Ed Barnard

Ed Barnard set for third-place play-off with England

/by

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

SHREWSBURY cricketer Ed Barnard’s hopes of helping England reach their first ICC Under-19 World Cup final since 1998 were dashed earlier this week – but he has one more match to play before heading home.

Barnard, 18, has batted at No 5 for the young Lions in all five of their tournament matches in the United Arab Emirates.

The promising Shrewsbury CC all-rounder was in the England side edged out by three wickets with just five balls to spare in a thrilling semi-final against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday.

He and his team mates, who include Joe Clarke, another Shropshire lad, now have to lift themselves for Saturday’s third place play-off match against Australia before Barnard flies home to resume his studies at Shrewsbury School.

His dad Andy, a former Shrewsbury CC captain and chairman, was glued to the television watching the Pakistan match on Monday having just arrived home from Dubai where he and wife Helen enjoyed watching Ed play three matches.

They missed their youngest son’s best moment of the tournament when he hit 93 en route to scooping the man of the match award against hosts UAE.

But they were in the stands to offer their support in the group matches against Sri Lanka and New Zealand plus the nail-biting quarter-final victory over India last Saturday in which Barnard struck 24.

“We had an amazing week watching the England under-19s perform brilliantly in Dubai,” said Andy. “The wins over New Zealand and India were outstanding but did not receive much press credit in the UAE.”

Barnard scored 13 in the semi-final defeat against Pakistan and both he and his team mates will be hoping to end on a high note by now beating Australia to secure third place in the tournament this weekend.

Barnard, a popular figure with his team mates at Shrewsbury’s London Road, will hope his England under-19 experience can enhance his chances of breaking through to the first class game at Worcestershire where he is a highly rated young player.

Meanwhile, Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury are holding an open evening to promote their newly-formed fourth team which will play in the Shropshire County Cricket League this summer.

Held in the clubhouse at their London Road ground tomorrow night (Friday, 7.30pm), the evening is for prospective new members and current club members, serving as a chance to find out more about the team and how to get involved.

Senior net practice ahead of the start of the new season has begun last week and there are two other sessions planned at Shrewsbury’s School excellent indoor facility on forthcoming Mondays, March 10 and March 24.

Shrewsbury first team batsman Ed Foster said: “We are seeking new players and anyone interested in joining one of our four teams should come along.”

Shrewsbury are also seeking scorers and umpires to help out during the 2014 season. This could be for all or part of the season.

http://building.110percent.co.uk/cybex/Newsletter/CybexNewOfficeLaunch.html

Shrewsbury Cricket Club

Opening evening for Shrewsbury CC 4th team

/by

With the club starting a 4th XI for the 2014 season an open evening will be held to discuss the team’s upcoming season.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN PLAYING IN THIS SIDE IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

The open evening will take place on Friday 28th February at 7.30pm in the clubhouse on London Road.

Any current club members who are interested in playing in the team, as well as any potential new members, are urged to attend to find out more about the side.

Shrewsbury Cricket Club logo

WANTED: Scorers and umpires

/by

Shrewsbury Cricket Club is seeking scorers and umpires for either part of all of the upcoming 2014 season.

Interested parties should contact mail@shrewsburycricketclub.co.uk for further information.

Ed Barnard bats for England in the U19 cricket world cup

Barnard can make England impact says Foster

/by

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

ED BARNARD, the rising Shrewsbury cricket star, has what it takes to make an exciting impact for England at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, says his proud club captain Rob Foster.

All-rounder Barnard, 18, is delighted to have been selected in the England squad for the prestigious tournament in the United Arab Emirates which begins tomorrow.

He is relishing the chance to line up alongside the best young cricketers from around the world.

Barnard will hope to feature in the England side for the opening group game against hosts UAE in Abu Dhabi tomorrow (Friday).

The young Lions then face further group matches in Dubai against Sri Lanka on Sunday and New Zealand next Tuesday.

Foster, who captains Barnard at Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury, said the teenager’s World Cup call was brilliant recognition both for the player and also the London Road club.

Barnard is a popular figure at Shrewsbury where his dad Andy is a former captain and chairman while his older brothers Mike and Steve are current first team regulars.

Foster said: “It’s an amazing opportunity for Ed to be playing in a World Cup and everyone at the club is really pleased for him.
“Jimmy Taylor has a long association with the club but had moved on to play his cricket for Kidderminster by the time he was involved with England under-19s.

“Ed’s grown up at Shrewsbury Cricket Club and it’s fantastic to see him doing so well. This is a great opportunity for him to line up against the best young players in the world.”

Foster stressed he expects Barnard to emerge as a key man for England in the tournament.

He added: “He’s very highly thought of in the England set up having captained the under-19s a couple of times in the Tri-Series against UAE and Pakistan just before Christmas.

“He’s seen as a senior player so I would expect him to play and hopefully he’ll go well.

“I’ll certainly be watching how he does with interest.”

Shrewsbury School pupil Barnard, who used to attend the town’s Meole Brace School,  flew out to Dubai with the England squad at the start of this month.

He is no stranger to the international scene having not looked back since hitting a century on his England under-19 debut against South Africa in Cape Town just over a year ago.

