MVP Barks carries on where he left off for the Bears...
KEITH Barker hit the ground running with two excellent spells of left-arm swing on the first day of Warwickshire’s two-day friendly against Northamptonshire at Edgbaston.
Barker is the reigning Specsavers County Championship Most Valuable Player, having taken the title for his allround exploits in four-day cricket last season.
And he looked in the mood to mount a strong defence of that crown as he delivered 13-8-13-3, at one stage conceding just a single in eight overs, on the first day of senior cricket at Edgbaston this year.
As agreed by the teams, Northa mptonshire, for whom 12 players batted, went in for 60 overs up to tea at which point they had scored 200 with ten wickets down.
At one stage they were 20 for four having been rocked by Barker’s newball spell of 8-5-7-3, during which he bowled Max Holden, trapped Rob Newton lbw and had Josh Cobb caught by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.
Rob Keogh (94, 121 balls) led a
It was a good workout, although losing Wrighty did affect our plans. Barks bowled superbly and the spinners did well after lunch
fightback, supported by Steven Crook whose 46-ball 39 ended when he fell lbw to Jonathan Trott, the ball after pulling the medium-pacer for six. The Bears’ bowling plan was affected when they lost Chris Wright with a thumb injury. After bowling just two overs, Wright dived for a ball at mid-on and jarred his right thumb. He left the field in some discomfort but it is hoped the injury is not serious and he could bowl again. In the afternoon session there were two wickets apiece for spinners Sunny Singh (two for 36) and Josh Poysden (two for 46), while Rikki Clarke and Matt Lamb ended with one wicket each.
“It was a good workout, although losing Wrighty did affect our plans,” said first-team coach Jim Troughton. “We went in with only three senior seamers – Wright, Barker and Clarke – so to lose one meant we had to change things round quite a lot.
“Wrighty was in quite a bit of discomfort but it seems to be easing and hopefully he will be okay to have a bowl when Northants bat again after tea tomorrow.
“Barks bowled superbly and the spinners did well after lunch. It was good to see Sunny add a couple of wickets in England to the ones he took in Dubai.”
Warwickshire batted after tea but reached only 27 for two (Alex Mellor out for 12 and Ateeq Javid for ten) before play was ended by bad light and rain. Due to the early finish, play will start at 10.30am today with the Bears batting for 75 overs, weather permitting, and Northamptonshire going in again after tea.