controversial decision to ditch
veteran gloveman Andrew Hodd,
who will now retire at the end of the
summer.
As a youth, Tattersall opened the
batting and bowled leg-spin but
wicketkeeping runs in the family:
elder brother James featured for
Yorkshire 2nds while father Richard
was also in the stumpers’ union.
“It’s a cheeky career move but if
it is helping the team that’s all I’m
bothered about. I’ve always had it
a little bit in the genes and I have
always known how to do the job but
it’s a completely different kettle of
fi sh coming into county cricket and
being able to do it,” Tattersall said,after securing Yorkshire’s place
in the latter stages of the 50-over
competition with a maiden half-
century against Northamptonshire.
“I am not really surprised how well
it’s gone. I back myself in whatever I
do and give 100 per cent to the team.
I am here to help Yorkshire win
cricket matches.”
Could that possibly extend to the
Championship, then? “To be fair I
have played a lot of one-day cricket
with England Under-19 but my game
is probably set up better for red-ball
cricket. Hopefully I’ve got a long career
ahead of me so I am biding my time at
the minute and then when the chance
comes hopefully I can take it.”to make a fi rst-class appearance.
But in a stunning turnaround
in fortunes, he was given 2nd XI
opportunities at the end of 2017 and
responded in much the same way as
Azeem Rafi q before him to secure
another chance.
The 23-year-old’s story took an
extraordinary twist during the
winter, however, when the idea was
fl oated that he should channel his
brilliant fi elding into becoming
a wicketkeeper. A little over six
months after starting his two
sessions a week, he returned to
Yorkshire’s 1st XI midway through
the Royal London Cup group stage
after coach Andrew Gale made theSUSSEX
Brighton has a sizeable Australian
community, and they came out in
force to support two of their touring sides in early
June. The 50-over team began their tour with a
comfortable win over Sussex. The following day
there was a men and women’s double header
against Aboriginal XIs. If Tim Paine’s side had
misgivings about coming to England after their
controversial tour to South Africa, they could not
have chosen a more genteel venue than Hove (aka
The 1st Central County Ground). Yes there was
banter – “If you all like sandpaper clap your hands”
the crowd chanted at one stage – while Nathan
Lyon, when asked what was in his pocket, replied,
“the Ashes”. A century from Marcus Stoinis helped
the tourists to a 57-run win. The next day Sussex
Women beat the Aboriginal tourists by 83 runs,
while the men’s victory was even more emphatic,
by 99 runs.The day began with a moving ceremony that
saw a silk banner unveiled, a commemorative
stump handed over and speeches to mark the
150th anniversary of the tour that saw the original
Australian Aboriginals play two matches in
Sussex in 1868. It was an enjoyable day for Sussex
coach Jason Gillespie, who is a descendant
on his father’s side of the Kamilaroi people of
Indigenous Australians.
Huw TurbervillEYE ON IT
Jofra Archer in the
tour game against
Australiathecricketer.com | DIARY | COUNTY