Mitchell tips Clarke to reach the top
Worcestershire 475-7d & Derbyshire 248 & 15-1 (f/o) - Stumps, Day Three
WORCESTERSHIRE’S Joe Clarke was tipped for England honours after his career-best 194 against Derbyshire at New Road.
It was the gifted 20-year-old’s fifth Championship century of the season which helped the hosts pile up 475-7 declared of 137 overs in their first innings.
Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell, who completed 1,000 first-class runs for the season during the match, figured in a century stand with Clarke, who has been included in the Lions squad for their winter schedule after an impressive first full campaign in senior cricket.
Mitchell said: “He’s had a fantastic year. He’s probably the one batter in our top six who has been pretty consistent throughout the season. There are a couple who have had really good starts and failed a little bit.
“Obviously I didn’t have a great start, but Joe has been consistent throughout. His tally shows that and hopefully he’ll have a good winter with the Lions.
“He’s a very, very good player and he seems to have scored a lot of hundreds already in a relatively short space of time. I’m sure he’ll continue to do that for Worcestershire over the years and hopefully he’ll end up in the England first team in the not too distant future.
“He’s a talented lad with a great work ethic.”
Clarke, with six first-class centuries under his belt this season, plundered the visitors’ attack for nearly seven and a half hours, putting on 157 with Joe Leach – a record seventh wicket stand for Worcestershire against Derbyshire.
All-rounder Leach stepped up his claims to be the Worcestershire players’ player of the year by making 107 not out, his second Championship century.
Bottom club Derbyshire, needing 326 to avoid the followon, were soon in trouble in reply when Leach claimed two wickets in five balls to take him onto 60 Championship wickets for the first time.