Wicketkeeper Ian Carlin wins national college award and makes history

It wasn’t long ago that Ian Carlin was a running back and full back at high school and college football. At 5.10 ½ and 228 lbs he was the right size to try to run the ball through defenses.

Carlin, 22, who is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had football in his blood and Pennsylvania is the home of National Football League Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers), Joe Namath (New York Jets), Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills) and Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins).

Then about 18 months ago he began watching on TV the 20/20 cricket series between India and Pakistan with some of his south Asian friends at the College of Wooster in Ohio where he is a double major in political science and philosophy.

The game caught his eye and he became interested in playing. He was a fast learner.

In an interview with cricketusamag.com, Carlin said he began playing as a wicketkeeper “because I like being involved in the game with every ball.”

Carlin, a right hander, bats at the important No. 4 position. He quickly took to the game and has an affinity with the Australian international players because of their high quality fielding.

He has also closely watched the style of former Australian wicketkeepers Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy.

Gilchrist recently retired after a very successful  international  and Test career with the gloves and bat.

“I like to watch Healy because he had a hard working ethic. He worked very hard and was consistently drilling,” said Carlin.

Carlin, a tireless worker himself, improved rapidly as a ‘keeper and batsman and a few weeks ago he won the inaugural John Bart King Award for the best American-born cricketer in college competition. He won it primarily for his wicketkeeping.

Winning an award is always special for all athletes, but it adds significance when he or she is the first to win it.

“I’ll be remembered in history forever,” Carlin joked.

On a more serious note he is hoping to play cricket on a national level as soon as possible and is now seeking help to get high level coaching from US men’s senior coach Clayton Lambert and assistance  from senior US Cricket Association officials, including secretary John Aarons.

USACA officials look at Carlin as a trail blazer for American cricket because he was born on US soil and most of the players are from India, Pakistan, the West Indies and cricket playing countries like Australia, England and South Africa.

The more US-born players begin playing the game the better it is for the growth and advancement of cricket in America.

Carlin said: “I like the energy and passion about the game. They are the same reasons why I like soccer. It is a game that unfolds in front of you. You can see it how it keeps evolving. It is a real to and fro in the game.”

He says he sees a future for cricket in the US in the 20/20 competition and possibly the 50-over game.

Most officials at the national level see the future of the game in limited over cricket, particularly the 20/20 competition. It is a quick flowing game with batsmen slogging at the ball and a result is always achieved.

A five-day Test match is something that has to be worked on. Right now it is on hold.