PhoenixFire
International Coach
Ah you're making me miss all of this Neil, used to love it so much.
Sounds awesome anyway, you should be England coach IMO.
Sounds awesome anyway, you should be England coach IMO.
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County Youth Cricket: A Blueprint
- Thread starter Neil Pickup
- Start date
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Hmm. Pickup has a laptop with stats on it though, he seems pretty keen.
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Two weeks later...
Berkshire U10 151/7 (40)
Oxfordshire U10 153/1 (30.1)
Our opening partnership was worth 140 from 156 balls - once again almost chanceless: with only a hard catch and a missed stumping offered before a run out split the partnership with victory in sight. Both openers made fifty, and one of them is now averaging 202 for the season.
This is much more fun than getting battered every week.
Berkshire U10 151/7 (40)
Oxfordshire U10 153/1 (30.1)
Our opening partnership was worth 140 from 156 balls - once again almost chanceless: with only a hard catch and a missed stumping offered before a run out split the partnership with victory in sight. Both openers made fifty, and one of them is now averaging 202 for the season.
This is much more fun than getting battered every week.
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Just had a mixed, but ultimately encouraging, week's cricket.
Dorset 171/4 beat Oxfordshire 116/9 by 58 runs
Admittedly we were missing three of our top six, but we were truly and unremittingly awful for the great majority of this fixture: everything went horribly wrong five overs from the end of the Dorset innings as a simple runout turned into overthrows, and a gettable target haemorrhaged into an imposing one. Our three remaining bats fell within the first 15 and then it was one-way traffic.
Oxfordshire 106/4 beat Shropshire 104/9 by 6 wickets
Much better. On a greentop, we bowled with great discipline and fielded well to keep Shropshire down to a very modest target, which we proceeded to make look completely insignificant with 19 overs left of the game.
Oxfordshire 167/3 beat Wiltshire 166/7 by 7 wickets
Given that Wiltshire had thumped Dorset by 9 wickets, I expected a game: and we got one. We had them 67/5 midway through, only for a 97-run stand for the sixth wicket to rescue them as their #6 made 71, making us pay for dropping him on 35. We managed to hold it together in the last two overs, however, with the last only costing two runs to keep it chaseable. Despite an early wicket, a partnership of 154 for the second then saw us the bulk of the way home as one of our openers went to his fourth unbeaten fifty of the season.
This lad now has 354 runs @ 118 for the season, and just doesn't look like getting out. He went from 18 off 65 to 75 off 108, picking up balls that were fractionally off line and length and being merciless with them. As I said to the other boys at the end of the game - that is how you build an innings. Watch, admire, and learn. I know I am doing so!
Dorset 171/4 beat Oxfordshire 116/9 by 58 runs
Admittedly we were missing three of our top six, but we were truly and unremittingly awful for the great majority of this fixture: everything went horribly wrong five overs from the end of the Dorset innings as a simple runout turned into overthrows, and a gettable target haemorrhaged into an imposing one. Our three remaining bats fell within the first 15 and then it was one-way traffic.
Oxfordshire 106/4 beat Shropshire 104/9 by 6 wickets
Much better. On a greentop, we bowled with great discipline and fielded well to keep Shropshire down to a very modest target, which we proceeded to make look completely insignificant with 19 overs left of the game.
Oxfordshire 167/3 beat Wiltshire 166/7 by 7 wickets
Given that Wiltshire had thumped Dorset by 9 wickets, I expected a game: and we got one. We had them 67/5 midway through, only for a 97-run stand for the sixth wicket to rescue them as their #6 made 71, making us pay for dropping him on 35. We managed to hold it together in the last two overs, however, with the last only costing two runs to keep it chaseable. Despite an early wicket, a partnership of 154 for the second then saw us the bulk of the way home as one of our openers went to his fourth unbeaten fifty of the season.
This lad now has 354 runs @ 118 for the season, and just doesn't look like getting out. He went from 18 off 65 to 75 off 108, picking up balls that were fractionally off line and length and being merciless with them. As I said to the other boys at the end of the game - that is how you build an innings. Watch, admire, and learn. I know I am doing so!
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Yesterday we scored 220 to beat Staffs off the last ball.
Today we chased down 171 with an over to spare to beat Warwickshire.
Surrey tomorrow.
Too tired to write any more but check npickup (npickup) on Twitter for the live text...
Today we chased down 171 with an over to spare to beat Warwickshire.
Surrey tomorrow.
Too tired to write any more but check npickup (npickup) on Twitter for the live text...
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Unfortunately Surrey was a bridge too far - Surrey made 223/5 off 35 overs, getting away from us with wickets in hand and big straight hitting as we tired noticeably after three days' exertions. In reply, despite another century stand (the fifth of the season, incredibly, all of which involved the same lad), we fell a good short on 167/6 after a clatter of late wickets in a vain effort to create a miracle.
