Kadeer Ali has welcomed the decision to introduce four-day cricket into the Second Eleven Championship schedule for the 2020 season.
Worcestershire CCC’s recently appointed new Second Eleven Coach says mirroring the first class game can only be of benefit to batsmen and bowlers alike.
Up until now the Second Eleven Championship has consisted of three-day games although Worcestershire have often played four-day friendly games when the schedule has allowed.
Kadeer said: “How important is four-day cricket for the development of players? I think it is absolutely crucial because what you find with three-day cricket is that you are manufacturing a lot of games and declaring when you don’t want to.
“You want guys to go on and get big scores so hopefully this move will allow the opportunity to play some ‘proper’ cricket, for the batters to really invest some time in the middle and, once they get in, to make it count and get some big runs.
“With bowlers, it will be about having four or five spells and coming back again on the second day, or the fourth day, and it will also allow spinners to get into the game, bowl 25-30 overs which is what they need to develop as young spinners.
“I think it is brilliant and definitely a right move going forward.”
Wickets will have to be of the required standard to cope with four-day cricket but Kadeer does not see that being a problem with the quality of grounds Worcestershire play Seconds cricket on.
He said: “As we know, Kidderminster is a really good wicket and also the same at Barnt Green, two grounds where we play quite a bit, so I don’t think that is going to be a massive issue.
“If there is a bit of wear and tear on day four, it is going to be good for their development anyway and I’m pretty confident it will work nicely.”
Read a full interview with Kadeer Ali on the Worcestershire CCC website during the next few days.
