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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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