Zak Chappell: A brilliant season, and bright future
It has been a brilliant season for Zak Chappell, a breakthrough year, as he made his first team place his own, having earned that spot. Chappell is a tall quick bowling all rounder, than can score runs quickly. He has many important wickets to his name, and as we are about to find out, usual impresses on debut.
The 21 year old, made his first class debut in 2015, for Leicestershire against Derbyshire, and it is safe to say, he made a big impact. He came in at 10, and they would not have expected the debutant, to smack 96, batting maturely, facing 122 balls in the innings. To make his debut even better, Chappell got opening batsman Ben Slater out, not once, but twice. This was a brilliant start at the end of the 2015 season. To make this moment even more special for Chappell, as he broke a record. Chappell’s innings of 96, is the highest from a number 10 batsman for Leicestershire. Chappell made his Royal London One Day Cup debut in 2015 also, and once again putting in a fantastic performance to start. He scored 31 runs from 58 balls. Zak also dismissed Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell. Zak Chappell did not play many games in the 2016 County Championship season, playing once at the start and once at the end, claiming best figures of 2/44 against Kent, but 2017 was his breakthrough year for Leicestershire. What a season Chappell has had in 2017, having claimed big wickets, including Luke Wright and Brandon Nash, he bowled brilliantly in both the County Championship and the Royal London One Day Cup. The all rounder scored well against Worcestershire when he scored 48 and 66. His best bowling figures came against the club he made his debut against and he once again, got Ben Slater out. He ended on 4/108, and bowled well in a tough game, also claiming the wicket of Billy Godleman.
During the 2017 Royal London One Day Cup, Chappell stood out. He scored his highest score of the competition against Durham, ending 59 not out from just 82 balls. Chappell bowled well throughout, once again taking important wickets, including international Moeen Ali, Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone, as well as, Notts players Samit Patel & Michael Lumb, in a game he claimed best figures of 2/44. In the Leicestershire second eleven, Zak Chappell scored 99 & 3/46 against MCCU Young Cricketers. One thing that we know about Chappell is that he tends to make a great first impression, and has done well on all of his debuts. During his first Second Eleven Championship match he ended on 41 not out, off just 27 balls, to take Leicestershire seconds to 530/9.
After a great season, Chappell will be ready for 2018 to get underway so he can continue the form he has enjoyed this year. Before he played for Leicestershire, Chappell played for Stamford Town Cricket Club in Lincolnshire. He was brilliant for Stamford Town throughout his time there, and still goes back to watch when he can, a true clubman, who has the whole club behind him. For Stamford Town, he was outstanding, his top score being an unbeaten 118 against Sleaford seconds in the South Lincs & Border Premier League in 2013, when he was aged just 16 years old. During the same season, Chappell scored 106 and 102 in Rutland division 1, to finish on a batting average of over 56. His friends at Stamford Town and other clubs surrounding, will be proud of how well Chappell has done this season, and he will be happy that his club have won the Huntingdonshire League.
His best bowling figures for Stamford Town, came against Skegness seconds, when he took 6/35 at 17 years old, and 5/42 in Rutland Two. The former Stamford School student has a very bright future ahead of him, and being quick and strong, he can trouble batsmen at any level. Leicestershire are excellent for bring through young talents. Next up, we will be looking at Rob Sayer, before looking at the Parkinson’s, Tom Sole, Max Holden and Gareth Wade. Please check them out, follow on twitter, @__SportCentral to find out, when they will be posted, but it will be very soon. Hope you enjoyed this article, feedback always welcome, Good luck Zak Chappell.