Ben Coad enjoys first class Yorkshire debut and opens bowling against Durham

Ripon seam bowler Ben Coad has been handed his first class debut by Yorkshire in the four-day clash at Durham.
Ben Coad opened the bowling for Yorkshire against Durham (Photo: Bruce Rollinson)Ben Coad opened the bowling for Yorkshire against Durham (Photo: Bruce Rollinson)
Ben Coad opened the bowling for Yorkshire against Durham (Photo: Bruce Rollinson)

Coad opened the bowling for Yorkshire alongside former England paceman Tim Bresnan on the opening morning on Monday.

Durham had initially seen off the new ball but a magical six-wicket spell by Steve Patterson put Yorkshire in charge of the County Championship fixture.

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With several Yorkshire players involved in the England one-day squad, Coad and fellow talent Josh Shaw were given an unexpected call-up into the first team.

Shaw took two wickets at Durham were bowled out for just 172 as Coad remained wicketless in his 17 overs despite creating pressure with an economy of just 2.24.

He said: “I was very nervous but excited first up, but settled in quickly and enjoyed every moment of it.

“I will gain a lot of experience from this game and keep progressing so I can play many more first class games in the near future.”

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Coad’s dad Ken brother Dan and grandparents Phillip and Mary Fairclough, who are members at Durham CCC, went to watch at the Emirates Riverside.

However, they were made to wait 25 minutes to see Ben bowl as rain interrupted the match after Tim Bresnan’s first over.

Ken, who is a chairman of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, said: “I was very proud to watch Ben walk out for his first County Championship match.

“Ben has played several One Day or T20 matches over the last couple of years but this was what he has worked so hard for.

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“I hope that this is another step towards Ben having a very long, happy and successful career.”

Coad has been making his mark in the county’s second team in recent weeks and head coach Jason Gillespie has also involved him in Yorkshire’s Natwest T20 Blast campaign.

The 22-year-old took the prize wicket of Jos Buttler during the Roses T20 battle at Old Trafford earlier this month. And that form transcended into the second team where he took season best figures of 6/58 to bowl Leicestershire 2nds out at York.

After playing for Studley Royal in the York Senior League last year, Coad moved to Harrogate over the winter and he has helped them move to the top of the newly created Yorkshire League North.

Harrogate captain George Ross said: “We are all massively proud of him.

“He is ideally suited to the four day stuff and hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come.”

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