Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Pete Greenfield impressed in York last week with his runs and captaincy.
Yorkshire’s Academy produced a bit of Minster City magic last week to qualify for next month’s T20 Finals Day.
The White Rose Under 18s boys won four of five North Group games at York CC and Clifton Alliance CC from Tuesday to Thursday, just pipping Lancashire to top spot in the table courtesy of a superior net run-rate.
Yorkshire lost only to Durham, winning matches against – in this order across the three days – Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.
In every game, aside from the one they lost – the last game of the week – to Durham, they posted totals topping 170, including one of 234-6 in a nine-run win over Derbyshire.
“Sunday July 19 is the day we’ve got ear-marked for Finals Day.” said James Martin, Yorkshire’s head of the performance pathway. “It’s something we’re really looking forward to.
“Last week, we were over the moon with it all.
“Getting six counties together to play some real good, strong, hard, competitive cricket across the North and the Midlands, it’s always one of the great weeks that we have in the Academy calendar.
“It’s something we always look upon as a great yardstick for our progression and a great tool to use.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. James Martin, Yorkshire’s head of the performance pathway.
“The biggest success for me was that we had five under 16s in the squad for the three days.
“Callum Armstrong was one, who unfortunately picked up a niggle after the first day. But he struck 64 in the first game and 59 in the second at strike-rates of just over and just under 200. That’s no mean feat.
“Pete Greenfield was the oldest of the group at 18 and skippered the side. He was the leading run-scorer (215, five innings) across all of the teams. Exceptional.
“Charlie Richardson, an Under 16s left-arm spinner, was our leading wicket-taker (with eight). He bowled with great control and took wickets at vital periods.
“But my overriding sense from reflecting with John Major, our lead Academy coach, was that everything just came together following the preparation we’d had by playing against numerous counties. It was just a well-rounded team performance.
“Results aside, the way the lads approached their cricket for being such a young Academy side was so pleasing because some of them are going to get another two years’ exposure to that week.
“Yes, we came out on top, but I’m sure everyone enjoyed the week. It’s a real spectacle. The three days are long, they’re tiring from a players’ perspective because the games are very intense given the opposition you’re coming up against. But there are a lot of very talented players on show across all teams, which is great to see.”
Finals Day will come amidst more of a red-ball block for the Academy, so preparation for that will be important. Intra-squad matches are likely, for example. But an important factor is that it will come outside of exams period for the youngsters.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Charlie Richardson, eight wickets across three days in York.
“The lads have got a lot going on at the moment,” said Martin. “So, yeah, the shackles will be off by then, there’s no doubt.
“Between our first and second games on that second day, the lads going upstairs and revising, getting their heads into the books was a sight. That’s where their minds were at. For them to then go out and perform so well against Lancs in the evening, it was great to see.”
The aforementioned Derbyshire game on the Tuesday morning saw Yorkshire post 234-6, including 64 and 65 from Callum Armstrong and Pete Greenfield respectively. Derby then responded with 225-6, including three wickets for Joe White.
“First game of the comp, and we were behind the eight-ball when they were chasing,” reflected Martin. “But Theo McLelland bowled a great spell at the death and executed his plans.
“Where we were with the ball and in the field, we probably weren’t really clear on what we wanted to achieve – where did we want to get hit, the dimensions of the ground and how were we going to take wickets.
“Full credit to Derby, they attacked the chase like we thought they would. They’ve got a great set-up led by Daryn Smit.
“But Theo executed his plans in two really good, tight overs. And, when you’re chasing 12s, that’s all it takes.”
Martin added: “A couple of things I’d like to add. First, full credit to John Major for the way he’s led the group from a coaching perspective.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire’s lead Academy coach John Major.
“And the buy-in from the lads as to how we want to play our T20 cricket, it just shone through last week.
“It’s quite easy for us to say, ‘Go out there, be expressive, be expansive’. But there’s a lot of work from them which goes on in the background to get to a stage where they can produce it and be successful with it.
“There was a lot of failure as well as a lot of success leading up to last week.
“That’s not just at Under 18s level, it’s 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s as well and deeper down into our early-engagement programme.
“We want players to have the capability to strike at 180 plus and be able to bowl at the front, in the middle or at the death. That’s something we’ve really grasped over the last three years or so.”
