Coach’s Corner – Farby’s Blog – 28 June

Two T20 matches and differing results in very different weather just about sums up the T20 period. The match at Uxbridge last Friday was a horror in all aspects, a defeat and a game lost is always disappointing and this one was no exception. We perhaps didn’t kick on enough in the middle, and we probably had fallen a little short of a decent total for that pitch, but having said that with 149 on the board you are always in the game.

Our last few over's it poured with rain and the umpires decided to stay on and finish the innings, which was tough on Middlesex, but nothing compared to how tough it was for us with a baseball style multi ball system being used. The ball was so wet that the umpires just kept changing the ball, and this is no way to play county cricket, and most of the spectators started to leave anyway. It cannot be right that we play through like that, and before I am accused of using the weather as an excuse, the same happened to our advantage at Beckenham against Gloucestershire.

Having said that the Irishman Stirling did play some fantastic shots and had his day in the sun, or rain!!

Onto a completely different day all together at Beckenham, an excellent crowd, fantastic weather and a superb team win against a very strong Surrey side. Our bowling was very good, and again the five bowlers showed their high levels of skill and also their individual variations. Tred has had a great week on and off the field, his wife Beth gave birth to their first child last Monday evening, baby Jacob, and they are all doing well. That was the reason Tred missed the championship game at Lords, it was nothing tactical, other than rightly for him to be with his wife. Probably a good game to miss in all honesty.

Batting wise, Jarre and Azhar played superbly, and after the initial wobble created by two unplayable deliveries from Nannes, the two experienced heads guided the team to the brink of a very good win. Jarre showed all his quality to not only steady the ship having lost two early wickets, but he took the attack to Surrey and made the game look very simple, that’s what good players do, they make their execution of shots look very easy, but to most of us they are tough shots to play. Azhar is looking in great touch at the moment, and long may it continue. Sam showed how he has adapted his game and really taken great confidence from his innings at Cardiff, to take us over the line with Stevo.

We have seven games to go and are back into contention for a quarter final place, and with the confidence in the side there is no reason why that can't happen. The match at the Rose Bowl is on Sky and then we have two games at Canterbury, the match against Essex on Friday will be a key game in this group, and it will be fantastic to play that in front of a large Friday evening crowd.

Onto international cricket for a bit now and I have to make mention of the England squads selected for the T20 international and the one day 50 over matches. At the end of the world cup there was calls for England to bring in some younger players and get rid of a few of the older brigade, then one defeat in a one off T20 match at Bristol against a very good Sri Lankan team, and everybody is saying how the team had too many changes, the England selectors can't win can they. I quite like the idea at international level of three captains, certainly in England, because the pressure on the England captain is very intense, and I hope the idea works, although I'm sure Andy Flower has thought it all through.

The One Day internationals are due to start today at The Oval, and I think it will be a great series, Sri Lanka are a very powerful one day side, and although the little genius in Murali is not playing there are still plenty of very skillful players in the side. Sanath is back into the team for his last ever game for SL, and what a player he has been over the last 20 odd years, he changed the way opening batsmen played the game forever, he has taken on all of the worlds quick bowlers and smashed them to every part. He has already entered politics in SL and is a member of parliament, and once this game is over will get back to concentrating on his move into politics. He deserves a great send off and along with Murali has given so much to their country, and have been real legends of the game, and have changed the way the game is played, for the better.

Finally congratulations to Adam Ball and Daniel Bell Drummond on their selections to the England Under 19 squad for the one day series against South Africa. Bally has been chosen as captain, and I am sure he will do a great job. It is a great honour for both, and the club in general, and all the people who have worked with both lads from an early age to help them with their cricket. It is easy for us as a county club to take all the credit when players play at the highest level, but there are quite a few people who have worked very hard with these lads to help them and help their progress. They all quite rightly should be very proud of their contribution to these lads success.

Best wishes,

Farby.