--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a wicket-keeper who opened the…" description: "\"I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have made it? Hard to say. I probably wouldn't quite have been good enough. I might get back into..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/james-milner-13454_batting_i-was-a-wicket-keeper-who-opened-the-bat_2637374.jpg" --- # I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have… ![“I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have made it? Hard to say. I probably wouldn't quite have been good enough. I might get back into it once I've finished with the football.” quote by James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/james-milner-13454_batting_i-was-a-wicket-keeper-who-opened-the-bat_2637374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/james-milner-13454_batting_i-was-a-wicket-keeper-who-opened-the-bat_2637374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/james-milner-13454_batting_i-was-a-wicket-keeper-who-opened-the-bat_2637374.jpg) > “I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have made it? Hard to say. I probably wouldn't quite have been good enough. I might get back into it once I've finished with the football.” [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing dual sports careers is uncertain; skill gaps may prevent success, but future attempts remain possible. **In simple terms:** Switching sports is risky and uncertain. Key Takeaway Assess readiness before changing sports. Themes sports career transition uncertainty Mood reflective pragmatic Type motivational analytical When to use this quote - retirement planning - career change - training programs Key Concepts skill development identity risk management Questions to Reflect On - What factors determine success in a new sport? - How can athletes prepare for transitions? A Different Perspective Physical demands may limit dual participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Batting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/batting/) [Batting Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/batting-hard-2239582/) [Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Finished Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-football-1807311/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Opened Batting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opened-batting-2239580/) [Wicket Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicket-keeper-2239581/) ## Related quotes > [I used to think I was like the wicket- keeper, which is like the catcher in base- ball, y'know what I mean? You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/i-used-to-think-i-was-like-the-wicket-keeper-which-is-like-the/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [I had no plans once I finished my football career, which was a problem, so I had to go looking for work. Television was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/i-had-no-plans-once-i-finished-my-football-career-which-was-a-problem/) [Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/) > [Since I finished my football career, I've had the opportunity to do a lot of public speaking engagements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-schlereth/since-i-finished-my-football-career-i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-do-a/) [Mark Schlereth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-schlereth/) > [Since I finished in football Ive had no sport in my life, no football. Ive always been geared towards something for the weekend, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-bullard/since-i-finished-in-football-ive-had-no-sport-in-my-life-no-football/) [Jimmy Bullard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-bullard/) > [I want to get my MBA. I want to create my own business. When I'm finished with football, I want a seamless transition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-rosen/i-want-to-get-my-mba-i-want-to-create-my-own-business-when-i-m/) [Josh Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-rosen/) > [If any IPL team wants me to be a mentor or a batting consultant, I would love to do that. I can share my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/if-any-ipl-team-wants-me-to-be-a-mentor-or-a-batting-consultant-i/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [When it comes to batting, I have a lot of expectations from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/when-it-comes-to-batting-i-have-a-lot-of-expectations-from-myself/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) > [The offseason after the 2014 season, I worked with hitting coach Damon Mashore. I always had power in batting practice but couldn't take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/the-offseason-after-the-2014-season-i-worked-with-hitting-coach-damon/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [I remember one time I'm batting against the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2 - 1, it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/i-remember-one-time-i-m-batting-against-the-dodgers-in-milwaukee-they/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [I have been pretty free-flowing in my batting. I have not let situations change my batting around too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-been-pretty-free-flowing-in-my-batting-i-have-not-let/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-benaud/he-has-defined-cricket-in-his-fabulous-impeccable-manner-he-is-to/) [Richie Benaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-benaud/) > [“Sachin is a genius in the world of cricket leaving behind all those who are only talented and intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/sachin-is-a-genius-in-the-world-of-cricket-leaving-behind-all-those/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I have always believed in my batting abilities. I have always put my hand up as a pure batsman and have enjoyed fielding as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-always-believed-in-my-batting-abilities-i-have-always-put-my/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [I have to thank batting coach Sanjay Bangar for providing valuable inputs. He gave me honest feedback about how poorly I was batting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravichandran-ashwin/i-have-to-thank-batting-coach-sanjay-bangar-for-providing-valuable/) [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravichandran-ashwin/) > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) [Buck Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-martinez/) ## More by James Milner > [Fitness has always been a strength of mine. People seem to look at ages and think once you get over 30, you're coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/fitness-has-always-been-a-strength-of-mine-people-seem-to-look-at/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [You are a long time retired. I don't want to sit there when that happens and think, 'Oh, I wish I had done that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/you-are-a-long-time-retired-i-don-t-want-to-sit-there-when-that/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [One place I'd love to go is Augusta. My uncle's been to watch the Masters a couple of times and said you don't realise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/one-place-i-d-love-to-go-is-augusta-my-uncle-s-been-to-watch-the/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [When I'm sat at 45 and retired, I want to look back and see what I've done and that I've played games rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/when-i-m-sat-at-45-and-retired-i-want-to-look-back-and-see-what-i-ve/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I remember Nigel Martyn joking with me at Leeds, saying he was old enough to be my father, which he certainly was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-remember-nigel-martyn-joking-with-me-at-leeds-saying-he-was-old/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I think the first time I finished a season with the same manager who started it was Martin O'Neill at Villa, probably five seasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-think-the-first-time-i-finished-a-season-with-the-same-manager-who/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I speak to my mum and dad about the club, and my uncle and all my mates are big Leeds fans as well. