thought it's a perfect time, you know, it'll be some interesting content. I'm kind of traveling, doing stuff. So that's kind of really where it started. I have since had a lot of stick for it on the pitch, which I was completely expecting. But I also do not care about at all, which I'm really happy with it. When you're making your millions from a Netflix documentary, make those people from slip and the keeper, and at a point, it'll be growing into the conflict. Yeah, I got the other day, someone said, don't get too close, you might tag you. I love that. Who said that? I couldn't comment. I couldn't possibly comment. Come on. What team? It was a team we played recently. That's all I'm going to say. That's all I'm going to say. Paul, we'll get them on here, mate. It might be one of our guests, you never know. So you've got all that. That's great. We can keep a look out for that on your socials. What about your property journey as well? Because Brunti's got our own little property business booming. Slightly different to yours. Yours isn't hands-on, knocking walls down and rebuilding, is it? Talk to us about yours. Yeah, so basically my thought process was right during lockdown. I want to be a professional cricketer again. I've come back to UK, I'm back living at home, and I have absolutely no money to do anything, let alone go and become a professional cricketer again. I was like, basically just googling, how can I make money and not have to be there? That was pretty much where it started. So then, like, started looking at like property stuff and, yeah, property and oh, this is interesting. That started reading a bunch of books and like getting into it. And one of my friends who had known kind of through cricketing friends and who I lived with before in Birmingham. He had subsequently left his job as an engineer at Jaguar Land Rover and had started an Airbnb company. So he'd initially rented out one of his houses on Airbnb and he'd just kind of gone from there. He'd even sold that house to raise finances to go and get other Airbnb's. So he was doing, he probably had like 20 out of 30 properties by then, like rented and it was doing his Airbnb thing. And so when I went back to Birmingham to play Club Cricket, I got in touch with him and was like, look, can I give me a chat and I'm interested in this? And it seemed a lot more interesting than delivering sofas, which what I was doing when I went back to Birmingham. I was delivering sofas with another mate, so like five in the morning, driving to London trying to fit these three seats of sofas and tiny little terrace houses and people like, the sofa before was way bigger and it fitted out the door and we were just there like, sorry, you got to leave this in the door. So I was doing that for a few months and I was like, right, I really need to get on this property stuff. So I went and met with him and chat with him and he was like, okay, but like, I don't really have a role for you. Like, I don't really know that that's not and we're mates and like, don't really want to fall out over stuff. And I was like, look, I work for free for the first month. If I'm a nuisance, like, I'd rather you told me and like, I'll get out of your way. So work for free for a month, like, had been doing quite a good job. And so he was like, yeah, cool. Like, let's like come on board, like, start working in the business, started working in the business. Then was responsible business development, as well as like, managing a cleaning company, because we had so many apartments, we had our own cleaning company. So I was like, doing that. And then just started adding apartments really through understanding how to business development and stuff. And then we landed eventually a pretty big contract with a developer to rent sort of two whole floors of a brand new building and Birmingham right on Broad Street. It's right next to the furniture shop on Broad Street. So if you ever were going past, it's called the Mercy on Broad Street. So two of those floors are Airbnb's in their Airbnb, booking.com sort of like private stays. We don't have a huge amount of bookings through Airbnb now on that, because it's more longer stay, they're kind of higher sort of spec apartments. But so we started there and we sort of eventually have ended up there. So that was how I kind of partnered with him eventually in the business, because you know, he had somebody full time just doing business development and growing a business. So he subsequently moved to Dubai and he's selling property there as well as the business that's running in Birmingham, which is younger brother managers here in Birmingham. So he's doing really well. And that's probably if I hadn't, you know, if cricket hadn't worked out, I probably would have tried to go down that route. But yeah, so that's kind of my journey in property and Airbnb and stuff. And we have a few in Scotland that are running at the moment. So yeah, been pretty, pretty interesting. Very interesting, very interesting, doesn't often. And you're going to be fine outside of cricket, mate. I wouldn't worry about some people when they get to end their careers or before worrying about what they're doing, you ain't going to worry. And you won't be moving soifers around