NCCA Championship: Jakeman looks to leave Norfolk in a spin to boost Staffs bid

Jason Jakeman is a bit of an unknown quantity on the NCCA circuit, but one opposing Norfolk player this weekend knows what he’s all about.

The Tamworth leg-spinner/batsman made his Staffordshire debut in the recent National Counties Cricket Association Division One East draw against Lincolnshire.

The 33-year-old picked up three wickets and also chipped in with 48 and 19 not out with the bat at Cleethorpes.

And that has been enough to keep him in the side for this weekend’s home game against Norfolk.

Lincolnshire’s batsmen looked all at sea at times against Jakeman - and he hopes that Norfolk will be in the same boat at Leek.

However, one visiting batsman knows all about Jakeman’s capabilities with the ball.

“I know their captain, Sam Arthurton,” revealed Jakeman. “I’ve got him out a couple of times in the past - so I’ll be reminding him about that!

“I was 25 or 26 and playing for Northants the first time I got him, although I can’t remember who he was playing for.

“Then I managed to get him out when he was playing for the Unicorns.

“Sam’s a quality player, though, and I know that he likes to bat time. I’ve had a look at the Norfolk side, but I’m not too bothered about who they’ve got, to be fair.

“I just want to keep playing red-ball stuff for Staffordshire and hopefully we can go on and win the division this year and go from there.”

Jakeman, who runs a cricket coaching company, was an 11th hour call-up for the trip to Lincs.

However, he has regularly trained with the county over the winter and also featured in pre-season friendlies.

“I think there was an impression that I wasn’t available for three-day cricket, but I said I wanted to play,” he explained.

“I really enjoyed it up at Lincolnshire. It was good cricket and I