Andy Carr has urged Staffordshire to take advantage of their rivals’ inactivity to enhance their chances in the NCCA Twenty20 Cup.
The inclement weather has hit the opening weeks of the National Counties Cricket Association short format. But Staffs have managed to get out on to the park.
They saw their opening double header against Cumbria called off because of the condition. However, they did pick up a win and suffer a defeat on their visit to Northumberland last Sunday.
And they quickly wrap up their T20 group programme over the Bank Holiday weekend. They have a home game against Shropshire at Leek on Sunday and a trip to Nantwich to take on Cheshire on Monday.
The lack of games has left Staffordshire top of the table at the halfway point of their commitments.
Shropshire have yet to play after their matches with Cheshire last weekend were rained off. And those abandonments made it four straight wash-outs for the latter.
So the two sides will be making their seasonal debuts when they take on Staffordshire this weekend – and that’s something head coach Carr believes his players can exploit.
‘Testing time’
“It’s going to be tough this weekend. To play two days of back-back T20 games will be a big test for the players, especially when they have played club cricket on the Saturday as well,” Carr told The Sentinel.
“But do we have the upper hand? I think we have. Shropshire have not played yet and if we play to our strengths we should be able to come out on top.
“Going into the game with a win under our belts already helps confidence and then we head to Cheshire, who still won’t have played either. Theoretically, we should be in the driving seat.
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“We are going into the games with real clear and positive plans. We’ve got to execute the disciplines we fell short in last weekend better and then hopefully get the two wins and take that into Monday.
“The other bonus for us is that we’ve got a really good run rate, but we can’t take anything for granted.
“We know there’s areas we need to develop and also areas which are a strength which can become super strengths.”
‘Ups and downs’
Staffordshire had a mixed time at South Northumberland last weekend after losing the opening match and then bouncing back in the afternoon contest.
Staffs stuck 158 on the board in the morning, largely thanks to captain James Kettleborough’s unbeaten 81.
However, a below-par bowling performance enabled Northumberland to ease to victory to strike the first blow.
“We talked about 130 to 140 being a par score in the first game on a wicket that was relatively soft. The outfield was still wet and the ball wasn’t getting away,” added Carr.
“So to get 18 to 20 more runs than that, we thought it was a decent score to defend. Ketts played remarkably well and was supported by Matty Morris.
“We put a good score on the board and then in the second innings we didn’t execute our bowling plans correctly.
“We were 36 off the power play and they were 62. Both sides had the same dot balls, but they managed to hit more boundaries.
“The lads never managed to pull it back. We had the odd good over, but the majority of bowlers went for 10s.
‘Frustration’
“It was frustrating having put a competitive score on the board and it was probably a bit of a misjudgment of the wicket.
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“We couldn’t land the ball consistently where we wanted to. Maybe it was partly the fact you can get away with things indoors, and also it was our first competitive match.
“The bowlers have not had an opportunity to really get a full run out.
“Our lines and lengths were wrong. We were cut and pulled, we just bowled too short and wide and they punished us.”
‘Fine recovery’
Staffordshire recovered in style in the second match, which was reduced to 12 overs per side following a rain delay.
Nils Priestley smashed 97 as they amassed 161-3. Northumberland were then restricted to 105-7 in their run chase.
“Nils’ innings was just formidable striking of the ball. It was outrageous and a joy to watch,” explained Carr.
“That really set the tone for us. It allowed the other batters to come in and play with freedom. We just had to support Nils and Pete Wilshaw played a great innings doing that.
“We talked about posting around 100 in 12 overs, so to get 161, something needed to go drastically wrong in the second half for us not to win.
“Northumberland have three prolific batsmen at the top. The players knew if we could deal with their top four we would be pretty much home and dry.
“We were a lot more disciplined in the second game.
“Batting wise we were faultless in both games at Northumberland. We have left-right combinations all the way through the order and that really helps.
“There was one minor thing we picked up on in the powerplay which was strike rotation. But that’s not a massive concern and we can easily improve on that.
“Bowling wise we’ve got the skills in our armoury. I’m 100 per cent sure that the lads will show them off in this weekend’s games.
“But after what happened at Northumberland, I’m happy with where we are.”
‘Squad calls’
Staffordshire have tweaked their squads for this weekend’s encounters.
Moddershall & Oulton’s Callum Hawkins comes in to take the gloves in place of Spencer Byatt, who is unavailable.
There is a big boost with Hem Heath all-rounder Liam Banks being named in the squads.
Shropshire include former Staffs player James Middleton in their squad for the game at Highfield.
Matches at Leek and Nantwich start at 11am and 2.30pm.
Weekend line-ups
Staffordshire (v Shropshire on Sunday): James Kettleborough (cpt, Checkley), Sam Atkinson (Moddershall & Oulton), Tom Brett (Finedon Dolben), Dan Gibbs (Newcastle & Hartshill), Callum Hawkins (Moddershall & Oulton), Michael Hill (Meakins), Liam Hurt (Flixton), Matthew Morris (Westhoughton), Nils Priestley (Swarkestone), Dan Richardson (Moddershall & Oulton), Peter Wilshaw (Meakins), Tom Moulton (Checkley), Liam Banks (Hem Heath).
Staffordshire (v Cheshire on Monday): James Kettleborough (cpt, Checkley), Sam Atkinson (Moddershall & Oulton), Tom Brett (Finedon Dolben), Dan Gibbs (Newcastle & Hartshill), Callum Hawkins (Moddershall & Oulton), Michael Hill (Meakins), Liam Hurt (Flixton), Matthew Morris (Westhoughton), Nils Priestley (Swarkestone), Dan Richardson (Moddershall & Oulton), Peter Wilshaw (Meakins), Tom Moulton (Checkley), Liam Banks (Hem Heath).
Shropshire (from): Charlie Home (cpt, Shifnal), George Hargrave (Shrewsbury), James Middleton (Knowle & Dorridge), Tom Fell (Wolverhampton), Ollie Westbury (Himley), Jack Home (Shifnal), Lewis Evans (Shrewsbury), Ben Lees (Shifnal), Dan Lloyd (Wellington), Sam Ellis (Wolverhampton), Ben Roberts (Shifnal), Harry Darley (Shrewsbury).
Main image: Staffordshire County Cricket Club head coach Andy Carr. Picture: Alfie Shenton
