England's Performance Squad 2010- where are they now?

England's Performance Squad for the forthcoming winter was announced earlier this week, and it boasts a number of highly talented young cricketers; some of whom have already broken into the national side.

The tour is designed to give those who are selected a chance to play in conditions that are very much different to those in England, something which the selectors feel will give them an advantage when these players hopefully make the transition into the full side.

However, it has been asked whether a full winter of cricket on foreign soil is good for the future of the English team, as burnout is now a genuine worry after what happened at the World Cup on the sub-continent in March.

A look back at how the players who travelled to the West Indies last winter have performed over the English season could shed some light on whether the Performance Squad can enhance a player's international prospects, or if their careers take a backwards step once they arrive back home.

Jimmy Adams (Hampshire): Scored over 900 first-class runs in a season of relegation for the Royals. Looks set to take over the captaincy from the retiring Dominic Cork, and at 31, may have missed the boat in terms of national selection.

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire): A breakthrough season for the young wicket-keeper as he topped the batting charts at Headingley whilst announcing himself on the international stage with a breathtaking innings in the final one-dayer against India. Touring India next month with the one-day side.

Jonny Bairstow has already starred in an England shirt

Ravi Bopara (Essex): Bopara was not at his fluent best in 2011, but still picked up two test caps after an injury to Jonathan Trott. He remains a key member of England's limited overs sides and should also tour with the test side this year.

Danny Briggs (Hampshire): Only 38 wickets in four day cricket in a disappointing first-class season for the slow left arm bowler. Continues to impress in limited overs cricket, especially on the spin friendly pitches at the Rose Bowl.

Maurice Chambers (Essex): Chambers disapponted this year, only taking 23 wickets in Division Two. Looks to be well down the England pecking order after his own poor form and the emergence of others.

Jade Dernbach (Surrey): One of the success stories of the summer as Dernbach burst onto the international scene with impressive performances in both one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches. His ability to mix out and out pace with a number of variations on the slower ball means he could be a potent weapon for years to come.

Steven Finn (Middlesex): Despite falling behind Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan in the test match pecking order, Finn has still had a decent season after helping Middlesex to the Division Two title. He also improved his one-day game and was rewarded with selection for the matches against India.

Andrew Gale (Yorkshire): Gale had an indifferent season with the bat, despite a few good innings. He missed out on the final matches of the season after breaking his arm in the nets, meaning he was powerless to help as the Tykes were relegated from Division One in an unceremonious fashion.

James Harris (Glamorgan): 44 first-class wickets at an average of less than 27 is a sign of more progression for the Welsh seamer. His selection for this winter's Performance Squad shows that he is still very much on the radar of the selectors.

James Hildreth (Somerset): Despite playing half a season at the batting paradise that is Taunton, Hildreth failed to reach 1000 runs in first-class cricket, and the form of others may mean he has missed out on pushing for an England place. Still one of the most talented batsmen in county cricket.

Craig Kieswetter (Somerset): South African-born Kieswetter has established himself as England's one-day and Twenty20 wicketkeeper due to some impressive performances behind the stumps and with the bat at the top of the order. Still has a plenty to do to force Matt Prior out of the test team.

Adam Lyth (Yorkshire): After being tipped as the man to replace Andrew Strauss, Lyth had a massively disappointing season which culminated in him being left out of the Yorkshire side for a large part of the season. 2012 could be a make or break year for the left-hander.

Liam Plunkett (Durham): Of all the players who toured the West Indies over the winter, it is Plunkett who has disappointed most during the 2011 season. He featured in only two first-class matches for Durham, and despite signing a new contract at the Riverside, it seems his international career may be behind him.

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire): Rashid was another Yorkshireman who disappointed this season as he looked to be half the player that he has been over previous seasons. A total of 33 wickets in four-day cricket is an incredibly low total for a man of his talents, and it seems that he has fallen down the England pecking order.

Ben Stokes (Durham): Despite being hampered by a serious finger injury for almost half of the season, Stokes made a big impression in the domestic game as comparisons were drawn with Andrew Flintoff. Even a slightly disappointing one-day series against India hasn't spoiled a good season for the 20-year old.

James Taylor (Leicestershire): Described as the best middle-order batsman in Championship cricket, Taylor scored almost 900 runs at an average of over 38. An England call-up seems to be a matter of not if but when, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him selected for the Test squads over the winter.

Taylor has already starred for the Lions

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire): Despite not figuring for the national side as much as many would have hoped, Woakes confirmed himself as one of the top all-rounders in the country as he picked up 56 wickets and scored almost 600 runs. If his form continues, he could be an England regular for years to come.

The performances of last year's squad are varied, and whilst some have prospered and gone onto bigger and better things, others have failed to live up to the expectations that were placed on them.

Eight of the seventeen players who toured the West Indies have featured for the national side since the start of the 2011 domestic season, whilst five of last year's team have been selected for the this winter's Performance Squad.

Time will tell whether the Performance programme is of a benefit to England teams of the future, but for now many of those who have been selected are beginning to prove that it is a worthwhile exercise.

Yorkshire Premier League Round-Up (30/07/2011)

Taken from The League Cricketer's Association, published on 1/8/2011

Barnsley and Castleford played out a thrilling tie after both teams racked up 249 from their 55 overs.

It was Barnsley who made first use of the pitch, and had Matt Wilson (70*), Jason Booth (64) and Steve Nuttall (55*) to thank as they posted a very competitive score. Chris Young was the pick of the Castleford bowlers as he returned figures of 5-122.

Andrew Chadwick was the main stay of the reply as he made 66, whilst Jamie Pickering (38) and Scott Hopkinson (31) both chipped in as the league’s sixth place side equalled the score of their opponents, despite Oliver Hannon-Dalby taking 4-60.

Leaders York extended their lead at the top as they posted two victories over the weekend. On Saturday they crushed Appleby Frodingham by 179 runs. The champions again set a score of over 300, with Nick Kay (72*), Andrew Tute (64) and Oliver Hairs (63) all making half-centuries.

Appleby never got close to reaching their target of 321 as Tom Pringle (4-33), Kay (3-23) and Ryan McKendry (3-32) shared all ten wickets.

The following day, the league’s top side again posted a large score, as they made 322-9, with Liam McKendry hitting 141. Nick Taylor was the pick of Harrogate’s bowlers as he took 5-72.

York again tasted victory as they restricted their opponents to 232-7, although their failure to take all ten wickets meant that they only took six points from the match. Ross Sedgley’s unbeaten 86 secured a point for his team, despite Dan Woods returning figures of 4-90.

Rotherham remain in second place after a five-wicket victory over Harrogate. Excellent bowling from Nathan Smith (5-37) and Gurman Randhawa (3-48) restricted the North Yorkshire side to 197. Smith then made 58 in support of Jordan Lowe (84*) as Rotherham reached their target in less than 49 overs.

Cleethorpes now sit in third place after a brace of victories. It was the Osmond’s who starred on Saturday as first Alex took 6-19 as Doncaster were bowled out for 107 before Rory struck an unbeaten 62 to see his side home by seven wickets.

On Sunday, it was Sheffield Collegiate who fell to defeat as it was again the same family who did the damage. Collegiate made 235-9 from  their 55 overs as Alex and James Osmond shared six wickets.

