James Kettleborough is looking for Staffordshire to put the finishing touches to their game to produce the complete performance.
Staffs entertain Suffolk at Stafford in their penultimate NCCA Championship Division One East game this weekend.
And the stakes couldn’t be higher as the five top-tier teams all still have title aspirations after every match has so far ended in a draw.
Bedfordshire host champions Buckinghamshire in the weekend’s other divisional fixture – and captain Kettleborough is well aware that the three days in the county town could shape Staffordshire’s season.
They will then wind up their campaign with a trip to High Wycombe to take on Bucks.
Staffs’ two encounters so far have ended in stalemates, although they had the better of both fixtures against Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire.
‘Tough challenge’
“I think it’s going to be a result game,” said the county captain. “If we have to go to High Wycombe having to force a result, we know it’s flat there, it could be difficult.
“This is going to be quite a big game and if we win it, we will be in the mix to win the division. If we lose it, we’re going to have to fight really hard in the final match.
“If you look around the group, all of the games have been draws and it’s waiting for one side to gain the upper hand and get a win.
“We’ve got a game in hand, so there’s the opportunity to do that. We are looking to have a good three days and come away with a win.
“We’ve had two games and could have had two wins.
“Against Bedfordshire we were in complete control before the last day was rained off and Lincs was a see-saw match, but at the end of it we were the ones looking to win and were in control.
“All we can do is take positives out of those matches and hope we can bring everything together against Suffolk.”
‘Seize the moment’
Kettleborough says he’s determined to cut a relaxed figure to bring the best out of his side over the three days at Stafford.
And he says that he might even gamble to try to force a positive result – if the opportunity arises.
“Any pressure we are feeling will be felt by the other sides in the division as well,” he added.
“It’s a big game and if there’s a bit of weather about, you have to decide whether to roll the dice and whether there’s the threat of losing the game.
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“It’s all about what type of opportunity potentially presents itself.
“If we play how we have in our first two matches we should be confident, but it isn’t going to be straightforward because Suffolk are a very good side.
“We’re going to have to break the game down, go session by session, or even smaller than that.
“That’s the beauty of three-day cricket, it can ebb and flow and you have to chip away to get yourself into a good position.”
‘High hopes’
Staffordshire haven’t sampled a victory in the three-day format yet this season, but there were some memorable individual performances in the recent draw with Lincs at Cleethorpes.
Michael Hill hit 166 not out in the first innings, with Callum Hawkins making 60 and Sam Atkinson contributing 86.
And second time around, Reeve Evitts compiled 172 and Rory Haydon weighed in with a half-century.
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“We’ve been doing some really good things. The lads have put in some impressive performances,” explained Kettleborough.
“It’s a whole host of people who have stood up and turned in displays and that’s really encouraging.
“I hope everyone turns up on Sunday and thinks they are going to be the person who stands up and performs.”
‘County town landmark’
The match, which will be the first time Staffs have played a game in Stafford for 69 years – and the first time ever at their new Riverway ground – will also see a county landmark.
Batsman Hill will be making his 50th Championship appearance for the county.
“It’s an incredible effort and a reflection of him as a cricketer,” said Kettleborough.
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“It used to be six Championship matches and now it’s four, so to get to 50 appearances is testament to the longevity of his career, his quality and the consistency of him as a player.
“He still has that quality. As a captain I feel fortunate that he’s now in my side. It’s not just his runs, but also the experience he offers me as a captain.
“He’s a player that when I used to play against him you always knew the threat that he carried.”
Staffordshire have named an unchanged side for this weekend’s encounter.
Main image: Staffordshire captain James Kettleborough says his side go into the game against Suffolk in confident mood. Picture: Alfie Shenton
