Unicorns (cricket team)

Unicorns
One-day name: Unicorns
Coach: Philip Oliver
Captain: Keith Parsons
Founded: 2010
Home ground: Arundel Castle
Chester Road North, Kidderminster
Colwyn Bay
Dean Park, Bournemouth
Sir Paul Getty's Ground, Wormsley
The Maer Ground, Exmouth[1]

Unicorns is a cricket team in England that was formed in 2010 specifically to play in the Clydesdale Bank 40 limited overs competition. Members of the squad are all players without current full-time contracts with one of the regular first-class counties.

Provisionally called the ECB Recreation XI,[2] the squad was selected by coach Philip Oliver, Mark Alleyne and Min Patel[3] from a pool of 200 players recommended to the England and Wales Cricket Board in December 2009; the pool was reduced to 40 and 21 following training sessions over the winter.[4] 15 members of the squad are former county cricket professionals.[2] Team Manager Gordon Child said, "The Unicorns squad is a balance of youth and experience...For the younger players aspiring to play first-class cricket this is an opportunity to learn from their more experienced team mates and really test themselves and understand the attributes needed to succeed at this level."[4] The squad is captained by experienced professional Keith Parsons, the former Somerset all-rounder, who was playing Minor Counties cricket for Cornwall.[3][5] In only their sixth competitive game, Unicorns entered the record books for scoring the highest total in the second innings of a 40-over game, beating Sussex by successfully chasing 325.[6]

Contents

Clydesdale Bank 40

Unicorns play in Group A of the 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40, along with Glamorgan, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex and Worcestershire;[7] The competition was created for the 18 first-class counties, plus Scotland, Ireland and a Recreational XI based on players from the Minor Counties. Ireland declined to compete, thus leaving the competition one team short for the proposed three groups of seven format; The Netherlands took their place.[8][9][10] Unicorns were created to play representing the Minor Counties, thus giving a new opportunity for younger players to gain experience and to learn from experienced professionals. Unicorns have no fixed stadium, but will play their home games at six different outgrounds (stadiums with occasional use by first-class counties).[1][5]

Warm-up games

Unicorns played two warm-up games prior to the competition. Worcestershire, led by captain Vikram Solanki beat the newly formed side by 113 runs at New Road. Batting first, the hosts scored 267/3 in their 40 overs. Jackson Thompson scored 51 runs from 25 balls in reply, but was largely unsupported by his team-mates.[11] In their second match, they beat Kent Second XI at Sir Paul Getty's Ground, Wormsley having scored 253 and bowling Kent out for 100. Opener Thompson again was the top scorer with 68; Jonathan Miles took five Kent wickets for just 17 runs in seven overs.[12]

Group stage

Their first competitive game was due to be against Surrey on 2 May 2010, but was abandoned without any play, due to rain. Both teams received one point.[13] After a promising start in reply to Sussex's 255/8 at Hove, Unicorns collapsed from 207/4 to 211 all out, to lose their first full competitive game by 44 runs.[14] Former England international bowler James Kirtley led the collapse, with four wickets in eight balls.[15] Unicorns then lost by seven wickets to Somerset at Taunton.

In their fourth group game, on 16 May, Unicorns recorded their first win. Batting first against Glamorgan at Dean Park, Bournemouth, Unicorns scored 231/8, including a stand of 126 between Parsons and Knappett. Glamorgan were then restricted to 173.[16] Unicorns then went on to hit the record books when they stunned Sussex, in complete contrast to their batting collapse against them earlier in the competition. Wes Durston smashed 117 from 68 balls as they chased down a target of 325 to set the highest score (327/4) for a team batting second in the history of 40-over cricket. The third-wicket partnership between Durston and Josh Knappett, both making their highest List A scores, made 165 in just 18 overs.[6][17]

On resumption of the competition following the two-month break for Twenty20 matches, Unicorns suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Lancashire, before chasing another large total (277 runs), this time set by Worcestershire to win with two balls to spare; Michael O'Shea hit 90 from 62 balls.[18]

Squad

The squad, composing of twenty one uncontracted cricketers, do not get paid; they only receive expenses.[19] Two former county players, Carl Greenidge (son of West Indies player, Gordon) and Dave Burton were originally in the squad, but withdrew after insisting they received payment. "The ECB would not not agree, arguing that this is an opportunity for players to showcase their ability to the first-class counties.[19] The squad has endured some criticism, not least for the Unicorns moniker; sports journalist Peter May said that what was intended to be a Minor Counties Select XI, featuring some of the best amateurs in the country has included a disproportionate number of players from London with MCC or ECB connections. "This was an opportunity to reward the best cricketers for amateur dedication...and at the same time provide the sternest possible challenge to the county sides. It is an opportunity missed."[20]

Current squad

Players with previous first-class/List A appearances are listed in bold (Correct as of 2 May 2010)[21]

