Harry Everett spoke to Tom Abell about his SA20 experience and winning the Man of the match award with 55 in the SA20 final:
“The whole month was an incredible experience. It has certainly done a huge amount for my belief and confidence. To win it two times on the bounce was pretty special. It was good learning for me to try and take the game on, take some risks.”
Just two days later he and his Taunton-teammate Tom Banton both scored 40s for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20. But he won’t let T20 cricket overtake from his overall red cherry love:
“My biggest driver is still red ball cricket. I want to first and foremost ensure my red-ball performances are where I want them to be, but of course there are not as many opportunities in the off-season for playing red-ball cricket and these are amazing life experiences in the winters.
“I never want to get to a point where I am playing so much cricket that I am not abell to give my all in the English summer, but this winter has been great for me-having a period of rest before Christmas to work on my game, then having the fortune to go and play in a top tournament in the new year. I have no doubt I have come back a better, more confident player.”
Maybe I’m still mourning his missing out of the England Lions Bangladesh tour through injury more than the level-headed individual he is, but he does admit:
“It has been a pretty disappointing couple of years in terms of my injury record, but that is what it is, I cannot do anything about it now.”
Extras and sundries: Whilst on the injury front, I also spoke to Scotland international Andy Umeed briefly, sadly he will be out for a good while with this left-hand finger injury that kept him out of the club golf day and likely at least the first few Championship rounds as still in a light cast. Lewis Gregory admitted this a real blow for a man who had been looking great in the nets since his breakthrough MBODC campaign last summer.
