Canterbury and New Zealand Under 19 off spinner Tim Johnston has settled into the English lifestyle. As the only New Zealand recipient of the prestigious Lords Scholarship, officially known as the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Young Cricketers Program, he is following in the footsteps of some very high caliber cricketers such as Ross Taylor and Mark Waugh. The scholarship programme is set up to provide expert coaching, intensive playing programs and world-class facilities to the next generation of First Class cricketers. Canterbury Cricket recently caught up with Tim to see how things have been going now that his season is well under way.
So far Tim has five matches for MCC Young Cricketers under his belt. Playing in the competitive County 2nd XI League he says he is learning all the time ‘we are doing pretty well and the cricket is a good standard over here. We played Steven Finn (English Right arm fast-medium bowler) in the first game so it was not fun having to face him first up.’ Tim also turns out for club side Gore Court in their premier men’s team playing in the Kent League where he scored his first half century on English soil hitting 53 off just 59 balls. He is very appreciative of the opportunity to be in an environment where he can solely focus on his cricket ‘I am virtually practicing everyday which is great and will be extremely beneficial to my game.’ With a quick 50 and a couple of wickets for the MCC, Tim is off to a very promising start this season.
As part of the scholarship programme Tim, along with other members of the MCC Young Cricketers programme, has become a part of the Lords ground staff. Normally Tim’s role is to assist in the day to day maintenance of the world class ground but with the recent England vs. Bangladesh test he managed to add a few strings to his ‘grounds man’ bow. ‘We have to arrive early dressed in number one’s including blazer and tie. I had a mixture of duties I was involved in including sitting on the covers, working in the Lords Shop and sitting in the Pavillion on the RT to the scorers to let them know who the incoming batsman was. Over all it was an awesome experience and I am already looking forward to the next test at Lords’ said Tim of the four days.
Off the pitch Tim has settled into the London lifestyle. Based in Hampstead, a short tube ride from Lords, he is living in a hostel which also houses students from the nearby dance academy. ‘I’m rooming with another cricketer from London, our room is very small and very cozy’ jokes Tim, ‘the hostel also houses a few local dancers and some foreign language students so I am meeting plenty of new people.’ Given his busy practice and playing schedule he has found little time to travel but is looking forward to getting out and seeing the sights of London.
Tim has also had his fifteen minutes of fame being cast in a Bollywood movie! The film, which is tipped to be the next big thing in India, has Tim and other members of the Young Cricketers Programme taking part in the Twenty20 World Cup. ‘The director wanted to use young cricketers and approached the MCC which is how I became involved. My main parts are basically in the field during a game and also we are in some practice scenes. I was put in the England team who end up winning which is cool.’
Canterbury Cricket will catch up again with Tim in the coming months to see how things are going for him and whether or not he is world famous in India following his Bollywood debut! If you would like to follow the MCC Young Cricketers you can visit the Lords website by clicking on this link https://www.lords.org/mcc/about-mcc/
* Image of Tim Johnston celebrating after taking a wicket for the New Zealand Under 19s.
