Cricket: Silverwood adds sparkle

Worcestershire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192

Yorkshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114-0

YOU will not find the name of Christopher Silverwood in any of cricket's reference books this summer but there are Yorkshiremen who are saying that he will soon be well known. For an 18-year-old seam bowler to be given seven overs in a Benson and Hedges tie, now a knock-out competition, is an indication of his captain Martyn Moxon's high regard for this talented youngster.

Silverwood comes from rugby league heartland at Kippax and his promise was not unknown to Yorkshire. He was a YTS entrant to their Cricket Academy at Bradford and appeared in the second team last season. What has been remarkable has been his advance this year.

When Yorkshire went on a second pre-season tour of South Africa in March they soon lost Peter Hartley with a back strain. Playing in club cricket near the Cape was young Silverwood. He deputised so well for Hartley that he was immediately pencilled in as a replacement for limited-overs matches this season. Hartley said: 'He's got a good action and he's accurate. He could fill the place left by Chris Shaw.'

Shaw, another talented seam bowler from the coalfields, was a consistent, accurate bowler who seemed set for a long career, especially in one-day games, when a back injury ended it two years ago. Silverwood is much quicker than Shaw, he can already bowl an 'in- ducker' and has an action good enough to move the ball away.

Against the strong Northamptonshire batting order he bowled seven overs for 19 runs, had the highly experienced Rob Bailey leg before second ball and then demonstrated his rifling right arm by throwing out David Ripley from the third-man boundary.

Yorkshire include Silverwood in a squad of 13 for today's Sunday League match against Worcestershire at Headingley.

Their Britannic Assurance Championship match did not resume at soggy Park Avenue until 3.30 yesterday after the loss of more than a day and a half.

Not that Yorkshire wasted any further time. Mark Robinson finished with career-best figures of 7 for 47 as the Worcestershire innings subsided for another seven runs, Steven Rhodes failing to add to his overnight 49. Moxon and Ashley Metcalfe then swept away in an opening stand reminiscent of their best days, making 114 off 40 overs.