In a tense finish to Yorkshire's game against Loughborough UCCE Steve Patterson took two wickets in the final two balls to win the match by a solitary run.
However it was Patterson's fellow young pacemen Nick Thornicroft that stole the show taking 6 second innings wickets to set up victory.
Slow left armer David Wainwright also did well, adding 2 wickets to his 46 not out.
Whether Thornicroft's display is enough to nudge him ahead of Ajmal Shahzad in the pecking order time will tell. Shahzad only bowled 12 tidy overs in the match and may still be seen as the next in line should Deon Kruis not recover from his hamstring strain in time to face Durham at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.
However it is good to see there is competition within the bowling ranks. Thornicroft has been sniffing around the Yorkshire first team for five years since making is debut in 2002 but at 22, 'Mad Dog', really needs to break though this season.
With Matthew Hoggard now plying his trade with England (once he recovers from a thigh strain) and Gough, Gillespie and the recovering Kruis unlikely to last a full summer, Thornicroft could well be given his opportunity to shine.
Tuesday 22 May 2007
Thursday 17 May 2007
Runs after the rain.
After the first day of Yorkshire's game with Loughborough University was ruined by rain our young batsmen got a chance to shine on day two.
Captain Andrew Gale opened the innings and despite losing fellow opener Matthew Wood for 23 continued onto a respectable 68 before getting out. He hit 10 fours and two sixes and has certainly cemented the next-in-line spot ahead of Wood who has started the season poorly. Gale has played in Yorkshire's one day matches and was even made skipper for this game ahead of his opening partner despite the latter being Yorkshire's vice captain only a few years ago.
Young Adam Lyth came in at number 3 and looked assured for his 39 ball 31 before being trapped lbw by Parsons. Lyth has been touted as the brightest batting prospect at the club and will be hoping for some big scores in the 2nd XI this year.
The big runs however in Yorkshire's innings came from the middle order with all rounders Richard Pyrah and Chris Gilbert putting on 92 runs. Gilbert was the stroke maker motoring along at a run a ball. He smashed 64 off only 66 deliveries five of which were despatched to the boundary and another two clearing it altogether. Gilbert has emerged as a genuine first team contender and seems to have responded well after being given his county cap by Darren Gough in pre season. This correspondent hopes he will get more chances in the one day games than he is currently.
Richard Pyrah followed a couple of good Friends Provident performances by completing an accomplished century. The Dewsbury born right-hander has showed promise as he's moved up through the Yorkshire ranks but needs to make the step up this season and is responding well with both bat and ball. Pyrah saw the wickets fall of both Gilbert and wicketkeeper Simon Guy who was caught and bowled by Spriegel for 37. When Pyrah was out for 106 he left the field with Yorkshire 367 for 6.
He received some solid resistance from slow left arm bowler David Wainwright. The former Loughborough student was 46 not out when Yorkshire declared their innings at stumps. He is yet another of Yorkshire's promising spinners to emerge from the academy. He finished the day alongside Mark Lawson on 4.
Yorkshire will have some trouble in keeping three young spinners happy if Lawson and Wainwright progress as Adil Rashid has done. It's a nice problem to have but one which will still have to be resolved. Rashid's meteoric rise looks like it will result in him breaching the England squad within twelve months leaving space for Lawson and Wainwright to battle for the spinner's berth. Rashid's batting has made him easy to select and it could be this which will be the determining factor on who becomes his long term successor. Lawson has shown he has the potency to take wickets once the heat of summer is in full swing but should he fail with the bat his place will be under pressure.
Yorkshire's table topping form has coincided with the lack of any noticeable tail to the batting line up. Rashid is an all rounder, Gerard Brophy has realised he actually can bat and both Gillespie and Bresnan have hit first class centuries this season. Even Hoggard has racked up a half century as night watchman. Wainwright seems to offer some lower order run scoring and whether this gets him a chance ahead of of leg-spinner Lawson time will tell.
After a good day with the bat and some encouraging performances it's time for the bowlers to put the students to the sword. As stated in the previous post it is Yorkshire's fast bowling than needs bolstering. Let's hope Shahzad, Thornicroft and Patterson can oblige. However if Pyrah, Gilbert and Wainwright share the wickets they will have given Goughie and Moxon some real options for the forthcoming one day matches.
Captain Andrew Gale opened the innings and despite losing fellow opener Matthew Wood for 23 continued onto a respectable 68 before getting out. He hit 10 fours and two sixes and has certainly cemented the next-in-line spot ahead of Wood who has started the season poorly. Gale has played in Yorkshire's one day matches and was even made skipper for this game ahead of his opening partner despite the latter being Yorkshire's vice captain only a few years ago.
Young Adam Lyth came in at number 3 and looked assured for his 39 ball 31 before being trapped lbw by Parsons. Lyth has been touted as the brightest batting prospect at the club and will be hoping for some big scores in the 2nd XI this year.
