MATCH REPORT: Frustration for Balderson after second day against Nottinghamshire abandoned
Rain throughout the morning led to play on the second day of our LV= Insurance County Championship match against Nottinghamshire being abandoned at 12.30pm.
A saturated outfield at Emirates Old Trafford meant it was a fairly straightforward decision for umpires Ian Blackwell and Hassan Adnan to halt proceedings at the scheduled lunch interval.
It means no play has been possible on either of the two days so far with a draw looking a highly likely outcome even if the two teams manage to take to the field in the next two days.
The two washouts mean Lancashire have lost a total of 833 overs so far this season compared with a total of 237 overs lost last year and 907 in 2021.
Of the 833 overs lost this year, 393 overs have been at home matches and 440 at away games.
“It’s been a frustrating season,” said George Balderson.
“We set out wanting to win all three trophies at the start and aren’t going to win one so that’s disappointing.
“We’ve put in some good performances, especially in four-day cricket at times, but we’ve not been helped by weather.
“You can’t completely blame the playing conditions. There have been elements of our performances too.
“This week we’ve been hampered by the weather. It’s happened at other times but I think we’ve put in performances that have deserved a little bit more reward.
“Hopefully we can continue to put in those performances next year, get a little bit more luck with the weather, and try and improve a bit and see if we can be up there challenging.
“I think if you look at our record against Surrey in four-day cricket over the last couple of years, it’s very good.
“So, we know we can compete and play as good as, if not better, cricket than them. But it’s about putting it together over a fourteen-game season and finding ways to win games – especially here on tough four-day pitches.
“If you lose a day to weather it’s hard work to find a result. That’s up to us as a group of players, to find ways to do that and go further than we have done over the last few years.”
Balderson has enjoyed a good season with bat and ball, and he said:
“I’ve been proud of my efforts this season.
“I started the season out of the side in four-day cricket and the overseas signings that were made with Daryl (Mitchell) and Colin (de Grandhomme), I knew I’d have to be performing well to find my way into the side.
“Having been away playing grade cricket in Sydney last winter, I knew my game was in a good place and that if I got picked, I needed a couple of good performances to stay in the side.
“To have scored a couple of hundreds plus a few other scores, I feel like I’ve cemented my spot in the side for now and hopefully I can now kick on and keep trying to put in match-winning performances.
“Getting that first hundred was a big moment for me. It makes you feel a bit more belonging (in the team). It’s now about trying to learn how to continue making hundreds and make that a long-term success. Another one came along quite quickly so hopefully I’m on the path to doing that.”
Having established himself in the side this season, Balderson isn’t taking anything for granted.
“There’s always someone coming through that you are looking over your shoulder for. We always have great overseas players so you never feel like you are completely comfortable in the side. It’s a good thing because you are always striving to keep improving. Once you stop that, someone is going to overtake you.
“After I was left out at Blackpool (against Essex), Carl Crowe said before the next match at Edgbaston, ‘you were unlucky to be left out last week, now make it that we can’t drop you’. I think when you’ve got something to prove it adds that little bit of motivation. You want to score runs for the team and, from a selfish point of view, I want to be in that team to contribute. I don’t want to be watching and running the drinks, even though sometimes you have to do that.
“It’s a motivation but hopefully I’ve got enough personal motivation without that external pressure of trying to prove a point. I want to do well for the team as much as anything.
Balderson felt his last winter spent in Australia was a huge benefit.
“I benefitted from playing tough grade cricket against tough opposition,” he said. "When I came back for the pre-season tour, I hit the ground running and I think that’s been a big factor in having enjoyed a good season so far.
“I’m not going this winter because I think you need to find a balance between finding the right opportunities and also to take a rest. I’ll be working on different technical aspects of my game.
“It’s tough when you bowl as well, to keep bowling season after season.
“But from a batting perspective it’s the best thing I could have done (last winter). It’s something I want to do again in the future.”
Balderson is also looking to make improvements to his bowling.
“It’s tough being a seam bowler at Emirates Old Trafford,” he said.
“I think my best performances have been away or at outgrounds, so I want to find a way that’s effective to bowl here, especially when it goes a bit flat at times.
“I enjoy bowling, it keeps me involved in the game.
“I want to improve and try and become a genuine third seamer in the side. Giving as much back to the team as possible with the ball is something I aspire to do.
“I look at Bails (Tom Bailey) and Will (Williams) opening the bowling and they are taking two or three wickets every innings and never going at more than three an over.
“They will also have unbelievable spells where they three or four wickets.
“If I can bottle up what I’m doing when it’s very good, and extend it over longer periods of time, I think I can be a very good first-class bowler. At times I’m not as consistent as I potentially could be.
“But I’m young and have chances to improve.
“Hopefully I can become a genuine all-rounder for the club for some time.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell, Luke Adams, Dan Adams
