Kevin Nash bows out to great applause from his Bashley (Rydal) team-mates [Terry Nash photo]
njuries have finally taken their toll on Kevin Nash, who has decided to call time on a distinguished bowling career - even though he's within a whisker of reaching a remarkable wicket-taking milestone in Southern League cricket.
Putting his aches and pains to one side, the popular Bashley (Rydal) seamer finished the 2017 season with 485 wickets in Southern League cricket.
Knowing the magical 500 was only 15 wickets away, Nash took to the gym and trained hard all winter to get fit for the new season, writes Mike Vimpany.
But the numerous injuries that have riddled Nash towards the tail end of a league career that has spanned 25 years have finally forced him to quit the game that he's loved since first picking up a bat as a ten-year old.
“I really wanted to reach that 500 wicket milestone, but pretty much every game this season I’ve felt an injury after about four or five overs. I think the body was telling me something,” he explained.
“I picked up a few wickets this season, but it was taking longer and longer to recover so after 25 years of fist team cricket I’ve decided to call it a day, records or no records.”
Nash, 42, celebrated his 400th SPL wicket last summer, prior to which he’d taken 83 wickets for Bashley in the old Southern League between 1995 and 1999, after which the competition became an ECB accredited Premier League.
“Bashley won’t quite be the same again without Nashy out there. He’s been a wonderful servant and when he took that 400th wicket last season against South Wilts it was a magical moment for all of us,” praised Bashley captain Michael Porter.
His name will remain etched in the top six all-time Premier League wicket takers for many more years to come.
Nash recalled making his first team debut as a 16-year old and as a long haired Brockenhurst College student, was part of the Bashley team that won the Hampshire League back in the mid-1990s.
“I actually made my Southern League debut in 1995 and a quarter of a century later was still running up to bowl with a new ball in my right hand,” he chuckled.
“Being part of the Bashley team that won promotion all those years ago was high-spot of my club career, but just playing in the league so long and with and against so many top players has been very special.
“We’ve won a few T20 competitions along the way, but never the league, which is a shame.
“Overall, I’ll look back with an immense amount of pride just playing for Bashley (Rydal) and seeing the club make so many massive strides and generally develop on and off the field.”
Nash’s cricket career hasn’t been confined to Bashley (Rydal) because he played Minor Counties cricket for Wiltshire (and previously Dorset) for six seasons from 1995.
He took 98 wickets, including a personal best 8-64 against Wales MC at Swansea, and was named Man of the Match with figures of 4-45 when Wiltshire played Kent in the C & G Trophy at South Wilts in his farewell 2005 season.
Nash was no tail-end mug with the bat and showed his prowess by scoring 60 on one occasion, having come to the crease as a night-watchman.
He was also a regular choice for Hampshire Cricket Board and Southern League representative sides, besides county age group teams in his formative years.
In his younger days, Nash was a decent football, playing centre-half for Sway in the Bournemouth League.
“The cricket and football boots are hung up now. I’ve got my seat on the Bashley cricket pavilion and will be there each week cheering the lads on – and enjoying a soft drink or two,” Nash laughed.
Putting his aches and pains to one side, the popular Bashley (Rydal) seamer finished the 2017 season with 485 wickets in Southern League cricket.
Knowing the magical 500 was only 15 wickets away, Nash took to the gym and trained hard all winter to get fit for the new season, writes Mike Vimpany.
But the numerous injuries that have riddled Nash towards the tail end of a league career that has spanned 25 years have finally forced him to quit the game that he's loved since first picking up a bat as a ten-year old.
“I really wanted to reach that 500 wicket milestone, but pretty much every game this season I’ve felt an injury after about four or five overs. I think the body was telling me something,” he explained.
“I picked up a few wickets this season, but it was taking longer and longer to recover so after 25 years of fist team cricket I’ve decided to call it a day, records or no records.”
Nash, 42, celebrated his 400th SPL wicket last summer, prior to which he’d taken 83 wickets for Bashley in the old Southern League between 1995 and 1999, after which the competition became an ECB accredited Premier League.
“Bashley won’t quite be the same again without Nashy out there. He’s been a wonderful servant and when he took that 400th wicket last season against South Wilts it was a magical moment for all of us,” praised Bashley captain Michael Porter.
His name will remain etched in the top six all-time Premier League wicket takers for many more years to come.
Nash recalled making his first team debut as a 16-year old and as a long haired Brockenhurst College student, was part of the Bashley team that won the Hampshire League back in the mid-1990s.
“I actually made my Southern League debut in 1995 and a quarter of a century later was still running up to bowl with a new ball in my right hand,” he chuckled.
“Being part of the Bashley team that won promotion all those years ago was high-spot of my club career, but just playing in the league so long and with and against so many top players has been very special.
“We’ve won a few T20 competitions along the way, but never the league, which is a shame.
“Overall, I’ll look back with an immense amount of pride just playing for Bashley (Rydal) and seeing the club make so many massive strides and generally develop on and off the field.”
Nash’s cricket career hasn’t been confined to Bashley (Rydal) because he played Minor Counties cricket for Wiltshire (and previously Dorset) for six seasons from 1995.
He took 98 wickets, including a personal best 8-64 against Wales MC at Swansea, and was named Man of the Match with figures of 4-45 when Wiltshire played Kent in the C & G Trophy at South Wilts in his farewell 2005 season.
Nash was no tail-end mug with the bat and showed his prowess by scoring 60 on one occasion, having come to the crease as a night-watchman.
He was also a regular choice for Hampshire Cricket Board and Southern League representative sides, besides county age group teams in his formative years.
In his younger days, Nash was a decent football, playing centre-half for Sway in the Bournemouth League.
“The cricket and football boots are hung up now. I’ve got my seat on the Bashley cricket pavilion and will be there each week cheering the lads on – and enjoying a soft drink or two,” Nash laughed.
