Matthew Revis has reaped the rewards of winter work on his batting – and he couldn’t be happier about it.
Yorkshire’s fledgling all-rounder today scored his maiden first-team century, a superb 104 not out, as the county amassed 550-9 declared in the first innings against Gloucestershire on day two at Headingley.
In advancing from 25 not out overnight to three figures just after lunch, he followed day one centuries from Fin Bean and George Hill.
Revis has shown significant development over the last 12 months under Ottis Gibson and his coaching team – Ali Maiden with his batting, Kabir Ali with the bowling to name just two who have put in the work with the Steeton-born starlet. Tom Smith in the seconds….the list goes on.
The 21-year-old has encouraged with the ball in the Vitality Blast in recent weeks and today calmly and confidently turned batting promise into performance following two previous LV= Insurance County Championship fifties last season.
“It’s pretty special (to get my first century),” said Revis, shortly after Gloucestershire closed on 232-5.
“It was a great day all round, and I’m just happy we could get some wickets later in the day as well.”
Revis, watched on by his parents today, continued: “It’s highlighted the hard work I’ve put in over the winter. I worked hard on both aspects – my batting and bowling.
“It’s shone with my batting today, and it’s opened my eyes where I want to go with my batting.
“It’s good as a number seven or eight to chip in, but going on to post those big scores puts more of a stamp on the game.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well this season, but for 20s and 30s. I just really wanted to make it count. When I got to 50, it didn’t cross my mind that my job was done or anything like that. I just wanted to be there at the end.
“It was a bit of a frustration with my two fifties last year that they were more hitting towards the end.
“Being able to build an innings with Tatts, Fish, Leechy, Stek and Moz at the end, it felt more like a balanced innings. I was really happy with that.
“My mum and dad were here and a few of my mates were watching on the stream. I don’t know if they were as nervous as me, but it was good to do it for them as well.”
He added: “I seemed to keep hitting the fielders when I got into the nineties. I was saying to the lads that it must have taken me 40 or 50 balls to get through the nineties and over the line.”
Revis’s good work was backed up by the bowlers, led by three wickets for debutant left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty, who also helped get Revis to his century with a solid little contribution of four not out from number 11.
“Moz bowled really well,” added Revis. “It’s tough bowling spin at Headingley, but he put the ball in the right areas for long periods of team.
“The wicket Lythy got at the end has given us a boost going into day three. If we can make early inroads, I’m sure we’ll put ourselves in a great position.”
Revis and Hill, two of three graduates in the Yorkshire squad from Cumbrian school Sedbergh, have scored centuries this week. If the other can add to that over the next few days, it will give England a huge leg-up against Australia at Lord’s. Over to you Harry Brook.
“Hopefully he can come through with that,” smiled Revis. “It would be great. Sedbergh and Martin Speight (director of cricket) have done a lot of hard work with all three of us. I’m sure they’d be buzzing if that happened.”