It was then left to Rory to again provide the runs as he made 112, despite Will Street taking five wickets.

Elsewhere, there were victories for Yorkshire Academy, Scarborough and Sheffield Collegiate over Driffield Town, Sheffield United and Hull respectively.

York increase their lead

Taken from The League Cricketer's Association, published on 18/7/2011

Oliver Hairs was the star of the show as York stretched their lead at the top of the league with a 131-run victory over Barnsley at Shaw Lane.

Hairs struck 103 from 72 balls to set his side up for a total of 269-9 from their 47 overs. He gained support from Alex Collins, who made his fifth half-century of the season, and opener Duncan Snell (45). For the Tykes, Yorkshire seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby took 6-81 from his 17 overs.

Barnsley made their way to 71 without losing a wicket, but were then bowled out for 138, with James Stuart top scoring with 37. Leg-spinner Tom Pringle claimed figures of 6-42 as his team went eleven points clear at the summit.

Second-placed Rotherham had to settle for three points from their rain-affected match at Sheffield Collegiate.
Rotherham chose to bat after winning the toss and made 174-8, with Gerhardus Rudolph and Stuart Gray making half-centuries. In reply, Collegiate made 130-9 from 28 overs, as Ed McKenna made 58 whilst Ollie Jackson took 3-23 for the visitors.

In the weekend’s only other match, Scarborough beat Doncaster Town by 45 runs in 30-over game.
Scarborough, who are unbeaten since May, made 171-6 as Darren Harland made 70 from 63 balls. For bottom side Doncaster, 16-year old Curtis Free took 3-39 from seven overs.

In reply, the South Yorkshire side were restricted to 126-8 despite Alex Gosney’s patient 41.

The four other matches were all washed out without a ball being bowled.

York remain on top in Yorkshire

Taken from The League Cricketer's Association, published on 13/7/2011

With the 2011 season heading now past the half-way point, York are top of the pile and look set to retain their title for the fifth season in a row.

A ten-wicket victory over lowly Driffield strengthened their position at the summit as Daniel Woods took 5-32 to set up the win. Tom Pringle also took three wickets as their opponents were shot out for 96.

An unbeaten half century from Duncan Snell meant that maximum points were assured without the loss of a wicket.

Rotherham Town continued their pursuit of the leaders with a four-wicket win against Barnsley, who posted 213, with ex-Yorkshire man Simon Widdup scoring 56.

In reply, Gareth Purshouse hit fifty before Gurman Randhawa followed up his figures of 4-62 with an unbeaten 39 to see his team home. Yorkshire bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby took three wickets for Barnsley.

In the Sheffield derby, it was fifth place Collegiate who came out on top with an emphatic victory over Sheffield United. Centuries from Elliot Callis and Yorkshire batsmen Joe Root helped their side compile a total of 293-3. United fell short with their reply as they were bowled out for 172, with Matthew Dixon taking 6-22.

With two games abandoned without a ball being bowled, Cleethorpes came out on top against Appleby Frodingham in the weekend’s only other match. A good team batting effort saw them reach 224-9 before captain James Osmond picked up six wickets to see his team to a thirty-run win.

Season Preview 2011-12: Leeds United Interview

Taken from It's Round and It's White, published on 6/8/2011

As everyone in football knows, Leeds United are a big club, and they will tell you they belong in the Premier League. However, after coming close last season and after being beaten to the final play-off spot by Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season, manager Simon Grayson will have work to do to get them challenging again, especially with people questioning the clubs ambition following the sale of Kasper Schmeichel.

Do they have what it takes to compete this season? We asked Leeds fan Tom Maston (@maston91) for his opinion.

What would be a dream season for you?

Promotion would be the obvious aim, and after the disappointment of just missing out on the play-offs last season, if we can go one step further then it will be a fantastic achievement. However, I would like to see us finish in the top two, as we don’t have the greatest record when it comes to play-off campaigns.

What would be your worst nightmare?

After our three seasons in League One, I can’t even contemplate dropping down to the third level of English football again. Relegation is every club’s main fear, and after a summer of limited spending, my fellow Leeds fans are scared it could be a real possibility.

What do you think of your club’s summer transfer activity?

After the loss of Kasper Schmeichel, Bradley Johnson and Neil Kilkenny, I felt that we needed to bring in five or six players. However, Ken Bates seems reluctant to spend a lot of money on the squad, and despite the additions of Andy Lonergan, Paul Rachubka and Michael Brown, I still feel we are short in a couple of positions, namely central midfield and left back. Injuries to Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma has left us with a limited amount of firepower, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we were to bring in a striker on a loan deal before the end of the window.

Who will be your most important player/s this season?

The front three of Becchio, Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel will be key if we are to score the same amount of goals that we did last year, whilst new captain Jonny Howson has another massive season on the cards. Paddy Kisnorbo’s return from injury could be like a new signing, and if he can continue his form from before he got injured, he could be the man to sure up our leaky defence.

Any players you would happily see the back of?

Fede Bessone was the major disappointment of last season, and it seems only a matter of time before he leaves. Otherwise, I am pretty happy with the players we have, if not with the actual make-up of the squad as a whole.

Do you have the best manager for the job?

I think so. Simon Grayson gets some unnecessary stick from sections of our supporters, but as a fan himself, he always puts the club’s fortunes first.

Opposition players that you respect?

In the Championship, there are a many experienced players who maybe should be playing at a higher level. West Ham have a number of these kinds of players i.e. Kevin Nolan and Scott Parker. Other players who I think should be plying their trade in the Premiership include Shane Long, David Stockdale and Barry Ferguson.

Opposition players that you despise?

There aren’t many in the Championship that immediately spring to mind, but if we were to be drawn against that team from Old Trafford, it would be more taxing to find someone who I didn’t absolutely hate.

Best away fans/ground in your league?

There are a number of fans who tend to help the atmosphere at Elland Road, including Leicester, Cardiff and Middlesbrough. I’m sure the relegated teams will also bring large followings, whilst a trip to Upton Park will probably be the highlight for many of the fans.

Which teams do you really want to beat this season?

If we beat West Ham and Leicester then hopefully we won’t be far away from being promoted, whilst beating our “local” rivals Barnsley, Hull and Middlesbrough would also be quite sweet.

Finally, where do you honestly think you will finish?

I honestly can’t see us finishing above mid-table, and a poor start could see us facing a difficult season.

Diary of a Club Cricketer- August

Taken from Swinging Balls magazine, published on 8/9/2011

August was another key month for the teams at Otley Cricket Club – whilst the First XI’s title challenge fell away, the Second XI made strides to ensure they avoided relegation. The Thirds had a fantastic month, with records being broken by some of their younger players.

Matthew O’Grady’s first eleven went into August with a very realistic chance of winning a first league title since the 1980s, but despite victory over relegation threatened Adel, defeats against Collingham and local rivals Burley have left the team in third place, and needing others to drop points if they are to be in with a chance of lifting the league winner’s trophy.

The team’s most dramatic match of the month came at Beckwithshaw as Anthony Giles, who has returned to the club for the second half of the season, hit a four off the final ball of the match to secure a tie and a share of the points.

