Ian Westwood, men’s Second Team Coach at Warwickshire, believes young pace bowler Manraj Johal has "all the attributes" required for a career in cricket.
Ian Westwood, men’s Second Team Coach at Warwickshire, believes young pace bowler Manraj Johal has “all the attributes” required for a career in cricket.
The objective now for Westwood and his fellow Bears coaches is to polish up those attributes following Johal’s graduation from the Academy to the professional ranks.
Johal, just turned 19, has been in the Bears system since the under 11s age group and has earned his first pro contract after a year in the Warwickshire Academy and two years in the Emerging Player Programme.
He is talented, but it was also his attitude and determination to improve that clinched him a contract at Edgbaston.
“Manraj has really impressed with his attitude and work ethic,” said Westwood.
“He came in last winter and worked with the other contracted bowlers, as well as doing all his academy work. That led to his inclusion in the pre-season tour where again he impressed us.
“He has been heavily involved with the first-team squad. The plan would have been for him to play every 2nd X! game this year but that wasn’t possible, of course, but we think we have seen enough to give him this opportunity. He has put in good performances at West Bromwich Dartmouth and is moving very much in the right direction. He has done everything we have asked of him.”
Johal joined West Bromwich Dartmouth in 2018 from Olton & West Warwickshire and has taken 60 First XI wickets at an average of 20.7 to date. He also played two games for Staffordshire in the National County Championship in 2019 as part of the Bears’ partnership with Staffordshire Cricket.
“We think Manraj has quite a high ceiling if he keeps working hard,” said Westwood.
“We are excited about what he might achieve in all forms of the game, he just needs experience of playing. He has got pace and bounce and all the attributes and now just needs to get out there and play. It’s just about smoothing off some of those rough edges.
“He is also desperate to be a Warwickshire player which is what we love to see.”
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