The big runs however in Yorkshire's innings came from the middle order with all rounders Richard Pyrah and Chris Gilbert putting on 92 runs. Gilbert was the stroke maker motoring along at a run a ball. He smashed 64 off only 66 deliveries five of which were despatched to the boundary and another two clearing it altogether. Gilbert has emerged as a genuine first team contender and seems to have responded well after being given his county cap by Darren Gough in pre season. This correspondent hopes he will get more chances in the one day games than he is currently.
Richard Pyrah followed a couple of good Friends Provident performances by completing an accomplished century. The Dewsbury born right-hander has showed promise as he's moved up through the Yorkshire ranks but needs to make the step up this season and is responding well with both bat and ball. Pyrah saw the wickets fall of both Gilbert and wicketkeeper Simon Guy who was caught and bowled by Spriegel for 37. When Pyrah was out for 106 he left the field with Yorkshire 367 for 6.
He received some solid resistance from slow left arm bowler David Wainwright. The former Loughborough student was 46 not out when Yorkshire declared their innings at stumps. He is yet another of Yorkshire's promising spinners to emerge from the academy. He finished the day alongside Mark Lawson on 4.
Yorkshire will have some trouble in keeping three young spinners happy if Lawson and Wainwright progress as Adil Rashid has done. It's a nice problem to have but one which will still have to be resolved. Rashid's meteoric rise looks like it will result in him breaching the England squad within twelve months leaving space for Lawson and Wainwright to battle for the spinner's berth. Rashid's batting has made him easy to select and it could be this which will be the determining factor on who becomes his long term successor. Lawson has shown he has the potency to take wickets once the heat of summer is in full swing but should he fail with the bat his place will be under pressure.
Yorkshire's table topping form has coincided with the lack of any noticeable tail to the batting line up. Rashid is an all rounder, Gerard Brophy has realised he actually can bat and both Gillespie and Bresnan have hit first class centuries this season. Even Hoggard has racked up a half century as night watchman. Wainwright seems to offer some lower order run scoring and whether this gets him a chance ahead of of leg-spinner Lawson time will tell.
After a good day with the bat and some encouraging performances it's time for the bowlers to put the students to the sword. As stated in the previous post it is Yorkshire's fast bowling than needs bolstering. Let's hope Shahzad, Thornicroft and Patterson can oblige. However if Pyrah, Gilbert and Wainwright share the wickets they will have given Goughie and Moxon some real options for the forthcoming one day matches.
Monday 14 May 2007
Young guns need to start pulling the trigger
Yorkshire's first team are having a well deserved break this week whilst the second XI get a run out against Loughborough University. As the youngsters try and stake their claim for a first team chance the prospective bowling attack for 2008 already looks a little thin.
The start to season '07 has been electric thanks in part to excellent bowling performances from Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough, Jason 'Dizzy' Gillespie as well as youngsters Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid. However the pace attack for next year could be led by Bresnan and one of the young quicks from the 2nd XI such as the raw Ajmal Shahzad. Hoggard (and maybe Rashid) will be with England, Gough's, then 37, year old body may not be up for another season and with only one overseas player will Gillespie be retained? Yorkshire's other veteran paceman Deon Kruis is also in his twilight years and has already suffered a hamstring strain this season. His Kolpak status also means he could incur Yorkshire a financial penalty when playing with fellow foreigners Jacques Rudolph, Younus Khan and Gillespie.
Thankfully Tim Bresnan has showed signs of maturity with both bat and ball and could be vital next year. But behind him, none of the youngsters, Rashid aside, have done anything which demands their selection in the first team. Ajmal Shahzad is next in line and has already played for the 1st XI against Durham this year. Nick Thornicroft, Steve Patterson, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, James Lee and Greg Norton are all playing regularly for the Academy and 2XI sides. But where Yorkshire have quantity do they have quality?
Yorkshire coach Martyn Moxon and captain Gough have shown they want to blood the youngsters in the one day games, already giving Friends Provident run outs to Patterson, Richard Pyrah and Chris Gilbert. It is to be expected that the rest will see some first team action this summer. But with so many players vying to make the step up each young bowler will have to make the most of chances like this weeks friendly against LUCCE.
An 'attack' of Shahzad, Patterson and Thornicroft looks like one unable to compete in Division 1 when compared to this year's heavyweight trio of Gough, Gillespie and Kruis. Therefore it is imperative that Yorkshire look to recruit some quality bowling talent during the winter, should the three old warhorses be deemed unable or unsuitable. Hopefully one will be a star overseas bowler to replace the Australian but that leaves two spots to fill. Many Yorkshire fans may like to see the return of former Yorkshire championship winners Steve Kirby and Ryan Sidebottom. These two may be an 'old boys' reunion too far but it is these sort of English qualified county pro's that would bolster Yorkshire's bowling department.
With the ECB's financial penalties for playing cricketers not eligible for England selection the Kolpak route may be too painful on Yorkshire's pocket. After the furore (and success) of the Jacques Rudolph signing Yorkshire may want to avoid replacing Kruis with a younger, better Kolpak bowler. However it may have to be looked at should the battle be lost for any available English players. Should this happen Yorkshire would have 1 overseas player and two Kolpak players, the rest being English qualified and mostly Yorkshire born.
