IT will be four months before West Australian all-rounder Andrew Holder is back up and bowling after surgery to repair the dislocated kneecap he injured in January.
But the 27-year-old says the stint on the sidelines will regenerate his confidence in his body and benefit him in the long-term.
Prior to the injury, which medical staff said was almost certain to re-occur without surgery, Holder had enjoyed a bumper year.
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READ NOWHis 457 Premier Cricket runs for Subiaco-Floreat came at an average of more than 65, with his season sprinkled with five 50s and an unbeaten 115.
With the ball, he took 19 wickets at 25 runs apiece.
His form, coupled with injuries to the state side, opened the gate to a Sheffield Shield debut against South Australia in November.
“I loved it,” the Palmyra local told Community News, recounting a match where he finished unbeaten with the bat twice and claimed the wickets of Tom Cooper, Johnathon Dalton, Jake Weatherald and Callum Ferguson.
“It’s very different. In Premier Cricket you’re bowling to a state player every few weeks.
“Here I was running in to bowl to Callum Ferguson, a Test player, and Travis Head, and being bowled to by Chadd Sayers.”
Holder said he liked to play an aggressive form of cricket and was able to take that style into the state side thanks to the confidence shown in him by coach Justin Langer and captain Mitch Marsh.
Holder has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
At 21, on the eve of finishing his commerce degree at UWA and with a future in cricket an uncertain proposition, at least in the state side, he took ownership of a Shenton Park gym.
“I saw it as a good opportunity to put what I’d learnt into practice,” he said.
“The time to take a risk is when you’ve got nothing to lose.”
Six years on, Revo Fitness has grown to include five Perth locations employing 40 people.
He is also now a proud 2018 WA Young Achievers Award finalist, nominated for a Small Business Achiever Award.
Holder said the job outside of cricket had given him balance and taken the pressure of finding all his success in one chosen sport.
“It’s great acknowledgement and reward for the hard work,” he said of his nomination.
“It was a one-man business to start with.
“There was blood, sweat and tears and you realise how much work and dedication needs to be put in in such a competitive market.”
The awards will be announced at a gala presentation on 26 May 2018.
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