Ian Bouncing Back From Enforced Retirement
26 August 2014
Ian Saxelby is finding the job of organising Hamish Marshall’s benefit the perfect tonic after the disappointment of having to call time on his playing days with Gloucestershire.
The seam bowler whose hugely promising career was wrecked by injury has taken on the role of chairman for the testimonial year in 2015.
And that is already taking Ian’s mind off his misfortune following several seasons of battling shoulder and knee problems.
He told this website: “Hamish approached me a while ago when I had just decided to end my playing career and asked if I would run his benefit for him.
I have always got on with him really well and he is a belter to share a dressing room with, so I wanted to help. There was also an element of selfishness as I knew I would be looking for a new career and thought I might gain some useful contacts by being his chairman.
Already two or three have come out of it and some opportunities which may arise. It has been keeping me really busy and I’m enjoying it.
The benefit was launched a few weeks ago, but things have been going on in the background for a couple of months.
We have a committee of about a dozen, including some other former players, Martyn Ball and Steve Snell, and ex-club chairman Rex Body.
There are other familiar faces and a good cross section of age-groups and different walks of life. Things are moving forward really nicely.”
The chance to get involved himself was timely for Ian, who admits the first weeks after announcing his retirement from playing were difficult.
He said: “When I broke down bowling at The Oval this season I knew it was quite serious and, having just come back from an intense shoulder operation, it was in the back of my head straight away that I might not get over the new setback.
When I spoke to my surgeon after the knee op, he made it clear I wouldn’t be able to bowl for a year or play competitively for 18 months.
He told me that my knee, as it was, would not stand up to the rigours of first class cricket. I had to make the decision I did and the first couple of weeks were tough because I was sat at home with crutches trying to work out what to do next.
I’ve got that out of my system now and have a lot to occupy my mind. There’s Hamish’s benefit, job searching, and preparing to get married in September.
I’m busier than I was when playing cricket and enjoying life again.”
For more information on Hamish Marshall's Benefit click here
