Aryan Lakra hits six sixes in an over after blow of missing out on UAE senior debut

The 19-year-old all-rounder was denied first appearance for national team due to positive Covid-19 test but cracks 142 for Kings Academy U19

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  Aryan Lakra bats during the Ajman T10 Talent Hunt League in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bats during the Ajman T10 Talent Hunt League in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra during the Ajman T10 Talent Hunt League in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bowling during the Emirates D20 in Dubai, in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bowling during the Emirates D20 in Dubai, in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra during the Emirates D20 in Dubai, in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra celebrates taking a wicket during the Emirates D20 in Dubai, in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra celebrates taking a wicket during the Emirates D20 in Dubai, in December 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bowling for UAE U19s against Scotland at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City in January 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bowling for UAE U19s against Scotland at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City in January 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Aryan Lakra bowling for UAE U19s against Scotland at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City in January 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

After a month spent as a frustrated observer at the highest levels of the game, Aryan Lakra returned to playing cricket with a bang on Friday, hitting six sixes in an over as part of a huge century.

At the start of January, the 19-year-old all-rounder had been hoping to make his senior debut for the UAE, in a one-day international series against Ireland.

On the morning of the first match, though, he received a positive test result for Covid-19. He was transferred to a medical isolation facility, and promptly ruled out of the remainder of the series.

He recovered in time to take up his place in the Bangla Tigers squad for the Abu Dhabi T10 later in the month, but missed out on selection for the starting XI during the event.

The morning after Bangla Tigers had been knocked out of the tournament, Lakra had his bags packed and was ready to head back up the E11 home to Dubai.

He left the team hotel at the Saadiyat Rotana, took a taxi home, left his father Anup to pick up the fare for Dh390, and quickly headed back out for his afternoon academy fixture.

It appears he was keen to make up for lost time. Playing for Kings Academy U19 against Cricket School of Excellence U19, Lakra hit 142 in 62 balls.

That included taking 36 runs from the 20th over of the innings. The over included a no-ball off the first delivery, and the free hit that followed it was the only ball the former UAE U19 captain did not hit for six.

“I was home for five minutes and then went straight for the game,” Lakra said.

“I had packed my bags the night before, woke up, said bye to everyone and left. I left at 12.30pm, got home at 1.35pm, left my house at 1.40pm, and was out for the game in time for the 2pm start.

“I wouldn’t say it has been a frustrating [time over the past month], because I have learnt so much.

“I didn’t get any game time, but I didn’t think much about it. I was happy with what I was learning, but I was eager to get out there and score some runs.”

Lakra said he even found positives while he was quarantined, as one of four UAE players who tested positive for Covid in January.

“I had a slight sore throat, that was it,” Lakra said of his symptoms. “I wasn’t bored. I had my PS4 with me, and Chirag [Suri, his UAE and Bangla Tigers teammate] was there too.

"We had some really good conversations, and he helped me a lot during quarantine.

“He was talking to me about the mental aspects of the game. We were there for 10 days, and we had some good conversations, and did some small drills. He taught me a lot.”

Although he did not get on the field during the T10, Lakra said he was grateful for the lessons he learnt mixing with some of the stars of franchise cricket.

“I had good conversations with Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, and Chris Gayle after one of the games, too,” he said.

“I asked Fletcher about six hitting, and he spent 10 minutes with me explaining the whole thing.

"He said to keep your head as still as possible, and not to open your shoulders when playing the ball.

“I got good tips from him, and [Charles] gave me some great advice. What he told me was, always seek knowledge and wisdom. I’m going to keep that with me for a very long time.”

At the first opportunity he had, Lakra implemented the advice he was given by Fletcher. He hit 11 sixes in all in the academy match, including the six in an over.

“The common factor in six-hitting, he said, was holding your shape,” Lakra said of the tips he picked up from his T10 captain.

“I was thinking about that when I was playing. I hit the first ball for a boundary, the second ball for a boundary, and after that I felt, ‘Yes, I’m in, I can do this now’.

“My teammates were cheering, but I didn’t know I was about to hit six sixes until the fifth one. It hadn’t come into my mind, and I was still pretty calm.

“I was talking to the wicketkeeper before the last ball, and he said, ‘Are you going to hit this ball for six?’

“I said, ‘If it’s in my arc, I will hit it outside the park’.”