The second team have also had a mixed month, with two victories over Olicanians and Beckwithshaw being cancelled out by defeats to Burley and league leaders Adel. In the win against Beckwithshaw, 13-year old Tom Brady passed 300 runs for the season in Second Team cricket, and therefore qualified for the league averages. This is a huge achievement for someone who is playing their first year of senior cricket, and all at the club are very excited about what the future may hold for the teenager.

Speaking of teenagers, Joe Braham (14) and Dom Kellett (17) broke a Third XI league record in their match against Bilton after recording an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 241. Braham made his second century of the season after making 106, whilst Kellett recorded his maiden hundred as he smashed 120 from 90 balls.

The Third XI seem to have been spurred on by the exploits of the two teenagers, and are on the verge of qualifying for the end of season play-offs. Captain Chris Keddle has had some difficult seasons of late, and a shot at winning the league would be just reward for a number of seasons of hard work.

With two matches remaining in September, all three sides will be hoping to finish the season on a high.

Return of a Legend

Taken from Swinging Balls magazine, published 8/9/2011

For most former international cricketers, making a comeback is the last thing on the mind at the age of 48. However, for Martin Crowe, that is exactly what is at the forefront of his thoughts as he prepares for an unprecedented first season in 15 years. 

Since his retirement from the game in 1996, Crowe has tried his hand at both coaching and media work, but the ex-New Zealand captain is now in training as he looks to make a comeback for his local side Cornwall CC. Crowe began his cricketing career at the club when he was six years-old, but last turned out for the Auckland-based team in 1981, before making his international bow the following year.

The 1985 Wisden Cricketer of the Year believes that he is on track to make his return over the New Zealand summer whilst he hopes to possibly make a step up to the first-class game.

“If all goes well I hope to put my name up for something higher, but it’s a long shot given my age.”

Despite reports that Crowe’s motivation for making a comeback was that he wanted to reach 250 first-class matches and 20,000 first-class runs, he is keen to reiterate that his return is for more for personal fitness and enjoyment reasons.

“My motivation is to get really fit and healthy and to do what I enjoy the best of all; batting” he says. “I also want to go back to grassroots and give back, plus have some fun on a Saturday afternoon.”

Crowe admits the most difficult obstacle he has overcome since he announced his return to the sport are little niggles and strains in his legs, but as he approaches his own half-century in terms of age, that is very understandable.

The former Black Cap is one of a number of the cricketing fraternity who has embraced social media and Twitter. He used the popular networking site to announce his comeback, although he doesn’t feel that the use of sites like Twitter or Facebook have had a huge impact on the sport and how it is covered.

He says, “No impact of note, at this stage. I don’t have a personal PR department so I used Twitter to get a message out. It took 30 minutes to get the media buzzing, so it can work for an individual.”

Since Crowe retired in the mid-1990’s, New Zealand have struggled to consistently perform at the highest level of the game. Despite a World Cup semi-final earlier this year, their performances in all forms of the game have been largely disappointing. The low point came after a one-day series whitewash defeat by Bangladesh, and Crowe is worried about how his country’s cricketing authorities have prioritised, although he feels his comeback will have no effect on the fortunes of the national team or New Zealand’s young cricketers.

“Cricket in New Zealand is at a serious crossroad. We have wrongly decided to focus on T20 and our Test game is disappearing fast. My return will have no impact though, as its only at club level at this stage.”

Away from cricket, Crowe holds a keen interest in Rugby Union and the fortunes of his beloved All Blacks, who he is backing to finally shrug off their chokers tag and win the World Cup on home soil over the next few weeks.

“The All Blacks will get there this time, but it will be tense to the end. Australia in the Final would be an amazing event. Henry vs Deans is Trans-Tasman rivalry at its ultimate best. Richie McCaw the Number seven for New Zealand will lift the seventh Rugby World Cup.”

He also believes that hosting such a major sporting event will be a huge lift to his beloved New Zealand, saying “It will be incredibly positive for a nation that is going through a lot at present after the earthquakes in Christchurch, our second largest city. Overall apart from cost of staging it, the world will see New Zealand as a fine nation.”

The return of Martin Crowe to the sport of the cricket may seem, from the outside, to be a selfish act of a former professional who just wants to improve their career statistics and possibly take the place of a talented young player.

However, Crowe wants to give something back to the sport and help out at a grassroots level. Whilst he realises a return to first-class cricket isn’t something to which he has a divine right to, Crowe just wants to enjoy playing cricket for his local team and coaching the next generation of young Kiwi cricketers.

Graves' comments justified as Yorkshire begin to lick wounds

Colin Graves, chairman of Yorkshire CCC, has launched a scathing attack on the county's players after their relegation to Division Two of the County Championship was sealed by Worcestershire claiming a bowling bonus point in their match against Durham.

Graves, who also founded the supermarket chain Costcutter, has labelled the players' performances as "a disgrace", whilst he signalled out players who have been in and around the international team as those who have underperformed.

Some fans of the White Rose county have leapt to the defence of the players, citing other reasons for the team's failure to remain in Division One.

The main argument stems from the club's failure to secure a replacement for Jacques Rudolph. The South African, who had been the side's talisman for the previous few seasons, left the team in the winter after he expressed his desire to try and regain his place in the Proteas squad. 

Yorkshire's economic troubles are no secret, and therefore trying to find a replacement wasn't a viable option. Instead, the onus to try and repeat the relatively successful season of 2010 was put on a talented group of younger players, many of whom have played for or have been linked with international set-up.

However, it is these players who have ultimately performed consistently poorly throughout the season:

Anthony McGrath (485 runs @ 21.08)- After years of being Yorkshire's Mr. Reliable, the middle-order batsman has, this season, been in horrendous form, and I for one cannot understand why he was continuously selected. His statistics are boosted by a century that he scored on a Rose Bowl wicket that yielded 1,171 for the loss of only 13 wickets over four days, whilst he has only one other score of over fifty from his 23 innings'. A truly abysmal season for the ex-England man.

Adam Lyth (553 runs @ 26.33)- In 2010, Lyth was the first man in the country to reach 1000 first-class runs. Less than a year later, he was struggling to regain his place in Yorkshire's first eleven. Lyth's constant failure to convert starts into big scores has meant that he has gone from being a man who was touted as a possible Ashes tourist to a batsman who has to start re-building his career in the second tier of Championship cricket.

Rashid has had arguably his worst
season for the Tykes in 2011.

Adil Rashid (556 runs @ 24.17, 39 wickets @ 43.38)- Rashid began the season with a bang as he took eleven wickets at Worcester in a convincing victory for the White Rose. However, a return of 28 wickets from his next 15 matches would be poor by anyone's standards, and Rashid's hopes of forging a career in the national side seem to be fading fast. He seems to have developed a fear of tossing the ball up, and is instead bowling much flatter, meaning his chances of claiming wickets have diminished considerably. A relatively poor season with the bat hasn't helped lift the spirits of the leg-spinning all-rounder.

Ajmal Shahzad (25 wickets @ 41.00)- After a promising World Cup in the sub-continent, many Headingley patrons would have been excused for hoping that Shahzad could take the wickets that would propel the team towards the Championship title. However, a mixture of injuries and poor form has meant that the seamer has fallen down the England pecking order and needs a big season in Division Two to prove he isn't just a one-day specialist.

