Sam Keeling-Wright is flying with Staffordshire – as his new aeroplane celebration would suggest.
The 22-year-old seamer has made an stunning impact with the ball since he left Herefordshire over the winter to link up with Staffs.
Keeling-Wright, who plays his club cricket in the county for Old Hill, has been at the forefront of Staffordshire’s attack in the National Counties Cricket Association season.
He’s already take 30 wickets across all formats – with 13 of those coming in this week’s Championship victory over Cambridgeshire at Checkley.
Keeling-Wright picked up 8-60 in Cambs’ first innings and then pocketed 5-41 second time around to finish with match figures of 13-101.
And each Cambridgeshire scalp was greeted with Keeling-Wright flinging his arms out wide to take the adulation of his team-mates.
‘Flying high’
“When you go into a game, you just want to help the team in anyway you can,” he said.
“I took the first three and thought ‘I’m in here’ and things just kept going from there.
“You start to get the feeling it’s going to be your day and you just have to take advantage.
“I managed to get into a nice rhythm and the pitch was really helpful – seaming around and nibbling.
“I’d say the most memorable wicket would be Ethan Rice in the second innings, which just nipped and bowled him.
“I’m not quite sure where the celebration came from, it’s something I’ve just started this year… taking a wicket and sticking my arms out like an aeroplane.”
Keeling-Wright was one of two Herefordshire players to make the move to Staffordshire for this summer.
Himley all-rounder Ollie Walker also switched to play for the county where he plays his club cricket.
And Keeling-Wright says that has helped him to adjust to new surroundings.
“I think I knew that my time was coming to an end with Herefordshire and I wanted a fresh challenge,” he explained.
‘We laid down a challenge to the players and they delivered’
“Then I spoke to Ketts (James Kettleborough) and that helped to make my mind up.
“I’ve always followed Staffordshire, even though I only played against them once, and it’s great to be playing for the county now.
“Once Walks (Ollie Walker) signed it made integrating into the dressing room so much easier.
“It’s a great group to be a part of and everyone has there own little niche and set of skills they can bring to the team.”
‘Fitness first’
Keeling-Wright is loving taking wickets on a regular basis – but he’s also enjoying just being out on the pitch.
He’s suffered awful luck with injuries in the past couple of years with a torn bicep, rotator cuff problem, fractured finger and a side strain among his setbacks.
Day Three report: Staffordshire take just 19 balls to wrap up victory
He’s now reaping the rewards of being fully fit – and looking to keep delivering as he eyes a future move up the cricket ladder.
“It’s been a frustrating time with injuries because they’ve all being niggly ones,” he added.
“Those have put me back a bit. I trialled with Worcestershire and then Northamptonshire, so I want to try to get back on the 2nd XI circuit.
“Taking those wickets at Checkley will help me to do that, hopefully.”
‘Helping hand’
Fellow Staffs seamer Jake Garlick has made the move to Warwickshire on a short-term deal to cover the Metro Bank 50-over competition.
Keeling-Wright has those type of aspirations – and has a helping hand in the Staffordshire attack in Liam Hurt.
The experienced paceman enjoyed a professional career with Lancashire – and is always a willing source of information for the seamers.
“Hurty has been brilliant. At Chesham, especially, he really helped me out,” explained Keeling-Wright.
“He was stood at mid-off and helped to clear my head when I was being hit for four and feeling a bit down.
“He told me to keep nailing my skills and was really helpful.”
That fixture at Chesham didn’t pan out how Keeling-Wright and Staffs wanted as hosts Buckinghamshire secured a 187-run win.
But this week’s round of matches, which included Bucks losing at Northumberland, has bunched the Division One East sides together.
‘Star turns’
Keeling-Wright wasn’t the only star performer for Staffordshire in their success.
Reeve Evitts became the county’s youngest Championship double ton maker with 207 not out, while Tom Moulton contributed an excellent 96 as the pair put on 248 for the third wicket.
“After what happened at Bucks, we needed to respond and we did that,” said Keeling-Wright.
“Reeve and Moults showed what they are all about and batted superbly.
“Staffs have got a good track record in the Championship and now we have to go to Northumberland in our next game and produce something similar.”
Day Two report: Reeve Evitts creates history as Staffs close in on victory
Before that trip to the north east on Sunday, August 16, Staffordshire have the Super 12s section of the Twenty20 Cup to negotiate.
They will play either Lincolnshire or Cheshire – who meet in an eliminator in the first game of the day at Wolverhampton on Sunday, August 9.
“We’ve been strong in the T20s so far and with home advantage we have to make the most of it,” said Keeling-Wright, who is keen to add to his wicket tally.
“It’s been a really good start for me at Staffs. My target before the season was to get more wickets than I did last year, which wasn’t many because of injuries.
“I’ve already got 30, so I’ve got to be looking at 40-plus before the season is out.”
Main image: Sam Keeling-Wright took 13 wickets for Staffordshire in the NCCA Championship victory over Cambridgeshire. Picture: Roger Byrne