Bernard hits form with five-wicket hauls
Monday 12th June 2017
Canterbury-born paceman Hugh Bernard is enjoying the best form of his career which has been boosted by two five-wicket hauls in recent Second XI Championship wins, writes Peter Burrowes.
The 20-year-old Kent Cricket Academy graduate took 5-72 at Glamorgan last month and followed it up with a highly impressive 5-20 in 8.5 overs against Surrey at The County Ground, Beckenham last week.
The Folkestone-raised bowler has taken 17 red-ball wickets at an average of 20 this summer and said: “It has all clicked into place in recent matches. I have played a lot of red-ball cricket for the Seconds and put in a lot of hard work to improve my bowling. I need to keep being consistent and focus on a good line and length.”
Bernard made his first XI debut in the Specsavers County Championship against Glamorgan in 2016 at Canterbury and although he took three wickets, he had problems running on to the pitch with his follow through and was warned by the umpire.
“I did a lot of work in the winter on my approach to the wicket and have hopefully solved that problem. Mark Ealham has helped me a lot with it and Jason Gillespie also gave me some sound advice.”
Hugh knows he has to keep up his recent impressive performances if he wants to get another first team opportunity.
“I will just keep plugging away and hope another chance comes my way.”
When not playing for Kent, Hugh turns out for Medway club Lordswood in the Shepherd Neame Kent Premier League alongside former Kent players Amjad Khan and Fabian Cowdrey.