Other players, including bowlers Steven Patterson and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, have failed to live up to expectations, whilst Joe Sayers and captain Andrew Gale have had ordinary seasons at best.

It's not all doom and gloom though, as some of the younger players have impressed.

Bairstow's performances have put a
rare smile on Yorkshire fans' faces

Wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow passed 1000 runs for the season and was rewarded for his form with a call-up to the England one-day squad for the trip to Ireland, whilst Joe Root recovered from a slow start to finish the season with an England Lions call-up and a large group of admirers.

Gary Ballance has also had a good maiden season as he passed fifty at least once in almost every match he featured in, and a century at Edgbaston in the penultimate match of the campaign was just reward for an encouraging season.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the returning Ryan Sidebottom picked up 62 wickets, and his experience could be key as the Tykes look to return to Division One at the first attempt.

Graves' comments should be a wake-up call to those that have underperformed this season, and hopefully 2012 will not see a repeat of the car crash that was the 2011 campaign at the Headingley Carnegie stadium.

Braham & Kellett enter record books

Taken from the official website of Otley Cricket Club, published 07/08/2011

14 year-old Joe Braham & 17 year-old Dom Kellett both hit unbeaten centuries in an incredible victory for the 3rd XI.

Cross Green was the venue for a remarkable match in which three junior cricketers hit hundreds and over 520 runs were scored in less than 80 overs.

Opponents Bilton batted first and took advantage of some sloppy fielding to register a mammoth score of 261-3 from their 40 overs. 17 year-old Michael Donnelly was the mainstay of their innings as he smashed 159 not out; an innings which included 26 boundaries and one maximum.

A target that large would usually be too daunting for a young team, but despite skipper Chris Keddle departing for 14, Braham and Kellett began to pick apart the visitor's young bowling attack.

As a large crowd began to gather on the famous OCC pavilion, the youngsters began to showcase an array of shots as they never lost touch with the required rate.

Both recorded their centuries in the closing overs before Braham finished the match with a six over the leg-side to spark mass celebrations.

Opener Braham finished on 106, with 15 fours and a six, whilst Kellett made 120 from around 90 balls, as he recorded 20 fours and two massive hits into the rugby ground.

The pair's unbeaten stand of 241 is a new Aire-Wharfe record for the 2nd wicket partnership in a 3rd XI match

Diary of a Club Cricketer- July

Taken from Swinging Balls Magazine, published 31/07/2011

July could prove to have been a defining month in the season for the teams of Otley Cricket Club. Matthew O’Grady’s First Eleven now sit second in the league and have a real chance of claiming the title, whilst the Second Team have made great strides in their fight to avoid relegation for the first time.

O’Grady’s side picked up three victories in the month of July, including wins at title rivals Thackley and Bilton. New signing Micky Missett has scored some crucial runs at the top of the order, whilst Nicholas Benton has continued his fantastic form.

It hasn’t just been the batsmen who have contributed though, as Andy Rhodes now has nearly 40 wickets to his name in 2011, whilst off-spinner John Brough has been picking up wickets for fun, and at a very economical rate. The return of Anthony Giles after a two year hiatus has also boosted the bowling attack, and an end of season celebration could well be on the cards.

Wilkinson’s Second XI side have also picked up three positive results over the past four weeks, all of which were against their relegation rivals. 13-year old Tom Brady has shown talent beyond his years in scoring nearly 200 runs in July, and he has been ably supported by captain Wilkinson and his brother Paul who both recorded fifties. Liam Mulligan has also began to show his worth, picking up 13 wickets from the four matches played, and he now has an average which is better than that of perennial bowling hero Mick Gray.

Chris Keddle’s third eleven had a mixed month, as a win over Ilkley was sandwiched between two defeats. It was a month to remember, however, for 14-year old Joe Braham, who struck his maiden century against Olicanians.

For myself, July was a frustrating month, as after missing two matches through a holiday to Rhodes, I was then only able to play one match for the third team, although it did give me a chance to bat for the first time in two months. (Editor ~ and how did one bat?)

Hopefully August will see me take to the field more often.

Everything To Play For

Taken from Swinging Balls Magazine, published 31/07/2011

With under two months remaining in the season, things are beginning to hot up in all of England’s domestic cricket competitions. Whilst a small minority of teams may be seeing out the campaign with little to play for, many sides are dreaming of lifting a trophy or staving off the threat of relegation.

Durham currently lead the County
Championship, but that could all
change over the next few weeks

In Division One of the County Championship, it is Durham who lead the way by two points over Lancashire. Those two sides have easily been the most impressive in the four-day game this year, but Lancashire’s defeat to Nottinghamshire at Southport at the end of last month has set them back somewhat with only five matches to play. Warwickshire and Somerset sit in the next two positions, and both are ready to pounce if one of the top two slip up in the run-in. Marcus Trescothick has been in absolutely superb form yet again in 2011, and his batting will be key if Somerset are to make a late run to win the title on which they narrowly missed out last year.

At the other end of the table, Hampshire look doomed to relegation, especially after losing eight points for a poor pitch for their match against Nottinghamshire, and it seems that they will be joined by either Worcestershire or Yorkshire. Both have lost games which on other days they may, or should, have won, and both will be hoping they can pick up enough points from their upcoming matches so that they are not plying their trade in Division Two next year.

Whichever teams are relegated, it seems increasingly likely that they will be replaced by Northamptonshire. They have only suffered defeat once this season and would be worthy champions if they were to finish off what has been an excellent season. Middlesex and Gloucestershire sit just below them, and you would get long odds on a team other than these two joining Northants in the top tier of the County Championship next year.

In the Clydesdale Bank 40, it is the southern sides who are dominating. Durham are the only northern side who currently sit in the top two positions of one of the groups, whilst Surrey and Somerset are yet to taste defeat in this year’s competition, and alongside Group A leaders Sussex are the favourites for the competition.

Despite their four-day woes, Hampshire have been superb in this year’s Twenty20 competition. The spin trio of Danny Briggs, Imran Tahir and Shahid Afridi have seen them to a number of victories, and with a home draw for the quarter-finals, they look set for yet another finals day appearance.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Nottinghamshire, Kent and Sussex joining them at Edgbaston, but only time will tell.

Despite being near to its close, the 2011 season will surely have many twists and turns to come as the winners and losers are decided.

Given Prior Thought?

Taken from Swinging Balls Magazine, published 31/07/2011

The make-up of England’s test team over the last few years has been a topic of much debate. Despite a winning streak that could see them rise to the top of the test match rankings by the end of the summer, cricket writers and pundits have repeatedly asked the question as to whether playing only four bowlers is the best way to go as they look to bowl sides out twice on hard, flat wickets.

Prior has been in imperious form,
and could hold the key to England's
problematic number six position

The man who could hold the key to a change in the line-up is Matt Prior. The wicket-keeper has been in imperious form over the past 18 months with both bat in hand and behind the stumps. His century in the first test against India was one of his best and he is now arguably the world’s best in his position in five-day cricket.

From 44 matches, the Sussex man averages over 45 with the bat, and has gone past fifty on 23 occasions. Not many middle-order batsmen have records that equal that, never mind those that bat at number seven.

