Batty happy to silence the boo boys

WORCESTERSHIRE deserve to be commended for many things – competing on a smaller budget than most, their admirable commitment to home-grown players and a willingness to give youth a chance.

Shrewsbury-educated Joe Leach is skipper, while a laundry list of local boys made good – Daryl Mitchell, Brett D’Oliveira, Ed Barnard, George Rhodes, Ben Cox, Joe Clarke, Jack Shantry, Josh Tongue – are also part of the firstteam squad. But woe betide anyone who wants to leave.

Having served in Worcester for seven seasons, Surrey skipper Gareth Batty has been heckled and booed on every subsequent return to New Road. In 2010, having been abused during a Championship match at New Road, Batty climbed into the crowd to remonstrate with a Worcestershire spectator and had to be removed by Surrey coach Ian Salisbury, before later being seen in tears.

In last week’s One-Day Cup semi-final, the cat-calling was present again but this time the only tears were from the Rapids batsmen as Batty took 5-40 with his off-spin as his old county were obliterated by 153 runs, leaving the Surrey skipper to crow about reaching the final at Lord’s.

“Every time we win and particularly when there is a bit of banter flying around, you just want to show people that things can change and people do change,” said Batty.

“It was not nice, I’m not going to lie, but it’s not going to change my life.You heard it – a few idiots on the boundary. They will go home and to work tomorrow and I will have a day off with my daughter. I hope they think about that we are playing in a final at Lord’s, which they will never do.”

Surrey battered 363-7 from their 50 overs – 92 of those coming from the previously out- of-sorts Jason Roy, from just 81 balls – before skittling Worcestershire for 210.

Batty, left, still in a combative mood, took aim at the England selectors for dropping Roy before the debacle of a Champions Trophy semi-final loss to Pakistan.

“Jason showed it could have been a different story at Cardiff,” he said.“He is a huge talent.”

After an encouraging start, the honeymoon for new Worcester skipper Joe Leach is over after this loss and back-to-back Championship reverses. But he said:“It’s easy after a couple of weeks to hit the panic button but we know we are a good side and we've shown that this season.”