It’s all about consistency for England’s Beth Morgan, if Middlesex are to compete

Middlesex captain Beth Morgan believes the key to success this season under the new format is consistency.

Last year Middlesex finished third behind champions Kent and runners up Sussex and Morgan insists to catch them they have to perform week in week out.

The 30 year old said: “We have been working hard and we have a lot of improving young players so we’re looking forward to the challenge of playing them (Kent and Sussex) again this year and seeing if we can put in a good performance and see where we’re at.

“Our biggest concern in the last few years has been consistency in all aspects of the game. We have put in some brilliant performances at times but not backed this up week to week, particularly with the bat.

“We have worked a lot on the tactical side of the game and decision-making both with the bat and with the ball. We believe we have the ability in the side, it’s just now down to individual players to work out how to score runs and take wickets consistently in different conditions and situations.”

It’s not all about skill though; the Middlesex side have been working physically as well and look to be a lot fitter, hoping their high level of performance can be maintained.

“The girls have been working really hard. We have trained every fortnight since Christmas and I have been really impressed with the work put in,” Morgan continued. “Part of each session has been focussed around strength and conditioning with a coach and many of the girls have really seen the benefit of this, in being able to perform their skills better all round, and for longer.”

Even with all this work in the preseason, the England international still sees Kent and Sussex as the two favourites for County Championship Division One title, but sees it as a more open contest this year.

Morgan explained: “It was a great achievement for us to finish third last season and not necessarily something we expected in our first season in division one, so we were really pleased.

“Kent and Sussex are two very strong well-established sides and have dominated the county game for the last few seasons. Both teams have so much international experience, but there is always the potential for an upset as any team on their day is capable of a good win.

“The new layout will also open it up. Every team has to perform every week as we come up against so many different sides and the standard is really high, any team could finish anywhere. It’s great to get the opportunity to play against more quality sides with quality players.

“Previously you knew you had to play the same team twice so it’s great now to feel you have something to play for every match.”

Middlesex have also added to their squad to hopefully close the gap even further, with the addition of England academy player Catherine Dalton, who has moved from Essex and Morgan is really excited about the 19 year old.

She said: “She’s a really exciting prospect. We have been really impressed with her positive attitude at training and I’m really looking forward to having her as part of the team.

“We also have some excellent young players coming through who may have an opportunity at some stage, which is really exciting. Naomi Dattani is a really exciting player, explosive with the bat and a talented left arm seamer.”

They are also looking at several options for an overseas player but there hasn’t been anything finalised yet, nevertheless Morgan believes there are players at the club people should keep a close eye on.

She stated: “Natasha Miles will be one to watch. She had a brilliant season last year as our pacey opening bowler and has been rewarded with an England Academy place. Her batting has improved no end and I think we may see important contributions from her in all aspects.

“Catherine (Dalton) will also be one to watch as an all-rounder in her first season with us.”

Miles in her second season for Middlesex in 2011 took 14 wickets at an average of 25.93, helping them reach that third spot, behind Sussex and Kent who they will face in the first game of the season on 7^th May.

Morgan knows it is going to be a tough test first up, but she can see the positives in playing the champions to build their confidence and believes all the expectation is on them.

The England batsma\n said: “The first match is always an important one, to set the standards high and build some momentum. Obviously Kent will be a really tough challenge and are a very strong team but we don’t have anything to lose, the pressure is on them to perform up to last year’s standards so we will give it our best and enjoy the challenge.

“We obviously have to play Kent at some point so I’m quite glad it’s the first game, we can play with total freedom which is really nice for our first match.”

When the cricket does start Morgan will be totally focused on Middlesex and not wondering whether England are watching. Last season she averaged 44.63 with the bat and is looking to replicate that this year.

“Obviously playing forEnglandis really important to me and I have been working really hard to try and retain my place in the squad. But when I play county matches I will just be trying to do my best for that team on the day and doing everything in my power to help us win. Hopefully, if I perform well the rest will take care of itself,” she explained.

“I was really pleased to get some good scores last season, but I will just be taking each game at a time this season and trying to put in a good performance for the team. I’m not a big fan of stats because match-winning contributions can come in different forms. The big thing for me is to be contributing in each game and helping Middlesex put in good performances.”

England’s Heather Knight is confident Berkshire can compete

England’s Heather Knight is confident that Berkshire’s young squad can compete at the top of the County Championship.

The 21 year old hasn’t been in touch with the side all winter as she has been on international duty but she believes the talent is there in the team, it just has to be brought to the forefront.

She said: “We are a young side but I think the belief is there that we can have a really successful season.

“We should definitely be looking to the top half of the table but we need to see more players stepping up and put in performances in tough games.

“We probably didn’t play completely to our potential last season but we are a pretty young developing side and we did get to the twenty20 final. Everyone has trained really hard over the winter and I think some real improvements have been made.”

One player Knight is expecting to step up to the mark and lead from the front is Daisy Gardener. The seam bowler took 10 wickets last season at an average of 31.3 and Knight believes this could be her year.

She added: “Daisy (Gardener) is a really talented girl who’s been around a few years now. Her bowling has come on a lot in the past couple of seasons and if she can match her wicket taking deliveries with consistency this year she’ll have an amazing season.”

Berkshire had a tough season last year, winning only twice in the County Championship and they hope the added experience of the arrival of Australian Asha Smith will bring them more success. The 23 year old has already spent two years with the county in 2009 and 2010 averaging 23.1 and 16.7 respectively with the bat.

