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LiverpoolDailyPostA HOST of good judges agree that the Firwood Bootle all-rounder Stephen Parry has all the makings of a first-class cricketer – and Lancashire’s decision to award the 21-year-old a professional contract merely provided official confirmation of their opinion.
But as the player adjusted to the demands of his first media day at Old Trafford, he preferred to take things a little more slowly. After all, the Lancashire HQ is a second home to him.
“I’ve got what I’ve worked for,” he agreed. “But having come through the age groups and then being on a scholarship last year, there’s not much that’s different to be honest.”
Parry’s dedication is an example of what is required in order to get a contract in 2008. Having spent the winter playing for Gosnells CC in Perth, he is just beginning what is effectively his ninth consecutive season without a break.
However, Lancashire are more interested in the quality of his cricket than its quantity and his programme is regularly monitored.
“If the coaching staff see you’re tired they’ll give you a rest-day and they’ll tell you how to recover on that day,” he explained.
This afternoon Parry will be in action for Bootle at Hightown on the first match-day of the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition season, and there’s no doubt that the wicket at Sandy Lane will be totally different to those in Western Australia where he learned to bowl more slowly and spin the ball harder. Parry, though, welcomes the various challenges of top-level league cricket on Merseyside.
“Overall, I think playing in the Liverpool Competition is a good preparation for Lancashire Seconds,” he said. “I moved from Denton in order to play better cricket, and the Comp and the Cheshire County League seem to be the places where young players want to go. That’s because of the facilities, the wickets and the quality of the opposition.”
Spending the last couple of years in the company of a couple of ex-pros at Wadham Road hasn’t harmed him either.
“Bootle’s a fantastic club,” he said. “If I have to go away and play for Lancs they understand perfectly. Obviously it helps having someone like Ian Cockbain around because he’s been there as well, but I also picked up loads of things from batting with Graham Lloyd and it’s a shame he’s not with us this year.”
Nor is Parry short of wise counsel at Old Trafford. “Stuart Law is always giving me advice if I’m bowling to him in the nets, and Gary Keedy has all the spin bowling experience in the world,” he said. “If he sees something’s not right, he’ll always tell me.”
And so, as the world of cricket adjusts to what may yet prove to be a Twenty20 revolution, Stephen Parry begins a summer in which he helps to bring further honours to Wadham Road while also establishing himself at Old Trafford.
“I look forward to every season, but this one especially,” he said. “Obviously I want to play for Lancashire’s first team, but just for now I want to perform well for the second team and put myself in the picture.” He knows that achieving this goal will need dedication but that’s not been a problem so far.
“I wouldn’t have got where I’ve got if I hadn’t approached things professionally,” he said, as he sat wearing his new, official Lancashire shirt and mused on the possibility that one day he will walk down those famous pavilion steps and take the field as a first-team cricketer.
FIXTURES: Business Assistance Liverpool Competition ECB Premier League: Colwyn Bay v New Brighton, Formby v Northern, Hightown v Bootle, Maghull v Lytham, Prestatyn v Ormskirk, St Helens Recs v Fleetwod Hesketh, Wallasey v Southport and Birkdale.
First Division: Ainsdale v Liverpool, Huyton v Northop Hall, Leigh v Highfield, Newton-le-Willows v Sefton Park, Orrell Red Triangle v Wigan, Rainford v Skelmersdale, St Helens v Wavertree.
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