44 The Herald 1st October 2020 www.farnhamherald.com @farnhamherald www.facebook.com/farnhamherald CRICKET Surrey find winning formula at last

Rory Burns (right) setting the field for Reece Topley with Laurie Evans looking on Steve Pope at one of his popular coaching sessions CRICKETER Rory BURNS has paid tribute to the resilience of his Surrey side as they chase Vitality Blast honours. The England opener is club captain, but only took over the leadership of the T20 side when veteran Gareth Batty suffered a hamstring strain. Pope preaching merits But he has overseen the last three of their seven straight wins, which ensured Surrey won the South Group and earned a home quarter-final against Kent, due to be played of ‘realistic’ Farnham at the Kia Oval this afternoon. The winners will head to Bir- Cricket England deaf team, where I about being at this cricket club is they seem to have a mingham for Saturday’s finals BY ADAM JONES have just started playing, has day. given me a second bite of the good grasp of where they are Burns said: “The way we are FORMER first class cricketer cherry. and where they want to be in going about our cricket now is coach Steve Pope praised “Coincidentally, there terms of senior cricket. really pleasing. Farnham Cricket Club’s is another deaf player at “I have spent a lot of time “At home, in particular, structure and realistic Farnham Cricket Club called with David Godden discussing we’ve been winning matches. ambitions for the future, as he Mike O’Mahony, and the stuff with him and he seems “That’s so important and settled in to his new coaching England deaf team put me in to have a good understanding does instil confidence about role. touch with him. of where the club wants to be the way we are approaching Pope, who played for “From there, we met up – playing in division one. things.” Gloucestershire and Surrey, for a beer and all of a sudden, “When we played against a What looked like being a started his coaching journey things started moving quickly Prem team early in the season miserable 175th anniversary when he chose to study sports – and I live in Farnham, so it they were a lot stronger than season – once it started in Au- education at the University just made sense to come to the us – but then they tend to gust – opened with four succes- of Gloucestershire, after club.” pay players and have a lot of sive defeats in the Bob Willis enjoying summers coaching Although the appointment county players turning out for Trophy, but it has improved with his friends. of a new coach often signals them. dramatically. Sixteen years on, he is radical changes, Pope has “In terms of the juniors, my Although bottom place been impressed with both aim is to support the coaches now a qualified Level 3 ECB it’s nice for them to have some are quite nice in Farnham in their group could not be the senior and the junior as and when they need help – coach and hopes to help quality one-on-one coaching. – sometimes you get the avoided, at least some honour teams – as well as chairman and to try to get as many keen take Farnham Cricket Club “I video them so it’s nice was restored by overcoming David Godden, who has taken youngsters on board to play occasional individual who can forward, and has enjoyed his for them to see themselves Sussex in the final match. a level-headed approach for the club. be quite tricky, but they’ve first summer at the club. playing, pick out the good And although Surrey failed He said: “I hadn’t played to where the cricket club “It’s a really good set-up – all been keen to be coached, to win any of their first three they have a lot of excellent things they have done and they’ve listened and they club cricket for a long time currently stands. also show them what they can Blast matches, starting with a but being involved with the Pope said: “The nice thing players and I think the more have tried to implement no result, defeat and tie, they young players you can get work on to improve further. improvements. have kicked on dramatically playing the game, the more “I’ve also held a couple of “Being able to use video is for a best T20 run since 13 likely you are to have a strong camps that have gone quite massive, and helps them to straight wins brought the in- adult side in the future. well – and Tom Grimes, who make improvements. augural title in 2003 and run- “The attitude of all the runs the first team, wants me “It’s been very smooth and ners-up spot 12 months later. managers, coaches and to do more sessions with the I have to say there’s been a That has been despite their volunteers is focused on seniors, so whatever I can help lot of support at the club – season-long injury list remain- ensuring everyone gets a fair with I’m happy to get involved I’ve been made to feel very in.” ing painfully long. chance – it’s not all about welcome. Despite the coronavirus The last two victories hav- winning, and that’s really “David Godden has been ing been achieved despite the impressive. pandemic, the new coach brilliant and Rob Dale, who South African batting kingpin “I don’t think a lot needs settled in well and even picked looks after the ground, has Hashim Amla being among the to change, to be honest – the up the bat himself, turning nine absentees. junior set-ups have adapted out for the club after a 12-year been very accommodating for Also unavailable are Tom very well with the current absence from playing. the camps I’ve been running. and Sam Curran, currently situation, trained hard and He has also enjoyed “This is without even engaged in the Indian Premier even managed to fit in a lot of hosting one-to-one sessions – mentioning the club members League. fixtures. appreciating the youngsters who have also been great since To come out of such a diffi- “I want to bring who have turned up willing to my arrival. cult campaign with a trophy opportunities not just to the learn more about the game. “There’s not been anything would be quite some achieve- junior players, but the adults Pope said: “The youngsters where I have thought: ment. as well. have been really good and the ‘perhaps that could have been Leading wicket-takers going “A lot of people of all ages parents have also been very easier’ so it has been very good into the quarter-final are left- and ability have been asking supportive. start and I’ve really enjoyed arm spinner Dan Moriarty (14) for one-on-one sessions – and “It seems like all the kids it.” Do you have a sports story for us? 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