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Merrilees eyes an unbeaten NBL season
University of Nottingham Badminton's Scottish international Kieran Merrilees wants to go through the UK's first ever National Badminton League season unbeaten but knows there are some big hurdles in his way.
His team may only have one outright win in the league butNottingham's go-to singles man is three wins from three match-night fixtures andhe is determined to see out the season with his 100% record in tact.
January's Match-night 4 should have seen his biggest test to datewith a head-to-head against Loughborough Sport's former European silvermedalist Henri Hurskainen. However illness saw the unbeaten Swedewithdraw late on match-night leaving Merrilees to instead face debutant GregMairs.
Merrilees said “I did had to change my mindset coming in. I was looking forward to testing myselfagainst a tough, experienced player in Henri so to then have to play againstGreg [Mairs] who had nothing to lose and I am expected to beat is a differentgame”.
It saw another win from a format thatclearly plays to Merrilees strengths.
“There's no secret to it. I just go out there and do my job. At the moment we want to get up the leaguetable so it's about getting the win for the team.
“The games are so fast and you can see from other results that anythingcan happen so I like to win points quickly”.
He added “I would love to go through the season unbeaten and I amdefinitely capable of doing it but there are some harder matches to come. There are some really tough players to come up against so it isnot going to be easy”.
Standing in his way could be Surrey Smashers' lead singles manCarl Baxter. Then comes the prospect of facing Team Derby captain Rajiv Ouseph on the final match-night of the regular season.
The Scot has never beaten England's number one on the international circuit so could the NBL see a different outcome?
"I think the NBL's fast scoring system just suits me and the way I like to play so you never know" added Merrilees.
Merrilees will be out to defend his 100% record on March'sMatch-night 5 when University of Nottingham entertain SurreySmashers at Nottingham's Albert Hall.
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