Yorkshire CCC star Tom Kohler-Cadmore aiming to pouch franchise places

TOM KOHLER-CADMORE does not like bowling.

“I hate it, I’m rubbish at it, and if I ever get a wicket in training, I get zero satisfaction from it,” he says.

On that basis, do not expect to see the 26-year-old batsman turning his arm over any time soon.

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Instead, you are more likely to see him wearing a pair of gloves and wicketkeeping pads, for Kohler-Cadmore has been trying to turn himself into a keeper.

Extra string to bow: Yorkshire's Tom Kohler-Cadmore.Extra string to bow: Yorkshire's Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
Extra string to bow: Yorkshire's Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

The way ‘TKC’ sees it, if he has another string to his bow, he is more likely to get snapped up for T20 franchise tournaments around the world.

Why, he could even be seen in action wearing the wicketkeeping gauntlets at Emerald Headingley this summer in The Hundred.

Northern Superchargers, the side based at Headingley, have only Middlesex’s John Simpson on their staff as a specialist keeper.

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It would only take an injury to Simpson to leave head coach Darren Lehmann in need of a quality replacement, with Kohler-Cadmore one of several Yorkshire players in the Superchargers’ squad.

SAFE PAIRS OF HANDS:  Yorkshire's slip corden of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, left, Adam Lyth, Will Fraine & wicket-keeper Jonathan Tattersall. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comSAFE PAIRS OF HANDS:  Yorkshire's slip corden of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, left, Adam Lyth, Will Fraine & wicket-keeper Jonathan Tattersall. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
SAFE PAIRS OF HANDS: Yorkshire's slip corden of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, left, Adam Lyth, Will Fraine & wicket-keeper Jonathan Tattersall. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

“When it comes to franchise competitions around the world, normally if you have a second string to your bow it makes you more selectable,” says Kohler-Cadmore, who played in the Pakistan Super League this winter and also the Abu Dhabi T10.

“It might be that they need a part-time second keeper in the squad who is a batsman; that’s the category I’m trying to fall into.

“It just gives me more options to be picked in a team.

“I know people have spoken in the past about it (a second string) maybe getting you on a tour, but I know at the moment England have so many keeper-batsmen options.

ALl-ROUNDER: Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, in action during the Bob Willis Trophy last season. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comALl-ROUNDER: Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, in action during the Bob Willis Trophy last season. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
ALl-ROUNDER: Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, in action during the Bob Willis Trophy last season. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
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“I’m not thinking about sneaking on to a tour with it because in the Tests there’s Ben Foakes, Jos Buttler, Jonny (Bairstow) and James Bracey has been with them all winter, too. Then, in the white-ball stuff, there’s Jos, Jonny and Sam Billings around.

“But in the franchise stuff, it won’t harm my chances.

“If you’re in a squad, you may even get into the team because you offer a lot more with the bat than the other keeper they could pick.

“That’s my thought process.”

FIRST-CHOICE: Yorkshire's Jonny Tattersall. Picture by Richard Sellers/SWpix.comFIRST-CHOICE: Yorkshire's Jonny Tattersall. Picture by Richard Sellers/SWpix.com
FIRST-CHOICE: Yorkshire's Jonny Tattersall. Picture by Richard Sellers/SWpix.com

Kohler-Cadmore has been busy working with Paul Shaw, the wicketkeeping consultant who helped to turn Jonny Tattersall into Yorkshire’s first-choice gloveman in Bairstow’s absence, and also with Ben Birkhead, Tattersall’s understudy.

He feels he could even step in for Yorkshire if needed.

“I’ve done a couple of sessions with Paul and I’ve also done a lot of work with Birky,” says Kohler-Cadmore.

“I feel I could step in now if required.

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“Yorkshire would still want a specialist keeper, Birky or Dukey (Harry Duke) to come in and provide first-choice cover.

“But I know I could do a job for 10-15 overs or however long it was.”

Wicketkeeping seems a natural transition for Kohler-Cadmore, who is one of the best slip catchers in the county game.

If Kohler-Cadmore misses a chance in that area, it is the main story on the six o’clock news, or at least should be, so reliable are his hands.

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“I back my hands, and I see catching a ball as my biggest strength when it comes to fielding,” he says.

“Because I stand at slip anyway and really enjoy catching the ball, doing the (wicketkeeping) practice isn’t a chore.

“I also think it will benefit my fielding going forward.

“It’s something I want to continue to work on, although I would never let it affect my batting or fielding time; if I’ve got a spare half-hour here or there, then I can do some keeping.”

Kohler-Cadmore goes on: “It’s been good fun learning. It’s similar to standing at slip. You get the ball much more, but you want to be in similar positions. Hopefully, it will be a good thing.

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“I know how important a keeper’s job is. I’m not belittling anything a keeper does, but it adds to the strength and the balance of the squad if I can be good enough to take the chances that come my way and stop the runs if and when called upon.

“You could play an extra seamer or an extra power hitter, whatever they want to do.

“It’s a win-win.”

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