A back injury meant he was ruled out for 12 weeks of the last domestic season but he returned in time to play a couple of games for Shrewsbury in the closing weeks of the campaign.

He also proved his fitness to the England selectors by captaining the under-17s in two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
Barnard has been part of the England Development Programme for the last three years and recently signed a new two-year contract with Worcestershire CCC as he eyes a breakthrough to the first class game.

Ed barnard

Ed Barnard to make England U19 World Cup trip

/by

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

ED BARNARD, the Shrewsbury cricketer tipped for a bright future, is thrilled to have sealed a quick return trip to the United Arab Emirates after being named in the England squad for next month’s ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Shrewsbury School pupil Barnard, who used to attend the town’s Meole Brace School, recently represented England in a triangular tournament against hosts UAE and Pakistan.

The highly-rated 18-year-old then faced an anxious wait to find out if he had done enough to make the World Cup squad with the news he had so wanted to hear finally revealed this week by the ECB.

“I was really happy and relieved when I found out because they had an initial 30-man squad and then they cut it down,” said Barnard.

“I was fairly confident having been on the tour before Christmas so I was hoping but you never know. I had my fingers crossed.”

Barnard will link up with the England squad ahead of departing for Dubai on January 31.

Three practice matches have been arranged before the World Cup campaign gets under way with group matches against UAE, Sri Lanka and New Zealand on February 14, 16 and 18.

Barnard has experienced a whirlwind 12 months since hitting a century on his England under-19 debut against South Africa in Cape Town just a few weeks after turning 17.

A back injury meant he was ruled out for 12 weeks of the last domestic season but he returned in time to play a couple of games for Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury in the closing weeks of the campaign.

He also proved his fitness to the England selectors by captaining the under-17s in two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.

Barnard has been part of the England Development Programme for the last three years and recently signed a new two-year contract with Worcestershire CCC as he eyes a breakthrough to the first class game.

Barnard will have some Shropshire company in the World Cup-bound England under-19 squad as Wellington batsman Joe Clarke, also under contract at Worcestershire, has also been selected.

Steve Leach

Steve Leach takes Birmingham League young player award

/by

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

SHREWSBURY’S promising young batsman Steve Leach, eyeing a career in professional cricket, has been named as the Birmingham League’s young player of the year.

Leach, who will receive his award at the League’s AGM on January 22, said he was delighted to be recognised for the role he played in helping Shrewsbury be crowned premier division champions.

Leach, 20, the younger brother of Shrewsbury’s Worcestershire all-rounder Joe, struck 831 premier division runs for the London Roaders in 2013 at a healthy average of 43.74.

Only his Shrewsbury opening partner Ed Foster, who plundered 874 runs, and Knowle & Dorridge’s Alex Phillips, who hit 846 runs, bettered Leach’s return with the bat in the top-flight last season.

“It was a very pleasing season with Shrewsbury but the runs wouldn’t have mattered so much had we not won the league,” Leach told the Chronicle.

“It was nice to be able to contribute and it was a very pleasant surprise when I found out I had won this award.

“Quite a few of the Shrewsbury lads have gained recognition for what was an excellent season for the club.

“I want to score even more runs next season and I must admit I’m already really looking forward to it.

“I had played for 18 months solid having spent last winter in Australia but I’ve had a break now and I can’t wait to get back playing again.”

In some ways, admits Leach, it was a bitter sweet season for him as while he shone with the bat for Shrewsbury and also impressed for Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship, he was disappointed to leave Worcestershire.

But as one door shuts, Leach is hopeful another one may open soon as he sets his sights on following his brother Joe into the County Championship.

Leach is currently strudying business and sport management at Oxford Brookes University which will also allow him to play cricket at a high standard.

He’s already focusing on the matches his university side will play against Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire at The Parks early next season.

“I’ll be looking to get in the side and do as well as I can in those two games,” he said. “The aim for me is to definitely go on and play professional cricket.”

Leach added seeing what his brother has achieved at Worcestershire over the last two summers also serves as a major motivational tool.

“I’ve seen Joe put the hard yards in and he’s doing really well,” he said.

Ed Barnard

Captain Barnard scores half century in England’s first match

/by

By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

VICTORY in his first appearance as England under-19 captain came at a cost for exciting Shrewsbury all-rounder Ed Barnard in the United Arab Emirates.

Barnard, who only turned 18 last month, was handed the huge honour of captaining his country in the opening match of their Tri-Series tournament against hosts UAE last Sunday.

It’s not the first time that Barnard, a popular figure with his Shrewsbury team mates at London Road, has enjoyed the thrill of captaining an England side having previously led the under-17s against Sri Lanka.

Barnard played his part, too, leading from the front to hit a half century and later holding on to two catches as England secured a 42 run victory over UAE in Abu Dhabi.

But the Shrewsbury School student also suffered the pain of a dislocated finger which meant he had to sit out England’s second match the following day, a three-wicket defeat against Pakistan.

Barnard, who missed 12 weeks of the domestic summer owing to a back injury, will now hope to have recovered in time to play in England’s next two games.

