Ones To Watch In 2018 County Championship

With the County Championship beginning in just 48 days (can it hurry up already?!) I thought it would be good to look at some players who it might be worth keeping an eye on throughout the season. All of them could be very successful after all showing positive and promising signs last season, and with youth on the side, they will be giving every game their all for their counties.

Liam Banks 

At just 18, he made his debut in the county championship last season in September against Yorkshire when he opened the batting. He may not have scored a large amounts of runs but he seemed to take to opening well, which then lead to him getting a call up for the U19 World Cup. In that tournament he originally was in the middle order, but moving up the order to opening was where he made the best impression. He made a century (120) against Canada and some other scores of 50+ to make vital contributions for the team, but he showed he was a great player and had a good technique. If he can work his way into the first team for Warwickshire, then could get plenty of runs for them and help in their search for promotion. He is playing club cricket for Tamworth CC in the summer as well, aiming to get as much cricket under his belt as he can. Whether it be this season, or in future seasons, I think Banks could become a solid player for Warwickshire and step up when needed, especially with senior batsmen Bell and Trott soon to retiring possibly, he could fill that space.

Dan Lawrence

A batsmen for Essex, reigning champions and at 20 years old he has showed how much of a great player he is. He became the third youngest batsman to make a Championship century when he struck 161 for Essex against Surrey at The Oval in April 2015 at the age of 17 years and 290 days. It was only his second first-class game. Averaging 41 in the 2017 season, he sure proved himself and earned an England Lions call up and is currently playing in the Caribbean. There is no doubt that he was a great help in Essex’s winning season, and he will be hoping to replicate and improve on him performances to help them search for the silverware again. As a middle order batsmen at Essex there is a wealth of talent to help him grow, and keep striving and putting in those big scores.

Henry Brookes

A fast bowler who has come through the age groups at Warwickshire, and has certainly impressed a lot of people there including players, staff and members. He has been branded as potential talent numerous times through the ranks and academy at Warwickshire, and he managed to get into the first team at the back end of last season when he made his debut in September in the game against Essex. Through the winter he has battled a stress fracture but is now back fit and is training with the first team bowling unit and getting dug into pre-season. His injury meant he unfortunately missed out on the U19 world cup, but he played some games in the summer for the U19 and seemed to be  impressive then so another good season for Warwickshire looms hopefully and more joy for him in in terms of England as he may set his sights on England Lions He may a key bowler coming through the age groups and flourish into a great, reliable bowler to be next to the senior bowlers. He seems to have done all he can to impress Warwickshire with Ashley Giles claiming he is a ‘’potential superstar once he realises how long his arms and legs are’’ and Pop Welch, bowling coach also speaking highly of him with a plethora of praise.

George Garton 

A left arm bowler who has showed a lot of promise in the past 2 seasons after making his debut in the early games of the 2016 season. Last season his major breakthrough came when he was added to the England Ashes squad for Australia to act as cover for Jake Ball. He must have impressed those selectors so will be one to look out for when playing for Sussex, and could be in the eye of the selectors as a possible end to their hunt for a promising left arm seamer who is of test standard. Garton will be giving his all to keep impressing selectors and get some good results for Sussex. 

Richard Gleeson

Playing for Northamptonshire in all 3 formats, Gleeson is a right arm seam bowler who could be a key player for Northants this season in the County Champ. At the end of the 2016 season he won a 3 year contract after showing very promising signs, so has plenty of potential to show his skills for Northants.  He has also been called up for the England Lions currently touring in the Caribbean as an injury replacement for George Garton, so both players are on England’s radar it seems and have impressed, his two 5fer’s at the back end of last season have definitely helped his case. 

These are just a small selection of the young players hoping to make their mark in the season and do all they can to get their team as champions or promoted. Only 48 days to wait...

My Love Of Cricket

Growing up I was never very sporty or interested in it, I was surrounded by a family of football fanatics and never really got into it, nor any other sport. However one afternoon watching a cricket game in Poole Harbor changed that. I am now absolutely in love with cricket, and so happy I watched that game. 

Cricket is an absolutely wonderful sport I think, and I love everything about it. From the atmosphere when your team are playing at their best and every single fan in the ground is behind them and you are in a ground filled with everyone that has the same passion as you do for the game. Then to the fact that every single game is different, no game us ever the same. The variety of the 3 formats, test, ODI and T20 means that there is something unique about every game you watch, whether that be a record breaking ODI total or dismissing a team in one session to win The Ashes. The triumphs and jubilation that you experience as a cricket, or any sport fan is one of the best feelings ever.  The fact it is played in only summer months also is a very good benefit! Although rain delays are any cricket fans enemy. 

