Good effort by second team earns draw

Three players with something to prove produced impressive returns in the game against Worcestershire Second XI that finished yesterday at Halesowen.

After the first day was lost to rain, the second saw 21 wickets fall. We were bowled out for 111, before doing the same to our hosts, who were put out for 153. Mark Watt took an excellent 5-29 in 14 overs, three of them leg before. The jury has been out on the slow left arm bowler, mainly because he is less athletic looking than most, but undeniably he is a canny bowler who keeps a better, more probing and testing line and length than many. Against the Australian A side, he was the only bowler who commanded respect and he looks like being a key component of our Vitality Blast campaign.

He is still a young player, at 22, but to be fair to him he looks fitter than when he first appeared in county colours. There are those who will never be whippets, but surely, as long as it is not to the major detriment of fielding, it is of less importance than putting the ball in the right areas, and hitting it. Colin Milburn was considerably bigger than most, but was also a very good close fielder, as are Mark Cosgrove at Leicestershire and Richard Levi at Northamptonshire.

Mark has an opportunity in the coming months, first with the T20, then with the drier wickets of the end of season. Good performances could see him as more than just a summer contract for this year alone.

Then there is Tom Wood. I have lost count of the number of times I have written up his feats in the past two or three years, but again yesterday, on an awkward pitch, he made 68 in two and a half hours. It was the highest score in the match by some margin and confirmed that he is some way from being a flat track bully. He also held a blinding catch at slip in the home side's first innings and, for me, we need some competition in the top order for next year.

There is no doubt, for me, that Tom is worthy of that opportunity and has proved it over the last three years, at home and also away each winter.

Finally there is Dustin Melton. After Worcestershire were set 208 to win in 39 overs, his lightning opening spell of 5-3-8-4 ensured they were never going to get close, the game ending in a draw.

I don't think Melton could have done more to persuade Dave Houghton of his worth than he has in recent weeks. A genuine fast bowler appears to be an area of improvement for next season and, with a consistent overseas bowler at the other end, Melton would appear to be worthy of greater opportunity in 2020.