MCC Young Cricketers light up Lord’s

Date released: 18 May 2008

A great week for MCC’s Young Cricketers was capped when England Women – with a squad containing MCC Young Cricketers past and present – were special guests at Lord’s for the Saturday of the Test Match against New Zealand.

England's Stephanie Davies - an MCC Young Cricketer Rain may have scuppered a planned parade of the England Women's team, fresh from a victorious tour of Australia and New Zealand, but the MCC Young Cricketers scheme can take pride in the performances Down Under of Stephanie Davies (just about to start her second year at 'The Home of Cricket') as well as graduates Caroline Atkins and Nicki Shaw.

England won the Ashes Test, the ODI series against New Zealand and drew the ODI series versus Australia.

Charlotte Edwards rings the bell on Saturday As Davies watched her captain Charlotte Edwards ring the Pavilion bell before the start of play, Ross Taylor, a former MCC Young Cricketer, was savouring his first Test match at Lord’s.

Taylor made Lord’s his home when he joined the MCC Young Cricketers in 2002 and under MCC Head Coach, Clive Radley, he developed into an attacking middle-order batsman.

Taylor’s rapid progress has been evident in his performances for the New Zealand Test and ODI sides and he came out on top against England’s bowlers when he scored his maiden Test century in just his third Test against them in Hamilton.

He will be hoping to replicate the form he showed in New Zealand’s home series against England when he averaged 51.66 in three Tests. In the first innings of the Lord’s Test he scored 19.

Graduate success

The success of Taylor and other former MCC Young Cricketers serves to inspire the current generation benefiting from Radley’s coaching. The fact some 30% of MCC Young Cricketers go on to sign professional contracts illustrates his success, and this week has been an exceptional one for his graduates.

Steven Snell and Freddie Klokker, now of Gloucestershire and Derbyshire respectively, hit their maiden County Championship centuries and William Porterfield (also of Gloucestershire) was made captain of Ireland.

Porterfield batting for Ireland Snell’s 127 came against Worcestershire, and Klokker scored a second innings 103* against Warwickshire. The Danish wicketkeeper-batsman’s first class average now stands at an exceptional 55.66.

Porterfield, who has captained his country at every level since under-13s, led from the front in Ireland’s Friend’s Provident Trophy match against Warwickshire on 16th May. His 69 guided Ireland to a fine four-wicket victory.

Radley said: "This week has been a memorable one for the MCC Young Cricketers. For the players currently on the programme, seeing Steph Davies and Ross Taylor at Lord’s representing their countries is the best possible incentive for them to work hard and make the most of the opportunities the MCC Young Cricketers scheme offers them.

MCC Head Coach, Clive Radley "It’s very pleasing to see how well current and former players are progressing because it reinforces what can be done when talent and application is unlocked.”

Of the current crop, wicketkeeper John Simpson has impressed the coaches at Nottinghamshire with both his glovework and his batting – he has already scored a century this season – and has played for the 2nd XI.

Ned Eckersley, Simpson’s understudy behind the stumps, as well as a batsman with two fifties to his name this season, has played for Middlesex 2nd XI.