When you compare Prior’s statistics with those of the current holder of the number six position, Eoin Morgan, then it makes grim reading for the Dublin-born left hander. He has passed fifty only three times in his 14 test innings (prior to the second test at Trent Bridge), and has only reached 20 on a total of five occasions.

Many would ask why the England selectors would want to tinker with a formula that has been so successful, but with Prior in the form that he is, the selectors and Andrew Strauss will have undoubtedly thought about moving the stumper one place up the order.

Some may question whether playing only six recognised batsmen may leave them short in the runs department, but with a lower order that would most probably consist of Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann, then that may not be the case.

Between the three of them they have gone past the half-century mark 14 times, and Broad especially is looking more and more like an international all-rounder with every match he plays. With the addition of an extra bowler, it could be argued that the England team would have all bases covered.

I, like many others, are fans of Morgan in the limited overs sides, but whether he can adapt his game for the test match arena is yet to be seen, and if England feel the same, the form of Prior means that they have the flexibility to change the way in which they line-up.

International Bright Young Things

Taken from Swinging Balls Magazine, published 10/07/2011

English cricket may well be at the best it has been for a number of decades. A first Ashes win in Australia since the 1980’s and the prospect of becoming the world’s number one Test nation sees the current crop of players being labelled as the new golden generation.

But all good things must come to an end, and the likes of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson may not be international players come the next time the Ashes are played for Down Under. The good news for the ECB is that there is a wealth of talent currently coming through the county scene, and this season especially has seen the emergence and growth of some of the talented individuals who could push for international call-ups in the coming years.

Durham's Stokes has been on fire so far in 2011.

One of the most impressive performers this season has been Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes. The 19-year old began the season by almost replicating the great Garfield Sobers after he hit the first five balls of a Liam Dawson over for six. However, the sixth ball only yielded a single as he narrowly missed out on joining a select group of cricketers.

Despite that disappointment, he went on to record a century and take career best figures in the same match, as he started 2011 with a bang, and hasn’t really looked back since. He has been described as the new Andrew Flintoff, and you can see why. His swashbuckling batting style and his bowling ability would remind anyone of the Lancastrian, and it may only be a matter of time before he is at least given a chance in England’s limited overs side.

Another that has caught the eye this season is 17-year old Reece Topley of Essex. The tall left-armer began the season with a bang and, despite missing some matches due to him preparing for his A-Levels, he has performed at a consistently high level. The fact that he out-bowled South African international Lonwabo Tsotsobe during his time at the county is testament to the talent that he has already shown, and those that have seen him in the flesh have gone on record in saying that England could have a genuinely great fast bowler on their hands in years to come.

A man who has also shown the potential to play for the national side in the future is Yorkshire wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow. He came into this season without a first-class century, but some great form has seen him reach three figures twice already this season, including one score of over 200. A promising debut for the England Lions side against Sri Lanka underlined the fact that he is on the England selectors’ radar and could well be the long-term replacement for Matt Prior.

As well as the afore mentioned trio, the likes of Chris Woakes, James Harris and Simon Kerrigan have all impressed with the ball in hand, whilst Alex Hales and James Taylor have been amongst the runs in the opening months of the English domestic season. For the time being, there seems to be a limited amount of spaces in the national set-up, but if these players or any others continue their recent form, the selectors will have to sit up and take notice.

Bringing through talent is what keeps teams at the top of the rankings. The fact that Australia failed to bring in any new faces during their golden period could be seen as one of the reasons that they have had their recent fall from grace, and if England are to avoid something similar, then young in-form players must be given a chance on the biggest stage

Diary of a Club Cricketer- May & June

Taken from Swinging Balls Magazine, published 10/07/2011

May 2011

May was a month of differing fortunes at the OCC, with the First Team staking their claims for title challenge, whilst the Second Team sit at the foot of their division.

Beginning with Matthew O’Grady’s first eleven, who are on a run of three consecutive victories in the league, and sit in second place, nine points behind leaders Thackley.

Overseas player Nicholas Benton has decided to stop attacking his own players and instead take on the bowling of the opposition, with devastating effects.

Quickfire half-centuries against Bilton and Beckwithshaw set up much needed victories, and he seems to be finding his feet in English conditions. A five-wicket haul in the win at Collingham underlined his all-round credentials, and everyone at the club is hoping he continues his progression over the coming weeks.

Other notable performances include the form of Jono Hughes, who has scored back-to-back fifties at the top of the order, whilst Stewart Smith scored his first half-century in the winning draw at Follifoot. Yorkshire Academy player George Ross also scored runs in that match, although he has only figured in that match thus far due to his commitments with the White Rose county. Andrew Rhodes has continued to impress with the ball, and figures of 6-45 against Beckwithshaw were his best of the season so far.

In stark comparison, Mark Wilkinson’s second team are on a horrendous run which has seen them not pick up a positive result since the first match of the season at Harden. Mick Gray has continued to take wickets and has 20 from the opening six matches, but he has found little support from either his fellow bowlers or the batsmen. The batsmen especially have failed to impose themselves this season, and the mere fact yours truly is topping the averages when batting at ten is proof of this.

Away from the league, both the Saturday teams safely negotiated themselves through the first round of their respective cup competitions against great rivals Guiseley. The second team were especially impressive in knocking out the current leaders in the first round for the first time in thirty years.

Chris Keddle’s third team are having a good season thus far, with the mix of youngsters and experienced heads proving to be the recipe for success. 14-year old Joe Braham has become the most recent of the club’s talented youngsters to record his maiden senior fifty, and the team currently sit at the top of their conference.

Finally, the club’s Twenty20 campaign kicked off at Ilkley when a side that brought together players from the top two teams as well as guests Josh Atkinson and James Davies (both former players) came out on top from the last ball of the match. The fact that the ball was a wide made the victory ever so slightly easier, if slightly less satisfying.

June 2011

June was again a month of ups and downs as Otley’s senior teams began to evaluate what the second half of the season’s aims were to be.

The First Eleven continue to push for their first league title since the 1980’s, with Matthew O’Grady’s side sitting in third place, eleven points behind leaders Thackley, who they face in their next match.

Victories over Green Lane and bitter rivals Guiseley were sandwiched between defeats to champions Burley and bottom side Rawdon, whilst a losing draw was obtained from a home match against Adel.

Australian Nicholas Benton continues to impress, and an unbeaten century against Guiseley was his undoubted highlight from his first few months in Otley. Another new signing Stewart Dobson has also begun to make his mark, as he took seven wickets in the ten-wicket demolition of Green Lane.

The Seconds on the other hand, are still struggling at the foot of the table, although performances are beginning to improve. Paul Wilkinson and recent signing Micky Missett have been amongst the runs this month, having both recorded centuries against Adel and Guiseley respectively. Wilkinson also picked up five wickets in the match against Adel, a game which saw the side take maximum points for only the second time this season.

Despite veteran Mick Gray now having passed 30 wickets for the season, the bowlers continue to struggle, and two points were obtained from the matches against Burley and Green Lane despite both times the opposition recording scores of almost 300 from their 50 overs.

In the cup competitions, both teams were knocked out in the second round after both fell fowl of Steeton. Poor batting performances attributed to both defeats, and it was extremely disappointing for the second team as the final of their competition is due to be played at Otley in August.

