Bears skipper wants repeat performance
JEETAN Patel will lead Warwickshire into Royal London One-Day Cup action against Lancashire at Blackpool today calling for more of the same from his team after the excellent win at Yorkshire.
The Bears travel north with a record of won one, lost one in the tournament after following a 57-run home defeat to Derbyshire with a five-wicket win at Headingley.
After a disappointing opening day in the group, Patel’s side bounced back in style – a style which the captain wants to see delivered again at Stanley Park.
“It was a very good performance at Headingley,” he said. “In the first game we never got going and the game just got away from us but we had a good chat about that and bounced back with a really solid display.
“We didn’t get the early wickets you always want but stayed patient and then kept picking up wickets to keep a brake on the scoring. Then the guys chased the target perfectly. Ed Pollock and Jonathan Trott took down Bresnan, which put them on the back foot, and then Trotty, Sam Hain and Adam Hose played amazingly well.
“It was good stuff and, though we know we are miles away from the finished product, showed what we are capable of. We’ve got a lot of guys contributing at the moment, which is exactly what we want.
“Players are going into the second XI and scoring runs and taking wickets and that’s brilliant because it shows not only that they are good players but their attitude is spot on.”
Next up comes the Red Rose and the Bears’ first senior limited-overs match at Blackpool. They have played ten champi- onship matches there, starting in 1908 when they lost by two wickets and took minus-one point from the game, through to 2006, a rain-affected draw in which Moeen Ali made the fourth of his five championship appearances for the club. But today will be Warwickshire’s first whiteball visit – and also a new experience for the vastly-experienced captain. “It’s my first time there and I’m really looking forward to it,” Patel said. “It’s fun to play at outgrounds. There’s sure to be a big crowd with no doubt a bit of jeering at us as the away team. After putting in such a good performance at Headingley, I know how much the guys are excited by it and then another big game at Trent Bridge on Sunday.”
It was good stuff and, though we know we are miles away from the finished product, showed what we are capable of. Jeetan Patel