Yorkshire opener Fin Bean is confident he can put bowlers in a spin now that his ability to play the turning ball has developed significantly over the last few months.
Bean, aged 22, scored a fabulous career best 173 during the most recent Vitality County Championship draw against Glamorgan at Headingley, sharing a double century partnership with England legend Joe Root in the process.
It was an aggressive innings, compiled off 189 balls with 24 fours and five sixes.
And it came on the back of a winter’s work which included a 10-day England Lions led batting camp in Mumbai through January, focused on playing against spin.
“In the winter, one of my work-ons was boundary options against spin,” said the Studley Royal product. “The ECB put me on that trip to Mumbai, and that looks like it’s paid off. I’ve just got that more aggressive side, which is pleasing.”
Mind you, Bean’s desire to progress against spin dates back long before January.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Fin Bean cuts against Glamorgan at the weekend.
You can go back to his first-class debut against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford in early September 2022 when he posted scores of 42 and 25 in a draw.
“I’ve not really experienced much rough before,” said Bean, earlier this week as he reflected on his innings against Glamorgan.
“On my debut, there was quite a bit at Old Trafford, and I was a bit taken aback. I didn’t really know what to do.
“Then I had a chat to Keaton Jennings after that game, and I’ve had two trips to India (including a Yorkshire batting camp the winter before last). I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds.
“The first time you’re exposed to it since, to perform like that is pretty pleasing.”
Sorry, Fin. Did we read that correct? A Lancashire captain helping a Yorkshire opener? Whatever next!
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Fin Bean has spoken to Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings about playing against spin bowling.
“He was very open, and he’s such a nice guy,” continued Bean, of his fellow left-hander Jennings, who is a notoriously good player of spin bowling.
“It was just (talking about) when he plays certain shots and to what fields. If they had a man at 45, he’d look to slog-sweep and things like. Reverse sweeps as well. It was more about scoring.
“I’ve actually got it written down on my phone.”
Bean has got plenty of batting experience and expertise at his disposal as he looks to develop his game, be it the likes of assistant coach Ali Maiden or second-team coach Tom Smith, who also opened the batting as a left-hander.
Then you have England stars Root and Harry Brook, who have been back with Yorkshire during the early stages of the season.
Asked if he has bent the ears of Root and Brook, Bean continued: “I use Lythy a lot and Mala, with them being left-handed. The game-plans are slightly different. It’s easier to talk to them about things.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Fin Bean celebrates his century against Glamorgan with Joe Root.
“But just to hear how Rooty’s playing certain bowlers and his plans is good to learn from.
“He’s just so busy. You look up and he’s on 30 off 20 balls, and it’s remarkable how he goes about it. It’s definitely something to learn from, and he’s just so positive and aggressive.”
The Glamorgan 173 was Bean’s first hundred of the summer and the fourth of his 21-game first-class career.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well, just the scores haven’t come,” he added.“Thankfully it has done, and it settles things going forward for the rest of the season.
“One thing from last year, I didn’t get them big hundreds. Coming into this season, I wanted to get big hundreds – even double hundreds. You have plenty of bad days, so when you have the good days it’s about making them count and get as many as you can.”