Chris Keddle’s third team were only able to play one match this month, although this did bring a victory as 13-year old Tom Brady made an unbeaten 47 to see off Knaresborough.

AFC Fylde Season Review

After just missing out on promotion, AFC Fylde can look back with pride on a very successful season. Victory in the LFA Trophy final at the Reebok Stadium was the undoubted highlight, and only defeat at Chorley in the play-off final cost Kelham O'Hanlon's men a perfect season.

As part of my work with the club, I created this review of the season for the End of Season Awards Dinner:

Batting woes continue for 2nd XI

Mick Gray takes six wickets but yet another batting collapse hands Olicanians victory

Otley arrived at Cross Green in a confident mood, despite a crushing victory at the hands of North Leeds in the previous round of fixtures.

Mark Wilkinson won the toss and chose to field first on a wicket which had remained dry despite constant rain on the previous day.

Ricky Halloran and Liam Mulligan took the new ball but struggled to stem the flow of runs despite Mulligan picking up the wicket of Matt Worrall with a good yorker.

Mick Gray was rushed into the attack at the end of the first ten overs, and after an economical start, he got rid of opener Walker as he looked to accelerate after reaching his half-century.

Paul Wilkinson was introduced from the clubhouse end, and he was quickly amongst the wickets as he picked up his best haul of the season thus far with three wickets, whilst Gray continued to add to his ever growing tally for the season.

Halloran replaced Wilkinson so as to try and run through the lower order of the visitors, but instead Giles Phillips rode his luck and played some good shots to make 31.

Gray, however, wasn't to be denied as he finished with 6 wickets, whilst Tom Maston finished with three stumpings as the team from Ilkley were bowled out for 172.

Wilkinson's side were confident of chasing down the under-par total, and started well as Lewis Bolton raced to 20 from only five overs.

However, in the sixth, he was caught at square leg as he looked to continue the fast scoring rate.

Charlie Davy quickly followed him back to the pavilion, whilst Paul Wilkinson and Halloran were very harshly adjudged LBW as the home side began to crumble.

Captain Wilkinson and Graeme Wolfenden began re-buliding and looked like they could form a large partnership when the skipper was caught at point.

This proved the trigger for a lower order collapse as Wolfenden, Keith Pullan, Declan Adams and Mulligan all lost their wickets.

Final pair Maston and Gray battled for six overs before the latter was bowled by Ben Rhodes to leave the home side all out for 116, with more than 12 overs of their reply remaining.

The defeat leaves the side in the relegation places after five matches and victory over fellow strugglers Beckwithshaw on Saturday is a must. The Birtwhistle Cup also begins at the weekend, with a tie at league-leaders Guiseley awaiting Wilkinson's charges

Olicanians 2nd XI 172 (M.Gray 6-37, P.Wilkinson 3-27)
Otley 2nd XI 116 (G. Wolfenden 36)

The full scorecard can be found here.

Swinging Balls- April Edition

I have again contributed to online magazine Swinging Balls this month.

The articles that I have written this month consist of the second entry of my 'Diary of a Club Cricketer', a look at modern-day cricket commentary and a review of whether the IPL is a good thing for world cricket or not.

Please take a look

Adams and Maston hang on for a point

Otley 2nd XI hold on for a losing draw after a middle-order collapse sees Steeton take five points away from Cross Green.

The visitor's skipper won the toss, and despite the early loss of Mick Wilson to Liam Mulligan, they made a good start.

Declan Adams struggled to control the new ball, and was replaced by Lewis Bolton. The ex-Pool man struck almost instantly as he had Tennant caught behind.

Mick Gray was then introduced into the attack and got rid of the dangerous Robinson, whilst Paul Wilkinson bowled Adam Hardwick with a turning delivery.

Gray picked up a further two wickets to leave last year's champions on 130-6 and in danger of being bowled out for a well under-par score.

A 59-run partnership between Julian Higginson and James Emmott brought the visitors back into the match, and despite Wilkinson and Mulligan both picking up further wickets, Steeton posted a decent score of 235-8

In reply, Bolton and Wolfenden started well as the three seamers were hit to all areas of the ground.

However, after reaching his half-century, Bolton got bogged down against the spin of Zach Pearson and Hardwick and was caught on the leg side.

Neil Mullins and Wolfenden soon followed him back to the pavilion as Paul and Mark Wilkinson began re-building the innings.

At 130-3 the match looked evenly poised, but the wicket of the skipper changed all this, as his side lost a flurry of wickets to leave the score at 140-8 with ten overs remaining.

This brought Adams and Tom Maston together, and they saw out the final overs to seal a point.

Steeton 2nd XI 235-8 (M.Gray 3-35)
Otley 2nd XI 169-8 (L.Bolton 53, G.Wolfenden 34)

The full scorecard can be found here

Just what the doctor ordered

Otley came away with two points from a well fought game at Cross Green against Kirkstall Educational.

On a wicket that was being described before the match as 'a road', Liam Mulligan and Jamie Wilkinson took the new ball, and Wilkinson quickly induced an edge from Mickey Missett, with Tom Maston taking the catch.

At the other end, however, Mulligan struggled and was replaced by Gregor Sutherland, who found the going just as tough.

He would have been right to feel aggrieved when his third over was hit for 25 after Tony Lazarus spilled two opportunities to remove the vistors' key batsman.

Mick Gray and Declan Adams were soon into the attack and began to slow the scoring rate.

Gray picked up a wicket as the batsmen tried to keep up with the early rate, and after reaching his hundred, Kirkstall's opener was run out after Adams executed a direct hit off his own bowling.

The rest of vistors' batting line-up offered little as Wilkinson returned to pick up a further three wickets whilst Gray completed his own 4-for.

234 looked very gettable considering the start the visitors had made, and Lazarus and Keith Pullan began the chase well.

Pullan was eventually the first wicket to fall as he played on from the bowling of Holly Richardson for 21, but Lazarus and Charlie Davy quickly got into their stride, taking one over for 26.

A change of bowling saw Lazarus adjudged LBW, whilst Sutherland fell two balls later when he was bowled by an almost unplayable delivery.

Mulligan arrived at the crease, and along with Davy he kept the scoreboard ticking over until the left-hander picked out a fielder with a drive that on another day would have flown to the boundary.

That brought Chris Keddle to the crease, but his innings was ended by an unbelievable catch in the covers.

Mulligan and Wilkinson fell soon after and it looked as if James Tebby and captain Gray would have to see the rest of the innings out for a draw.

However, aided by 57 extras in the innings and some aggressive stroke play, the two right-handers started to ignite dreams of a famous victory.

Richardson returned from the cemetery end with three overs left and bowled Gray meaning that Tebby and Maston were left to see out the final couple of overs to pick up two points.

Tebby finished unbeaten on 44 as the home side ended on 224 for 8.

Mark Wilkinson returns next week to captain the side as they take on last year's champions Steeton at Cross Green.

Kirkstall Educational 2nd XI 239 (M.Gray 4-46, J.Wilkinson 4-61)
Otley 2nd XI 224-8 (J.Tebby 44*)

The full scorecard can be found here.

