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Fred Gregory

What My Team Means To Me


Are you a Yorkshire ultra, die-hard Birmingham Bear or a Super Kings superfan?


In a new series to Cricket District, we want to find out what you love about your teams and why you support them.


We asked people from all walks of life - cricket badgers, fans and those within the game about their favourite domestic side and what it means to them.


I thought I'd kick things off myself...


Sussex


Name: Fred, Cricket District Keeper


Favourite Current Player: Jofra Archer - So many options but this man is just unreal, such a talent, love seeing him play every time he throws on a Sussex shirt! I'm sure this is a love shared by cricket fans all round the globe but Jofra is very special to everyone who loves Sussex.


All-time Favourite Player: Matt Prior - As a keeper myself I used to love watching Prior do the business for England and he was a part of the all powerful Sussex side of the mid-2000s.


Favourite Memory: Mushtaq Ahmed bowing out at Hove - I was there on that day, I only went a handful of times as a kid as we lived about an hour and a half away from the ground but I went along with my Dad that day and we all went onto the field after the game surrounding Mushy. What a man!


Favourite Out-ground: Saffrons, Eastbourne - Unfortunately I’ve never had an opportunity to go to Arundel and I was too young to ever experience Hastings, but Eastbourne is a really pretty little ground right in the centre of town.


Somerset


Name: Joe, Teacher


Favourite Current Player: James Hildreth - Magnificent, ageless and how he never played for England is beyond any Somerset fan. But rather than go onto become a national favourite, he’s stuck around and become a local hero. What a player!


All-time Favourite Player: Peter Trego - I love the way this guy played. He lived and breathed Somerset. Every time he put on a Somerset shirt he was up for the fight, he batted and bowled with pure passion for the county with a win-at-all-costs mentality.


Favourite Memory: The great Somerset limited overs side 2010-12 - Watching this great team is one of my favourite memories, weirdly, particularly the final we lost to Hampshire in 2010. Just full of great players playing exciting cricket: Tresco, Kieswetter, a young Jos Buttler coming onto the scene, Suppiah, Alfonso Thomas and not forgetting Kieron Pollard. That side made it to the final in two consecutive years and were an absolute joy to watch growing up.



What Does Your County Do Best: Turning talent from the local area in world beaters - Somerset has quite a large scope in the area taking kids from Cornwall, Devon (particularly Devon but I am biased) as well as Somerset. In recent years you’ve had the likes of Dom Bess, the Overton twins, Jos Buttler and Jack Leach all come through and it’s fantastic that even though we’re a smaller team, we punch above our weight.


Warwickshire


Name: Aaron, Cricket Connoisseur


Favourite Current Player: Jeetan Patel - I know Jeets has technically just retired from the game but he was integral in this year’s T20 Blast so I had to include him. He’s got a fearless approach to bowling, an uncanny ability to take a shed load of wickets across all formats and an unrivalled passion for our club.


All-time Favourite Player: Ian Bell - Such a difficult decision due to the amount of legends we’ve had at the club over the years, the likes of Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes and Varun Chopra all deserve a mention! In the end it has to be Ian Bell. He was the very embodiment of flair, elegance and grace when he walked out to the middle. His iconic 107 in the 2010 CB40 Final against Somerset was just one of a plethora of majestic innings from Belly. He will forever be remembered with great fondness by everyone at the club for those great knocks.


Favourite Memory: Ian Bell’s maiden T20 century - I had the great fortune to be present on the day we took on Northants in the 2018 T20 Blast. Having conceded a gargantuan 231. After the fall of a couple of early wickets, Ian Bell stepped up. What followed was a barrage of fours and sixes from Belly and Adam Hose resulting in a world record 171 run partnership. Eventually Bell got out for 131 with the Bears 10 away from victory. After all of his efforts, a truly chaotic tie was achieved.


Young Player to Watch: Dan Mousley - There’s so many exciting young players coming through Warwickshire’s youth ranks at the moment. The 19 year old all-rounder has shown great promise in the Bear’s 2020 Blast campaign as well as previously for the England U19s. I have no doubt that Warwickshire and England fans will be hearing the name Dan Mousley for years to come!


Lancashire


Name: Joe, Student


Favourite Current Player: Liam Livingstone - I love the flair that Liam plays with. His all round talent with bat, ball and in the field are vital to Lancs in all 3 formats and he is so passionate both on and off the field.


All-time Favourite Player: Ashwell Prince - Ashwell Prince was a run machine for Lancs! He seemed to score runs in every game, and would bat for days to save a game if he had to. He clearly loved playing for us and put everything into it when he stepped out onto the field. Without a doubt my favourite ever player!

Favourite Memory: 2015 Blast win - I wasn't at Taunton to witness the 2011 County Championship win, or it would probably be that! 2015 was my first Finals Day, and to see Lancs go all the way was great, especially because it was the first (and only) time we've ever won the tournament. Finals Day is a great day out in itself, so the fact that Lancs won the tournament and I was there to watch it was the icing on the cake! By far my best memory as a Lancs fan!


Young Player to Watch: George Balderson - This man is a seriously good cricketer. He was England U19 captain in the most recent World Cup in South Africa, and he played all 5 of Lancs' BWT matches this year. He was really impressive with both bat and ball, taking consistent wickets and chipping in lower down the order with some handy runs, including a maiden 50. Definitely one to keep an eye on for the future.



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