Video: How an American baseball player is on his way to becoming a cricketer

One player is on a mission to become a proper T20 player. Ironically, he had never heard of the game until a year back. Boomer Collins is a 26-year old American baseball player, who used to play as an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Few months back, cricket legends Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar took the Twenty20 (T20) cricket bandwagon to the United States of America (USA) with their initiative ‘Cricket All-Stars’. The idea was to popularise the game in USA, where it has no existence. While many lauded their effort, some had other views, as they felt the game will only gain popularity in the country when one of its players lands a contract with any of the T20 leagues going around the globe. This may well become a reality soon.

One player is on a mission to become a proper T20 player. Ironically, he had never heard of the game until a year back. Boomer Collins is a 26-year old American baseball player, who used to play as an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. These days, he is working hard to become a professional T20 cricketer; first of its kind transition from baseball to cricket. Julien Fountain, an English cricket coach, is helping him in this regard.

Fountain, who recently worked with the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has designed a scheme to help baseball players make the transition to cricket and Collins is the first player to sign up. The idea is to tap into the vast number of baseball players who never quite make it to the top rung in the sport and give them a chance to have a shot at T20 cricket which suits their style of play and gives them an option to earn their livelihood.

The above YouTube video shows the intensive training Collins has been undergoing for past some time in order to make that seamless switch from baseball to cricket. It also depicts the progress he has made so far, as he can now play a switch hit with almost same ease as he plays a pull. He was in Bangalore before Christmas last year at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he trained using the BCCI facilities. He was also a part of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) player draft for 2016 season but was not picked. But that has not deterred him, as he is now looking forward to play in England.

Collins, who has played only one game of cricket, scoring 26 off 13, needs to play to improve. His immediate challenge is to get into a team, which gives him a chance, and play as much cricket as possible. “I want to take it as far as it will go,” he says in an interview with Nick Hoult for The Telegraph. “I want to play at highest level and I want to represent my country. Playing in England is the first step to try and get some cricket. I am happy to play any standard. I just want to get some matches in.” His coach Fountain is backing him for the switch. He adds: “Someone needs to pick him and let him play then everyone will say this kid can bat and these baseball guys can play cricket. He is not going to rest until he signs a pro contract so watch out cricket.”