Weekes leads way for young guns

13 April 2012

Middlesex coach John Emburey has been tearing out what little hair he has left as injuries and international call-ups have played havoc with his young side.

With captains coming and going through a revolving door, his main strike bowler lame and both overseas players summoned back to South Africa next week, the normally phlegmatic Emburey has suffered frustration, disruption and, inevitably, disappointing results.

But shining through like a beacon in the fog has been the golden bat of Paul Weekes, who hit one century and seven half-centuries in nine innings in all competitions last month, with an average of 70.12.

Very much the senior professional in one of the most inexperienced sides in the county's distinguished history, Weekes celebrates his 35th birthday tomorrow. In fact, the wiry left-hander has something else to celebrate because his consistency has earned him the prestigious Evening Standard Cricketer of the Month award for June - a bronze statuette plus a magnum of Veuve Cliquot champagne.

Emburey said: "One century and four 50s in five innings batting in the middle order in the Championship tells its own story but his form in the National League, where he must be averaging over 80, has been just phenomenal.

"He goes in at No1 and dictates the play, working the ball into the gaps in the first 15 overs. He reads the game so well."

Middlesex suffered two Championship defeats and one draw in June, plus a hugely disappointing C&G Trophy quarter-final defeat against Gloucestershire. But they have continued to blaze away near the top of Division Two of the Totesport League, thanks largely to Weekes whose 90 at Leicester last month was his sixth successive half century in the 45-over tournament.

"I'm feeling confident every time I go out to bat, which is a good feeling," said Weekes.

"I love opening in one-day games because you can go for your shots and set the pace of the game. I hope we can keep up our challenge because it's about time we won something."

Hackney-born Weekes, in his 17th season at Lord's, won championship medals back in 1990 and 93 when the Middlesex side were packed with Test players.

He is in the final year of his contract but looks certain to be offered a new one and said: "There's no reason why I can't carry on for at least two or three more seasons.

"We've a young side, we train hard but I feel I can hold my own, even though they keep calling me grandad. I play every game, every year. There's nothing better than being paid for what you enjoy doing but what I really enjoy is winning."

Weekes went on an England A tour a decade ago but has not been called up since. He said: "We all want to play for England, that's why we come into the game. I deserved to play some one-day internationals in the mid-nineties but it never happened. You get over it and move on.

"Obviously, it's too late now but I'm pleased with my form. I've got a routine with my batting, I'm giving it 100 per cent and don't want any distractions."

Weekes lives in Walthamstow but his heart remains in Hackney. "I've been doing cricket coaching at the Hackney Community College for a while now and I work there full time in the winter.

"It's something I enjoy. I'm a Hackney lad and I want to do my bit to help the kids."

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