All-rounder Ethan Brookes kept a positive outlook on Worcestershire’s position in their Division Two clash with Northamptonshire, where the visitors took five wickets and created multiple chances on a second day dominated by the batting side at the County Ground.
Despite finishing the day 60 runs behind their opponents and still searching for five first innings wickets, the scorecard did not tell the entire story from what was an “encouraging day” for those in Worcestershire colours, according to the 24-year-old.
A placid surface offered little for the Pears’ seam-heavy attack, with Tom Taylor and Beyers Swanepoel both collecting two wickets apiece, as the bowling unit battled hard with little reward.
Brookes highlighted the missed chances as a sign of encouragement, underlining the fact that the game is far from a foregone conclusion if the visitors can start brightly on day three.
“I thought there were some good passages of play in there, we started quite well with the ball and on another day I think Oliver and Tom could have picked up quite a few wickets.
“But credit to their batters, especially Vasconcelos, we didn’t really trouble him as much as we would have liked, and on that wicket that is flattening, not many balls are moving off the straight, I actually thought we stuck in there quite well.
“They are obviously a bit ahead of us, but we created chances, and on another day we get a decision or two and a couple catches and suddenly they are seven/eight down and we are right back in the game, so we aren’t too down and are feeling pretty positive.
“Nobody means to drop a catch. We work very hard on that, and if you think too much about it, then you can start to get a few demons in the back of your head, but if we can turn up tomorrow and take all of our chances, we are right in this game.”
With Adam Finch named in the XI in the place of batter Kashif Ali, Brookes assumed the role as a sixth seam option, as Alan Richardson looked to vary his options in Northampton.
Bowling with his usual gusto, the seamer made things happen with little avail, returning handy figures of 1-23 from his eight-over burst with the older ball.
Matthew Waite, Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Adam Finch all worked tirelessly but without any reward as the home side’s batters enjoyed lengthy spells in the ascendancy on day two.
Brookes, however, said he is keen to contribute wherever he can for his side, relishing the chance to affect the game with the ball whenever it may arise.
“I am a bit up and down with my bowling at the moment, but I am working hard at it and enjoying that role as a fifth/sixth seamer. I know that if I get some more overs under my belt, I will gain more confidence.
“I always want to bowl, but if my role is to bowl with a slightly older ball and contain one end and build up some pressure, then wickets might come from the other end.
“If I end up taking some wickets myself, then that is great too.”
