Finlay Bean: a superstar in the making

Former RGS student Finlay Bean is making a name for himself in the news as a rising star in the world of cricket. See some of the latest reports below, and a few of his appearances in RGS News from 2015

From The Independent, April 6, 2023:

Finlay Bean hits first century of county season as Yorkshire make strong start

The 20-year-old opener, playing just his fourth first-class match, struck a wonderfully composed 118 from 149 balls.

Yorkshire’s Finlay Bean struck the first century of the county season – and the first of his short career – to bring an optimistic start to another season of uncertainty at Headingley.

The 20-year-old opener, playing just his fourth first-class match, struck a wonderfully composed 118 from 149 balls as the LV= County Championship Division Two favourites piled up 285 for three in 60 overs of a weather-affected opening day. England’s Dawid Malan looks set to join Bean on day two, ending with a confident 91no.

It was a less memorable day for England’s record-breaking 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who became the country’s youngest men’s international in all three formats over the winter but came crashing back to earth with a bump. In unhelpful conditions he was taken off after a chastening first over was clattered for 22 by Bean, belatedly re-emerging just before the close for another brief spell.

Bean’s knock brought a much-needed feelgood factor to a county who were relegated last season and begin the 2023 campaign against the backdrop of a possible points deduction. Having accepted four charges of historic racism, they await the sanctions of a cricket discipline commission with baited breath.

Daily Mail, June 2022:

Yorkshire Second XI batsman Finlay Bean smashes ASTONISHING 441 in record-breaking innings, with 20-year-old at the crease for more than 11 hours!

Finlay Bean broke the record for the highest Second XI Championship score

He then continued on batting on Thursday in ridiculously dominant innings

The Yorkshire batsman went passed 400 in the game against Nottinghamshire

Bean struck more than 50 fours and three sixes during incredible knock

Yorkshire's Finlay Bean has notched one of the most ridiculous scores in cricket history with a knock of 441 for the county's Second XI.

Bean, a 20-year-old left-handed batsman, finished play on Wednesday with a total of 365 to break Marcus Trescothick's record of 322 for Somerset 25 years ago.

And on Thursday he continued his dominance, moving past the 400 mark before eventually being bowled having been in the middle for the entirety of the innings.

Yorkshire's score moved to more than 800 at time of writing, another record after it usurped the 602-4 made against Gloucestershire last season.

Following play on Wednesday, coach Tom Smith told BBC Sport: 'Finlay's batted brilliantly.

'He's been on the field for every single ball of the match, and it's not just his skill that's been impressive, it's been his concentration levels as well.

'Personally, I've never seen 365 runs scored in a game before. It's been outstanding.'

He batted for more than 11 hours in a remarkable feat of determination and skill on the third and fourth days of the game.

The batsman topped Richard Blakey’s previous Yorkshire Second XI high score of 273 not out by 168.

It is by far the highest score of Bean's cricketing career so far. His previous best for Yorkshire Second XI was 72 earlier this month so such an incredible knock came out of the blue.

The promising player previously represented England at Under-19 level and no doubt will have plenty of attention from Ottis Gibson, Darren Gough and the coaching team at Yorkshire after his record-breaking innings.

Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 534 in their first innings before Yorkshire moved passed the 800 mark on Thursday

BBC, April 6, 2023:

Yorkshire in strong position

Yorkshire's Finlay Bean struck the first century of the county season - and the first of his short career - to bring an optimistic start to another season of uncertainty at Headingley.

The 20-year-old opener, playing just his fourth first-class match, struck a wonderfully composed 118 from 149 balls as the Division Two favourites piled up 285-3 in 60 overs of a weather-affected opening day. England's Dawid Malan looks set to join Bean on day two, ending with a confident 91 not out.

It was a less memorable day for England's record-breaking 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who became the country's youngest men's international in all three formats over the winter but came crashing back to earth with a bump. In unhelpful conditions he was taken off after a chastening first over was clattered for 22 by Bean, belatedly re-emerging just before the close for another brief spell.

Bean's knock brought a much-needed feelgood factor to a county who were relegated last season and begin the 2023 campaign against the backdrop of a possible points deduction. Having accepted four charges of historic racism, they await the sanctions of a cricket discipline commission.

Bean, best known for a record knock of 441 in last summer's second XI championship, gave a promising glimpse of the future.

With local heroes Joe Root and Harry Brook on IPL duty and Jonny Bairstow only fit enough for a lunchtime net session following his leg break, his stand of 165 with Malan suggested he is ready to pick up the slack.

Leicestershire made a brave call to bowl first and drew first blood when another teenager, 6ft 7in seamer Josh Hull, pinned Adam Lyth lbw for 21 with his fourth delivery in first-class cricket.

While Lyth had been guilty of a couple of errant strokes, Bean was entirely composed. A pair of emphatic drives off Michael Finan got him up and running and from there on, there was a fight to keep the young opener quiet.

A regular flow of boundary balls allowed him to ease Yorkshire into a controlling position and drew Ahmed, chosen as a sole spinner with Callum Parkinson overlooked, into the attack earlier than he might have expected. Having taken a historic five-for in Karachi on his Test debut in December he arrived with a weight of expectation but suffered stage fright.

The conditions were hardly ideal for a teenage leggie, even one with Ahmed's undoubted potential, but what followed was close to the worst case scenario.

His loosener was looser than anyone could have predicted, a shoulder-high no-ball swatted away by Bean, who gave similar treatment to the next shin-high offering. He exited the over by coughing up another pair of boundaries as Bean swung hard and was immediately removed from the attack.

After a lengthy wait he was finally granted three more overs late in the day, conceding just six more, but plenty more patience will be required.

The contest put some added pep in Bean's step, though, as he reached 50 in 61 balls, with 40 of those coming in boundaries.

Leicestershire nabbed a second when Finan had James Wharton (24) tickling down leg, but that only worsened their position as Malan arrived at the crease in fine fettle.

Bean allowed the former Test player to take the lead and Malan played with consummate ease as he reeled off his half-century at nearly a run-a-ball. He appeared to have endless time to pick his shots and was in full flow when the rain arrived.

The wait was long but well worth it for Bean, who resumed on 82 and reset himself to reach three figures with the 17th four of a stylish innings - cutting Finan fine behind point. The seamer got his revenge when Bean edged to slip, leaving the stage to Malan.

Finlay Bean scores first century of cricket season

From The Stray Ferret, April 8, 2023:

Harrogate-born Finlay Bean has scored the first century of the county cricket season while playing for Yorkshire.

Bean, 20, made headlines last year when he scored 441 for Yorkshire second XI — the highest score in second X1 championship history.

At the time he didn’t have a professional contract and played for York Cricket Club but he was subsequently signed by Yorkshire and made his first class debut against Lancashire in September.

Bean, who studied at Ripon Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s, scored 118 off 149 balls against Leicestershire in the opening day of the first fixture of the year at Headingley.

The four-day match is still ongoing.

From RGS News 2015

RGS chemistry teacher Dr Richard Grime was Finlay's captain at Studley Royal Cricket Club when he played in Nidderdale League as a young teenager.

He said: "I am very proud that an ex RGS pupil has made this big step into the professional game this year."