Staffs on Sunday saw us chase 220, led by a 142-run stand for the first wicket that was broken by a great burst of 5-1-13-2, however things then got a bit awkward. We needed 28 off 24, but then got it down to 9 off 13, before inexplicably playing out a maiden that drove me to the edge of sanity. Soon it was 9 off 4, before our batsman copped one on the thigh. This did at least give me the chance to get out and say "come on, keep your head still, keep a stable base, come on and win it!". The next ball went for four, then we took two singles: 3 off 1. Wide. 2 off 1. Wide... with the non striker run out. 1 off 1. Single. Delirium - but devastating for Staffs (their third last-ball loss of 2010). They then crashed to Surrey by 9 wickets before bouncing back to beat Hereford (despite slipping to 30/5, a maiden century by the same lad who'd taken 2/13 against us saved their day).
Day 2 saw us chase 171 with a whole over to spare despite allowing the asking rate to creep to 5 and 6 for the last third of the game. One lad, who is suffering from Sever's Apophylitis (growth-related pain in his ankles), played through the pain barrier and then beyond to make 31* off 39 to see us over the line after our top 3 (comparatively) failed at 93/3. He then spent the next day barely able to walk let alone run: no exaggeration. I've never been so emotional at the end of a sports match - it really was something special, something else - beating a first class county into the bargain just rounded things off as a new "best day ever", and one that will take some beating.
There were some really special moments, particularly in the way that the majority of the boys from different counties were happy to chat to each other, take interest in one another's performances (and support fellow minor counties during pant-stainingly close finishes against FC sides). The Staffs player who made the ton was utterly delighted and still aware enough to ask how we were getting on when I went over to congratulate him later on in the day. There was the odd exception, as there unfortunately always are, but there was one moment that summed things up for me against Surrey.
One of our batsmen was hit on the glove (I think) and the ball freakishly rolled up his chest, under his visor and struck him over the eye. He managed to shake it loose, and it fell out into the keeper's gloves. I then noticed the batter was staying down on the ground so sprinted out to the middle, thinking "head injury, head injury..." This meant I overheard one of the fielders run in to the keeper, saying, "didn't you catch that, isn't that out?". The keeper turned round and said "I don't care if it's out; I don't want him to be out like that, I'm not appealing." A far cry from the parent who had screamed "run him out" at 9 off 4 in the Staffs game...
I love my job.
Staffs on Sunday saw us chase 220, led by a 142-run stand for the first wicket that was broken by a great burst of 5-1-13-2, however things then got a bit awkward. We needed 28 off 24, but then got it down to 9 off 13, before inexplicably playing out a maiden that drove me to the edge of sanity. Soon it was 9 off 4, before our batsman copped one on the thigh. This did at least give me the chance to get out and say "come on, keep your head still, keep a stable base, come on and win it!". The next ball went for four, then we took two singles: 3 off 1. Wide. 2 off 1. Wide... with the non striker run out. 1 off 1. Single. Delirium - but devastating for Staffs (their third last-ball loss of 2010). They then crashed to Surrey by 9 wickets before bouncing back to beat Hereford (despite slipping to 30/5, a maiden century by the same lad who'd taken 2/13 against us saved their day).
Day 2 saw us chase 171 with a whole over to spare despite allowing the asking rate to creep to 5 and 6 for the last third of the game. One lad, who is suffering from Sever's Apophylitis (growth-related pain in his ankles), played through the pain barrier and then beyond to make 31* off 39 to see us over the line after our top 3 (comparatively) failed at 93/3. He then spent the next day barely able to walk let alone run: no exaggeration. I've never been so emotional at the end of a sports match - it really was something special, something else - beating a first class county into the bargain just rounded things off as a new "best day ever", and one that will take some beating.
There were some really special moments, particularly in the way that the majority of the boys from different counties were happy to chat to each other, take interest in one another's performances (and support fellow minor counties during pant-stainingly close finishes against FC sides). The Staffs player who made the ton was utterly delighted and still aware enough to ask how we were getting on when I went over to congratulate him later on in the day. There was the odd exception, as there unfortunately always are, but there was one moment that summed things up for me against Surrey.
One of our batsmen was hit on the glove (I think) and the ball freakishly rolled up his chest, under his visor and struck him over the eye. He managed to shake it loose, and it fell out into the keeper's gloves. I then noticed the batter was staying down on the ground so sprinted out to the middle, thinking "head injury, head injury..." This meant I overheard one of the fielders run in to the keeper, saying, "didn't you catch that, isn't that out?". The keeper turned round and said "I don't care if it's out; I don't want him to be out like that, I'm not appealing." A far cry from the parent who had screamed "run him out" at 9 off 4 in the Staffs game...
I love my job.
Jarquis
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Haha, kid reminds me of me on Saturday, but mine was in jest. Our opening bowler yorked their batsman, catching him flush on the toe. He fell out of his crease and the ball rolled out on the leg side. Half heartedly suggested me run him out 
Sounds like an excellent weekend though Neil, followed you on twitter for today's game and it did seem like the total was just a little too much for your lot when you needed over 9 an over for the last 17 or something wasn't it?
Still an exceptional few days for you and your lads, congrats
Can hold your heads high after a showing like that.
