Malahide’s Peter Chase has enjoyed a memorable summer that saw the opening bowler selected for the Leinster Development squad, Ireland U’17’s and also Ireland U’19’s. He also spent several weeks with Durham CCC Academy squad during July. Here he comments about his experiences of playing and training within the Durham set-up.
‘While away with the Leinster Development Squad on their annual tour to Newcastle/Durham in June at the 'Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Triangular Series', I was asked, along with a few other Leinster bowlers to bowl to the Durham County First XI at their outdoor net facility at Chester Le Street. Their Head Coach, Geoff Cook was impressed with my bowling and as a result I was invited back several weeks later to Durham to play as a visitor with their Academy squad’.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
• When I arrived on the first day, I was met at the airport by the Academy Manager, John Windows. We went to the Riverside complex and straight into a training session with the academy squad and to register. Along with a few of the other lads from the Academy, I stayed in a house nearby to the Riverside ground.
• My first match was the Cheshire v Durham Academy 2-day game. My figures were 12 overs 0 for 33.
• Unfortunately, like on our earlier trip to Newcastle, the weather put a stop on play and the next few games I was due to play in over the first weekend were cancelled due to rain.
• A real highlight of the trip was fielding practise on the main pitch alongside the Durham County First XI team before their T20 game v Northants to get a feel for the atmosphere. After this, we watched the T20 in the Sky Box in the Riverside Stadium – Durham County won comfortably.
• As I was classed as an overseas player I was not allowed to play with the Durham U’17s. However, I did play with the Durham County 2XI in a 3-day game against MCC Universities in Hartlepool. Durham 2XI chased down 310 in 75 overs on the final day. I fielded during the game and also bowled 4 overs for 10 runs.
• During my final weekend, the Academy played Benwell Hill in a North East Premier League match. Durham Academy won by 17 runs. I batted no 10 and got 14 not out. I finished bowling with 1 for 20 off 7 overs.
• My final few days consisted of bowling to Sri Lanka A under the direction of the Second XI coach Jon Lewis and to the Durham First XI under the direction of Head Coach, Geoff Cook again at the Riverside Stadium before their 4-day game.
'This was a brilliant trip and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Not only did I get the chance to play in competitive matches, I had the opportunity to meet and train with professional cricketers. But, best of all, I have been invited to stay in touch with a view to going back to train over the winter and to play for a longer period next year and perhaps join the Academy.
I would like to thank Durham County Cricket Club, especially Geoff Cook, Jon Lewis and John Windows for this opportunity'.
Peter Chase
Malahide Cricket Club