Showcase Games: Blake Enjoys First Taste Of National Counties Cricket

Alex Blake will be back on the other side of the fence on Sunday having enjoyed a short but successful first taste of National Counties cricket with Cornwall. 

The Kent left-handed batter made a rapid century against Dorset in the opening Durant Cricket National Counties Championship at Truro two weeks ago and followed up with a valuable 73 in the first innings of the victory over Shropshire at Bridgnorth on Monday. 

Blake’s stint with Cornwall ended earlier than anticipated as he received a surprise call-up for Kent’s current LV= County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge - his first first-class appearance in four years - which meant that he left Bridgnorth at tea-time on the second day. 

In recent seasons Blake has been on a white ball only contract with Kent and was a member of the side that won the Royal London Cup – now sponsored by Metro Bank - last season. 

Kent will warm-up for their title defence by playing Hertfordshire at the West Herts club in Watford on Sunday in one of the annual Showcase fixtures between the 20 National Counties and 18 first-class counties. 

The Showcase games provide opportunities for National Counties cricketers to showcase their talent, perhaps cause an upset – Berkshire, Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire beat Middlesex, Durham and Surrey respectively last season – and for spectators to see first-class players in action, possibly for the first time. 

Blake will be hoping that Kent avoid an upset but, thanks to his experiences with Cornwall, he will go into Sunday’s match with a different perspective on and appreciation of the role of National Counties cricket. 

“It’s a good test. We are in Division Two and I would imagine that Division One is a probably further step up,” Blake said. 

“You get some very good players, some good ex-first-class cricketers in it and some good youngsters coming up through the leagues. 

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I know a lot of the lads in the Cornwall side play for their clubs on Saturdays and they love it. 

“They are cricket mad. They’re always looking at scorecards and live streams and what’s going on in the game. 

“I have been impressed with some of the young lads coming through and I look forward to keeping an eye on Cornwall’s success for the rest of the season.” 

Blake’s involvement with Cornwall came through Will MacVicar, the county’s Kent-based professional who has impressed in his first season of National Counties cricket. 

“Will MacVicar is one of my real close friends. I have played with him for 15 or so years,” Blake said. 

“I knew little bit about National Counties cricket before but I have known more since Will has been involved with Cornwall and he has spoken to me about it quite a bit. 

“They had two players drop out before the first Championship match against Dorset and Will had a chat with Godfrey Furse, the team manager, about me. 

“I didn’t have any cricket in July so it was a good opportunity for me to go and play some red ball cricket and it’s worked out well.” 

Blake’s runs for Cornwall meant that he resumed his first-class career in good form and he made 30 in a fifth wicket partnership of 61 with Harry Finch in Kent’s first innings at Trent Bridge. 

“I only found out on Monday morning that I had been called up. I haven’t played red ball cricket for four years and I’m only contracted for white ball,” he said. 

“When our coach Matt Walker rang me I thought it would be about the One Day Cup next week but Kent have had a bit of a crisis with injury so I got a late call-up. 

“I came up to Bridgnorth with just my Cornwall kit and track suit. I had some trousers with me but no Kent red ball kit so they had to bring some up with them on the bus. 

“All season I have felt pretty good but it has been nice to come in and contribute to Cornwall.  

“It’s a very welcoming set-up and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve got to know the lads over the last couple of games and I’ve got a few runs too which is nice.” 

Showcase Matches 

Sunday July 30 (11am) 

Dunstable: Bedfordshire v Essex (12pm)

Falkland CC, Newbury: Berkshire v Middlesex

Peterborough Town: Cambridgeshire v Northamptonshire

Nantwich: Cheshire v Yorkshire

Sedbergh School: Cumbria v Lancashire

Bovey Tracey: Devon v Somerset

Wimborne: Dorset v Hampshire

Cheltenham College: Gloucestershire v Wiltshire

Eastnor: Herefordshire v Glamorgan

West Herts CC, Watford: Hertfordshire v Kent

Lindum CC, Lincoln: Lincolnshire v Derbyshire

Horsford: Norfolk v Nottinghamshire

Jesmond: Northumberland v Durham

Wormsley: Oxfordshire v Sussex

Shrewsbury: Shropshire v Worcestershire

Knypersley: Staffordshire v Leicestershire

Woolpit: Suffolk v Surrey

Sudbroook CC, Caldicot: Wales NC v Warwickshire 

Tuesday August 1

Truro: Cornwall v Somerset

Hove: Sussex v Buckinghamshire