Promotion beckons for Chester FC

Yesterday, I spent my Easter Monday afternoon at Kellamergh Park, the home of AFC Fylde. Throughout the season I have been providing match highlights and post-match interviews for the club's website, and yesterday marked the end of the regular season for the Coasters, with a fixture against Chester FC.

Chester have consistently been the most
impressive team in the Evo-Stik
Division One North this season

Chester are currently playing in their inaugral season and have impressed in the new surroundings of the Evo-Stik Division One North.

They went into the match knowing a win could ensure them a maiden title if other results went their way, and almost 1000 fans converged on the small town of Kirkham to cheer their team on to what could turn out to be a famous victory.

Chester FC were formed last year after ex-Football League side Chester City were wound up in March 2010.  A phoenix club was formed by fans and City's former ground, the Deva Stadium, was leased to the new club by the council.

The club then applied for league status, and were accepted into the eighth tier of English football, where they would face teams such as Radcliffe Borough, Cammell Laird and, of course, Fylde; a far cry from their days in the higher echelons of the English football pyramid.

Since the start of the season, Neil Young's side have been the standout performers in the league, and by the end of February were twelve points clear at the top of the league. However, after a poor run of form through March, their lead was cut to just one point by Skelmersdale United. Both sides have since dropped points, with Chester going into their penultimate game of the season at Fylde with a three point lead over their rivals in the race for automatic promotion.

Fylde themselves have also had a good season, and went into the match sitting in 4th position and assured of a play-off place regardless of the result. However, with the play-off semi-finals consisting of only one match, a win was imperative if they were to stand any chance of gaining home advantage for next week's match.

Kelham O'Hanlon rested full-back Matt Lawlor whilst Matt Mahoney, Joe Booth and top-scorer Tom Cahill all missed out through injury, meaning Kevin Townson again led the line for the home team.

After 35 minutes of little incident, it was former Macclesfield and Rochdale striker Townson who gave Fylde a shock lead as he fired home from the edge of the box after Paul Jarvis' free-kick was blocked.

Chester looked devoid of ideas, and with news filtering through that Skelmersdale were 3-1 up at half-time in their match at Prescot Cables, their large hoards of supporters were beginning to become a bit twitchy.

Young brought on Chris Simm at half-time, and he began to provide a spark that was missing in the first-half as his pace began to cause the home side's defence a few problems.

Townson gave Fylde the lead with his first goal in 14 matches

The second-half was 17 minutes old when Chester finally got the equaliser they deserved when Michael Powell headed in a corner from close range. It was the midfielder's third goal in as many games, although the Fylde players complained ferociously that goalkeeper Lewis Edge had been fouled as he tried to come and collect the ball.

Four minutes later Chester were in front as Michael Wilde headed in his 37th goal of the season. The goal brought about scenes of jubilation with players, staff and fans all joining in with the celebrations.

Conceding two goals in such a short space of time knocked the stuffing out of Fylde as they struggled to forge any attacks of note due to the strong wind that was aiding their visitors.

With time ticking down the visitors made the points safe as Robbie Booth fired home from close range, and minutes later the referee blew the final whistle to spark a pitch invasion of around half the travelling supporters.

Skelmersdale hung on for a victory that meant that Chester cannot yet be 100% sure of promotion, but with one game to play they have a three point lead at the top of the table and have a far superior goal difference.

Chester now need just a point to guarantee promotion when they travel to Garforth Town on Friday afternoon, and I don't feel anyone would begrudge their fans a first title since City won the Conference in 2004.

As for Fylde, the result leaves them 5th in the table and almost assured of playing away at Skelmersdale next Monday afternoon, with victory setting up another away tie in the final, against either Chorley or Curzon Ashton.

After the match, O'Hanlon spoke to me about the game and the forthcoming play-offs:

Wilkinson half-century sees off Harden

Mark Wilkinson’s side began the 2011 season in the best possible way after picking up a four-wicket victory at newly promoted Harden.

The skipper won the toss and chose to bowl on a green wicket that seemed to have missed out on the two weeks of solid sunshine that had been enjoyed in the rest of the country.

Liam Mulligan and Jamie Wilkinson were entrusted with the new ball, and it was Wilkinson who picked up the first scalp after Harden’s opener Allison chipped a full ball to debutant Lewis Bolton, who held onto a good catch.

Despite losing an early wicket, the home side’s young batsmen were looking to play some big shots and push singles.

However, this proved to be their downfall, as a superb ‘dummy’ from Charlie Davy confused the batsmen and left Paul Wilkinson with the relatively simple task of running out opener Wear for 33.

Harden lost their third wicket as Jamie Wilkinson swung one away from the new batsman and clipped the top of his off-stump.

Wickets continued to tumble as this time Davy ran out new batsman Trees for 9 to further show why he won the 2nd XI fielding prize in 2010, whilst Wilkinson picked up his third wicket as Bolton took his second catch of the match.

The final five wickets all fell to Mick Gray as Harden were bowled out for 170, which seemed a competitive if not a daunting total.

Otley’s reply began well with George Huntley and Graeme Wolfenden starting with boundaries, but Huntley soon fell after inexplicably shouldering arms to a straight ball when on ten.

Wolfenden and Paul Wilkinson soon followed him back to the pavilion after both were adjudged LBW, leaving the visitors on 34-3.

Captain Wilkinson and Bolton added 42 for the fourth wicket before the debutant was caught in the deep for 36.

Otley were soon five wickets down after Davy was run out after being left high and dry by his captain after a mix-up which saw both batsmen finish at the same end of the wicket.

Number 7 Mulligan dug in and supported Wilkinson before being bowled for 8 by a good Yorker which brought Jamie Wilkinson to the crease to join his captain.

The two shared in an unbroken stand of 62 to see Otley home with more than seven overs remaining.

Otley return to Cross Green next week to take on Kirkstall Educational.

Harden 2nd XI 170 (M .Gray 5-34, J. Wilkinson 3-75)
Otley 2nd XI 172-6 (M. Wilkinson 55*, L. Bolton 36, J. Wilkinson 31*)


The full scorecard can be found here.

England's future stars shine in Championship openers

High temperatures and large crowds greeted the start of the County Championship this week, and some exciting matches meant that those crowds may well be back for more throughout the season.

One of the main talking points was the early-season form of some of England’s brightest young cricketers. If these players continue their progression, then the future looks very bright for the national team.

The most eye-catching performance came from a man who has already tasted international honours. Adil Rashid’s match figures of 11-114 in Yorkshire’s nine-wicket win over relegation favourite’s Worcestershire served as a reminder to England’s selectors that he has the talents to step up into the test or one-day team if a second spinner was required to support Graeme Swann.  The amount of wickets that he took with his well disguised googly should give him the edge over some of his rivals, whilst his lower order batting also trumps that of James Tredwell, and if his form continues then he has a chance of featuring for Andrew Strauss’ team this summer.

Rashid gave a timely reminder to the England
selectors after picking up 11 wickets at New Road

Elsewhere in Division One, 19 year-old Ben Stokes made quite the impression with both bat and ball as he followed up career-best figures of 6-68 with an unbeaten 135 as Durham drew with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. The New Zealand-born all-rounder had already played for the England Lions, and has been compared to Andrew Flintoff by some former players. He almost completed a remarkable match by hitting six sixes in an over, but after Liam Dawson’s first five deliveries were dispatched over the rope, the final ball only yielded a single.

