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...

Dublin

Take me home country roads...

Okay enough of the Irish music that is still circling my head after my visit to the Irish capital of Dublin. In February half term me and my friend Leah took a mini break to Dublin to celebrate my 18th, we thought where else to celebrate than the place with some of the liveliest nightlife! We had the most amazing time there with plenty of laughs, stories, memories and a few pints of Guinness to wash it all down...

We flew out of the Monday from Birmingham and I was so excited for my first taste of Ireland and especially Dublin for a birthday celebration. Once we landed in Dublin airport, I instantly felt like I was in heaven... because of the accent. Oh my god, its everywhere, and its perfection. People everywhere were speaking and I must have looked a moron just starring and listening...oops. Once we arrived in the city centre and found our Hotel, The Arlington Hotel which overlooked the river I began to relax and fell in love with the hustle and bustle of Dublin. After stocking up on the essentials from the supermarket...chocolate, crisps, alcohol...(like I said the essentials) we took a trip to visit the absolutely stunning Trinity College Dublin which is maybe the prettiest University I have ever seen. I wish to go to University of Birmingham which I thought was lovely, but this takes that to another level. Exploring the university made me want to be a student there so badly and seeing the beautiful cricket pitch and surroundings made me want to go even more! We then went on the hunt to find somewhere to eat and it didn't take us long to find a Nandos so that we were sorted. Temple Bar district wasn't very far away so we went for a couple of drinks around here, and the area is beautiful at night, with light hanging from bar to bar, the Irish music coming through from the various bars and the atmosphere filling the streets, it just gave me another reason to love this place. 

As Leah had been to Dublin before she had a few places that she wanted to visit and after describing the most lovely restaurant, I was 100% up for a full Irish breakfast, which didn't disappoint that's for sure! We went to a restaurant called Sophie's which had some beautiful decor, with rose gold bar taps (this makes me very happy as I am obsessed with rose gold everything) and the rooftop 360 degree views of Dublin, plus one of the nicest breakfast that I have ever tasted. More exploring led us to Grafton Street, where there is a plethora of High Street shops mixed with some more high end shops which we were more than happy to browse around - The Dublin Disney Store is one of the best I have been into and their take on Selfridges is just perfection. To be a full tourist, a trip to Dublin wouldn't be complete without a trip the Guinness Storehouse. I can now proudly say that I am fully qualified in pouring the perfect pint of Guinness now after some very technical lessons in the Guinness academy. The tour of the brewing and history of Guinness is actually really interesting but the highlight is the Skyline Gravity Bar which boasts mile views of Dublin and also plays the best music...I was very content sitting with my pint and listening to the Westlife they were playing. At night we went to see the hilarious Jack Whitehall at the 3arena in the Point Harbor  but first took a trip to The Oval Bar, I couldn't not go in the pub named after the cricket ground! Jack was absolutely amazing, he reduced me to tears with his stand up and him slagging of Brexit to the Irish made it all the more hilarious. 

The Wednesday we visited the Leprechaun museum which was interesting to say the least...I thought it was a tour of little things leprechaun size but instead its a storytelling tour about legends & fairies, but the big chairs were great nevertheless, once I had managed to get up the thing, I have to admit it was not my finest hour trying to push myself up. As we were close to the Jervis Shopping Centre, we managed to squeeze in some time for some retail therapy - had to experience the Irish Primarks, Penny's which is just the exact same as Primark here, but oh well. Again we experienced the amazing Dublin nightlife Wednesday when meeting up with some of Leah's friends and I was completely allured once again by the charm of the bars, pubs, food, people and music. The nicest strawberry daiquiri graced our table and the loveliest Irish singers graced the stage in our hotel bar, where we laughed and sung until the early hours of the morning.  After Leah had got them to embarrassingly to sing happy birthday to me they played some of my favourite songs and my Dublin holiday was made by hearing Country Roads. This has got to be one of the things I love about the city, the sound of all the music playing from all the bars with so many musicians loving what they do and love seeing people enjoying themselves, the culture over there is quite frankly exceptional with everyone so friendly and welcoming and their idea of just being up for a good time. As we headed to bed, after guiding Leah back to the room and to her dismay, stopping her skipping down the hotel corridors singing I'll Tell Me Ma, we heard that Storm Doris was on its way so to expect delays tomorrow flying home...and delays is what we got. 

After seeing cancelled flight after cancelled flight in the morning as we both were constantly checking our flight to get home I was just glad to see that our flight was on time and boarding. Priorities were noted and we headed to get some food first and as we queued to board and after being given many updates from home via mum she told me many flights trying to land in Birmingham had to be diverted because it was too windy (Mum knows how to calm down her daughter who she knows is a nervous flyer before taking off into a storm doesn't she). Safe to say the flight wast the smoothest I have ever been on...after the most turbulent flight, with the plane being thrown around in the wind and 2 failed landing attempts in Birmingham we found ourselves on the way to Bristol airport. Guys, when a airline says ''sourcing coaches'' don't believe them, 5 hours later. these coaches were eventually sourced and after the 4 hour journey back to Birmingham Airport, I was very glad to be back in my dads car. although I don't think he enjoyed his 2 hour wait at the station...blame Doris dad! So 11 hours later than planned I was home, with a story to tell, plenty of amazing memories, a new city ticked off, the urge to travel more and one hell of an 18th celebration to remember. 

Dublin was an amazing city to visit, and its somewhere once you have visited once you want to go back to again and again to experience the atmosphere, attractions and of course the nightlife. Its Irish charm shines throughout the streets and comes from every corner of the city. The Irish hospitality certainly didn't disappoint either with the accent being one of many highlights and the people's welcoming charm it was hard not to fall in love with the city, and not even Storm Doris could ruin it. 

Until next time Dublin...

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