YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO TAKE EYE OFF THE BALL
As the Champions Trophy continues today with New Zealand’s clash against Australia, the next round of County Championship matches also gets underway, with 12 teams battling against the international competition and having to focus on their own matches.
It’s always a bit different playing domestic cricket whenever there is a major tournament or even an England Test match on, and each county will go about it in an different way.
Management are all different. Some like the TV off, some like it on but with no sound. I believe that if you’re close to being involved in your match, say you’re one of the next two batsmen in, then you can go and watch it if that’s what you want. But that would be in a different room.
I don’t think the Champions Trophy games, or anything that doesn’t focus you, should be on or going on in the dressing room when you are playing. If you want to watch some cricket, then get out on the balcony and watch what’s going on in your game.
There’s enough to watch that will benefit you.You can see how people are bowling, what field they like, who’s got the gun arm and who the elephants are in the field that you can take two to. All those one per centers that make a difference can only be gained by watching your game.
It’s not always easy to keep focus on your game, and it’s much easier to have your feet up with a coffee watching the TV, but it can create carnage.
There will be more murmurs in the crowd over the next couple of weeks with spectators inevitably talking about the Champions Trophy, and a lot of the grounds will give updates over their tannoy.You get a vibe of what’s happening but you can’t let that affect you.
We know the County Championship is a six-month marathon, but there still needs to be that intensity in every game.
County cricket won’t make headlines now, but the teams who do best at this stage will have great momentum
Some teams are playing twice while the Champions Trophy is on, and if you slip up in both of those, that can have a huge effect on your season.
County cricket won’t make the headlines over these next few weeks but the teams who do best at this stage of the year will have great momentum going into the second half of the season.
Some counties are sure to begrudge the Trophy with some players away but not actually playing. Jonny Bairstow looks like he won’t play for England, unless injury strikes, and Yorkshire would love to have had him available.
But that goes for the player too. Jonny is in remarkable form, and will love being in the England set-up. He will still get good quality in the nets and good coaching, but when you’re playing well, you want to keep playing – and I really think England should let their players decide when they play for their counties.
Surrey, Warwickshire and Glamorgan may also bemoan the fact they can’t play at their traditional home grounds over the next few weeks, with Surrey’s next home game being hosted at Guildford.
Most counties play some cricket at outgrounds through the season and this is when they come into their own. It’s fascinating how players react to playing at these grounds, and they need to make sure they are positive.
The beauty of county cricket is that there are so many different pitches to play on and challenges to face. That wicket at Guildford will be the same for both teams, and the team who rises to the challenge best will take the most points.