Griffiths keen to keep progressing

Seamer Gavin Griffiths has made a superb start to the new season after working hard with new bowling coach Matt Mason over the winter.

The 24-year-old has been the pick of Leicestershire CCC's bowlers to date, including taking consecutive personal-bests in both innings at Durham CCC to end with a pinnacle match haul of 10 for 83.

A winter's work with Mason, who joined new Head Coach Paul Nixon on the staff at the Fischer County Ground, has resulted in some changes to the way he approaches bowling. It is already paying dividends.

“Matt [Mason] came in and had a good look at the efficiency of my action and movement,” said Griffiths, who suffered with a back injury towards the end of last season.

“I feel as a result my running style is back to where I was as a kid, much more natural. Whether it was through over-coaching or over-training I got into some bad habits, but now it feels good and as though I can express myself more.

“Matt wants me to get into a good position to bowl, but also for my action to be as safe as possible, and I certainly want to stay on the park far more – as we all do, because as a squad we had too many injuries last year. I am happy with the way it has been coming out, and the good thing is there's a lot more to come.”

Although Monday’s game ultimately ended in disappointment, there were plenty of positives to take over the course of the four days. 

Griffiths played the key role but acknowledges that there were a number of other good individual performances, especially during Saturday’s play, where Leicestershire CCC pushed on to reach 440 before reducing Durham CCC to 142 for 7.

He said: “We’re delighted as a bowling group to take 20 wickets in the game. On that pitch we spoke about bowling tight lines and lengths. We had six bowleds and an lbw on the Saturday. 

“We bowled really straight and with not overly attacking fields, so to take those wickets was an outstanding effort. I thought the way Rainey [Ben Raine] and [Varun] Aaron opened the bowling with that new ball was brilliant.

“I was trying to hit the pitch as hard as I could and see what would happen. I got a good wicket early doors and carried on through.

“The batsmen also contributed significantly to setting up a position to win the game. To have someone of Neil Dexter’s quality coming at number seven is a massive lift for us. 

“We had a goal of trying to score 100 runs with the last four wickets. We did that; we faced a lot of balls and kept them out for a long time. No doubt that contributed to the wickets that fell early on.”

Nixon was full of praise for his young seamer’s efforts throughout the game. “It was a magnificent effort but it was a bittersweet day for him,” said Nixon. “He's gutted because he wanted to win the match. He was bowling like a freight train and looked like taking a wicket with every ball during that spell on the final afternoon. It was great to watch.”

Griffiths said that the Leicestershire CCC bowlers worked hard on their gameplan ahead of the season and is pleased with how things are progressing.

“We have bowled well as a unit and I’ve enjoyed playing alongside and learning from our overseas pros Muhammad Abbas and Varun Aaron,” said Griffiths.

“Ben Raine, Neil Dexter, Dieter Klein and Callum Parkinson have all chipped in too, and Colin Ackermann has also got a couple of handy wickets. It’s been a real team effort. We also have more bowlers waiting in the wings after doing well in the Second XI. We're confident that we can keep making progress.

“I've never been one to set myself statistical targets, but one of my goals for the season was to earn a little bit more respect in the dressing room through solid performances. 

“I was in and out of the side last season. I am determined to become a mainstay in the team, someone who can do the hard yards when needed, but who can also express his skills and win games when conditions are in my favour.”

* See Gavin Griffiths and his Leicestershire CCC teammates in action at the Fischer County Ground on Friday when the team takes on Glamorgan CCC in the Specsavers County Championship. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £2 for under 16s and are available HERE