County star in elite company but parents miss chance to see it

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Saturday, July 19, 2008
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This is Derbyshire

JON Clare earned a place in the Derbyshire record books but also found his way into his parents' bad books.

Five wickets in an innings to add to his unbeaten hundred with the bat put the 22-year-old in elite company as only the second Derbyshire player, since 1937, to complete the feat in a Championship match.

But his mum and dad, who have followed their son's progress up and down the country during his short time with Derbyshire, had to be content with following the game from their home in Burnley.

“They were going to take time off work to come down but they'd been down for the last couple of games and I told them to have a rest and come to the next one,” Clare (pictured right) confessed.

“I don't think they are too pleased with me about that. My dad's all right with it but my mum is quite mad because she wanted to be here.”

One big difference between Clare, George Pope and Graeme Welch, the last two players to do the double in a Championship match for the county, is that Clare is considerable less experienced.

This is only a 10th first-class appearance for the young man, who took a five-for on his Derbyshire debut last September.

Not surprisingly, that has left him still unable to get the magnitude of what he has achieved in proportion.

“This time last year I wasn't even bowling regularly in the second team but I've just come on leaps and bounds,” he added.

“To be honest, I'm not really a big fan of all these stats but it will be something for me to look back on. A hundred and five wickets in an innings doesn't come around very often.

“Scoring my first hundred is only just sinking in really, so to take a five-for as well in the same game – I'm thrilled.

“I've been bowling well in the last couple of games and not getting the rewards but, if you bowl consistent lines, you are going to get the wickets eventually.”

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