Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Luxton drives en-route to his maiden first-class century today.
“You could stand there for hours and name everyone that you could thank.”
Today’s maiden first-class century – only his second in first-team cricket – was a huge moment for Will Luxton, who started to think about those who have helped him along his journey into this position as he spoke to the media at close on day one.
Opener Luxton had just racked up a superb 167 to help Yorkshire close day one against Warwickshire at Scarborough on 386-6.
He assessed the pitch, the situation of the game and spoke about the slog-swept six which got him to three figures just before tea at a sunny bit breezy North Marine Road.
However, in a wider sense, Luxton has worked so hard for this moment, others have given him so much. And the 23-year-old was keen to acknowledge that.
“You don’t really think about that too much when you’re out there. Maybe your immediate family,” he said.
“I suppose it’s at moments like this when everyone does, coaches, old coaches. Yeah, it’s a good feeling.”
Luxton continued: “I’m pretty chuffed.
“I’ve obviously played at Scarborough a lot in the twos. It’s a common ground for us, especially at the start of the season. I’m used to playing here. I tried to think about how I’d scored runs here in the past and tried to put it out there today.
“It looked like decent bowling conditions, but I don’t think it actually was.
“The wind was so strong all day. Especially from one end, it was pretty tough to nail a decent line and length. If you don’t nail a good line and length at Scarborough, it can travel.”
On the pitch conditions, he said: “It spun a decent amount. The wind played such a big factor. If you tried to swing it, it just went with the breeze. We can look at that and think, ‘Let’s try and hit the pitch’. It did nip when it was in the right spot.”
And on the six which got him to his hundred, slog-swept against the spin of Manav Suthar over mid-wicket and out of the ground on the Popular Bank side, he added: “The wind was going massively across with that shot into the stands.
“I was one hit away, so I thought maybe I’d try and get underneath it.
“Luckily, it went for six.”
