Rory Haydon has been on both sides of the boundary for Staffordshire this season – and he knows which one he prefers.
The Leek seamer played in Staffs’ opening NCCA Knockout Trophy game against Herefordshire, which resulted in a victory.
But he has sat out the next couple of Group Two encounters – which ended in defeats by Suffolk and Shropshire – to manage his workload.
Haydon has been playing for Derbyshire 2nd XI, so balancing his commitments has been at the forefront of his mind.
However, the 22-year-old is back in the Staffordshire team for this weekend’s final group game against Norfolk at Sprowston.
That’s a timely boost for Staffs who face an uphill task to avoid being eliminated from the group stages for the third successive season.
Staffordshire need to beat Norfolk and hope Shropshire, who have already qualified, can defeat Suffolk.
Even then, there would need to be a huge shift in run rate in order for Staffordshire to take second place and advance to the knockout stages.
‘Watching brief’
“It’s a weird one, I’ve been at all the games. I played the first one and it’s great to be back in the group having missed the end of last year,” said Haydon.
“It’s different watching from the sidelines. I just want to be out there and making a contribution.
“It’s difficult because you always feel as though you want to get hold of the ball, but being on the sidelines means you can’t influence things.
“We know results have to go our way. There’s still a chance of going through. After the last two matches we want to get back to winning ways and show that we can do it in this competition. We have to believe we can do it.”
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Sunday’s defeat at Shifnal left Staffordshire on the back foot as they struggled to get to grips with a hybrid wicket.
They could only muster 213-9 from their 50 overs, indebted to some lusty late hitting from Liam Hurt to get them to that score.
Shropshire then banked a six-wicket win, to leave Staffordshire’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
‘Searching for answers’
“I’m not really sure I can put my finger on what we’ve gone as we have in the 50-over competition,” added Haydon.
“We’ve had success in the other two formats, but have then come unstuck in the Knockout Trophy.
“It’s the same group of lads and we’ve all grown up playing 50-over cricket, so it’s a strange one. But we can still go through if we win on Sunday and then we can have a reset.
“We were under par last weekend, but we can still win games. Bowlers can win matches even if we’ve not got the total on the board we’d like.
“The bowling group have to take responsibility as well, it’s not just the batters.
“Whenever I’ve played for Staffordshire I have wanted to lead by example. Me and Hurty (Liam Hurt) have the new ball and it’s up to us to set the tone for the team.”
‘Team focus’
Haydon insists that Staffordshire just have to concentrate on their own affairs this weekend in East Anglia.
And he says that showing their capabilities in the white-ball match is one box they can definitely tick.
“That’s the big thing, we can’t control the other game,” explained Haydon.
“If we win we get a bit of pride back, even if we don’t go through. It’s about bouncing back and get ourselves back on track.
“I didn’t play, but was in the dressing room on Sunday and was part of the conversations that took place. We’ve got an obligation to perform.
“Over the winter Ketts (James Kettleborough), Carri (Andy Carr), Milly (Chris Milward) and Pete (Wilshaw) worked incredibly hard at the training sessions – and so did the lads.
“We focused on the 50-over stuff lots, so we owe it to the coaches and to ourselves to go to Norfolk and put in a performance.”
‘Aiming high’
As well as helping Staffordshire to success on the NCCA circuit, Haydon has his own personal ambitions in the game.
He has been performing well for Derbyshire seconds, which has meant sitting out Staffs matches.
“Derbyshire is game by game at the minute,” he said. “I trained with them a bit over the winter. It’s going ok. I just want to keep going there and putting in performances. I’m enjoying my time with them.
“They are a good group of lads and it’s been nice to contribute. You have to enjoy it while you can because in a month’s time things could flip form wise because that’s what cricket can be like.
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“My personal aspirations are to be a pro, that’s how I’ve been thinking since I was 15 or 16.
“I went through the academy system at Warwickshire and it didn’t work out, but now I have a chance at Derbyshire.”
Haydon has some experience to tap into in the Staffordshire camp in his bid to reach the pro game.
Seamer Liam Hurt played for Lancashire, while captain James Kettleborough spent time with Northamptonshire and Glamorgan.
‘Hard graft’
Haydon is also putting in the work on all facets of his game to try to make the breakthrough.
“Staffs have given me lots of opportunities and have always supported me to help me to further my ambitions.
“I’ve missed games, but it’s been great to play alongside Hurty and Ketts because they’ve been around that environment and can help me with off field stuff as well as on it.
“I had a winter at home and pre-Christmas I did a lot work on my batting and have had a few runs at club level. I hope to carry that on for the rest of the season.
“Sam Atkinson showed what he can do with the bat last season and it’s another weapon in the armoury. If you can do all three disciplines then it helps you to stay in the team.”
Main image: Seamer Rory Haydon returns to the Staffordshire side for the game against Norfolk at Sprowston. Picture: David Peters