All-rounder Luis Reece wants to use his experience of playing as an overseas player in the Bangladesh Premier League to convert close games into wins for Derbyshire.
Playing in front of partisan crowds with a weight of expectation taught the 27-year-old to handle the pressure and now he is hoping to harness that experience and use it to get Derbyshire over the line in tight matches.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Reece said: “They are very passionate about their cricket, so it was a great experience to practice my trade over there and play in front of massive crowds.
“Half of them are hoping you mess up and half are cheering you on. So to play in front of over 40,000 people is a great experience to practice your skills under.
“It’s the pressure that comes with playing as an overseas player and the expectation that is on you to go out there and perform.
“Derbyshire haven’t really performed to their potential in recent years and hopefully last year was a stepping stone in the right direction. So the lads who have gone overseas have got to take that experience of playing under pressure into the big games and hopefully that can take us over the line, and win us games that perhaps we would have lost.”
A number of Derbyshire players are currently overseas gaining further experience over the winter, something which Reece sees as a reflection of the ability in the squad.
He added: “It shows the talent that Derbyshire have got in the side. You’ve got Gary Wilson who is an international player and Hardus [Viljoen], then Hamidullah Qadri, who has experience with the England Under 19s. People understand that Derbyshire have got a lot of talent, so now it’s up to the players to go out there and perform.”
Derbyshire continue to build more skills-based work into their training schedule and the powerful left-hander hopes this detailed preparation will come to fruition on the field.
“We’ve done a lot of fitness work and now hitting balls in the nets, so we’re in the thick of it and looking to be as fit and as strong going into the new season. As we go along we’re working on our skills and hopefully that skill level will transfer onto the field.”
Price freeze for 2018. Club Membership will once again offer one great value price for all in 2018. Join today for only £139, if purchased before 1st February Early Bird deadline.
