by Akseli Pitkänen The way the Finland cricket team has opened the gates to European cricket in the past few weeks, is phenomenal. Finland played five matches and won one. Not only is Finland knocking the door to a whole new cricketing atmosphere, but they have also made a sizable amount of progress. I recently interviewed no less than the number one wicket keeper in Finland, Jonathan Scamans. Although he didn't make a difference in a winning cause, he did influence his team into a winning spirit. But since cricket in Finland is still relatively small and rising as a marginal sport, adjusting to new wickets isn't easy at a tough level. Anyways he's here to tell us the facts and the experience he carries and got from the Netherlands, the organizer of the European T20 qualifier. Q: The Qualifiers have just ended. What are the thoughts and feelings in your squad going through? A: The feeling in our squad is upbeat, despite not winning as many games as we might have expected. These games where a great experience and has raised the confidence of the team and every individual going forward. Q: Hienoa! Let's go a little deeper into the games in the Netherlands. If you wish, I want to rewind a couple things. Starting with the 1st match against Isle of Man who you lost. They batted a decent-lookish total. You top scored for your team but just when it looked you're competing, your wicket and end of play. What happened and what were you going through at that point mentally? A: The score they posted (132?) seemed below par, but with a wicket that none of us had batted on before, it was early on more about adjusting quickly to the bounce, pace and turn of the wicket. And as soon as Peter [Gallagher] and I had got some runs in the board, I believed we would win this the match. But as our batting innings went on, the threat of rain became more and more obvious. As the, which ended as been the last over of the game started. I noticed us been behind the D/L rate, which got me to play a few reckless shots, and ended up missing the ball, and the end result been that me getting bowled. Mentally, I let the rain affect my concentration and the “zone” I had gotten in to. So in my part, I made the mistake bad shot selection, which was my down fall and end of the game. Q: Appreciate your details, Jonathan. The score they put on the board was 136-5. Very interesting story. Any thoughts of the Belgium match at Voorburg? A win off the last ball of the innings for them what I recall. A: Second to last. Well, the end was obviously a strong finish for us, even though we lost, but we gave our bowling and fielding tremendous confidence going forward. The batting was disappointing, barring Nathan Collins' batting effort. Yes, I scored some runs, but not nearly as quickly as I would have liked to. But the way we folded with our batting at the end was disappointing, as it carried over to the start of our fielding and bowling effort. But we believe, that had we scored let's say... 135-140, we would’ve won that game. Especially considering how we closed the bowling and fielding innings off. Q: Well since you mentioned Peter before and now Nathan who scored a fine captain's innings of 74. Who did you like more batting with? Do you talk about batting an "anchor" role with the bat when at the batting crease? A: Both have their benefits of batting with, and I’ve batted many times with both of them domestically, as we all play for the same club back in Finland and we are the top 3 for our club. But with batting with Peter is exciting because the way he can destroy bowling attacks on his day, plus it takes the pressure off you having to worry trying to score too quickly. With Nathan, who's a really good batsman, batting with him is as enjoyable, but in more a classical sense, as he plays more traditional strokes, which are a joy to watch from the other end. Plus batting with Nathan, he is some who’s type of play is similar to mine, so I try learn as much from that I can. The anchor role is something we have spoken about, and has fallen mostly in Nathan to do, but our batting order consist of a couple of players who can do that, if Nathan happens to fail. Q: Match against Italy was your last one, as Vehviläinen took your spot. Shame to end your European dream like that. I could tell how you're shocked at that point. Can you imagine your team going all the way to the next round? A: Yes, but me being left out was to with having a slight injury. So having a second keeper on tour was good, and credit to him, as he did a good job with the gloves. I was obviously disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to play another game in the tournament, which is something that is hard to digest, but this is a team sport, and we have built a good culture around the team. So after knowing I was not going to play, I saw it as my responsibility to help the boys to perform as the best as they could. Well, we can’t make the next round of qualifiers for the 2020 t20 World Cup to be held in Australia. But next year there should be the first round of European qualifiers for 2024. So going by how we performed this year, I have no reason to doubt our chances of going through them, as long as we work hard on the areas we where found lacking in. Q: I saw you on television some time ago and you seemed like a player like Quinton de Kock. Am I right? Who top international player would you feel like on your perfect day? Please choose a wicketkeeper. A: Thank you for that comparison, but my style of batting closer to Kumar Sangakkara. I look to play the percentages, but at the same be positive and bring the counter attack to the bowlers. That’s why it's Sanga, as a wicketkeeper-batsman is some I look up to, even though I bat right-handed. Q: How did you grow up to cricket? A: Dad being English brought me to the game around the age of 10. But learning to play the game in Finland wasn’t and hasn’t been the easiest. The time spent playing summers in England have helped. Cricket in general, especially the tactical side has always fascinated me Q: What makes you a wicketkeeper? Did you always feel you wanted to be behind the stumps? A: No, not really. I just happened to be a good fielder, and for one European indoor competitions my only option to get in the team was to become a keeper, as I didn’t bowl much. I knew as a batsman I would get picked, but needed get another string to my to bow that I could get picked. So I worked hard on it, and got picked. Pretty much from then onwards I’ve been considered one of the best ones in Finland. Q: Since you're a batsman and wicketkeeping came as a result of good fielding...What is your preferred batting number and role? A: I’ve always liked batting at 3, but with he gloves anything between 3-5. At my fittest regardless do I have the gloves or not, batting at 3 is something I think I enjoy the most. Q: For me you're a talented guy. Your wicketkeeping skills are a joy to watch. However no one's perfect. Say 3 things you want to develop as a wicketkeeper. Also what are your strengths. Say 3 of them. A: Things to work on would be: when standing up to the off spinner and the batsman misses the ball and it comes through the bat and pad. That can be difficult to collect. Fitness and concentration when I’ve made some mistakes, as well. Strengths would generally stranding up to the stumps for spin or pace, covering a large area when standing back, and the energy I bring to the team when we field. Q: A little side note. I'm a big fan of Yorkshire. What is your favourite county team and why? A: Same. Because my dad is from that part of England. Q: Fascinating! Finally, going back to the T20 qualifier we started with: How do you guys prepare to games as a team following a loss and a win? Any differences? A: We have a open conversation, but bring things out in a constructive and positive manner. So not many differences. Obviously been on a high after win is different than to the low of a loss. But we have formed a routine with the squad, that enables for open conversation. Back home he plays for Helsinki. The way I've seen him bat and take the leadership role has been breathtaking. For some time he was named captain of a nation which more is into ski jumping than cricket. So given all his relationship with Yorkies back in his early days, his whole time life was meant to be in what I call an admirable sport, cricket. Background of Finland is that Finnish cricket is getting TV rights more regularly as years go by. One can wonder what would it mean to the small amount of Finnish cricket fans, who see their team go forward. All in all, Finnish cricket is going to only one direction - higher. Finnish cricket will be kind of an indicator towards what northern European cricket interests are concerned. We are a new cricketing nation but we are here to stay. Finnish bears took the pivotal win to not be last. I'm sure next time around, latest four years later, we'll manage better. Scamans is in the groove like Sangakkara and I agree with him. Hope the team will find a Dilshan and a Mahela if we don't already have them. And I wouldn't complain at all if we had a Vaas or a Muralitharan! The way the team is balanced and ready for new adventures always takes the positives of life. That's how it should be. We Finns are the new up-and-coming cricketing powerhouses. We are here to stay. Also, the Afghan dreamlike story awaits: the meteoric rise to the top. Don't you agree?
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September 2020
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