Tom Craddock is in confident mood as his Yorkshire Under 18s side head into Sunday’s ECB County Cup final against Middlesex at Kibworth CC in Leicestershire.
The White Rose Academy side have qualified for the 50-over final on the back of wins over Lancashire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
They beat Lancashire by three wickets at Barnsley chasing 199, recovering from 50-5. Rizwan Ishfaq claimed 4-37 from 10 overs having taken the new ball before Owen Smith top-scored with 82.
The win over Derbyshire at Driffield came by three wickets chasing 311. Jawad Akhtar and Josh Hoyle claimed two wickets apiece before opener Tom Fraine top-scored with 94.
In beating the Foxes in the semi-final at Uppingham School, they bowled their hosts out for 108 as they chased 250. Opener Will Bennison top-scored with 104 and Josh Hen-Boisen claimed 4-22 from 6.4 overs of spin in a thumping 141-run success.
“They’ve performed really well and are battle-tested,” said Craddock of his players.
Former leg-spinner Craddock is Yorkshire’s lead Academy coach.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Centurion Will Bennison played one of the innings of the summer in the 50-over semi-final win over Leicestershire earlier this month.
He went on: “Playing against Lancs, it was a topsy-turvy game. They were 60-6 and got 190, and we were 50-5 chasing and knocked them off seven down with almost 15 overs left.
“We talk to the lads about how we want to play the game, and if the ball’s there to be hit then hit it!
“Don’t get bogged down, get stuck in.
“Beating Lancs was big, especially in a tricky chase.
“Against Derby, we didn’t bowl great. We had them 187-7 and allowed them to 310. But Tom Fraine, Will Bennison (61), Noah Kelly (61) and Jawad Akhtar (44) all played brilliantly and got us over the line.
“In the semi-final, Bennison played one of the knocks of the summer with 104 opening. It was a beautiful innings. We lost eight for 37 in a collapse in our innings (249), and then we bowled them out for 108, showing how difficult a pitch it was to play on.
“His knock was a cut above everybody else’s. It was awesome.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Batter Noah Kelly has graduated through Yorkshire’s Academy this summer to a rookie professional contract.
“Our biggest strength is we are a team.
“Each department is a strength of ours, and not one area is the strength we rely on. Everything can fire, but ironically we haven’t done it all at once. Hopefully that comes in the final. It’s very, very exciting.”
Make no mistake, Yorkshire’s pathway system is thriving. On the boys side of things, teams have qualified for five finals in three years, while fledglings have also contributed second-team success, including the 2022 County Championship title.
The Under 18s have reached two finals in as many season having been beaten by Surrey in last year’s T20 final.
Craddock continued: “The Under 14s and Under 16s both got to a final in 2022 when we first started. Last year, the Under 16s and Under 18s got to a final, and now this.
“Last year, our crop of under 17s had two finals – the Under 18s T20 final and also the Under 16s final at Loughborough. This year, they’re playing in this Under 18s final, and they’re all still 17.
“Some of them would have also experienced T20 Finals Day with the twos this year.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire Academy opening batter Tom Fraine has been excellent recent form.
“All these experiences are so valuable.
“If, in a couple of years time, you see them representing the first team in a big Championship game or a T20 final, these experiences are not new for them. It’s an expectance.
“That’s how we build our entire pathway – for them to experience big days and success.
“In our world, winning isn’t everything, but it’s important. After all, we’re in performance sport.
“You can develop whilst losing, of course. But, ultimately, the players are picked to win games for Yorkshire.
“The best thing we’ve done is win games but also get young lads into the team. Tom Bradley and Rizwan Ishfaq, at Under 16s, have played their part.
“That allows for future development.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire’s Academy squad 2024: Back row, l-r. James Martin (head of performance pathway), Louie Owens, Harvey Round, Matthew Firbank, Tom Fraine, Owen Smith., Bilal Anjam (high performance coach). Front row, l-r. Joe Thompson, Jawad Akhtar, Josh Hoyle, Alex Wade, Will Bennison, Noah Kelly.
The Academy/U18s missed out on Finals Day in the T20 earlier in the season and won one of five games in their three-day Northern Championship group, which finished this week.
But there were positives. Look at the form of Fraine, for example.
Across four Championship matches, he posted scores of 73, 108 and 233 opening the batting. He has gone on to make his debut for the county’s second team.
This week, he is playing against Surrey at York. His older brother Will, now a York CC player, was drafted into Surrey’s team as an injury replacement.
“Frainey’s super strength is his ability to bat for long periods of time and score big runs,” said Craddock. “But it’s all well and good saying that until you see it time and time again.
“It’s been awesome to see him grow this summer.”
Last week, seven Yorkshire players took part in the ECB’s Super4s competition at Loughborough where the best Under 18s players around the country are divided across four regional teams.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Fast bowler Alex Wade should be a key weapon at Kibworth on Sunday.
Bennison, Tom Bradley, Matthew Firbank, Fraine, Smith, Joe Thompson and Alex Wade all took part. Not all played for the North side.
“Thompson and Bennison had a good week with a couple of scores above 50, and from all reports Bradley bowled well and Wade bowled quick,” added Craddock.
“Smithy didn’t get much of a crack and Firbank picked up a back injury.”
Now, for one last challenge to wrap up the Academy season….Middlesex await on Sunday.