They take on UAE tomorrow (Friday) and then meet Pakistan again on Sunday, with both matches in Sharjah.

Barnard batted at number five against the UAE last weekend and led a revival from 47-3 when he came to the crease to help England post 300-6 from their 50 overs.

Barnard struck five fours on his way to making 53 from 58 balls before fellow Shropshire lad Joe Clarke, who, like Barnard, is also contracted to first class county Worcestershire, added an unbeaten 81 from just 64 deliveries on his England debut.

Barnard then successfully called the shots in the field as UAE were dismissed for 258 in the final over of the match.

Barnard scored a century on his England Youth Test debut against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year and continues to enjoy impressive progress in his flourishing career.

He will return home to Shrewsbury from his current overseas tour just in time for Christmas on December 23.

Pre-season net dates confirmed

/by

Dates for the club’s senior pre-season nets have now been confirmed.

The club is actively seeking new senior playing members and anyone interesting in joining is encouraged to attend or get in touch with either of the club’s captains here.

In total four sessions have been booked so far at Shrewsbury School’s indoor centre. These sessions will take place on Monday evenings between 8.30pm and 10pm with a cost of £3 per player.

Monday 10th February – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 24th February – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 10th March – 8.30pm – 10pm
Monday 24th March – 8.30pm – 10pm

Ed Barnard

Shrewsbury’s Ed Barnard selected for England under 19 tour

/by

By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

ED BARNARD, the rising Shrewsbury cricket star, has flown out to the United Arab Emirates on England under-19 duty ahead of Sunday’s opening tour match.

Barnard, who turned 18 last month, will spend the next three weeks in the UAE, representing England in a Tri-Series against the Pakistan and UAE under-19 teams, before returning home to Shrewsbury just in time for Christmas on December 23.

It will act as preparation for the under-19s World Cup to be held in the UAE in February.

Barnard, a key member of Birmingham League champions Shrewsbury’s squad, has been part of the England Development Programme for the last three years and recently signed a new two-year contract with Worcestershire CCC.

He toured South Africa with England under-19s last winter, memorably cracking a century on his Youth Test debut in Cape Town. He then took the final catch of the match to secure England’s victory to crown a stunning man of the match performance.

Barnard missed 12 weeks of the domestic season owing to injury but returned to fitness in time to captain England’s under-17 side in two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in August.

Barnard, a Shrewsbury School student, will divide his time in the UAE between a busy programme of training and matches with studying for his A levels in Geography, Business Studies and PE.

Barnard, whose older brothers Mike and Steve are both Shrewsbury CC regulars, is part of a 17-man England squad and will hope to be in the England team for their opening tour game against the UAE on Sunday.

His dad Andy, a past captain and chairman of Shrewsbury CC, is the master in charge of cricket at Shrewsbury School.

Steve Leach

MCCC awards for Shrewsbury trio

/by

By Stuart Dunn, @studunn21, at The Shrewsbury Chronicle

A TRIO of Shrewsbury players have received top Midlands Club Cricket Conference awards, with opening batsman Ed Foster insisting the recognition is well deserved.

Shrewsbury swept aside strong competition to be crowned Birmingham League champions with three games to spare in a campaign which also them reach the quarter finals of the ECB National Club Championship.

Now skipper Rob Foster, who could not have wished for a much more successful start at the helm, and promising young opening batsman Steve Leach have both won MCCC Cricketer of the Year awards.

There’s also silverware on the way for consistent wicketkeeper Anthony Parker who has scooped the Esmond Lewis Wicketkeeper of the Year award.

The awards will be presented at a dinner in Birmingham in March.

“It’s great recognition for the players involved but also for the club,” said Ed Foster, whose total of 874 runs made him the top run scorer in the Birmingham League premier division last season.

Five players from across the region are selected for Cricketer of the Year awards each year, with Rob Foster and Leach both getting the nod this time.

“Aside from the captaincy which he took to very well, Rob had a great season with the bat,” said Foster, of his younger brother. “He played some explosive and very effective innings at times but he also batted very responsibly when he needed to.

“The time Steve Leach spent in Australia last winter really helped his development and last season was his first big one in adult cricket.
“He came third in the list of run scorers in the premier division with more than 800 runs, a fantastic achivement for someone so young.

“We’re fortunate to have him at the club and, while it’s disappointing he’s not involved with the professional game at the moment having left Worcestershire, I’m sure another opportunity will come his way at some stage.”

Parker, the long-serving glovesman for Shropshire, played a key role behind the stumps for Shrewsbury in his first season with the club after making the switch from Shifnal.

Foster added: “It’s great for the bowlers to know there’s someone who will take the chances they provide. You won’t find a better wicket-keeper batsman in the league than Anthony.

“Anthony was excited to come and play for Shrewsbury as he’s a fierce competitor who wanted to come and play for a side challenging for trophies.”

Shrewsbury are no strangers to picking up MCCC winners and Elliot Green, their talented leg spinner, was named overall Cricketer of the Year, the top prize available, for 2012.

John Foster, Ed Foster and Steve Gale, all former Shrewsbury captains, have also won the prestigious award in the past.