Exclusive: Schofield backs Suffolk for MCCA Final

Date released: 20 August 2007

Cheshire and Suffolk come to Lord's on Monday 27th August to battle it out in the Minor Counties Final.

England and Surrey bowler, Chris Schofield has played for both finalists and was recently called up to the England Twenty20 World Cup squad after topping the rankings as the leading wicket taker in domestic Twenty20 competition.

He spoke to Lords.org in the build-up to the match about his memories from minor counties cricket and his World Cup hopes:

Lords.org: It's the Minor Counties Final on Bank Holiday Monday - you played for both sides, which do you think saw the best of you?

Chris Schofield: "Well I started with Cheshire, trying to find my form with the ball again and they gave me a great opportunity to do that. The captain, Andrew Hall, was great with that sort of thing, he was always looking after me, just chucking me the ball and saying: "Just keep going, keep bowling." and he got me bowling really well.

"Then with Suffolk, they have a bit more of a first class county set-up, where they have coaches and drills and stuff. They try to be a bit more professional in their approach. With Cheshire they were more relaxed but it really worked.

The training nets at Lord's "They were two different approaches. The high intensity with Suffolk, all the warm-ups and quite an intense atmosphere. Cheshire were more relaxed but they tried to save producing their best stuff for on the pitch."

Lords.org: How does minor counties cricket compare to the first class game?

Chris Schofield: "There is quite a big interest there. Some of the matches are really well attended. There are a lot of decent cricketers that have come through at club level, trying to work their way into the first class county game.

"The standard is pretty decent. There are a lot of pros taking time off who come and turn out for the minor counties, trying to establish themselves."

Lords.org: We're hoping the Finalists will enjoy themselves at Lord's. How do the minor county grounds and facilities compare?

Chris Schofield: "Some of the wickets in the minor counties are really good. The pitch up at Cheshire is excellent. Maybe not so much the facilities, they're more geared towards the matches, so you're not there every day training - just on match days.

"Generally though the facilities are decent - they play at the best clubs in that area so the grounds are really good."

Lords.org: When you went back to minor counties cricket was there ever any doubt in your mind that you'd make it back to the first class game?

Chris Schofield: "Honestly, no. I knew I was going into the minor counties scene to try and get back to play first class cricket. It was good that the minor counties gave me that opportunity.

"Cheshire knew that I needed to bowl a lot of overs, to try and get my bowling back on track and Cheshire were good enough to do that for me. I bowled a lot of overs up there and then got the opportunity at Suffolk too.

"I knew if I was going to get back to first class cricket it was going to be down to my bowling, so I had to put the overs in. That's what I did for two years - I found my bowling again."

Lords.org: Quite a turn around from that to being called up to the England Twenty20 squad. How does that work? Do you just get a call from Peter Moores?

Chris Schofield: "I actually got a call from David Graveney, saying "Congratulations, you're in the 30-man squad. Then it was just a case of hanging tight for three weeks to see if I was in the final 15.

"It was just waiting, playing county cricket trying to do as well as you can. But I managed to get into the 15 which is great, a real achievement for me."

Lords.org: Did you have an inkling it was coming? Had the ECB been to see you at Surrey?

"I didn't know but I'd had a really good Twenty20 season, I was bowling well. A couple of the lads, Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher, said "You've got a real chance for the Twenty20 squad."

"At the time I didn't know about it, I didn't focus on it. I was just trying to do my best to get another contract with Surrey.

"Then I got the call from David Graveney and another to say I was going to the World Cup - it was unbelievable."

Lords.org: You've been playing really well in Twenty20, you're the leading wicket taker. What is it about Twenty20 cricket that works so well for you?

Chris Schofield in action for Surrey Chris Schofield: "I think I'm a bit lucky. I did bowl really well but if I did bowl a bad ball, a full-toss or whatever it seemed to go down somebody's throat for a catch.

"Obviously The Brit Oval is a big ground and you find most batsmen are trying to hit you out of the ground, which helps with the catches. So I just tried to bowl straight, get it in around their feet so they can't swing their arms and it worked.

"My main concern was just trying to go for as few runs as possible. I think I ended up around six runs an over so to get 17 wickets as well was a good achievement. But my main objective was trying not to go for too many runs. Fortunately the wickets came as well."

Lords.org: So what are your aims for the World Cup. Can England win or are you just focused on getting in the XI?

Chris Schofield: "We had a game the other day against a pretty strong India side. They were missing Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who they rested. We posted 295 against them at Northants, the lads batted really well. Sadly it was rain affected but we've got every chance.

"It'll be a big occasion but we've got Twenty20 specialists and we've got a good chance of being successful."

Lords.org: The recent World Cup didn't go well for England, does that take the pressure off a bit?

Chris Schofield: "I don't think so no, there's always pressure there. It's the first Twenty20 World Cup. People are trying to play themselves into the England one-day side and beyond, so we're putting pressure on ourselves to do well. We're all trying to achieve more."

Lords.org: Is that your aim then, to use this as a step to the other England teams?

Chris Schofield: "Definitely. My goals this season were to do well in the Twenty20 and then hopefully in the one-day matches to try and push myself into the Championship side.

Schofield with bat in hand "My aims are similar with England, if I can do well in the shorter games, maybe score a few runs too hopefully I can push myself into the frame for the 50-over matches with England."

Lords.org: Are you still in touch with people from either county?

"Well, I played with Suffolk this season. I played three one-day games. When I wasn't needed by Surrey, Suffolk would ask me to come and play in a one-day game and I loved the chance to go back, to bowl, bat at three and have a chance to get some overs and some runs.

"It was pretty good for both of us and now we've got ourselves into the final."

Lords.org: You're saying "we" there - you're a Lancashire lad, but now playing down south - should we ask who you'd like to win on Monday?

Chris Schofield: "I'm afraid I'm going to have to say Suffolk. Sorry Cheshire.

"I played for Suffolk last year and a bit this year so I've got to go for them."

Lords.org: And do you think they will win?

"I think so, yes. I've not really seen a lot of Cheshire this season, I know they've got some strong players - lads that have played for Derbyshire.

"Nathan Dumelow's a good player, he's played first-class cricket for Derbyshire, Chris Bassano has too - so they're good players.

"It'll be a good game, but I'll have to back Suffolk."

Lords.org: You've picked out a couple of players from Cheshire, what about Suffolk? Any players we should keep an eye out for?

Chris Schofield: "Absolutely. You've got the likes of Tom Huggins, he's played for Northants and been very successful.

"Justin Bishop is a very good left-arm seamer. Those are just a couple to look out for, it'll be a good game."

Lords.org: Any of the younger lads you think can 'do a Schofield' and make the step-up all the way to the England team?

Chris Schofield: "Yes of course. Suffolk have a good 'keeper called Chris Warn and an off-spinner, Chris Swallow who've both done alright.

"There's some decent players there but it comes down to if you've got the application to make the step up to first class cricket. The Final at Lord's will be a good test for them."