Simon Kerrigan
Encyclopedia
Simon Christopher Kerrigan (born 10 May 1989) is an English cricket
er who currently plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club
. He bowls slow left arm orthodox spin
. Kerrigan signed for the club in September 2008, and made his debut for the first team in 2010, filling in for Gary Keedy, Lancashire's senior spinner. In August 2011, Kerrigan was selected for the England Lions. The following month he took the best first-class bowling figures for Lancashire since 1953 (9 wickets for 51 runs).
, he received his first contract with Lancashire in September 2008 along with ten other young cricketers. In 2009, Kerrigan broke into Lancashire's second team which progressed to the final of the Second XI Championship
and the semi-final of the Second XI Trophy. Gary Keedy
, Lancashire's experienced and established spinner, suffered a broken collar bone in April 2010, immediately before the start of the English cricket season. With several months on the sidelines, Keedy's absence gave the opportunity to young spinners Kerrigan and Stephen Parry
to play first team cricket. Lancashire coach Peter Moores
said "We’re lucky in some ways in that we’ve got Stephen Parry, who played quite a lot of first-team cricket last season, but we’ve also got Simon Kerrigan, who bowled beautifully to take six wickets in the pre-season game against Yorkshire in Barbados and we could also use Steven Crofty's off-spin". Kerrigan made his first-class
debut in Lancashire's first match of the season taking his maiden five wicket haul and finishing with seven wickets in the match to help Lancashire to victory over Warwickshire
. His maiden wicket was that of England cricketer Ian Bell. Kerrigan played 13 first-class matches in his first full season with Lancashire, taking 30 wickets at an average of 32.23 including three five-wicket hauls. When Keedy returned from injury he and Kerrigan sometimes bowled together in the County Championship. However, their partnership was not initially ideal as they were attempting to out perform each other. After a discussion they decided they would be more effective if they worked together to build pressure while bowling.
In February 2011, Kerrigan spent 16 days at a spin bowling camp run by the England Cricket Board (ECB). With Keedy in good form, Kerrigan did not play until Lancashire's fourth County Championship match of the 2011 season. The opportunity only arose through injuries to the team's fast bowlers. He took five wickets for seven runs (5/7) in Warwickshire's second innings to take his team to a 147-run victory. Warwickshire's coach and former England spinner Ashley Giles
was impressed by Kerrigan's performance. With three wins from four matches, Lancashire moved to the top of the table. Despite limited opportunities in the County Championship because of Keedy's dominance, Kerrigan played ten matches in the CB40 and six twenty20 games. His aim at the start of the season was to be selected for the England Lions, and following an injury to fellow left-arm spin bowler Danny Briggs
this was achieved. Kerrigan was called up to the Lions squad to face Sri Lanka A in a three match one-day series in August. While Keedy was frequently chosen over Kerrigan in the County Championship, Kerrigan cited Keedy's advice as being useful, saying "always coming down to you if he thinks you're doing something you shouldn't be doing or maybe what you should be doing". In the penultimate County Championship match of the season Kerrigan took career best innings figures of 9/51 to take Lancashire to a 222-run win over Hampshire
. The final wicket of the match was claimed with just four minutes of play left and was greeted with a mini pitch invasion as the victory kept Lancashire in contention for the title. Kerrigan recorded the best bowling figures for Lancashire since Roy Tattersall
's 9/40 in 1953.
On the back of his performances for Lancashire, Kerrigan was included in the 17-man England Performance Programme squad for November and December, during which time he would train in Loughborough and then Sri Lanka where he would gain experience of conditions in the country.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who currently plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
. He bowls slow left arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
. Kerrigan signed for the club in September 2008, and made his debut for the first team in 2010, filling in for Gary Keedy, Lancashire's senior spinner. In August 2011, Kerrigan was selected for the England Lions. The following month he took the best first-class bowling figures for Lancashire since 1953 (9 wickets for 51 runs).