again either. Yeah, I mean, funny thing is though, in that it's like in hindsight, it's like probably going to be some of the funniest times I've had, you know, with him just like doing an overnight trip to Newcastle to deliver like four or sofas and stopping everywhere down on the way in the country delivering more random antique furniture and stuff like that. So at the time, you think it's like a grind and it's, you know, you want to be doing something else, but then you realize actually it's, you know, it's golden memories. A hundred percent, mate. Good stories of your book later in life, all the Netflix docos, isn't it? We'll come back to you in a second, mate. We're just going to go through our PCA MVP update. The men's 100 MVP currently being led by Sean Abbott from the Birmingham Phoenix. He started off very well with a bull. And in the one day cup, Mr Umede, you are third currently. After a hundred and an 80. And a Birmingham bear leads the way at the time of recording and Ed Barnard, obviously in all round, do they always do well in these events? And he actually won it last season as well. Oh, let it happen, Mandy. I did average 10 with the ball last year in this competition. And I only got to boom one game. I only got to boom one game. So Sean Dixon, if you're listening, I'm loose. I'm ready to vote. Always loose. Obviously, there's no women's cricket at the minute in terms of 50 over three, four, five day or T20. There's just the hundred going on. So in the women's hundreds, really tight, pretty level playing field. Every game seems to have somebody score a ton of runs. So we've got Sophia Dunkely. He's currently at the top. He made Sophia and she's got a lot to prove. So I'm really happy for her. And then she's followed very closely by at least Perry, Alice Capsey, heaven, I, and Nat Silverbrand after her. That should know that she made 50 odd just now, a few hours ago. Well, bad wifey. In losing vain, though, she needed four for last ball come get done. So yeah, hundreds being great. Lots of stars cracking on. So let's get on to our cricket stat alert, shall we, Jack? Yeah, I guess stat alert. We have a siren. There it is. Yeah. Andrew Ahmed. Bronte has got a stat for you. Oh, you can't just do that. I read it. It's no longer record. And you did briefly mention it earlier. But you did hold a record for six years. And it was the slowest 100 in balls faced in the county championship. You got 100 against Langer in 2017 that took 331 balls. You ruined that ball inside? Well battered, but that hasn't since been beaten by Dom Sibley, who got 100 against Kent last year that took 368 deliveries. So you were in the record books for six years, mate. But like you said earlier, you wanted to get that off your back anyway. So you can forget about it now, can't you? Any reflections on that knock? How boring it was. It's still still comters still bring up on the street many time I do anything. Like I could be walking, I could be walking between overs from mid-wicket. It's a point. It's like, oh, there's Andy Meade walking very slowly. Just like his 100 in 2017, actually, that was slow. But the way he's walking today, it's something else. Yeah, poor kid. Well, famous for something that it's better than nothing. Oh, yeah, 100% gives a lads a good laugh. We were having a good laugh on the bus every day because I was telling Leechy, obviously, well, that game we're playing is Lancashire. Jimmy was playing and bowling very well. It was very difficult to hit, as I'm sure a lot of people found. And he obviously knows Jimmy very well. And so I was like telling him sort of what he was saying to me, going back and forward, and then it was they were having a real a real laugh at my expense. So everyone's got a Jimmy Anderson sledgeing story I reckon from their time playing against him. Maybe not. They didn't last long. No prisoners. Well, yeah, usually it was just too exploitative to what he thought of you and then off your pot. Well, I think that's I know people you say you're trying to get off your back, but lasting 330 odd deliveries against the best in the whole world ever. I was a pretty big achievement if you ask me. Right, moving on to the last round, our quiz Andy, which is mainly cricket related, to be honest with you. It's not too taxing. And we do have a leaderboard. And hopefully, there will be a prize could be golfing related actually for the winner. I know you're into your goal as well. So yeah, I said they're generally cricket themed. Currently, top of the leaderboard, a joint. Oli Hanan Dolby, Harry Brooke and Catherine Bryce on eight. So you're going to get a minute. It's going to be quick fire. If you don't know, just pass off so you can get more questions in. We're going to put your score up on the board every time you get one right, you get one run. We'll count you down three, two, one in a second. Are you ready? Yes. Excellent. Three, two, one. Let's go. Where did you score your highest list A score of? Divership. Yes. Do you have more runs in first class or list A cricket? First class? Yeah. Who was player of the match in the final when Somerset won the blast last year? On Dixon. No. When was your perfect stay established? Quick. 