Under 10s v East Devon Under 11s 30th May 2006

Thanks to the kind hospitality of Ottery St Mary and the Loud family the under 10s enjoyed a pre county season warm up game which exposed a number of key areas that the side will have to work on with an awareness to match various situations an urgent priority. The side, as part of their game plan, agreed that 140 runs would be within their reach scoring at 4 an over in this 35 overs a side game. Sam Wyatt-Haines called heads and lost the toss giving the East Devon under 11s first use of the track. All seemed to be going to plan as the hosts were reduced to 70-6 at the halfway stage. It was 96-7 after twenty-one overs but from then on the East commanded the game as Loud and Wilkinson put on 60 for the eighth wicket and a further unbroken 32 were added for the ninth wicket. Loud scored a match winning undefeated 48 and extras contributed a massive 67 runs. Early lesson one - bowl straight. Lesson two all bowlers need a greater knowledge of their own field settings, deeper thought by each bowler is needed in order that the captain can set the correct field. It will also be necessary for the front line bowlers to bowl their full quota rather than sharing the bowling around as the nature of this contest dictated. In the real world not every member of a side is an all rounder and this will be an important fact of life for some – lesson three. Chilcott was the leading bowler taking 3-14 off five and when he pitched the ball up was very effective. 188-8 was a more than reasonable return from the 35 overs and chasing at 5.37 by this inexperienced side would always be difficult. Would the 44 wides be critical?

After a superb tea it was time to see whether the youngsters knew how to build a team innings. Unfortunately they were never really in the hunt and there was only one meaningful partnership -44 for the eighth between Gater and Govern, they both showed a willingness to take the initiative and perhaps more importantly ran together well. Lesson four cricket is all about partnerships – batting, bowling and in the field. The standard of the running between the wickets was particularly concerning and the players must build up a confidence to take on fielders. Of the 210 balls bowled 123 were not scored off, a very sad stat and had just one run an over extra been taken the game would have gone in their favour – lesson five. The under tens did score at 4 an over in reaching 145 on a pitch that got lower and lower but again extras played the leading part in adding 64 runs. What was achieved by the later order in showing some aggression and positive intent must sweep through the entire side and is perhaps the most critical lesson of a most enjoyable day.

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