Claydon selected for England

September 20, 2022

BEN Claydon has spoken of his pride at receiving an international call-up.

The all-rounder’s outstanding white-ball form for Suffolk this season has earned him selection in the National Counties squad who will represent England in the European Championships.

The 22-year-old, who plays for Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC, has been included in the squad for the competition in Spain next month.

England won the inaugural Dream11 European Championship by beating Belgium by ten wickets in the final at the Cartama Oval in Malaga last October.

As reigning champions England will automatically qualify for Championship week, from October 10th-14th, with 20 nations playing in four groups of five across consecutive weeks vying to join them.

The four group winners and England will then go head-to-head on the Costa del Sol.

Claydon (pictured above) said: “When I was told that I was in the provisional squad my initial reaction was that I would not be selected, so when I got a message saying I was in the final squad I was delighted.

“It is something I am really proud of and very much looking forward to. I don’t think I have every played a 10-over game before, but I saw some of last year’s matches on TV and it should be a lot of fun.

“I am happy to be involved and do whatever the captain and coach want me to do.”

Claydon’s selection comes off the back of some impressive performances for Suffolk in their NCCA T20 and One-Day Trophy matches this season.

He smashed an undefeated 102 from just 47 deliveries with seven sixes and ten fours in Suffolk’s nine-wicket T20 victory over Lincolnshire at Ipswich School in April.

He then scored a majestic 123 off 127 balls as Suffolk beat Cheshire in their final Group 3 game at Didsbury CC to qualify for this season’s quarter-finals.

Claydon, who thus became the first player to score centuries for Suffolk in both white-ball formats, missed the subsequent three-wicket loss to Oxfordshire in the last eight due to Covid.

He was also a key member of the Suffolk side that won their last two NCCA Championship fixtures to finish runners-up in Eastern Division One.

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