15. No. Who did your Somerset teammate Tom Kohler-Cabmore represent in the IPL this year? Badge Sanos. Yes. What is the name of Somerset's mascot? Stumpy. Yes. How many centuries have you scored in list A cricket? Four. You have two first class, your name, name the batters you dismissed. Josh Butler and Kyle Abbott. Yes, boy. With whom did you open innings on your Scotland first class debut against Afghanistan in 2015? I have absolutely no idea pass. When did Somerset out of that software? When did Somerset win their only one-breaker? 2019. There we go. Oh, mead is flying up. Seven, bro. Very respectable score there. Very good, mate. There's a couple of tough ones in there. The opening batty on your Scotland debut, Hamish Gardener. Ring above? Yes. He is Australian. He's not happy with you. He's just text me. He's actually the nicest blog in the world, originally Australia. The Somerset Man of the Match was Matt Henry, by the way. Was Sean Man of the Match in the semi-final? Potentially, yes. He got 50 in both, didn't he? Good effort, mate. Seven is very good. You're going to be joint second with Charlie Dean. Very, very impressive, mate. That is pretty much you on Under the lid with us on episode 18, mate. Thanks so much for coming on. Really interesting, as always. Great to talk to you. Good luck to the rest of the Metro Bank and the Championships, so I'm a mate. Hopefully you get some more silverware with Somerset. Hopefully I'll see you on the circuit or at least for a social. We're overdue a few siders, mate. All the best, mate. Good luck. Thank you very much for having me on. Good luck. Get on the top of that MVP. Yeah, I'll do my best. Lovely. Another Somerset, lad. Yeah, well, sort of. Yeah, I suppose. Naturalised now, isn't he? Great bloke. Really interesting and quite inspirational, actually, the back story. Having seen him up close, his work rate, and how many balls he hits and training when he joined the club, because he lived on the ground. He used to come and let himself in the indoor school before anyone even arrived, like seven, eight in the morning, he'll be setting the boulder machine or Merlin up, just because you can do the self beat. He would be having a net for an hour or two before anyone else got there, but he hits more balls than anyone at Somerset by a long way. And my experience of the game, the two that I've seen hit more balls than anyone in training or extras were always Joe Root and Harry Brooke, two of the best bats in the world, certainly in this country. I'm not saying Andy's at that level, but he certainly got to where he has, because of his work rate, his hunger and his desire. And it's a very talented cricket, to be honest, but a great guy to go with it. And I'm glad he's come on and told us his story. Yeah, me too. Like, a lot of people shouldn't listen up and take heed of what, like his actual life story. I like that he went away, that he thought, screw this, like I'm just going to be a daft, be a daft lad for a bit and live on a beach and go surf. I think that's cool, because like he's just been a lad for a year and it's forced him to think in the way he actually wanted to go and not be always playing cricket wondering about whether he wanted to do that or the bit. So I'm glad, I think his journey is perfect. And the fact that he's got his head switched on, you don't need to be smart. You just need to know the right people and be sometimes in the right place at the right time. Case in point, don't need to be smart. Here we go. It's not what you might be doing now. You're good at riffing kitchens out, you don't need to be smart. Wise beyond our years. What feedback have we got? Well, I'm not sure we've got any feedback this week, but we have, I've got something new. It's obviously quite sad, Jack, we're coming to the end of the season nearly. I can't believe I'm talking about it now, because it is actually a couple of months away. Yeah, there's a few more to go, but we've done so many of them, and we're certainly getting to almost the crux super September, aren't we? We get the 100 out of the way, and then it's super September, it's a lot to play for. And then, like I said, we haven't got many episodes left. Well, that's it. We need people to let us know now. We've got the whole of the 100 guys. If there's someone within that competition you want to listen to, let us know, because I'm pretty sure between us, we could just fasten people. We could get anyone in the world, I reckon. People are queuing up to get on AS. We can literally just handpick people on. Don't ask for England test players. 100 players only. We may get a surprise England test player on again. We've had a couple of, obviously. We may be able to surprise with another one at some point in the next few weeks, but it'd be great to hear people's requests. Boys or girls, and we'll see what we can do. As always, get in touch with us on social media with #underthelid, or you can email in at hellounderthelid.co.uk. I think that's about us for the week, isn't it? Another one down? That's it. I'm ready for decaf tea, and get me a down. Thanks everyone for getting on the lid with us. I hope you enjoyed it. Please tell a friend, please subscribe, please like, and we'll see you next week with another great guest. Thank you. Good night. Bye. Ciao for now.