Ian Holland was primed for the upcoming English County Championship season, but instead he finds himself back in Melbourne.
After a breakthrough season with Hampshire and a shock international debut, Holland was hoping to take the next step with his cricket this year.
But instead he finds himself back in Melbourne, with the whole English cricket season in doubt due to COVID-19.
Holland had just arrived in England for the County Championship season with Hampshire when everything started to shut down.
He quickly made the decision to head back to Australia for the shutdown period.
“I literally got over there at the start of March and then spent two weeks, if that there,” he said.
“We went on a pre-season tour to Spain and spent two days there and then jumped on a flight back to England before all the borders got shut down in Spain.
“As soon as it all started to take toil in England, I made the decision to come back and be back in Melbourne with the family and girlfriend.
“It was a bit crazy.”
For Holland the timing wasn’t great having come off his best first class season, where he finally cemented a spot in the top grade.
After limited opportunities with Victoria, having first won a state contract on a reality television show, Holland made the decision to focus on playing cricket in England a couple of years ago.
Holding a British passport, made the decision to move an easier one for the all-rounder.
“I played some second team cricket with them a few years ago,” he said of Hampshire.
“I moved across in 2017. It was a good time for me to have a fresh start after not being able to break into the Victorian system and I’ve had reasonable success with Hampshire.
“I had quite a significant injury in the back end of my first season and it interrupted a lot of my second year.
“I’ve still got a couple more years left on this contract with Hampshire still confident plenty of good cricket left and hopefully achieve some of those goals.”
Holland’s back half of last season with Hampshire showed what he could do when given the opportunity with the bat.
He moved up the order and opened the batting, cementing his spot in the process.
“I finished up opening the batting the last six or seven four day games which was awesome,” he said.
“I hadn’t been given an opportunity up the top in first class cricket… I had always batted anywhere between six and eight with Hampshire and been a change seam bowler.
“I kept letting the coach know that I can bat at the top and I had done it at the levels below.
“I got 140-something in my first game and sort of didn’t look back for the rest of last year.
“At this stage I’m playing that role in the red ball team and it’s the role I really want to be playing in first class cricket.”
After the high of the county season, Holland’s different cricket journey took another step in a different direction.
Having already taken the unconventional road, Holland made his international debut for the United States of America late last year.
He said the approach to be part of the national team came out of the blue.
Holland made back-to-back 50s for America in their recent tour of Nepal.
“I got contacted by some people in the USA team about midway through last season’s County season,” Holland said.
“It must be on Cricinfo [that I was born in America]. It would be the only way to find out that I’m American. I don’t have an American accent.”
“I didn’t really know the USA had a team at that level and once I found out about it, I was pretty keen to be involved where I could with my County commitments.
“It worked out nicely to play some games and tournaments in the off season.”
Holland said playing for America was very different to what he had experienced before, with the team trying to qualify for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Holland is keen to be part of the process.
“I think so, it’s still a few years away though,” he said.
“Everything is ranked in a group of eight teams and the top three teams go through to the next stage. We’re sitting about mid table.
“To me, the appeal for playing with the USA is the opportunity to play in the World Cup and be on the world stage.
“It’s definitely something I’m keen to explore.”
While Holland was a shock call up for the American team, it’s not the only international side he has his eyes on.
Playing test cricket for England is the main aim.
“I have aspirations to play test cricket,” he said. “I’m not sure if it [playing for America] affects it at this stage.
“The idea of moving to England was to try and establish myself in the first class system and to play test cricket.
“For me that’s the highest point in cricket. Hopefully I can still do both with the countries being in different associate [groups].
While the break from cricket isn’t ideal, Holland is quick to point out that everyone is in the same position.
He said his side had all been given individual training programs. He said he was unsure whether the county season would go ahead. Playing for America and some Victorian Premier Cricket with Ringwood is his next target after that.
“It’s pretty challenging,” he said.
“We’re not allowed to do any structured skills training. I’ve been trying to find a bit of space in the backyard and practice my throwing as I’ve had a few shoulder issues, since surgery.
“You’ve got to keep on top of the mental routine as a cricketer. Once I can get outside and train properly, I’ll go for it.”
