BARNEY GIBSON SETS A NEW WORLD RECORD IN COUNTY CRICKET

The Yorkshire wicketkeeper, Barney Gibson, has set a new world record, becoming the youngest ever player to play English county cricket.

Gibson broke the 144-year record of Charles Young. At only 15 years and 27 days, Gibson made a successful debut against the Durham MCCU yesterday in a game of the Bradford League.

Back in 1867, Charles Young had set the world record being the youngest player of the time to appear in county cricket. At the time Young was 15 years and 131 days old.

The record had been intact till yesterday when Gibson, 104 days younger than Charles, padded up against the Durham MCCU.

Gibson expressed his astonishment, defining the feat as akin to a dream. Talking to the media, the youngster said, “I was astonished when they told me I would be playing for the first team. It has really shocked me and it feels like a dream really.”

Gibson started the game at the age of 10 from his school Crawshaw, commenting interestingly about his school, Gibson says, “I was supposed to have triple science, double maths and RE. They have sent me up here with some homework to do though.”

With his sharp mind and inherent capabilities, he was noticed by the Pudsey Congs, a cricket club in England.

Gibson started club cricket with them to polish his skills, since the very beginning, his field of interest has been wicket keeping as he finds himself more comfortable behind the stumps. Gibson’s dives, catches, stumps and throws are quick and perfect.

Wearing pads, gloves and a helmet, Gibson took his position in the bright morning of 27 April and pouched the brilliant catch of Oliver Hannon-Dalby. This was a key wicket for Yorkshire. After a few overs, Gibson caught another rival batsman and thus cemented his side’s position in the game.

It was due to Gibson that David Wainwright succeeded in achieving his bowling career’s best ever figure of 6/40. The young wicketkeeper helped every bowler bowl confidently and courageously in order to pick up wickets with regular intervals.

Talking about Gibson’s selection, the Yorkshire director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, says, “The first time I saw him was two years ago in a practice match. His ability was quickly evident."

Gibson seeks inspiration from cricket legends like Matt Prior and Adam Gilchrist, the former is the English wicketkeeper while the latter is an ex-skipper of Australia and is currently leading the Kings XI Punjabfranchise in the Indian Premier League.

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England coach Andy Flower shortlisted for India coaching role

England cricket coach Andy Flower is reportedly among the few names who have been shortlisted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for coaching the national side.

The post of India’s coach was left vacant after Gary Kirsten left the team following the completion of his contract recently. Kirsten guided the Men in Blue to their second ever ICC World Cup title in April 2011.

These reports left the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) nervous prompting it to nail the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper for another three years.

A leading sports website on Tuesday claimed that Flower and Duncan Fletcher are among the shortlisted candidates to coach the ICC World Cup 2011 winning team of India.

Flower took over as England national team’s head coach back in 2009 after Peter Moores stepped down following a run-in with prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Flower’s two-year coaching stint helped the Andrew Strauss-led England team to two successive home and away Ashes series wins. He also guided England to their first-ever ICC title, the 2010 World Twenty20 championship.

During Flower’s two years in charge, England played 29 Test matches winning 15 and losing just five of them while the rest were drawn. Their One Day International record under his reign is less impressive as they won 27 out of a total of 56 ODIs during that time period. Four of the remaining 29 ODIs were abandoned or tied so a winning rate of above 50 per cent is decent enough.

Looking at Flower’s successful stint with the team, the ECB is determined to hold on to the Zimbabwean and is doing all it can to prevent him from being lured by the BCCI.

“Andy Flower has been offered a new three-year contract as the England and Wales Cricket Board attempts to head off any moves for their highly rated coach from India,” read the report. “...Flower is due to meet Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England team, at the end of the month to discuss his long-term future and the direction of the England set-up.”

Like the board, the England players are also eager to have the 42-year-old for another term. England wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior recently praised his coach.

“He has been fantastic. The main thing I love about Andy is he is honest. He is a good human being. There are no politics. He just wants to win,” said Prior.

The wicketkeeper further added that Flower backs the players 100 per cent and this helps the players to be confident about themselves.

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