Bears debut a real blast, says happy Jake
JAKE Lintott said he was ‘really grateful for the opportunity’ after debuting for the Birmingham Bears against Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast.
With the paperwork completed on Saturday, the left-arm wristspinner joined his team-mates on the bus hoping to feature at Sophia Gardens on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was immediately called into action and impressed as the Bears chose a two-spin option with Jeetan Patel.
“It was good fun and it’s been a long time coming,” said Lintott, who helped the Bears to a six-wicket win in Cardiff.
“Last year, I got involved with the Bears playing in the Second XI and then we had a long winter. With all the difficulties of the last few months, it was nice to get out there and enjoy my cricket again.
“It’s an exceptionally talented squad so to get the nod was really pleasing from my perspective. You look around the dressing room, it’s quite surreal as you look at the names.
“I’ve had to work hard to get where I am and I was really grateful for the opportunity.”
Lintott was appearing in his fifth T20 fixture after previously featuring for Gloucestershire and Hampshire in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The Somerset native looked right at home, finishing with figures of 4-0-13-1.
“It came out quite nicely and I tried to bowl hard into the wicket,” he said. “There was a little bit of spin both ways but I tried to be unpredictable and difficult for them to come at me.
“Friday night was frustrating (the
Bears’ opening Blast fixture against Somerset was abandoned due to rain) and we were really looking for that so to pick up a point and now to get two we’re pretty happy with that.”
With the games coming thick and fast, Lintott is also appreciative of the support his other employer has given him.
As director of cricket for Queen’s College, Taunton, things are starting to get busy, but the independent school are allowing him to continue his dream once more.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the pupils on Thursday as we’ve got pre-season training and they’re all coming back,” he added.
“The school have been brilliant to me and they’ve given me the time to be here and focus on this.
“That’s great for me and I know they’re giving me their full backing.”