Recovery wanted on Aaron’s homecoming
ESSEX seamer Aaron Beard was just 15 when he first played for England at Chelmsford – now the youngster is ready to return as England U19s look to mount a comeback against Sri Lanka.
Back in 2013, Beard served as 12th man and substitute fielder for England in a warm-up match against Essex ahead of the Ashes when he was still only a schoolboy.
Now 18, Beard has been part of the England U19s side that fell 1-0 down in their one-day series against their Sri Lankan counterparts, having already lost the Youth Test series by the same scoreline.
However, with the second onedayer set to be played at Chelmsford on Saturday, which is Beard’s home ground as well as the site of his senior England involvement, the quick bowler is looking forward to returning to familiar surroundings.
“I’m looking forward to going back home after a good three and a half weeks on the road,” said Beard, who made his first-class debut earlier this season.
“It will be good to see all the Essex boys and all my friends in Chelmsford and play at my home ground. I’m a five-minute drive away – when I didn’t drive it was a 20-minute walk, which is how I got to the ground.”
England have work to do to get back into the series having lost the first one-dayer by 108 runs after they struggled to cope with the Sri Lankan spinners.
Batting first the Sri Lankans made 257-7 with skipper Charith Asalanka (70) and Shammu Ashan (60no) laying the foundation, while Hugh Bernard (2-43) was the pick of the English bowlers.
However, in reply, spin trio Asalanka (2-27), Damitha Silva (3-28) and Wanidu Hasaranga (2-28) ran through the English batting line-up and coach Andy Hurry admitted that it was a big task taking on such a quality attack.
“It is a different challenge for our players, facing high-quality spin – the sort of challenge that makes Under-19 international cricket so valuable,” he said.
“In the first one-day game at Wormsley, we obviously failed to make the adjustments, or to cope with the pressure being exerted by the Sri Lankans. So over the next 48 hours we’ll be challenging and working with all the players to think about their approach.”
It capped a frustrating week for England, who went down 1-0 in the Youth Test series after the Sri Lankans had held on for a draw in the first Test before winning the second by seven wickets.
In the second, Max Holden’s unbeaten 111 was something of a lone charge in a total of just 208, with England on this occasion unable to cope with Lahiru Kumara (7-82).
Navindu Vithanage got Sri Lanka out of an early hole with 80 not out, before Kumara fired once more, taking 4-52 to complete a man-ofthe-match performance when England were bowled out for 192.
Left chasing just 94, Sri Lanka got there in style off just over ten overs, with Asalanka hammering 40 off just 18 deliveries to hand England a first home loss at this level since 2010.