Coad out to enjoy chance to shine for Yorkshire
BEN COAD is set for only his second Specsavers County Championship appearance tomorrow – and he is determined to relax and enjoy it.
Coad will benefit from Yorkshire’s injury problems when the Division One campaign kicks off against Hampshire at Headingley – the Tykes are without seamers Jack Brooks, Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom who are all ruled out.
The senior trio picked up either calf or hamstring injuries whilst playing in the United Arab Emirates late last month, leaving first-team places up for grabs.
And that is exactly what 23-yearold Coad has done - grab a spot.
The Harrogate-born seamer impressed on his county’s pre-season tour of Dubai and again earlier this week in the three-day clash with the students of Leeds Bradford MCC Universities.
He claimed 2-17 from 15 overs in the first innings of the White Rose win, including nine maidens and five out of his first six overs, and added 1-21 from 15 in the second.
Coad’s only other Championship appearance came last June away at Durham when he took one wicket across two innings of a high-scoring draw.
“I feel I’ve come on a lot since then,” said the right-armer, who then played in a first-class match against Pakistan A, adding another wicket.
“That game against Durham in particular, I was very nervous.
“But, speaking to the senior lads, they’ve helped me out a lot with what I needed to work on to play more first-class cricket.
“I would have liked to have performed better against Durham, but as long as you learn from those kind of things, that’s key.
“Learning from Durham and Pakistan has been my aim this winter. It’s all coming together now.
“I’d like to think I’ll be a lot calmer this time and enjoy it more. Fingers crossed it will all work out.”
Coad is likely to play alongside Tim Bresnan and Steve Patterson, Yorkshire’s only fit senior quicks, and Josh Shaw, who encouraged on loan at Gloucestershire last year.
Brooks is out for between four and six weeks having sustained a second calf injury since the turn of the year, while Plunkett and Sidebottom are set to miss the first two or three rounds.
Matthew Fisher and David Willey both played second XI cricket earlier this week after respective groin and shoulder injuries, and it is just a case of building up match fitness with those two.
“Coady’s lines and lengths were outstanding against Leeds/Bradford,” added coach Andrew Gale. “He hardly bowled a bad ball.
“We’ve worked hard with him on hitting the pitch a little bit harder, not bowling that floaty half volley, and changing his role a bit.
“People put him in the Steve Patterson category, but I think he’s very different to Patto. He’s not a guy who will just come in and build pressure. He’s got good skills.
“If he hits the pitch hard, he’ll get wickets.”