Joining us most weeks in order to bring some ‘balance’ to our website and content will be our friend Liv, the founder of Livstyle Lifestyle – a little corner of the internet where she shares the highs, the lows and the downright ridiculous moments of life, including Cricket Widows Disagreements Debriefs, as a self-proclaimed cricket widow – hence The Cricket Widows Club!
From the double header weekends, to the 3 hour post-match analysis. This is where Liv documents the chaos, the laughs and everything in between. If you or your partner knows the feeling of planning life around a fixtures list, you’re in the right place!
Follow Liv @LivStyleLifestyle on Instagram
Disagreements, Debriefs & Doing it Solo!
Happy May! Judging by the social media chatter, it seems like everyone’s cricket season is officially in full swing now- and yes, that means us CWs (Cricket Widows) are right back in it too!
Hey team!
It’s been an exciting week for me. I know they’re just small things, but they’ve brought me so much joy:
We had 71 replies to this week’s ‘Widow Wisden Wednesday’ question (unreal!).
I went on my first-ever solo night away!
And I got recognised by strangers (overseas, no less!) in a takeaway. Hilarious!
Let’s talk about that question: “What’s the one thing that causes the most arguments in a season?”
We’re being real here- there is no way you get through a cricket season without a single disagreement, grumble, or full-blown argument. Even if you’re 10 years deep in this CW life, there’s always something that winds you up (even if you pretend it doesn’t).
Most of the time, it feels like the arguments are one-sided. We are the ones getting wound up, and they’re just living their best lives, doing exactly what they want. We’re the ones adjusting, planning around fixtures, cancelling plans, juggling kids or commitments- while they get to spend the day chasing a red ball and drinking pints with the lads. And sure, we know arguing won’t change a thing… but sometimes, you just have to say something!
Here were the top 3 answers from the WW Wednesday poll:
“They’re never around.” Cricket takes over every evening and the whole weekend, leaving one non-cricket evening (maybe).
“Why do we have to get to the ground so early?”
“Staying late for post-match beers… every week.”
The summer takeover of cricket is real.. you briefly see them at 10pm every evening and then wave at them on a field for the whole weekend! “Quality time” becomes Friday nights (potentially sat at All Stars), and every plan revolves around a fixtures list. If you were to describe this to someone not involved in cricket they would look at you like you had three heads!
The early starts to get to the ground. This used to really get me. For years I’d think “Why don’t you want to grab breakfast with me before the game? You’re gone all day!” But no. Turns out ‘meet time’ is changing room and warm-up meet time. Not inspect the wicket.. check the weather and inspect the wicket again meet time! Miss that window and they’ll sulk through breakfast anyway, so what’s the point?
Post-match beers? Also non-negotiable. As if 9 hours of cricket wasn’t enough time with the team, they need another two for “debriefs”. For years I waited, thinking they’d be 15 minutes. Newsflash: they won’t. My top match-day tip for any new CWs- don’t wait. If you’re not staying out, get in your car, go home, and do something for you. Leaving early made a huge difference to my mindset and stopped me spiralling into that lonely, waiting headspace. Trust me.
Look, I’m not trying to solve these arguments. They’re just part of CW life. But if you’re a cricketer reading this: nothing makes us happier than you occasionally leaving the ground early for us. Just once in a while. It means a lot.
Check out all the comings & goings around the Premier Leagues HERE
My Solo Trip
I wrote this blog from the Lakes, alone- and feeling totally content. I watched the first two weekends of the season, and I’ll be back at the club next week, but this bank holiday I wanted something different. It was sunny, I had no plans, and friends were busy (the non-CW ones are always booked up with their partners). So I went solo. Just me, our family caravan, and the mountains. And I was proud of myself.
Over the years I’ve built confidence in doing things on my own. At first, it was just walks. Then solo coffee trips. I have always found it easy to go for a run solo- because that’s “exercise”- but a walk with no dog or no friend? That felt harder. Until I just did it!
This was my first solo overnight. It felt good. No FOMO. No “I wish I was doing that.” I was doing what I wanted.
The truth is: no one’s stopping you but you. You really can just go and do whatever the f*** you want. I’m trying to give you permission, confidence and a little nudge. It’s especially hard when you don’t have a child or a dog to justify getting out and doing something. But you don’t need a reason. You’re reason enough.
We can support our cricketers and still have a life of our own. It’s not about choosing one or the other- it’s about recognising when you need something different. And sometimes, the only person who can give it to you… is you.
So go solo. Even just once. Book the lunch. Drive to the lakes. Sit in the sun with a glass of whatever. You’ll be surprised how much lighter you feel when you’re doing something for yourself.
And finally.. the absolute chaos of bumping into other cricketers!
You don’t usually get a word in until your Cricket Widow page becomes the hot topic of conversation- which is exactly what happened when I got caught in a totally bonkers 20-minute chat with two overseas players in a takeaway last night!
Suddenly, it was my stats being dissected, not theirs! It was hilarious, slightly surreal, and a solid reminder of how small and wonderfully nosey the cricket world is. Honestly though, it made me realise what a friendly and welcoming little bubble we’ve found ourselves in.
Who knew CWs could get recognised for more than just making the match teas?
#cricketwidow #thecricketwidowclub #livstylelifestyle
With thanks to Liv @ Cricket Widows Club !
