George Scrimshaw’s County Cricket Insight
George Scrimshaw burst onto the county cricket scene in 2017 with Worcestershire at just 19 years of age. BatFast recently held a Q+A with the talented youngster, offering fascinating insights into what county cricket is like.
At what age did you first realise your potential to become a professional cricketer?
I think from the age of 13 people started to notice that I was bowling at real pace for my age, that must have been the first time where I was hoping it would happen.
First memory of cricket?
The 2005 Ashes series got me and a lot of people hooked. Particularly THAT test at Edgbaston.
Who has been the most influential person in your career?
My dad got me into cricket, pushed me hard, and drove me to all my games as a kid. I also had a number of fast bowling role models, Flintoff, Steyn, Morkel and Lee.
If you could look back at your younger career what advice would you give yourself?
Enjoy it as much as possible. I was guilty of beating myself up after bowling a bad delivery, if you can’t enjoy the sport when you’re young- it’s a big commitment to pursue a professional career in. You have to sacrifice a lot!
What’s your career highlight so far?
Not my debut as I got smashed for 19 off one over! However, in the next T20 match against Derbyshire, I bowled a fast and accurate spell, with only 20 runs coming from it. So for me, bouncing back from a nightmare debut has to be a highlight.
Can you describe your experience on the ECB pace program?
The ECB selected a group of bowlers with express pace and potential. We had regular training at the cricket centre in Loughborough and did tours of Dubai and South Africa. This was a brilliant experience and certainly developed my game. We had a great bunch of lads on the program including Reece Topley and Toby Roland Jones who have both gone onto play for England.
What’s the biggest challenge you have faced?
Without a doubt the ongoing injury problems I have faced with my back, this has meant I have struggled to put a run of games together in the past 2 and a half years. It has been mentally draining as cricket is my passion, but my focus is on staying positive and getting back to playing as quickly as possible.
When do you think you will be playing county cricket again?
Hopefully towards the back end of 2020 (if things go well) however, it’s a lengthy process and I have to take each day as it comes.
What’s the fastest you have bowled?
If I’m hitting 85mph I’m generally happy but it depends on the conditions and how long I’m bowling for. For me, it’s about bowling well consistently.
Advice for young fast bowlers?
Don’t feel the need to go flat out every ball, keep your rhythm and have that effort ball in your locker if its needed. Also, practise your batting too, in the modern game players can’t afford to be one-dimensional.
What’s your ideal delivery?
Top of off stump, or a bouncer if I don’t like the batsman (he jokes)!
How often do you focus on your batting?
Very regularly, I try to split it 50/50 with my bowling so I can add value to the team as an allrounder. The game has evolved now so everyone has to be able to bat.
How optimistic are you for the future of cricket?
Very optimistic, I think the World Cup was massive with millions tuning in. Hopefully, The Hundred (whenever it happens) can build on that moving forward with the games shown on BBC as well as Sky.
What’s a typical day’s training for a professional cricketer?
We start at 9 am with some warmups then will go straight into net sessions that can last for around two hours. We always have some fielding drills after, these only last for half an hour but are always high intensity. After that, each individual goes into their gym routine with strength or running sessions. Typically the team will then break for lunch and have a recovery program for the afternoon.
Players to watch in 2020?
Tom Banton is coming to come into his own, his aggressive batting means bowlers can never settle.
Pat Brown is also worth keeping an eye on having recently received his first call up for England in the shorter format.
Why do you play cricket?
I love the game, I have put my whole life into it and I really want to show people what I can do.
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