Jonathan Mills: Inspirational Cricketer Battling Cancer Invited to Lord’s Cricket Ground

Club Cricketer Jonathan Mills Aims to Defy the Odds

In a surprising turn of events, club cricketer Jonathan Mills has decided to continue playing despite receiving a devastating terminal cancer diagnosis. The 54-year-old recently scored an impressive 110 runs off just 123 balls for Brookweald second XI, proving that his passion for the game knows no bounds.

Mills’ incredible performance caught the attention of MCC president Stephen Fry, who extended an invitation for him to watch day two of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. “I’ll go and have a chat with Mr McCullum and see if he needs any tips,” Mills said in an interview.

The unexpected invite came from a phone call made by Stephen Fry’s secretary while Mills was driving down to Kent. He was invited as Fry’s guest in the president’s suite but had to decline attending on Friday or Saturday due to prior commitments.

A Brave Innings in Challenging Circumstances

Mills’ remarkable innings against Woodham Mortimer on June 17th saw him hit 21 fours and contributed significantly towards Brookweald posting a total score of 248-9 from their allotted overs.

With only one run separating both teams, it was indeed a thrilling victory as Woodham Mortimer fell short at 247-7. This memorable achievement marked his second hundred for the club since making himself available for selection earlier that week.

Mills expressed his keenness to play, having been actively involved in watching and umpiring matches for the club. His determination to continue playing was evident as he even contemplated buying a new bat due to the loss of muscle and weight caused by his illness.

Adapting to a challenging situation, Mills made adjustments during his innings on the hot day. Changing shirts early on and opting for a helmet when faced with bouncers from Woodham Mortimer’s opening bowler allowed him to settle into the game and deliver an exceptional performance.

A Life-Altering Diagnosis

Mills’ cancer diagnosis came after experiencing stomach pains last December. Surgery followed shortly after, removing a tumor comparable in size to a tennis ball. Unfortunately, further surgery was not an option as the cancer had spread throughout his body.

Chemotherapy became the only palliative course of treatment available. However, Mills fell within the 45% of patients who do not positively respond to chemotherapy. Faced with this reality, he decided against pursuing more palliative chemo sessions and instead focused on living as normally as possible for as long as he could.

A Triumph Over Adversity

Inspired by his love for cricket, Mills refused to let his illness hold him back during his innings against Woodham Mortimer. Despite feeling fatigued from intense treatment sessions, reaching fifty runs brought about overwhelming emotions both for himself and those around him who understood its significance.

Persisting through exhaustion, he continued playing freely after scoring his century until eventually getting out due to sheer exhaustion affecting his shot selection.

The Future Ahead

Jonathan did not participate in Brookweald’s recent win over Terling CC but has expressed hopes of returning soon enough once again take part in the sport he loves. Despite facing social commitments and an uncertain prognosis, his determination to continue playing cricket serves as a testament to his unwavering spirit.