Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace admits he is excited to think about the progress that Rob Yates and Dan Mousley could make over the next couple of years.
Home-grown batsmen Yates (21) and Mousley (19) have emerged through the Edgbaston player pathway to become important members of the first-team squad.
Yates has taken adroitly to first-class cricket, already has his maiden century under his belt and made an excellent impression when give his chance in the Vitality Blast last season. Mousley’s abundant talent was clear when he fledged in the first team last year as he twice scored classy runs under pressure in the Blast and also made a career-best 71 against Glamorgan at Cardiff in the Bob Willis Trophy, only his third first-class game.
“In Yates and Mousley we have two of the best young batsmen in the county game,” said Farbrace. “I think it is going to be a race between them to see who plays for England first.
Paul Farbrace
“They have both got very good techniques but what impresses me more than anything about them is that they have fantastic mindsets. They are very intelligent cricketers and very independent lads who know what they want and how to go about getting it. I am really looking forward to seeing them kick on over the next couple of years.”
Yates and Mousley will be challenging hard for places in the top order when the Bears open their championship season at home to Derbyshire on April 8.
There will be stern competition, though, from the likes of Sam Hain and Adam Hose. They have both starred more in the shorter formats in recent seasons, but Farbrace is now looking to them to also show their quality fully in red-ball cricket.
“Hainy has done exceptionally well in white-ball cricket,” he said. “Now we want him to be exceptional in red-ball too and really knock down that door into the England team.
“I think Hosey is as good a one-day cricketer as there is around, but I’d also like to see him show more in red-ball cricket. I was pleased to see him get his first go in franchise cricket with a deal in the Abu Dhabi in the winter and I think he could be knocking on England’s door in white-ball cricket, but there could be a lot to come from him in red-ball too.”
