Callum Parkinson says he is delighted at how his first-class debut unfolded, taking seven wickets in the match and scoring 48 not out, despite only finding out he would play 50 minutes before the start.
Having impressed for the Second XI with both bat and ball for several weeks, the 19-year-old earned himself a call-up to the matchday squad for the first time, before receiving the surprising news that he would make his debut during the warm-ups.
Parkinson is now keen to build on his superb start to life in the first-team and maintain his spot in the line-up during the final four Specsavers County Championship fixtures of Derbyshire’s 2016 campaign.
He said: “I was really surprised at getting a call up to the squad to start with, I didn’t think I would be playing, I thought I’d be 12th man and it would be a good experience for me. I only found out probably 50 minutes before play started on day one, it was really pleasing.”
Parkinson took figures of 4-90 in the first innings and 3-88 in the second innings, in total bowling over 70 overs in the match. Captain Billy Godleman and Head Coach John Sadler were both complimentary of Parkinson and his ability to set his own fields and bowl with a mature attitude for a 19-year-old.
He added: “Going into the match I didn’t think I would end up bowling 70 overs, but the way the pitch played it suited pace off the ball so it’s really pleasing that Billy had as much faith in me as he did and allowed me to settle into long spells.
“I’ve had a bit of experience captaining the academy which helped me in terms of my knowledge of the game and setting fields; but Billy was really helpful as well to send me in the right direction and set a basic field that I could tinker with and we could both move to what plan we were going with at the time.”
His first wicket came when he bowled Mark Cosgrove for 14: “I didn’t think it was a great ball when it left my hand, I thought it was a bit short, I was just lucky it must have hit a bit of rough and turn back and bowl Cosgrove.
“I didn’t really know what to do I just kind of ran off and I was over the moon and shocked, it didn’t quite sink in.
“I thought we played some really good cricket this week especially in the field and with the ball, the batters chipped in too so hopefully we can give Essex a really good game and hopefully prevent them from getting the points they need to maintain their challenge at the top of Division Two.”
Derbyshire host their first ever Real Ale Beer Festival on Day One and Day Two of the Specsavers County Championship fixture versus Essex, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August. To book your tickets, or for more information, please call 01332 388 101, email [email protected] or buy online HERE.
