Jordan Finney stars for Bombay Gymkhana
Article courtesy of ECB Southern Premier League
Jordan Finney gets the runs in India
FINNEY HOPES HIS INDIAN RUNS WILL CURRY FAVOUR WITH ST CROSS SKIPPER
Off-spinning teenager Jordan Finney has dropped a 69-run hint that he’d like a higher place in the St Cross Symondians’ batting order for the upcoming season. The Cove-based youngster celebrated his debut on Indian soil by scoring 69 runs off 60 balls to help dig his adopted Bombay Gymkhana club out of trouble against the Payede Sports Academy in Mumbai – an innings which helped his side go on to win the match.
“You can’t imagine what it was like here on Saturday as India won the World Cup – fireworks, street parties, car hooters honking all night, sirens blaring and everywhere people having a whale of a time,” Finney said.
“Everyone was so happy and I must admit I felt the nerves of the Indians throughout the final, and then the release of tension to joy is something that will be a memory forever.
“I didn’t get much sleep and was up at 6 o’clock in the morning to prepare for a cross-city trip to the other side of Mumbai. Just in case anyone’s wondering, it’s not quite like going from Bitterne to, say, Totton in Southampton. The roads in every Indian city are choked with cars, tuk tuks, rickshaws and even the odd cow or elephant. It’s very slow, painfully slow.
“You can also imagine that being an Englishman in an Indian cricket team was an experience too, though I did point out they didn’t beat us!
“I have to say the guys were very supportive, giving me plenty of tips on batting and what sort of ‘verbal’ I might get out in the middle.
“We didn’t get off to a good start and were quickly three wickets down. It wasn’t long before I was in at seven. Some 84 minutes later, I was out for 69. My coach said I’d moved my feet well and applied myself well too. It was 40C – and tough going!
“I was hoping the Academy team might be a tad jaded by the night’s celebrations, but I was run out backing up by a very smart piece of fielding which underlined how professional their attitude and approach to the game is.
“A lot of people came and watched the game, just like a few years ago when I was out here with a Hampshire Development squad. People just flock to the games, sit down and become absorbed in it. They enjoyed watching us bat and we finished at 314-7.
“We had lunch (curry?) and then took to the field hoping to restrict the Academy. We did that alright; after 22 overs it was all over. Our seam bowlers were quick and on a good line and, just as I was warming up for a spell, they were bowled out for 120.”
Finney had planned a day off on Monday, but soon got a call to report to the DY Patil ground for a closed doors IPL training session with the Pune Warriors, with whom he’ll be based for the next ten days.
“It’s going to be amazing to train with guys like Graeme Smith, Yuvraj Singh and Tim Paine, the young Australian wicketkeeper/batsman,” Finney said.
“I’m net bowling with them on Tuesday and Thursday, and must remember to ask Graeme Smith about the day he played for the HCB at my old club ground at Cove. He spent a summer in England as a promising teenager while Jimmy Cook was coach at Hampshire and ended up guesting for the Board in the old NatWest Trophy.
“It will be interesting to see if he remembers. I hope so because things like that can help lads like me get to know these ‘stars’ better and we can enjoy a bit of banter
Off-spinning teenager Jordan Finney has dropped a 69-run hint that he’d like a higher place in the St Cross Symondians’ batting order for the upcoming season. The Cove-based youngster celebrated his debut on Indian soil by scoring 69 runs off 60 balls to help dig his adopted Bombay Gymkhana club out of trouble against the Payede Sports Academy in Mumbai – an innings which helped his side go on to win the match.
“You can’t imagine what it was like here on Saturday as India won the World Cup – fireworks, street parties, car hooters honking all night, sirens blaring and everywhere people having a whale of a time,” Finney said.
“Everyone was so happy and I must admit I felt the nerves of the Indians throughout the final, and then the release of tension to joy is something that will be a memory forever.
“I didn’t get much sleep and was up at 6 o’clock in the morning to prepare for a cross-city trip to the other side of Mumbai. Just in case anyone’s wondering, it’s not quite like going from Bitterne to, say, Totton in Southampton. The roads in every Indian city are choked with cars, tuk tuks, rickshaws and even the odd cow or elephant. It’s very slow, painfully slow.
“You can also imagine that being an Englishman in an Indian cricket team was an experience too, though I did point out they didn’t beat us!
“I have to say the guys were very supportive, giving me plenty of tips on batting and what sort of ‘verbal’ I might get out in the middle.
“We didn’t get off to a good start and were quickly three wickets down. It wasn’t long before I was in at seven. Some 84 minutes later, I was out for 69. My coach said I’d moved my feet well and applied myself well too. It was 40C – and tough going!
“I was hoping the Academy team might be a tad jaded by the night’s celebrations, but I was run out backing up by a very smart piece of fielding which underlined how professional their attitude and approach to the game is.
“A lot of people came and watched the game, just like a few years ago when I was out here with a Hampshire Development squad. People just flock to the games, sit down and become absorbed in it. They enjoyed watching us bat and we finished at 314-7.
“We had lunch (curry?) and then took to the field hoping to restrict the Academy. We did that alright; after 22 overs it was all over. Our seam bowlers were quick and on a good line and, just as I was warming up for a spell, they were bowled out for 120.”
Finney had planned a day off on Monday, but soon got a call to report to the DY Patil ground for a closed doors IPL training session with the Pune Warriors, with whom he’ll be based for the next ten days.
“It’s going to be amazing to train with guys like Graeme Smith, Yuvraj Singh and Tim Paine, the young Australian wicketkeeper/batsman,” Finney said.
“I’m net bowling with them on Tuesday and Thursday, and must remember to ask Graeme Smith about the day he played for the HCB at my old club ground at Cove. He spent a summer in England as a promising teenager while Jimmy Cook was coach at Hampshire and ended up guesting for the Board in the old NatWest Trophy.
“It will be interesting to see if he remembers. I hope so because things like that can help lads like me get to know these ‘stars’ better and we can enjoy a bit of banter