The impressive development of Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Revis’s game this summer proves true the old adage that what doesn’t hurt you makes you stronger.
Revis is a rapidly developing talent both with bat and ball, as performances across all formats in 2023 suggest.
But it hasn’t always been easy for the 21-year-old, who had a couple of chastening experiences with the ball last summer, one being particularly high profile when Phil Salt took him to task early in the Roses semi-final of the Vitality Blast at Edgbaston.
It was a match the Vikings went on to lose.
However, instead of sulking and going into his shell, Revis puffed his chest out and decided to get stuck into some hard yards both in the gym and the nets, leading to notable results this summer.
In the ongoing Metro Bank One-Day Cup, he claimed a hat-trick in the opening day defeat against champions Kent at Scarborough with his fast medium seamers and followed it up with four wickets in a victory over Essex at Chelmsford.
He has taken a combined total of 19 wickets across both limited overs competitions.
And another standout contribution was a fine 104 not out, his maiden LV= Insurance County Championship century, in the Headingley draw against Gloucestershire in late June.
“I had a really good winter with the strength and conditioning guys and Kabir (Ali) and Ottis (Gibson),” said the Steeton-born star.
“Not only did it strengthen me up, I feel like I became a lot wiser in how to bowl in certain situations.
“Finals Day last year is an experience you can build into your game positively, turning negatives into positives.
“If you don’t look at those things as positives, it will only get you into trouble. If you look at it negatively and you’re in that situation again, you’re still in that kind of mindset.”
Revis said “I think that’s fair” in response to the suggestion that his bowling is the area of his game which has developed most in 2023.
That is not to say that his batting hasn’t, but the latter was probably further on anyway given he debuted in Yorkshire’s first team as an opener when aged 17 four years ago.
“The coaches here have been great, all of them,” he said.
“People like Kabby (Kabir Ali) or Gibbo (Ottis Gibson) with the ball, they’ve played a lot of great cricket. It’s just about me being a sponge and listening to them, seeing what works for me and what doesn’t.
“Kabby has been helping me with a slower ball, urging me to just keep having a go with it. It’s great to feed off people like that.”
Revis believes marrying consistency with unpredictability is key to success in limited overs cricket.
“You have to be unpredictable but still nail your skill,” he reasoned. “It’s ok having 10 variations. But if you can only land three or four of them, it’s pretty useless.
“This 50-over competition helps with my consistency, which will then hopefully lead into September with the red ball. How many times can I put them under pressure and ask questions.
“It’s more of a grind to get wickets through the middle overs than it is in T20. You have to nail your skills as many times as possible.”
Despite his tender age, Revis has now played enough first-team cricket - 68 appearances - to be considered pretty much a senior player.
“Whenever I’m used with the bat or ball, I want to take responsibility,” he said.
“I don’t want to put pressure on myself, but it’s about thinking, ‘This is my time to contribute’. With that, hopefully you’ll play more and win more for Yorkshire’.”
Last winter, Revis primarily stayed at Headingley before going to train briefly with the Gulf Giants ILT20 team in Dubai in January.
This winter, he is looking for prolonged warm weather, adding: “Primarily, I’m hoping to go to Australia and get some more cricket in.
“With the franchise stuff, you can’t really depend on that kind of thing at this stage in my career. I’ve been speaking to a few clubs in Sydney and Perth and those places, but nothing’s confirmed. We’ll see how it goes.”
Revis, be it with bat, ball or preferably both, will hope to help Yorkshire into the One-Day Cup knockouts.
With two games remaining, starting at group leaders Leicestershire tomorrow and then on to Middlesex at Radlett on Tuesday, they are a point behind third-placed Nottinghamshire, who hold the final qualifying berth.
Yorkshire need to win both to have a chance of progression.
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