Following in the footsteps of a diminutive giant
Standing at 6ft 7in, Jack Murphy inevitably has big feet yet
the 18-year- old from Tenby has some big shoes to fill as he spends a winter in
New Zealand honing his craft for next year’s cricket season at home.
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| Jack Murphy pictured with Haverfordwest's Simon Holliday |
Evans had a stellar time in New Zealand and ended up playing
for the Northern District first class team yet he had no hesitation in
suggesting Murphy when the club came calling after seeing the all-rounder in
close quarters whilst playing for Ammanford in the South Wales Premier League.
Capable of bowling at pace and good enough to open the
batting for the East Carmarthenshire club, Murphy is certainly a player to keep
an eye out for and if his past exploits on the field of play are anything to go
by, he could very well follow Evans in to first class cricket.
Playing in New Zealand will bring different challenges to
those that he has faced until now as cricket has come as easily to him but he’s
out there as the club pro and senior coach which is putting huge pressure on
his young shoulders.
“I’m under pressure that’s for sure but I’d had enough of
education for the time being and when Alun offered the chance to go I jumped at
the chance. I know he did well out there and I’ve a lot to live up to but it’s
the right time to go out there and hopefully I’ll do well.”
He’s certainly done well up to this point in his career. At
13, he was one of Cresselly’s top all-rounders, two seasons later he was lost
to Pembrokeshire cricket as the South Wales Leagues came calling. In his first
season at Ammanford, he did well enough in scoring one 50 and a couple of 40’s
to force his way to the top of the order and he didn’t disappoint.
“Because of my age I could have stayed in Pembrokeshire longer
yet a couple of clubs offered me a chance to play and I couldn’t turn it down.
At 15, I was the youngest in the league and did ok although I wasn’t bowling
then as I had a stress fracture of the back so I concentrated on batting.
The standard is high and the bowlers come in hard but it’s a
good challenge as each team has at two Glamorgan players so you come up against
some very good players.”
The experience of playing ‘up the line’ certainly paid off.
At 16 he was playing for Glamorgan 2nds and was a regular in the Wales Minor
Counties side and of course, he secured a coveted Academy contract with the
county club which aided his cricketing education further. He also had trials
for England U17’s and had he made it, he would have been the third
Pembrokeshire player to play at that level after Stephen Inward and Andrew
Salter.
“I was disappointed not to get in but it’s a very hard to
get picked. I’d had a few injuries leading up to it but it was great to be
there.”
Despite his achievements to date, Murphy is under no
illusions about what it takes to make it to the top yet is willing to make the
sacrifices to get there.
“I’m way off playing first class cricket at the moment but
hopefully by going away I’ll learn more about my game and more about myself and
hopefully that will make a difference to my chances.
Alun did well when he was out there and hopefully I will do
the same but I know it’s going to be tough but I’m up for the challenge.”
Jack Murphy Factfile
Highest Score:
98, twice I also got 97 twice and a 96!
Best Bowling:
5-10 of 7.2 overs
Fastest Bolwer: Simon Jones
indoors in the nets
Best opposition
batsman: Darren
Maddy, he scored 150 against us for fun
Best Bowler:
Simon Jones, he’s got that fear factor that no-one else has.
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