Thoughts from the Top!

Today, Head Coach Dave Leighton reflects on the weekend session at Old Trafford, the current crop of injuries and how the Squad is progressing as the Barbados Tour draws ever nearer with the English season to follow on immediately after. As usual, "The Gaffer" is upbeat and positive about the prospects ahead!

Another week of training bites the dust with pace bowlers swinging the ball, spin bowlers spinning the ball - all to left handers. The scene was set to challenge our bowlers to the maximum, the batters learning to play straighter along the floor and hitting straight 6s. Playing these shots with control is an essential component of their game as they continue to improve. 'Man down' we shout as Lewis hits the wall with a groin injury, another man down as Chris can only catch with one hand, broken finger et al, yet another one down as Jake Brown does not arrive due to being hospitalised from the morning football match, Carefully we nuture back to life another casualty in Scott who is recovering from his broken leg. Josh feels the pace as the Bleep Test takes its toll (and on one or two others who shall remain nameless!!). Get your kit on Lucky Phil as you may be required to play in Barbados! Jake Smith shows vast improvement in the catching skills session and the concentration was there for all to see with Harrison, James, Will and Sam. Jody dived like a dying swan and Dom caught pigeons (or should that be the other way round??). Saad is getting steadily faster and Daniel is ever stronger. Hamza is right up to speed and Ryan is swinging the ball for fun, whilst Jonesy is batting with confidence. All in all a challenging session but the future will look brighter when all are fully fit!!

Dave

Dave Leighton : Club Programmes Manager
England and Wales Cricket Board : c/o County Cricket Ground, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0PX