Skipper Boroughs challenges his players to raise their game (From Hereford Times)

Skipper Boroughs challenges his players to raise their game

8:00am Saturday 5th December 2009 in

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CAPTAIN Chris Boroughs has challenged his Herefordshire players to raise their game next season.

Herefordshire failed to win a three-day match last summer and finished bottom of the Western Division in the Minor Counties Championship.

Boroughs said that player unavailability remained a ‘massive problem’ for the Herefordshire club.

However, the skipper said he was in talks with a former professional cricketer whom he hoped would sign for the club.

The county collected 43 points – the same tally as 2008 - after four defeats and two draws from their six matches.

However, Herefordshire’s final placing was worse than in 2008 when they came second-bottom after one win, three defeats and two draws.

“We started off with in injuries and unavailabilities leading up to the start of the season,” Boroughs told the club’s annual general meeting.

“We were well beaten in three one-day games and our only win was against Devon.”

New recruit Will Rudge made an instant impact for Herefordshire in the three-day format after taking a wicket with his first ball.

Rudge bowled Herefordshire into several strong positions during the first half of their championship season before leaving for trials with Kent.

“We finished 10th and bottom of the championship,” said Boroughs.

“One factor we can put it down to is unavailability and it’s a massive problem. We have to look at individual performances and we have a number of players who can perform but not consistently enough.

“Only two players had scores of over 100 and we only had five five-wicket hauls.

“We are currently in negotiations with an ex-professional and if we can get him, he will pick up our level of performance.

“With him or without him, I challenge the squad to improve their performance both individually and collectively.”

Boroughs added: “Hopefully, 2010 will bring us success that all the hard work carried out by the club deserves.”

Officers elected Treasurer, David Phillips; match manager, Derek Hince; membership secretary, David James; general committee, Windsor Jones, Bobbie Hadley, Jim Sandford, Ernie Morgan.