“Winning four-day cricket is the best feeling – that’s why we all play.”
Conor McKerr was understandably in high spirits after claiming five wickets on day three at Scarborough yesterday to help Yorkshire wrap up an innings victory over Gloucestershire.
It was the county’s first Championship win of 2024, at the eighth attempt, and has given their bid for promotion real impetus heading into the final two games of the season.
McKerr is on loan with Yorkshire from Surrey. He has been with the county for close to a month now, playing four times in the Vitality Blast.
But this was his red ball debut, and he impressed with match figures of 5-76.
All of his wickets came during yesterday’s third and final day. He claimed two wickets in the first innings and three in the second. He was on a hat-trick twice and took the winning wicket.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Conor McKerr was on a hat-trick twice yesterday.
“It was such a good game, for everyone,” he said.
“The way our batters started was awesome, and then for the bowlers to grind out close to 140 (overs) in a row.
“I think every single one of us who bowled were awesome this week.
“I don’t think anyone went at higher than 2.5 runs per over in the first innings. To do that on a ground like this where you can score quickly just shows how good and disciplined we were.
“It’s not like one bowler blew everyone away and took seven-for. Everyone chipped in with two and three.”
This was the first of two scheduled red ball appearances, with him available for Sunday’s trip to face Derbyshire at Chesterfield, another county who he has played for whilst on loan.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Conor McKerr is available to face Derbyshire at Chesterfield from Sunday.
And McKerr is confident that promotion bid can be strengthened during the trip to Queen’s Park.
“It’s still halfway through the summer, and there’s a lot of cricket to be played,” he said. “If the team has the ability to pull a win like that off, then they have the ability to win wherever they go.
“These guys are guns.
“There are some genuine guns flying around this team. You have 20-22-year-olds playing, and I think in the next five years they could be back challenging for Div One.”
McKerr and coach Ottis Gibson conducted media duties at Scarborough yesterday after the innings and 22-run win, and the subject of extending McKerr’s stay with the county was broached.
South African-born McKerr is out of contract at Surrey at the end of this season, and coach Gibson said: “I think he’s a good cricketer. I’ve always liked him.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ottis Gibson is a big fan of Conor McKerr.
“He adds a different dimension to the bowling attack we have. He’s a big tall guy who is quite imposing. He has that physicality you like to see in a fast bowler. He’s had some experience.
“If the opportunity’s there to keep him, that’s something I’d certainly like to look into.”
And when asked whether he would be open to making the move from the Oval to Headingley, McKerr added: “Definitely.
“I’ve got Daniel Moriarty here, who is my best friend. That’s a big draw for me.
“The reality is that Surrey have the best bowling attack in the country. I personally think they could go and play in the Test Championship and compete. That’s just the reality.
“I’m at the age where I need to be playing cricket, and this is a big opportunity for me.”