Career
Born in Preston, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, he received his first contract with Lancashire in September 2008 along with ten other young cricketers. In 2009, Kerrigan broke into Lancashire's second team which progressed to the final of the Second XI Championship
Second XI Championship
The Second XI Championship is a season-long cricket competition in England that is competed for by the reserve teams of those county cricket clubs that have first-class status...
and the semi-final of the Second XI Trophy. Gary Keedy
Gary Keedy
Gary Keedy is a slow-left arm spin bowler for Lancashire. He played one match for Yorkshire in 1994, having graduate from their cricket academy, before moving to Lancashire. He has played for the club since 1995 and has, over 500 first-class wickets...
, Lancashire's experienced and established spinner, suffered a broken collar bone in April 2010, immediately before the start of the English cricket season. With several months on the sidelines, Keedy's absence gave the opportunity to young spinners Kerrigan and Stephen Parry
Stephen Parry (cricketer)
Stephen David Parry is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a slow left-arm bowler who currently plays for Lancashire....
to play first team cricket. Lancashire coach Peter Moores
Peter Moores (cricketer)
Peter Moores is a former English county cricketer. He played as a wicketkeeper for Worcestershire and Sussex He became the coach of Lancashire County Cricket Club, on 11 February 2009....
said "We’re lucky in some ways in that we’ve got Stephen Parry, who played quite a lot of first-team cricket last season, but we’ve also got Simon Kerrigan, who bowled beautifully to take six wickets in the pre-season game against Yorkshire in Barbados and we could also use Steven Crofty's off-spin". Kerrigan made his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut in Lancashire's first match of the season taking his maiden five wicket haul and finishing with seven wickets in the match to help Lancashire to victory over Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. His maiden wicket was that of England cricketer Ian Bell. Kerrigan played 13 first-class matches in his first full season with Lancashire, taking 30 wickets at an average of 32.23 including three five-wicket hauls. When Keedy returned from injury he and Kerrigan sometimes bowled together in the County Championship. However, their partnership was not initially ideal as they were attempting to out perform each other. After a discussion they decided they would be more effective if they worked together to build pressure while bowling.
In February 2011, Kerrigan spent 16 days at a spin bowling camp run by the England Cricket Board (ECB). With Keedy in good form, Kerrigan did not play until Lancashire's fourth County Championship match of the 2011 season. The opportunity only arose through injuries to the team's fast bowlers. He took five wickets for seven runs (5/7) in Warwickshire's second innings to take his team to a 147-run victory. Warwickshire's coach and former England spinner Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
was impressed by Kerrigan's performance. With three wins from four matches, Lancashire moved to the top of the table. Despite limited opportunities in the County Championship because of Keedy's dominance, Kerrigan played ten matches in the CB40 and six twenty20 games. His aim at the start of the season was to be selected for the England Lions, and following an injury to fellow left-arm spin bowler Danny Briggs
Danny Briggs
Danny Richard Briggs is an English cricketer who currently plays for Hampshire. He is a right-handed batsman and bowls slow left-arm orthodox....
this was achieved. Kerrigan was called up to the Lions squad to face Sri Lanka A in a three match one-day series in August. While Keedy was frequently chosen over Kerrigan in the County Championship, Kerrigan cited Keedy's advice as being useful, saying "always coming down to you if he thinks you're doing something you shouldn't be doing or maybe what you should be doing". In the penultimate County Championship match of the season Kerrigan took career best innings figures of 9/51 to take Lancashire to a 222-run win over Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
. The final wicket of the match was claimed with just four minutes of play left and was greeted with a mini pitch invasion as the victory kept Lancashire in contention for the title. Kerrigan recorded the best bowling figures for Lancashire since Roy Tattersall
Roy Tattersall
Roy Tattersall is an English former Lancashire cricketer, who played sixteen Tests for England as a specialist off spin bowler....
's 9/40 in 1953.
On the back of his performances for Lancashire, Kerrigan was included in the 17-man England Performance Programme squad for November and December, during which time he would train in Loughborough and then Sri Lanka where he would gain experience of conditions in the country.