Sounds like an excellent weekend though Neil, followed you on twitter for today's game and it did seem like the total was just a little too much for your lot when you needed over 9 an over for the last 17 or something wasn't it?
Still an exceptional few days for you and your lads, congrats
Can hold your heads high after a showing like that.
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
It felt like a little too much from 150/3 with 8 overs left when Surrey batted. Our body language all morning was that of shattered children, which in all fairness is exactly what we were - and to still give it a fight with a pair of fifties and another century stand. This lad has been absolutely stellar.Sounds like an excellent weekend though Neil, followed you on twitter for today's game and it did seem like the total was just a little too much for your lot when you needed over 9 an over for the last 17 or something wasn't it?
Still an exceptional few days for you and your lads, congrats
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superkingdave
Hall of Fame Member
Will he get picked up by a bigger county next year Neil or does he stay with Oxfordshire regardless? Not sure what the rules are these days regarding eligibility
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
I have to admit to not being too clued in to the ins and outs of eligibility myself as this end of the spectrum doesn't usually throw up players of that standard. As a county we work closely with Gloucestershire's academy programme to try to identify and develop players with FC/Test potential - in a similar way to Devon working with Somerset. He's having an assessment this week, and I really don't know how it will play out. The likelihood, to my untrained mind, is doing a number of specialist sessions - if selected - with Gloucs over the winter, while remaining in the Oxfordshire playing setup as this is how it is playing out with our élite players up to U15. From that point onwards they appear to be playing fewer games for us and more for the Gloucester sides.
A case in point is Joe Barrett, currently an U14 (ignore that 187*, it wasn't him), who played for Gloucester IIs earlier this season. I don't know how Tom will end up progressing long-term, but I've never met a kid like him in terms of sheer single-mindedness and complete discipline in terms of innings building, leaving and shot selection. He's also nearly impossible to wind up, and believe me I've tried...
Jarquis
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Playing 2nd XI cricket aged 13/14
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Is not that unusual. Gloucester and Somerset both have the tendency to stick kids in to the 2nd XIs on odd occasions - I really can't figure out how they decide when and where to blood the kids.Playing 2nd XI cricket aged 13/14
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
2008: LD3 L1
2009: W1 L5
2010: W6 L2
2011: W5 LD1 L3
2012: W5 L1
Yesterday we won a ridiculous game (report) (scorecard) against Warwickshire to round off a season that started with consecutive defeats to North Oxfordshire U11 and Shropshire U10 (a game we should never, ever have lost but contrived to throw away in horrendous fashion).
To the best of my knowledge, Warwickshire have lost four games in three seasons - two to Surrey, and two to Oxfordshire. We started by reducing them to 10/3 only for a rally to take them to 79/4 before a fightback finished things at 111. It wasn't simple, though, as we fell to 12/4 before numbers six and seven added 65 for the sixth wicket. At 104/5 I started to allow myself to think it was over - error. This swiftly became 110/8 (some creative application of LBW notwithstanding) before our number six crowned his maiden fifty with the winning runs.
We fielded fantastically, supported each other tremendously, and were a superb unit. Not bad for a little minor county. To repeat what I said two years ago - I love my job.
2009: W1 L5
2010: W6 L2
2011: W5 LD1 L3
2012: W5 L1
Yesterday we won a ridiculous game (report) (scorecard) against Warwickshire to round off a season that started with consecutive defeats to North Oxfordshire U11 and Shropshire U10 (a game we should never, ever have lost but contrived to throw away in horrendous fashion).
To the best of my knowledge, Warwickshire have lost four games in three seasons - two to Surrey, and two to Oxfordshire. We started by reducing them to 10/3 only for a rally to take them to 79/4 before a fightback finished things at 111. It wasn't simple, though, as we fell to 12/4 before numbers six and seven added 65 for the sixth wicket. At 104/5 I started to allow myself to think it was over - error. This swiftly became 110/8 (some creative application of LBW notwithstanding) before our number six crowned his maiden fifty with the winning runs.
We fielded fantastically, supported each other tremendously, and were a superb unit. Not bad for a little minor county. To repeat what I said two years ago - I love my job.
Langeveldt
Soutie
Not only dealing with the parents, but the schools as well I remember posing a hassle.. I think my school had reasonably good ties with Somerset when I was flirting with the idea of being good at cricket, but I knew some schools would curry favor with the county setups to get their kids fast tracked and would cry foul when they got dropped
Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
It's always nice to look back on this every couple of years and see how it all began.
We haven't lost in 19 games (14 county fixtures) since June of last year. This year we usually used 10-11 bowlers every game and only two teams reached 100 against us.
I don't think 2015 will see much of an extension of this record (lots of these boys have played two years at U10), but it's been pretty special, and our team spirit has been awesome.
I love my job!
We haven't lost in 19 games (14 county fixtures) since June of last year. This year we usually used 10-11 bowlers every game and only two teams reached 100 against us.
I don't think 2015 will see much of an extension of this record (lots of these boys have played two years at U10), but it's been pretty special, and our team spirit has been awesome.
I love my job!