In Division Two, Sam Northeast hit the first century of the Championship season against Essex at Chelmsford. His 112 proved to be a match-winning knock in a low scoring game between last year’s two relegated sides, and at 21 the future looks bright for a player who has been with Kent since the age of 13.

Northeast hit the first century of the 2011
Championship season

In opposition to Northeast was a teenager who surprised everyone over the weekend. 17-year old Reece Topley’s match figures of 7-114 were hugely impressive for someone making their Championship debut. At 6’7”, the left-armer has all the credentials to become an excellent bowler for both Essex and England.

Despite the impressive performances of many of England’s youngsters, some of the old guard showed that they weren’t ready to be upstaged quite yet.

Gerard Brophy’s innings of 177 not out proved to be the backbone of Yorkshire’s success, whilst Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard picked up his third career hat-trick in his side’s win against Glamorgan.

The second round of county fixtures begin on Thursday when last year’s top two sides, Nottinghamshire and Somerset, make their first appearances of the season, whilst Lords hosts its first match of the season as Middlesex take on Essex.

Swinging Balls

Swinging Balls is available on the 1st
of every month

I have begun writing for new online magazine Swinging Balls. This is a monthly magazine which covers a huge range of sports, and is available on the 1st of every month.

For the April edition I have written a preview to the 2011 County Championship season, whilst also publishing the first entry of my 'Diary of a Club Cricketer', in which I will write monthly entries surrounding my time at Otley Cricket Club.

Feel free to read both, and if you are interested in writing for the magazine, contact Rohan Kallicharan.

What next for the West Indies?

In the first quarter-final of the cricket World Cup, Pakistan well and truly battered the West Indies into submission with an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Darren Sammy’s side. Many experts have asked whether cricket in the Caribbean is ever going to reach the heights that it did in the 1980’s.

The current side has some talented individuals who could win matches on their own, but they are yet to blend into a team that could challenge for honours in major tournaments. Despite three victories in the competition, defeats against the major nations seem to prove this theory.

It is without doubt that selection is one of the main issues that needs to be addressed. Many people predict that the injured Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh and Dwayne Bravo will return to the side, and this would obviously strengthen all aspects of the team.

Before the tournament, Barath was being touted as one of the batsmen to watch, but injury before the competition began meant that he never got the chance to shine on the world’s biggest stage. He was joined on the plane home by wicket-keeper Baugh, who was replaced by the unimpressive Devon Thomas, and he should be assured of a place in the side once fit.

All-rounder Bravo can win matches on his own, and the knee injury that he picked up in the WIndies’ opening match against South Africa was a massive blow to the whole team. Once he is back in the side they will look much stronger, and he could have been the difference in some of the matches that were lost in sub-continent.

Bravo's injury robbed the West Indies of arguably their best
player

The second decision that has to be made by the selection committee is that of the captaincy. Current skipper  Sammy had, at best, an average World Cup, and it has been asked what he offers to the side. His medium-pace bowling can be economical but not especially threatening, whilst his batting is very much hit-or-miss. His leadership has also been questioned, and it seems as if he is just taking up a place in the team that could be utilised by a younger, more talented player.

If Sammy is to be relieved of his duties, who are the contenders to replace him. There seems to be two possibilities. These are Chris Gayle and the afore mentioned Bravo. Gayle has previous experience of captaincy, but it seems unlikely that he will be reinstated. This therefore leaves Bravo as the only option, and if he can be aided by some of the experienced names in the current team, then he could become a successful captain.

Sammy's poor World Cup could cost him his place as captain

With all things taken into account, it seems as if the West Indies should look to pick a side which looks something like this:

1.       Chris Gayle

2.       Adrian Barath

3.       Darren Bravo

4.       Ramnaresh Sarwan

5.       Shivnarine Chanderpaul

6.       Dwayne Bravo (Captain)

7.       Keiron Pollard

8.       Carlton Baugh (WK)

9.       Andre Russell

10.   Devendra Bishoo OR Sulieman Benn

11.   Kemar Roach

This side seems to have the balance that the current side lacks, with all-rounders Bravo, Pollard and Russell providing adequate bowling skills and the ability to finish innings’ with the bat. It also leaves the likes of Devon Smith, Sammy and Ravi Rampaul in reserve; all of whom could be called upon to reliably cover if there were to be any injuries.

All in all, the future for West Indian cricket is not as bleak as some may think. They have a wealth of young talent that, if developed correctly, could become some of the best players in the world. The powers that be have to make some key decisions in next few weeks, and if made correctly, could see the West Indies make big steps towards returning to their glory days.

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com

England's opening dilemma

After Kevin Pietersen's good start to life as an opening batsman, many thought that England had finally found a someone to partner Andrew Strauss at the top of the order.

However, a hernia injury means Pietersen has had to travel back to London for surgery, with Eoin Morgan being called up in his place. The selection of the Irish-born Morgan shows that England are going to have to find a new opener within their current World Cup Squad, with none of the other fourteen players being genuine opening batsmen.

Pietersen's 59 against Ireland showed he may be able to open
for England in future years

Who will England now turn to? Andy Flower has revealed he knows who will open in against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday, but also said they may review the position on a game-by-game basis. 

So who are the main contenders....

Ian Bell. Bell has previously opened in One-Day Internationals, and many people asked before the tournament began whether he would partner Strauss. He averages 33.33 from his 26 innings' as an opener in ODI's, but the last time he featured at the top of the order was in 2008. His style of play suits batting in the powerplays as he looks to pierce the gaps and play his shots, and he could prove the perfect foil to Strauss, who has been England's most aggressive batsman thus far.

Ravi Bopara. Bopara's impressive innings against South Africa should have made the selectors sit up and realise that the Essex man is, on current form, a much better man to have in the middle-order than Paul Collingwood. However, after Pietersen's injury, they may again have to move Bopara from a position he looks comfortable in. He has previously opened in ODI's, and averages less than 30 from his fourteen innings', with only one half-century. Despite having the experience, the selectors would face some criticism if Bopara were to find himself opening again, as his batting style and ability to hit over the top would be much better suited to the middle and late overs.

Bopara's innings against South Africa may have assured him
a place in the side for the rest of the tournament.

Matt Prior. Prior is another of England's middle-order who has experience of opening the batting, most recently in the seven-match series against Australia. However, from his 32 innings' he only averages 24.2. Since Morgan's injury, he has been batting in the number 6 position and has been enlisted as 'the finisher'. However, with Morgan back in the side he may not be needed to fill this role, and this could see England revert to having their wicket-keeper doubling up as their opening batsmen.

Luke Wright. It would be a massive shock if Wright was handed the role of opener for the remainder of the World Cup, especially since in his six previous innings at the top of the order in ODI's he has only mustered 107 runs. However, the selectors seem to feel he has something to offer the squad, and stranger things have happened...

In my opinion, Ian Bell is the best candidate to partner Strauss at the top of the innings. However, it would come as shock if England's selectors went with Matt Prior, as it would open up the finisher role for Morgan to come into, whilst not disrupting the middle-order.

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com and sportsvoice.co.uk