The first time I ever watched a cricket game was when I was on holiday in Poole. I was in a bar where I was staying and there was a game on between England & New Zealand in the 2013 Champions Trophy, As I reluctantly watched I actually got quite into it and suddenly became very interested in what was going on. The game was an exciting low scoring game, ironic the first game I watched was exciting, I wish my dad would have told me not all games are quite like that... Nevertheless I love the sport now and I am now so thankful that I was probably dragged into the bar to watch the game. 

The next taste of the game I got was when I somehow was watching the 2013 Ashes and it all of a sudden got very exciting, with people running and cheering everywhere including my dad! Turns out that it was a test from Ashes 2013, it was the 4th one and if England won, they had won the ashes so it was a thrilling game! The most important trophy ( well, urn) was up for grabs (as I was told anyway) between England and Australia. I got more and more into it as it progressed and England won the game in the end. I think this was the game that I knew I had found something I really really liked.  

Throughout that game, a certain player caught my eye. If you are reading this and know me well, you wont need to long t guess who it was.....

That player was Joe Root, one of England's rising stars at the time and as I write this undoubtedly our best batsmen across all 3 formats. I thought he was quite cute and thought oh well if I can get into the sport I might have to find my favorite player, and I think I quickly did. My 14 year old self thought he was quite attractive and I would be lying if I said that he wasn't a reason for my initial love in the game. Joe has always, and still is my favorite player in that team, there is now definitely a few additions such as Chris Woakes who also plays for my home team, Warwickshire, plus others! I have been fortunate to be able to meet these players and watching them makes the sport a whole lot better I must say!

Ever since those moments of watching the game for the first time my love for it has just grown and grown into I think one of the best things I did. Cricket is amazing for so many different reasons. One of the reasons is that I have met some amazing people through the game and at the games. Being able to instantly click with these people due to the mutual love of the game is amazing and I love meeting new people through it and getting to know them. Some of the friendships that have come out the game have been the best reason for loving the sport. Some of the girls and I have developed some amazing friendship are now some people I would consider to be my best friends. 

Another amazing feel is watching your team exceed all of your expectations and play an absolutely incredible series. There is nothing better than seeing the teams that work so hard and go through so much as a team to reach the highest points in their career and celebrate it. Watching England lift The Ashes in 2016 after beating the Aussies 3-2 was equally amazing as it was emotional! After coming through and defeating everybody's opinion of them not being good enough and to come out and show everyone what they could do was one of the best series I have watched as an England fan. My favorite game I have watched so far however was the 2016 RL One Day Cup final at Lords, commonly known as the Home Of Cricket. Warwickshire, my home team were in the final, and to my surprise I had been given the day off worked, and therefore it was a no brainer for me that I had to take a trip to this amazing ground to watch the chance of my team that I have followed through the wins and also the struggles of that season. The trip started of quite problematic after my trains were cancelled from my station to Euston but after sorting it out I was on my way to London to meet my friend Lettie. The game was the best I have been to I think, the atmosphere there was amazing, to be sat with all the Bears fans made it really special, the songs and the infamous chant of 'You Bears' sang out throughout Lords as we dismissed Surrey for a low score of 136 after a phenomenal performance from our bowling unit. Then after the skills of Trotty guided is to out total the cup was ours. Seeing the winning runs flow through the covers was unbelievable, I had seen them win the game and lift the trophy! That will be my favorite game for a while I think. 

Another reason that my love for the game grows is because of how surprised people are when they know that a girl loves the sport. I love the idea that I defy stereotype of that just boys can like sport or its just a mans game. The question is always asked, ''Do you come to watch your boyfriend play'' or ''So did your boyfriend drag you here?''. I don't need to be dragged to the cricket thank you, I don't need any convincing to go! I can be a girl and love cricket, it doesn't matter. Another thing is the idea that people think I just watched for the attractive guys playing, I mean its a complete bonus I'm not denying that but I don't travel around the country to look at them or get up at 3am to watch world cup games to see them when they are just a Google search away.

Cricket really is to me an amazing sport, I am so glad I watched that game in the Poole bar because I don't really know what I would be doing without it. Its brought me a lot of good! I look forward to 2017 season full of trips to games, and to watch hopefully more triumphs from the guys!

If you have read until the end, well done & thank you!

Em

xoxoxo