Knight continued: “She’s an aggressive batsman, who can take the game away from the opposition and can win us games. She has also been known to turn her arm over and bowl on occasions.”

They have also had the confidence boost that captain Isa Guha’s attention will be solely on the County Championship after she retired from international cricket in March at the end of the New Zealand tour.

At the age of 26 Guha has been part of the England side that won the Ashes in 2005 – the first time in 42 years, and won both the World Cup and the Twenty20 equivalent.  Knight believes it is great news that she has continued playing for Berkshire.

She added: “I’m really pleased Isha (Guha) has decided to carry on playing county cricket, her knowledge and experience will be invaluable in such a young side. Hopefully there will be a few wickets for the old timer too.

“Knowing Isha (Guha) fairly well I had a vague inkling it was in the back of her mind to retire but it came sooner than I thought when she announced it to the England team after our last game in New Zealand.

“She’s had a great 10 years both on the pitch and off it being an integral member of the England side. She’s a real role model to younger girls and I remember watching her play when I was younger.”

From a personal aspect Knight is hoping to lead from the front with the bat for Berkshire.

The 21 year old continued: “I don’t like to set targets such as number of runs, so I’ll be looking to dominate at the top of the order and help put big scores on the board helping Berkshire to win.

“I’ll admit I had a poor start to the campaign last season and I also missed a chunk of games through injury, but put together a few big innings at the end of the season. I’ll be looking to start better this year and score consistently throughout.

“I’ve been working hard in the nets on my positive approach and also playing spin has been a key area”

Berkshire start the season at home against Nottinghamshire, who were the only side to finish below them last year and the England batsmen believes it’s a great opportunity to start in the right way.

“A good start is definitely crucial especially only playing each team once in the new format. We haven’t always started the strongest, but it’s a game I believe we should win,” she said.

“We finish the season with three away games and winning away from home is never easy.

“Three away games in the business end of the season isn’t ideal, but with the amount of travelling the girls do these days most of them should be used to it.”

The last game of the season is against Sussex who Knight is tipping to win the league along with Kent.

“Sussex and Kent are always up there, with the strength and depth they have in their squads, but the last few seasons have shown anyone can beat anyone,” explained Knight.

The new season starts on 6^th May and the 21 year old is excited about what might be ahead, she continued: “It’s always exciting in the last few weeks before the season gets into full swing, training indoor just isn’t the same as getting outdoors and playing.”

Anya Shrubsole has her focus on the new County Championship season after being named player of the series in New Zealand

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport/somerset_county_cricket_club/9637989.Cricketer_Anya_Shrubsole_keen_for_Somerset_challenge/

After being named player of the series in New Zealand, Anya Shrubsole has turned her focus to Somerset CCC and the challenge which awaits them.

Somerset were promoted into division one last season and the 20 year old isn’t daunted by the thought of playing in the top league believing  they will hold their own against the country’s elite.

She said: “I believe we will be very competitive this year with a number of teams of equal ability.

“There is quite a big jump in standard to the top sides in division one such as Kent and Sussex, but the rest are definitely within our reach.

“The squad is looking forward to the new challenge. We had a disappointing second half of the season last year and it is something we are looking to put right.

“We have trained really hard. With people living across the country it’s sometimes hard to get everyone together, but we have managed to do it.”

Somerset finished third in division two last season behind Essex and Surrey and were promoted due to the change in layout of the County Championship.  Divisions one to three have increased from six to nine teams and the division five sections have been scrapped.

The England seamer believes the new format will have a huge impact on the cricket played on the day.

“Playing each side only once you don’t get a chance to rectify any mistakes, so it is vitally important to hit the ground running from day one,” Shrubsole continued. “It may have an impact on who wins and gets relegated, but we won’t be able to judge until we have played the new format.”

Somerset start their campaign at home against Surrey who also being newly promoted face the same challenge as themselves. The last three games of the season are also at home and Shrubsole sees this as a great opportunity to start and finish the year in the best way possible.

She explained: “It’s massively important to get a good start. To get a win in the first game can fill you with confidence and set you up for the season.

“It’s always good to play at home especially with the new format, so to have the last three games at home may play into our hands. Having said that we are capable of winning anywhere, so it’s important that we approach each game with that mindset.”

Even though it’s a new challenge she feels they will be well prepared and there won’t be too many shocks for her or her teammates.

“We know quite a lot about the other counties, having played against them in recent years so there won’t be too many surprises. We know pretty much what players we are going to be playing against so we can plan effectively,” She said.

“Sussex and Kent are the two strongest teams in the division so I would expect one of them to win the league. If I had to say one, it would be Kent.”

Shrubsole knows Kent and England’s captain Charlotte Edwards well, having made her international debut back in August 2008. The Somerset seamer has just returned from international duty in New Zealand where she was named player of the series on a tour which England won 7-0.

In the third twenty20 fixture she achieved figures of 5-11 off 4 overs, the third best figures in women’s international stats and also took four wickets in three games in the 50 over version.  The 20 year old is hoping to take this form and confidence into the county arena.

She continued: “It went very well for both the team and myself. It was very pleasing to be named player of the series but it was most pleasing to be able to contribute well to a very good tour.

“It gives me a lot of confidence going into the summer. Hopefully I can continue my performances for England in New Zealand, for Somerset and help contribute to a successful season.”