Andersson – ‘I’m not a first-team regular just yet’
SEAXES ALL-ROUNDER HAS BEEN EVER-PRESENT THIS SEASON
the beginning of the year, before Covid-19 happened, just to try and ALL-ROUNDER Martin Anders- be available for selection for as son feels he is still some way off many games as possible. establishing himself in the Mid“Even though it’s ended up dlesex side, despite featuring in all being a shortened season, it’s defitheir fixtures so far this season. nitely been nice to stay on the
Andersson is one of only four pitch for once.” players – alongside opener Max Andersson, who picked up his Holden, wicketkeeper John Simpsecond four-wicket haul of the Bob son and red-ball captain Stephen Willis Trophy as Middlesex’s camEskinazi – to remain ever-present paign ended with a nine-wicket for the Seaxes in both formats. defeat to South Group winners
The 24-year-old struck a careerEssex, is one of several younger best 92 against Hampshire in the players to have made his mark in Bob Willis Trophy last week and recent weeks. also ended the red-ball campaign Left-arm spinner Thilan Walalas his team’s second-highest lawita, teenage seamer Blake Culwicket-taker, with his medium len and batsman Jack Davies have pace accounting for 14 scalps. all made red-ball debuts, with leg
However, Andersson, who spinner Luke Hollman also missed the majority of last season impressing in the Vitality Blast. with a stress fracture of the back, “It’s definitely an exciting time believes he still has much to do for the younger players at Midbefore he can consider himself a dlesex. We’re getting more opporfirst-team regular. tunities than we have in previous
“I wouldn’t say that – it’s still years,” added Andersson. quite early. But hopefully, if I can “It’s a chance to showcase what put a few more performances in, we can actually do and we’ve been next year I’ll be on the way to doing trying to give it our all. There are that,” he said. things to work on, but it’s been
“That was one of my targets at going all right and we’ve competed well in most of the games we’ve played.
“There are obviously personal milestones that I would like to achieve at some point, but I try not to think about them too much for now.”
Having identified Andersson as “a serious batsman” before the start of the season, head coach Stuart Law promoted him to number three in the T20 side, but the former Berkshire youngster is less than satisfied with his modest return of 52 runs in five innings so far.
“In the run-up to the tournament I was told that was what I’d be doing and it’s something we spoke about, how I should go about batting at three,” said Andersson.
“It hasn’t gone as well as I’d like, so hopefully I can learn from some of the sloppy mistakes I made at the beginning.
“I definitely want to bowl more in T20 as well, but we’ve got a strong bowling attack who have done quite well, so it’s a case of as and when the captain (Steven Finn) needs me.”