Five-wicket star Jafer Chohan is preparing for the bright lights of a blockbuster Roses T20 clash at Emirates Old Trafford this evening – and Yorkshire’s young leg-spinner is hoping there are plenty more big occasions to come during a career which looks set for lift off.
Chohan, 22, starred with a superb 5-14 on his birthday at Headingley last night as the Vikings beat Durham by seven wickets chasing 108 to revitalise their quarter-final hopes.
They had lost three on the spin in the North Group, but Chohan’s maiden first-team five-for ensured win number five in the North Group to move within a point of the top four places in the North win three games remaining.
Chohan was understandably in chipper mood when he undertook media duties last night.
He spoke confidently about Yorkshire’s chances of a win this evening in front of the Sky Sports cameras (7pm), one which would ensure the Roses double for the season if achieved.
He also spoke about his ambitions in the game, including breaking into Yorkshire’s red ball team and, ultimately, England’s too. The progression of a couple of fellow young spinners through to Test level recently, he says, has shown him just what is possible.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jafer Chohan is congratulated on his figures of 5-14 against Durham last night.
Chohan is a product of the South Asian Cricket Academy who is in his second season at Headingley.
“100 percent,” he said, when asked if he has red ball ambitions.
After all, here is a bowler who has yet to make his Championship debut for the county despite having impressed in T20.
“And especially after seeing Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed go and play Test Cricket for England,” he went on.
“You know, I want to do that. I can actually start to believe that’s a possibility.
“All the best bowlers have been able to do it in all three formats, and I want to be the best bowler I can be. A big thing for me is ticking off my first-class debut and work up from there.”
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Adil Rashid has been a big help to Jafer Chohan.
Chohan knows there is plenty of water to go under the bridge before he does break into international cricket, but why not? He is certainly a bowler with all the talent to achieve his aim.
And he has some good guiding hands to help smooth the way.
On the field, he is enjoying bowling alongside fellow spinners Dom Bess and Dan Moriarty, the triumvirate promising to be a threat against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford this evening.
“It’s been great this year having those guys – Bessy and Mozza – to support me a lot,” he said. “They set it up beautifully (against Durham) for me to do my thing.”
Off the field, he said: “I look up to Adil Rashid a lot and chat to him. His message to me is to look to take wickets and be positive.
“It’s very easy to be scared in T20 cricket of getting hit. Now, I feel a lot more comfortable and just enjoy it. If I’m looking to take wickets, I bowl so much better.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jordan Thompson celebrates the wicket of Chris Green en-route to a Roses win at Headingley last month.
“I’ve worked a decent amount with Rash, but the majority of it has been with his brother, Amar. I’ve done a hell of a lot of work with him over the last two years. He’s been great.
“Rash has been great as well. He’s been at the World Cup, and I’m like, ‘Right, I best not bother him’. But he’s called me and checked up on me and how I’m doing.
“It’s so nice to have because he’s someone I’ve grown up watching and admired a lot.
“For him to check up on me and call and ask how I’m doing, it’s a pretty cool thing to have.”
Chohan’s progression to red ball cricket with Yorkshire, he believes, is most realistic for next season. Breaking his right thumb twice since April has been an obvious frustration which has held him back.
But first things first, and tonight’s Roses clash.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jafer Chohan would love more wickets at Emirates Old Trafford this evening.
Should Yorkshire win it, and other results go their way, they could be sat in the all-important top four places in the North with two games remaining.
Emirates Old Trafford is notoriously spin-friendly, and Chohan said: “We’re geared up perfectly for that.
“We have a very experienced side who play spin well up top with Lythy and Mala and Shan. We feel like we line up quite well to play at Old Trafford.
“We’re feeling very confident going into that game, especially after being one up on them when they came here (Headingley).
“It’s going to be a big night.
“We didn’t play there last year because it got rained off. But it’s what we play cricket for, to play in these big games on TV. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Phil Salt is set for his first Red Rose appearance of the summer in county cricket’s biggest fixture.
Lancashire are sat second in the table having won six of their 11 games. They have 14 points to Yorkshire’s 10 in seventh, highlighting just how jam-packed the North Group table is.
A home win and the Lightning could be mathematically qualified for the quarter-finals.
Two of their last three games have been rained off, including at Derbyshire last night.
England opener Phil Salt is likely to play his first match since returning from T20 World Cup duty.