No. Name Nat Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes
1 Jahid Ahmed  ENG 20 February 1986 (1986-02-20) (age 26) Right-handed Right arm medium pace
2 Arfan Akram  ENG 17 November 1983 (1983-11-17) (age 28) Right-handed Right arm leg break
3 Luke Beaven  ENG 31 August 1989 (1989-08-31) (age 22) Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
4 Chris Benham  ENG 24 March 1983 (1983-03-24) (age 28) Right-handed Right arm off break
5 Chris Brown  ENG 16 August 1974 (1974-08-16) (age 37) Right-handed Right arm off break
6 Ned Eckersley  ENG 9 August 1989 (1989-08-09) (age 22) Right-handed — Wicket-keeper
7 Neil Hancock  ENG 13 April 1976 (1976-04-13) (age 35) Right-handed Right arm fast-medium
8 Mark Hardinges  ENG 5 February 1978 (1978-02-05) (age 34) Right-handed Right arm medium pace
9 Josh Knappett  ENG 15 April 1985 (1985-04-15) (age 26) Right-handed — Wicket-keeper
10 Tom Mees  ENG 8 June 1981 (1981-06-08) (age 30) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast
11 Chris Murtagh  ENG 14 October 1984 (1984-10-14) (age 27) Right-handed Right arm off break
12 Michael O'Shea  ENG 4 September 1987 (1987-09-04) (age 24) Right-handed Right arm off break
13 Sean Park  ENG 24 April 1980 (1980-04-24) (age 31) Right-handed Right arm fast-medium
14 Keith Parsons  ENG 2 May 1973 (1973-05-02) (age 38) Right-handed Right arm medium pace Club captain
15 Chris Peploe  ENG 26 April 1981 (1981-04-26) (age 30) Left-handed Slow left arm orthodox
16 Glen Querl  ZIM 4 April 1988 (1988-04-04) (age 23) Right-handed Right arm medium pace
17 Zoheb Sharif  ENG 22 February 1983 (1983-02-22) (age 29) Left-handed Leg break
18 Duncan Snell  ENG 14 October 1984 (1984-10-14) (age 27) Left-handed Left arm medium-fast
19 Jackson Thompson  OMN 7 February 1986 (1986-02-07) (age 26) Left-handed Right arm off break Represented Oman Under-17s
20 Jonathan Miles  ENG 21 February 1986 (1986-02-21) (age 26) Right-handed Left arm medium pace Replaced Burton in original squad
– Neil Saker  ENG 20 September 1984 (1984-09-20) (age 27) Right-handed Left arm medium pace Was not in the original squad
– Tom Sharp  ENG 7 November 1977 (1977-11-07) (age 34) Right-handed Right arm off break Was not in the original squad
– Atiq-ul-Rehman  ENG 8 November 1981 (1981-11-08) (age 30) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Replaced Young in squad

Former squad members

No. Name Nat Birth date Batting Style Bowling Style Notes
4 Dave Burton  ENG 23 August 1985 (1985-08-23) (age 26) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Quit before season
7 Carl Greenidge  ENG 20 February 1978 (1978-02-20) (age 34) Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Quit before season
5 Wes Durston  ENG 6 October 1980 (1980-10-06) (age 31) Right-handed Right arm off break Joined Derbyshire during 2010 season
– Ed Young  ENG 21 May 1989 (1989-05-21) (age 22) Right-handed Slow left arm orthodox Replaced Durston in squad; subsequently joined Gloucestershire during season

Notes

  1. ^ a b Clydesdale Bank 40 2010 Fixtures, Cricinfo Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  2. ^ a b Bolton, Paul Wes Durston to play for Unicorns Telegraph, 8 April 2010, Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  3. ^ a b Parsons to captain Unicorns AOL Sport, 14 April 2010, Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  4. ^ a b Cricinfo staff, Unicorns name squad for Clydesdale Bank 40 Cricinfo, 13 April 2010, Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  5. ^ a b Unicorns in shop window BBC Sport, 27 April 2010, Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  6. ^ a b Durston ton sets up Unicorns' record chase Cricinfo, 23 May 2010, Retrieved on 25 May 2010
  7. ^ Clydesdale Bank 40 2010, Cricinfo. Retrieved on 2 May 2010.
  8. ^ Ireland decline Englands 40-over invite Cricinfo blogs, 29 September 2009, Retrieved on 25 May 2010
  9. ^ Rod Lyall Dutch Pro40 spot remains a possibility Cricket Europe, 26 September 2009, Retrieved on 25 May 2010
  10. ^ Rod Lyall, Irish withdrawal gives Dutch their Pro40 chance Cricket Europe, 28 September 2009, Retrieved on 25 May 2010
  11. ^ Worcestershire v Unicorns CricketArchive, 4 April 2010, Retrieved on 3 May 2010
  12. ^ Unicorns v Kent Second XI CricketArchive, 25 April 2010, Retrieved on 3 May 2010
  13. ^ Surrey and Unicorns hit by rain BBC Sport, 2 May 2010, Retrieved on 2 May 2010
  14. ^ Sussex v Unicorns in 2010, 3 May 2010, CricketArchive. Retrieved on 4 May 2010.
  15. ^ Somerford, Matt. Kirtley Sparks Unicorns Slump Sporting Life, 3 May 2010; Retrieved on 16 May 2010
  16. ^ Unicorns v Glamorgan CricketArchive, 16 May 2010, Retrieved on 16 May 2010
  17. ^ Unicorns v Sussex CricketArchive, 23 May 2010, Retrieved on 25 May 2010
  18. ^ Worcs stunned by Unicorns chase, 26 July 2010, BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  19. ^ a b Geoffrey Dean, Ivo Tennant, Patrick Kidd Dispute overshadows first sighting of Unicorns Times Online, 2 May 2010, Retrieved on 3 May 2010
  20. ^ May, Peter, Minor scandal hits county circuit Cricket365, 13 April 2010, Retrieved on 21 May 2010
  21. ^ Unicorns Squad Cricinfo, Retrieved on 2 May 2010

References