Hampshire’s Under-17 squad has been old to put the disappointment of Sunday’s 50-over Cup defeat by Surrey to be back of their minds as they prepare to face hot favourites Warwickshire in the two-day ECB County Championship final at Arundel Castle, starting on Thursday, 11am.
The county youngsters lost by 139 runs to Surrey, but manager Bobby Parks insists they are a far better side than that one-off cup semi-final defeat suggests.
“The lads were on a high after winning in Essex last week and our main focus has been on the two-day competition,” he said.
“Trying to win both competitions is an enormous ask - one few counties achieve – but the Hampshire lads have done magnificently well this season and playing a national finals in the beautiful surrounds of Arundel Castle will be the highspot of their fledgling careers.”
Hampshire last won the Under-17 County Championship in 2007, beating Durham in the final at Hove, and lost to Nottinghamshire at Arundel three years ago.
Hampshire and Warwickshire will play 100-overs per side in the two-day final, with play continuing on Friday.
Hampshire Under-17s: Josh McCoy (captain), Harry Hovey, Ben Duggan, Jake Goodwin, Felix Organ, Ben Caldera, Harry Came, Billy Mead, Dan Scott, Tom Scriven, Elijah Samuel and Charlie Gwynne.
The county youngsters lost by 139 runs to Surrey, but manager Bobby Parks insists they are a far better side than that one-off cup semi-final defeat suggests.
“The lads were on a high after winning in Essex last week and our main focus has been on the two-day competition,” he said.
“Trying to win both competitions is an enormous ask - one few counties achieve – but the Hampshire lads have done magnificently well this season and playing a national finals in the beautiful surrounds of Arundel Castle will be the highspot of their fledgling careers.”
Hampshire last won the Under-17 County Championship in 2007, beating Durham in the final at Hove, and lost to Nottinghamshire at Arundel three years ago.
Hampshire and Warwickshire will play 100-overs per side in the two-day final, with play continuing on Friday.
Hampshire Under-17s: Josh McCoy (captain), Harry Hovey, Ben Duggan, Jake Goodwin, Felix Organ, Ben Caldera, Harry Came, Billy Mead, Dan Scott, Tom Scriven, Elijah Samuel and Charlie Gwynne.
