Devon Cricket Board - U13 report Blundell's 2011

U13 report Blundell's 2011

Devon Under 13XI v Blundell's School

"A Bad Day At The Office"

After a winter impressing on the players the basics of our game plan; bowling straight. not bowling wides or no balls, saving runs in the field. Batters getting BIG scores, not losing wickets in clusters and not getting a start and then getting out, here was the ideal opportunity for the players, to put it all in to practice.

Blundell's had offered a warm up game to the Under 13's. An offer the coach and manager could not refuse, especially as most of the squad would be involved with Will Thompson, Ben Steer and Dan Pyle playing for the schoool. A great chance to impress, and a last look at the players in a match situation, before the final squad was announced.

The afternoon started well with Toby Codd, captain for the day, winning the toss and deciding to bat. Things got better as Codd and Dan Hussey, making his county debut after impressing everyone in the district games, put on 40 for the first wicket. The first tick of the day. However this was almost the high point of the day. Hussey was dismissed for 14, after looking in no trouble at all. Three of the next four batsmen all got in to double figures, but none of them went on to make a significant personal score or build the sort of partnership that is expected at this level. Indeed at 93 for 6 the prospect of tea being taken after the game was a real possibility.

Enter Alfie Huxtable. Joining the ever resourceful Charlie Barriball we saw the sort of partnership that we were looking for. Both players batted positively, taking all the runs on offer and for the only time in the game, Devon looked in charge. There partnership of 61, in 12 overs, was the biggest of the innings and was only ended when Devon teammate Dan Pyle was re-introduced in to the attack and bowled Barriball for 27, with the score on 151. Huxtable batted out the remaining overs scoring a fine 44 not out with 6 fours. The management team were pleased for the player whose ability was not reflected in his scores last season. (Note for Manager. Tell Devon U12 Manger how well U12 Blundellian Cabburn bowled).

The total of 171 seemed a little light, but we were unprepared for exactly how inadequate it turned out to be.

The bonus of playing the school was that it gave the Manager chance to see 15 of his squad, with the top three in the batting order all Devon players. They certainly took on board the lessons of the winter, and also the opportunity to rub their county colleagues noses in the dirt! Captain Will Thompson, who had been troubled all winter with a back injury led the charge with his railway sleeper. He put on 98 for the first wicket with the irreprssible, in all ways, Ben Steer. These runs came in 14 overs, and none of the Devon bowlers were able to exert any control over the batters. When Steer eventually fell for 36 it brought in Dan pyle, who was not going to miss out on a rare chanceto bat up the order. his 35 not out included 7 fours and a six. Never one to waste energy! The final 75 runs wre knocked off in only 7 overs by this pair. Thompson finishing on 79 not out with 14 fours and 2 huge sixes.

So, time to push the panic button, or reflect on a bad day at the office?

Overall five players got scores of over 30 and there were signs that the work in the winter had sunk in for some of the players. Hopefully the others have taken note! No need to worry, just keep preaching the gospel.

Blundell's went out of the way to provide a great day, not only for the players but their families and supporters too. hopefully a fixture to repeated in the future.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773