Every thing’ s coming up Roses for Coad
IN a season that has featured more pinch-me moments than proverbial hot dinners, the chance to shine in a home Roses rivalry is just the next step to the top for Ben Coad.
With 23 wickets from just four matches, dazzling barely covers the start of the season for the Yorkshire quick – all after barely getting a sniff prior to this term.
But, with Lancashire coming to Headingley for Coad’s second game on home soil, starting today, the opportunities to impress are not just done yet.
Indeed this will mark the biggest stage yet for the 23-yearold seamer, still revelling in an impressive start that caught even him unaware.
“It was a bit of a surprise, it’s starting to sink in a little bit and I’m delighted with what I’ve done, but I’ve got to stay level-headed and making sure I’m doing that through the season,” he said.
“We’ve got so many good players so I’m being kept on my toes, I’ve got to keep performing throughout the year otherwise I’ll be out of the team.
“The winter was massive, Galey (Andrew Gale) brought in a new fast-bowling programme and Richard Pyrah has helped me and there’s been a lot of positive changes.”
Both Lancashire and Yorkshire seasons have far from been perfect, however, languishing in the unfamiliarity of mid-table with just one win apiece.
The two unsurprisingly shared a draw just a couple of weeks ago too, though Coad remains confident a positive result can come this time around.
And with the White Rose’s unbeaten run in the match already standing at six years, it’s a game the fast bowler knows is one you have to do more than just turn up for.
He added: “It’s the Roses derby, it is the one that everyone talks about and for good reason.
“It’s a big rivalry and one that you always look forward to, there should be a big crowd there, too, which will help the atmosphere. “We’ve got a lot of improvement to come which is very much a positive for us, we’ve still got two draws and a win but we’ve been disappointed not to get over the line as much. “Hopefully this week we can put the pressure on the teams above us.” Lancashire, meanwhile, will be missing pacemen James Anderson and Kyle Jarvis through injury, leaving former Hampshire man Ryan McLaren, left, to lead the attack, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul will also be keen for more runs after his Old Trafford century.
Their main challenge will therefore be to take 20 wickets, though the South African has no qualms about leading the attack for a side that has yet to lose in this County Championship season.
“It’s something that I’ve done, be it in county cricket or back in South Africa,” said McLaren. “I’ve had to lead attacks for quite a long time now so it’ll be nothing new or different.
“I've been on the other side of it as well when I’ve got hurt and other guys have had to take on the workload.
“It’s part of being a bowler and in terms of responsibility and taking leadership, it won’t feel unusual.”