Hampshire Academy manager Bobby Parks has issued a “don’t panic” directive to his young rookie bowlers on the eve of the second ECB Southern Electric Premier League outing of the season against newly promoted Sarisbury Athletic on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground, 1pm.
Parks, who made over 250 appearances for Hampshire, cut a forlorn figure as he watched his young charges hit for a Premier League record score of 396-5 by South Wilts last week.
The young county aspirants produced a below par performance with the ball in the SPL curtain raiser – an area of their game Parks will be looking to see improved against Sarisbury tomorrow.
“We were put to the sword a bit,” Parks said.
“The problem with young bowlers, particularly seamers, is trying to get them to remain calm at the crease. We panicked. A bit more mental preparation is needed. Trying to approach the next ball they bowl in a calm manner.
“We bowled both sides of the wicket against South Wilts and you can’t do that, certainly not against the quality of batsmen they had. When we got it in the right areas we did okay, but by the time the ball was biffed around and hit the concrete a few times, the shine was gone and any swing went with it.”
The Academy, who bowled 32 wides against South Wilts, will use the same four front-line bowlers against Sarisbury, but there’s a change in the spin department with Mason Crane, recently returned from the England Under-19 tour to Australia, replacing Felix Organ, who has a Canford school match.
Leg spinner Crane didn’t get too many opportunities to shine in Perth, taking two wickets in three games, but bowling in tandem with Brad Taylor will give Academy captain Andy Gorvin more options. Sarisbury Athletic christened their long awaited Premier Division debut with a 230-run each tie against Alton. They are unchanged against the Academy, with Banks warning: ‘The Academy bowlers went for a few runs and were well beaten by South Wilts last weekend but they still have some quality young players.’
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Alsop, Gorvin, Goodwin, Taylor, McCoy, Crane, Evans, Murray, Barber.
Sarisbury Athletic: Banks, Rawlins, Norris, Covey, Burl, Journeaux, Geyle, Jack Lovett, Joe Lovett, Goldstraw, Jewell.
Parks, who made over 250 appearances for Hampshire, cut a forlorn figure as he watched his young charges hit for a Premier League record score of 396-5 by South Wilts last week.
The young county aspirants produced a below par performance with the ball in the SPL curtain raiser – an area of their game Parks will be looking to see improved against Sarisbury tomorrow.
“We were put to the sword a bit,” Parks said.
“The problem with young bowlers, particularly seamers, is trying to get them to remain calm at the crease. We panicked. A bit more mental preparation is needed. Trying to approach the next ball they bowl in a calm manner.
“We bowled both sides of the wicket against South Wilts and you can’t do that, certainly not against the quality of batsmen they had. When we got it in the right areas we did okay, but by the time the ball was biffed around and hit the concrete a few times, the shine was gone and any swing went with it.”
The Academy, who bowled 32 wides against South Wilts, will use the same four front-line bowlers against Sarisbury, but there’s a change in the spin department with Mason Crane, recently returned from the England Under-19 tour to Australia, replacing Felix Organ, who has a Canford school match.
Leg spinner Crane didn’t get too many opportunities to shine in Perth, taking two wickets in three games, but bowling in tandem with Brad Taylor will give Academy captain Andy Gorvin more options. Sarisbury Athletic christened their long awaited Premier Division debut with a 230-run each tie against Alton. They are unchanged against the Academy, with Banks warning: ‘The Academy bowlers went for a few runs and were well beaten by South Wilts last weekend but they still have some quality young players.’
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Alsop, Gorvin, Goodwin, Taylor, McCoy, Crane, Evans, Murray, Barber.
Sarisbury Athletic: Banks, Rawlins, Norris, Covey, Burl, Journeaux, Geyle, Jack Lovett, Joe Lovett, Goldstraw, Jewell.