Matthew Fisher is aiming to be a thorn in the side of his fellow bowlers around the county circuit this summer as he improves his batting game.
The Yorkshire fast bowler wants to be a genuine all-rounder after showing glimpses of good form with the willow over the last 18 months.
At the end of 2017, he helped Steve Patterson rescue a Championship match against Warwickshire at Emerald Headingley as the White Rose secured Division One safety. Chasing a target of 175, Yorkshire slipped to 96-7 before Patterson and Fisher, who hit 15, shared a match-winning stand of 78.
Then, at Derby back in May, Fisher blasted an unbeaten 24 from just eight balls to chase down a target of 190 in a 50-over game reduced by rain to 24 overs a side.
Fisher knows all too well how frustrating lower order runs can be.
In fact, they can drive bowlers crazy.
“It’s demoralising, it gets you mentally,” said the 21-year-old.
“Cricket’s a massive game of mental battles. The longer you can stay positive as a bowler, the better you are.
“You start doing things that you didn’t think your personality is capable of when you’re 20 overs into your spell at the end of a day.
“You start walking around like Jack Brooks does and try to be a Ferret or a Duck as he’s walking from fine-leg! He occupies himself by doing that.
“You are mentally and physically drained, and it’s frustrating when you think it’s nearly over and someone comes in and carries it on for another two or three hours.
“That’s why I want to do it – you can do it to the people who’ve done it to you.”
