IF there was any doubt that Darren Maddy would commence his senior England career before this month is out it was probably removed when he came close to his second Benson and Hedges Cup hundred in six days yesterday.
On one of the best pitches produced anywhere in this cold, damp spring, his crisp strokeplay hustled Leicestershire to a commanding defeat of Northamptonshire inside 40 overs, a result which eliminates the home side and virtually guarantees a quarter-final place for Leicestershire.
If Maddy is their man of the moment, his opening partner, Iain Sutcliffe, is no less a cricketer for the future. He was even more fluent in making an imposing 55 off 66 balls before a sliced drive to backward point ended the distinct possibility that Leicestershire would win by 10 wickets.
It was one-sided largely because of an inappropriately low total by Northants' batsmen who, Tony Penberthy apart, looked out of touch. They were given little chance to get going, however, against exemplary bowling and fielding from a Leicestershire side bristling with purpose.
The potentially formidable opening pair of Devon Malcolm and Franklyn Rose were out-bowled by Alan Mullally and a relaxed looking Chris Lewis, who is enjoying the chance to keep the captain's seat warm for James Whitaker.
The Northants top order look as though they had been playing their cricket at Sabina Park rather than on this lovely white pitch in the middle of a verdant square. It had a good, true bounce and sufficient pace for everyone to have a chance. Mullally made best use of it after Kevin Curran had chosen, reasonably enough, to bat first. Malachy Loye got a thin outside edge to the second ball of the morning, David Sales was deftly caught at second slip and David Capel was leg before, half forward to Lewis, another clear possibility for England's one-day team.
Curran briefly looked capable of turning the tide but after twice pulling Vince Wells for four he was bowled off stump, driving expansively at a ball of full length. Wells finished his mid-innings stint having conceded only 20 from his last nine overs, finding Rob Bailey's outside edge for good measure. Paul Nixon took the catch standing up and another brilliant one later to give Mullally a third wicket, compensation for missing a low, half-chance to his left when Tony Penberthy nibbled at Wells.
Penberthy went on to play much the best innings for his side but it was nothing compared to the dashing strokeplay which followed from Sutcliffe and Maddy. They put on 123 before Ben Smith and Phil Simmons signed off with an equal flourish.
Sutcliffe is clearly on the verge of fulfilling the high expectations held of him at Oxford; yet another Yorkshireman who got away. A front-foot thumper of real quality, he bats like one of the new-generation Australians and his nine fours were all struck in front of the wicket. Maddy, by contrast, is stocky, neat and balanced with a straight backlift.
The only worry about the way he played yesterday is that he might be too fond of the cut for his own good. The majority of his runs on the way to 89 off 128 balls were scored behind square on the off side but that was partly a reflection of how Northamptonshire bowled. Their coach, John Emburey, has no doubts. ``I'm very impressed with him,'' he said. ``He's always asking questions and he looks a very compact, neat player; he cuts and pulls well square of the wicket and if you over-pitch he drives well too, so he doesn't give much margin for error.''