Mellor relishing chance to help shape county season
ALEX Mellor says he’s looking forward to playing a more prominent role for Staffordshire this summer.
The Leek captain has been appointed as Staffs’ player-coach to work as part of the backroom team under director of cricket Dave Cartledge.
Mellor, aged 29, is currently undertaking his Level Three coaching badges - and is relishing the prospect of his added responsibility on the National Counties Cricket Association stage this summer.
The wicketkeeper-batsman will not only be dealing in runs and glovework victims, but also how the county players prepare for their NCCA encounters.
“I am looking to progress in the world of coaching, but the conversation to became player-coach came out of the blue a bit,” said Mellor. “I’ve done stuff with Leek for a couple of years and this is an opportunity to step up.
“There’s already been conversations with Dave about the season, and he has some things in place, but until we know when we are definitely going to start, it’s tough to formulate specific plans.
“It’s been ideal we haven’t had any winter nets because of the coronavirus pandemic, but everyone is in the same boat.”
Mellor boasts plenty of experience on the playing front as well, with four seasons at Warwickshire on his CV.
He has also played club cricket in both the North Staffs and South Cheshire League and Birmingham League, as well as featuring for Staffordshire and the now-defunct Unicorns representative side.
His main currency will be runs this summer, but he also wants to make a difference off the field as well.
“You are coaching adults and everyone is big enough and old enough to organise themselves to a certain extent,” added Mellor.
“At this level, you are not going to change how someone plays. It is about having conversations that allow the boys to go out and excel.
“We want to give them a platform to perform, so it’s more like having chats about tactics and game awareness.
“You want to talk to them, rather than showing them or telling them how to do things. Everyone knows their game, it’s how they put that in to practice.”
Mellor knows what it takes to be successful with Staffordshire.
He was handed his Staffordshire chance in the 2014 and helped the county to win the Championship title that summer when they defeated Wiltshire in the final at Salisbury.
Mellor marked his home threeday not that bow with a century against Hertfordshire at Knypersley in 2014 - but it was an innings he played the following season which opened the door to the professional stage.
He compiled an unbeaten 208 against Suffolk at Longton, which paved the way for his move to Warwickshire.
He made 26 appearances across the pro formats before being released by the Edgbaston outfit in 2019.
Mellor has continued to play for Staffordshire, though, and featured in the Knockout Trophy side which lost to Herefordshire in the 2016 final.
The Leek-born player made just one appearance for Staffs in 2019, but it turned out to be in a crucial fixture as victory over Norfolk at Longton secured the Unicorns Eastern Division title.
In total, he has played 14 Championship, 11 50-over and one Twenty20 game for Staffordshire.
He’s scored more than 1,300 runs for the county, including seven halfcenturies and two tons.
Mellor added: “I learnt a lot about the game during my time on the firstclass circuit.
“But I don’t want to tread on the toes of the captain, whoever that is going to be.
“I don’t think there will be too much difference on the field to what it has been like before.
“We’ve all played a lot of cricket and basically you have 11 captains out there. You want players to be able to communicate and express their thoughts. “Certainly in the past, players have said their piece in the dressing room and that needs to be encouraged.”
Staffordshire are due to start their season on Sunday, April 18 with a Twenty20 Cup double header against Shropshire at Himley.
That’s followed by the Knockout Trophy format, before the Championship campaign kicks in later in the summer.
Mellor is confident that Staffs can enjoy another successful time as they look to make up for having the 2020 season wiped out because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The group of players we have, the talent is unbelievable,” explained Mellor.
“It’s a good position to be in and people will need to perform. You are representing your minor county and don’t want to let anyone down.
“When we go out and play there will always be something riding on it and we want to create the environment where players can perform to the best of their ability.
“There will always be competition, but that is healthy. We want everyone singing off the same hymn sheet to help us to be successful.
“From a personal point of view, there’s no extra pressure on me because the biggest pressure comes from myself to perform.
“I expect high standards from myself and want to score a high volume of runs.
“From a team perspective, we have to make sure our preparation is good and the lads are physically and mentally ready to go in to battle for Staffordshire.” Director of cricket Cartledge added: “Alex has played in the Premier Divisions of both county leagues and knows the players.
“He has played first-class and hopefully he will bring something new to the group.”