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-speak-to-my-mum-and-dad-about-the-club-and-my-uncle-and-all-my/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [The pace of the game has changed even while I've been a player. It always seems to be getting quicker. You need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/the-pace-of-the-game-has-changed-even-while-i-ve-been-a-player-it/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [For me, if you play at Anfield, it is not a tactical game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/for-me-if-you-play-at-anfield-it-is-not-a-tactical-game/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I never really got that chance at Manchester City and developed into a utility player. Playing in all the positions has made me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-never-really-got-that-chance-at-manchester-city-and-developed-into/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I've always dreamt of being a footballer. You only get one shot at a career like this, and I want to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-ve-always-dreamt-of-being-a-footballer-you-only-get-one-shot-at-a/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I think you always want to see your former clubs doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-think-you-always-want-to-see-your-former-clubs-doing-well/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [I am coming to the part of my career where I want to play more football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/i-am-coming-to-the-part-of-my-career-where-i-want-to-play-more/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [City are a great club, and I had five great years there and enjoyed every minute. The fans were brilliant with me the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/city-are-a-great-club-and-i-had-five-great-years-there-and-enjoyed/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [When a new manager comes in, you have to prove yourself all over again. That's what you have to do every day and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/when-a-new-manager-comes-in-you-have-to-prove-yourself-all-over-again/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) [Explore all 50 James Milner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) ## More Batting quotes > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) [Buck Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-martinez/) > [I have to thank batting coach Sanjay Bangar for providing valuable inputs. He gave me honest feedback about how poorly I was batting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravichandran-ashwin/i-have-to-thank-batting-coach-sanjay-bangar-for-providing-valuable/) [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravichandran-ashwin/) > [I have always believed in my batting abilities. I have always put my hand up as a pure batsman and have enjoyed fielding as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-always-believed-in-my-batting-abilities-i-have-always-put-my/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [“Sachin is a genius in the world of cricket leaving behind all those who are only talented and intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/sachin-is-a-genius-in-the-world-of-cricket-leaving-behind-all-those/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-benaud/he-has-defined-cricket-in-his-fabulous-impeccable-manner-he-is-to/) [Richie Benaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-benaud/) > [I have been pretty free-flowing in my batting. I have not let situations change my batting around too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-been-pretty-free-flowing-in-my-batting-i-have-not-let/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [I remember one time I'm batting against the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2 - 1, it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/i-remember-one-time-i-m-batting-against-the-dodgers-in-milwaukee-they/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [The offseason after the 2014 season, I worked with hitting coach Damon Mashore. I always had power in batting practice but couldn't take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/the-offseason-after-the-2014-season-i-worked-with-hitting-coach-damon/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When it comes to batting, I have a lot of expectations from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/when-it-comes-to-batting-i-have-a-lot-of-expectations-from-myself/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) > [If any IPL team wants me to be a mentor or a batting consultant, I would love to do that. I can share my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/if-any-ipl-team-wants-me-to-be-a-mentor-or-a-batting-consultant-i/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [There's a difference between batting at number four position and batting in the lower order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/there-s-a-difference-between-batting-at-number-four-position-and/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [There are lots of guns and action in my drawings, and part of that is just to make them more interesting. Because you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-pettibon/there-are-lots-of-guns-and-action-in-my-drawings-and-part-of-that-is/) [Raymond Pettibon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-pettibon/) > [“I would like to be an umpire when Sachin is batting, so to get the best possible view of his shots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-would-like-to-be-an-umpire-when-sachin-is-batting-so-to-get-the/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Is success just about winning? Acclaim? Trophies? Wealth? Our personal happiness or satisfaction? I have been blessed to experience some of these over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-osborne/is-success-just-about-winning-acclaim-trophies-wealth-our-personal/) [Tom Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-osborne/) > [God isn't really interested in our batting averages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-murphy/god-isn-t-really-interested-in-our-batting-averages/) [Dale Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-murphy/) [Browse all 286 Batting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/batting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a wicket-keeper who opened the batting. Could I have made it? Hard to say. I probably wouldn't quite have been good enough. 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