Devon Cricket Board - Read keen to play for Paignton again

Read keen to play for Paignton again

FORMER England cricketer Chris Read hasn’t ruled out another appearance for Paignton this season after turning out for his home-town club in the win over Sidmouth.
The Nottinghamshire captain wasn’t required for the Outlaws’ T20 game against Yorkshire on Friday and was in danger of going nearly a fortnight without a game.
So, during a trip home to see mum Caroline and dad Geoff, he asked Paignton skipper Connor Bryan if there was any chance of a game.
Bryan said yes, Read made a half century and Paignton went on to beat reigning Premier champions Sidmouth by 12 runs,
Read will be back with Notts this weekend, so Exmouth won’t have to worry about facing him.
But there are other breaks in the season ahead and Read may well turn out for Paignton again.
“We are in the middle of T20 games at the moment, which I wasn’t selected for,” said Read, who captains the four-day County Championship team.
“I could have had a 12-day break without a game, which at this stage of the season isn’t ideal.
“Later, we have the 50-over stuff and I hope to feature in that.
“It is a long season though and I wouldn’t rule out having another game for Paignton if I there is a gap between out matches.”
Read started out with Paignton before going to Gloucestershire as a teenager. His career took off when he moved to Nottinghamshire and included more than 50 appearances for England in all forms of the game.
Queens Park, Paignton is where it all started for Read and he was pleased to make another of his occasional guest appearances for the club.
“From a personal point of view it was good to be back at QP and great to be part of a youthful Paignton side that beat Sidmouth,” said Read.
Read said he was impressed by Paignton opener Ollie Higgs, who was his partner in an 85-run stand for the third wicket.
“He batted beautifully in a nice stand we shared,” said Read.
“What I like was he didn’t get phased or flustered during the periods when he found it hard to score.
“I was shocked when he got out as he had been batting so well.”
Read was also impressed by the way Paignton went about their business in the field, turning what he felt was a below-par total of 207 for eight into a winning one.
“I felt we were 20-30 light, but our medium pacers bowled well to back up George Benton as the strike bowler – and imaginative fields were set,” said Read.
“Instead of three slips and a gully there were players in front of the bat and the keeper standing up, putting pressure on that way.”
Read has played more than 300 First Class games in his career and a similar number of List A 50-over matches since his debut in 1997.
He retains the same appetite for the game he had as teenager, playing in Paignton’s 1^st XI and turning out for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship.
However, he is 37 next birthday and accepts his professional career can’t go on for ever.
“I definitely want to play this season and next year as well if possible,” said Read.
“At the moment I am studying for my level four coaching award as coaching is the direction I see myself going in when I eventually stop playing,”

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