Billy Remmington talks to Ben Coad, the Yorkshire seamer who has enjoyed a stellar rise over the last two years, and who could well make a dash for England’s Ashes squad.
Yorkshire has been the nest for many a homegrown seamer over the years, and its fertile breeding grounds have yielded an eclectic list of local heroes in that department; the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough and Tim Bresnan have all left their own unique stamp on the club for their memorable contributions.
With the Ashes around the corner and England’s lower-order berths certainly not nailed down, it is not ludicrous to suggest that Yorkshire’s latest emerging star might just be a late shooter for the side. Ben Coad has made waves for his home county over the last two seasons, but 2019 could be the year that he spreads his wings and follows his fellow Yorkshiremen in becoming a full England international.
Despite making his Yorkshire bow in 2013, it was in 2017 that Coad truly rose to prominence for the White Rose. A staggering display against rivals Lancashire in the County Championship saw him return career-best figures of 6-25 – just one of many superb spells that led to him collecting 50 wickets in Division One.
“I’m just concentrating on this. I know that I don’t have a say in it (national selection), I just have to keep performing and if I keep playing well here, hopefully one day down the line I’ll get picked up – but it’s not something I’m thinking about too much.
“The England lads in the squad have all been and done it, and just to train with them helps you step up as well.”
Toppling high-flying Surrey and returning to the summit of the County Championship is high on his agenda, as a refreshing pride and love for his club shines brightly in his voice ahead of the new season.
“This is where I want to play, I don’t want to go anywhere else. It’s the biggest club in the world and I hope just to keep performing in years to come.
“With the lads we’ve got here – we’ve got a very talented young squad- we will be challenging for trophies over this next three years.”
Yorkshire have every reason to look ahead at this campaign with great excitement, and their smart utilisation of local lad Coad looks to have served them perfectly. It is hard to imagine 2019 not being the year in which he darts into the larger cricketing consciousness, and the early stages of this season could be key in determining the velocity of his flourishing career.
