Student James Addis became an online sensation after inventing a homemade machine to help him bat away lockdown boredom and get his cricket fix.
Across all social media platforms, it is estimated that over a million people have watched the footage of the University of Bath politics student batting in his back garden.
Southampton resident Addis, 20, said: “It’s very frustrating as we were just getting into my favourite part of the year – the cricket season.”
He decided to build a bowling machine to try and keep his game sharp and keep himself sane throughout lockdown.
It took three hours for him to build, alongside his father Matthew Addis, a digital data analyst.
Matthew Addis said: “We used a handheld circular saw to power a bicycle wheel which then delivers the ball along a wooden chute.”
“It only fully dawned on me how big this was going to be when I got a direct message from Sky Sports asking if they could share it on their social media,” said Addis.
Superb homemade bowling machine from @UOBathCricket’s @jamestaddis
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 11, 2020
It’s the perfect day for cricket – so join our #SkyEasterWatchalong from 3:55pm as Ben Stokes and England hope for a Headingley miracle pic.twitter.com/CSFTvVEqfi
The clip was even seen by the likes of England Test captain Joe Root and England international Sam Billings. Former Test captain-turned Sky pundit Mike Atherton offered helpful batting tips.
“I’m not exactly known for my batting so the fact that England players have watched me is very surreal,” said Addis.
“We believe that in terms of your reaction time the ball is being delivered at around 75 miles-per-hour, so it is really good practice,” said Addis.
Addis, third team captain at Bath, has had the support of his team-mates who have rebuffed any comments criticising their skipper’s poor technique.
“I’m really hoping that when lockdown is over, I will be a much better batsman then when it started,” said Addis.
By Alex Brinton