Matthew Revis could be set for an exciting couple of months if his performances in the ongoing Royal London Cup are anything to go by.
The all-rounder, 19, has been one of Yorkshire’s standout performers during the first half of their 50-over campaign, catching the eye with bat and ball.
Fellow young guns Harry Duke, George Hill and Will Luxton have grabbed headlines over the last week or so through excellent batting performances.
And Revis has also shown his capabilities as a powerful middle order batsman and a fast improving seamer, highlighted best in defeat against Somerset at Taunton yesterday.
He led a recovery from 89-5 to 158-5 in the 20 overs per side contest, posting 58 not out. In defence, he claimed a wicket and two catches.
On List A debut against Surrey at Scarborough just less than a fortnight ago, he top-scored with 43.
A few more key contributions, hopefully starting against Warwickshire at York tomorrow (11am), and coach Andrew Gale could have a selection headache on his hands ahead of the latter stages of the LV= Insurance County Championship and the Vitality Blast.
“I’m not sure what the availability of the England lads is going to be, so it’s all about putting performances in,” said Steeton-born Revis.
“But I’ll just take one game at a time and see where that takes me.”
Revis forms part of an exciting crop of youngsters coming through the Yorkshire ranks at present, ones who have been handed the current spotlight with 10 senior players away in the Hundred.
“I’ve played with Dukey, Hilly and also Leechy (Dom Leech) and Wharts (James Wharton), who aren’t here, pretty much since I was 11,” he went on.
“In a couple of years, we’ll really be knocking on the door as a group.”
Revis has been a familiar name with the Yorkshire faithful for a couple of years now.
He debuted in the 2019 end of season Championship defeat against Kent at Emerald Headingley as a 17-year-old opening bat, scoring nine and nought.
That was the penultimate Yorkshire fixture pre Coronavirus.
When cricket returned this time last year, it did so with coaches talking up his bowling more and more, especially on the back of an England Under 19s training camp at Loughborough last winter.
“I’m probably one of the only people who’s had a good pandemic!” he quipped.
“Before this winter, I was only really seen as a fifth or sixth bowler. But Rich Pyrah has worked hard with me, and I’m enjoying bowling.
“It gives me something else to do rather than just stand around in the field. It keeps me in the game.”
He talks of bowling “early eighties (mph)” speed wise and said: “Hopefully a couple of winters down the line I can bump that up.
“My mindset’s been changed with the ball now.
“Before, I was just a ‘keeper up to the stumps, try and grab a wicket’ bowler. Now, I’m a bowler who can really test the batters and try and win games.
“I tend to swing it away a bit. If I can add that one which holds its line or even goes in, I could be a handful.
“But it’s all about hitting the top of off-stump as much as possible.”
The development of future Yorkshire stars is clearly of great importance in this competition.
But that has not softened the desire of players and coaches to chase silverware.
If that is to be achieved, the Vikings realistically need a win tomorrow to begin the second half of the group phase.
They sit seventh in the table on three points from four games, one point worse off than Warwickshire.
Yorkshire are two points off Nottinghamshire and Surrey in second and third, with a top three finish the aim for knockout qualification.
“We didn’t quite get over the line at Somerset, and there’s a lot of lessons to be learnt,” said Revis. “But I feel like we’re definitely improving.
“There’s been strong individual performances from pretty much everyone in the four games we’ve played. It’s just a matter of bringing that all together now.
“We know what to expect from Clifton Park – it’s quite hard to defend there.
“If we’re batting first again, we’ll really want to make a statement. If you get in, it’s a nice place to bat.”
Warwickshire will field former Yorkshire duo Will Rhodes, their captain, and left-arm spinner Karl Carver. The latter returns to his home city.
“Karl’s a great bowler, and it was a shame for him to be out of the game for a couple of years,” added Revis. “It will be a good test for us.”