Moxon, Gough and Yorkshire fans will be hoping that the county can continue its tradition of producing top class young fast bowlers in time for next season. Who will be the next Gough, Hoggard, Silverwood or Sidebottom? It will be hoped this weeks match could provide some clues.
The start to season '07 has been electric thanks in part to excellent bowling performances from Matthew Hoggard, Darren Gough, Jason 'Dizzy' Gillespie as well as youngsters Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid. However the pace attack for next year could be led by Bresnan and one of the young quicks from the 2nd XI such as the raw Ajmal Shahzad. Hoggard (and maybe Rashid) will be with England, Gough's, then 37, year old body may not be up for another season and with only one overseas player will Gillespie be retained? Yorkshire's other veteran paceman Deon Kruis is also in his twilight years and has already suffered a hamstring strain this season. His Kolpak status also means he could incur Yorkshire a financial penalty when playing with fellow foreigners Jacques Rudolph, Younus Khan and Gillespie.
Thankfully Tim Bresnan has showed signs of maturity with both bat and ball and could be vital next year. But behind him, none of the youngsters, Rashid aside, have done anything which demands their selection in the first team. Ajmal Shahzad is next in line and has already played for the 1st XI against Durham this year. Nick Thornicroft, Steve Patterson, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, James Lee and Greg Norton are all playing regularly for the Academy and 2XI sides. But where Yorkshire have quantity do they have quality?
Yorkshire coach Martyn Moxon and captain Gough have shown they want to blood the youngsters in the one day games, already giving Friends Provident run outs to Patterson, Richard Pyrah and Chris Gilbert. It is to be expected that the rest will see some first team action this summer. But with so many players vying to make the step up each young bowler will have to make the most of chances like this weeks friendly against LUCCE.
An 'attack' of Shahzad, Patterson and Thornicroft looks like one unable to compete in Division 1 when compared to this year's heavyweight trio of Gough, Gillespie and Kruis. Therefore it is imperative that Yorkshire look to recruit some quality bowling talent during the winter, should the three old warhorses be deemed unable or unsuitable. Hopefully one will be a star overseas bowler to replace the Australian but that leaves two spots to fill. Many Yorkshire fans may like to see the return of former Yorkshire championship winners Steve Kirby and Ryan Sidebottom. These two may be an 'old boys' reunion too far but it is these sort of English qualified county pro's that would bolster Yorkshire's bowling department.
With the ECB's financial penalties for playing cricketers not eligible for England selection the Kolpak route may be too painful on Yorkshire's pocket. After the furore (and success) of the Jacques Rudolph signing Yorkshire may want to avoid replacing Kruis with a younger, better Kolpak bowler. However it may have to be looked at should the battle be lost for any available English players. Should this happen Yorkshire would have 1 overseas player and two Kolpak players, the rest being English qualified and mostly Yorkshire born.
Moxon, Gough and Yorkshire fans will be hoping that the county can continue its tradition of producing top class young fast bowlers in time for next season. Who will be the next Gough, Hoggard, Silverwood or Sidebottom? It will be hoped this weeks match could provide some clues.
Saturday 12 May 2007
Yorkshire in double triumph
Yorkshire defeated both Worcestershire and the weather to notch up their third win from four opening county championship matches and sit unbeaten atop the Division One table.
The remarkable turnaround from relegation candidates to champion contenders has happened so quickly fans have been left dizzy. The crushing victory by an innings and 260 runs over Worcestershire was completed despite the match being curtailed by rain.
Yorkshire lost only seven wickets in the match and batted supremely to rack up 521 runs thanks to centuries from Jacques Rudolph and the "Headingly Limpet" Joe Sayers. The 23-year-old left hander batted for 459 minutes for his 123. This comes on the back of his two unbeaten knocks in the last match against Durham where he was on the field for the duration of all four innings.
But to wrap up victory against bottom of the table Worcestershire before the rain stepped in Yorkshire were going to have to take 20 wickets quickly. And that they did, despite having to face former Yorkshire overseas player Phil Jaques, England nearly-man Vikram Solanki and the evergreen Graeme Hick.
Matthew Hoggard played his way into form ahead of the impending Test series with five top order wickets in the first innings. After the Black Pears could only muster 129 they followed on. In their second attempt they escaped the clutches of Hoggard but in their determination to flee their shaggy-haired first innings destroyer they ran headlong into a wicket hungry Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid. The ensuing carnage left the batting card in tatters and the two young English bowlers with four wickets each. The victory was capped off with some fine fielding and close catching.
Yorkshire once again had to replace wicket-keeper batsman Gerard Brophy after he suffered a hand injury. He was replaced by mask-wearing Simon Guy. The gloveman donned a clear plastic visor to protect his face, and despite looking like Hannibal Lector it didn't seem to hamper his keeping. Guy said he was using the mask to protect his livelihood as he couldn't afford another injury. Whether it catches on time will tell.
Yorkshire will be buoyed by yet another 'easy' win but here the real test starts. England now pluck Hoggard from their midst and without him to lead the attack Yorkshire will be relying on three aged pros, one of which is currently injured. As scheduling would have it Yorkshire now have a break from LV County Championship matches with a University game. This may give their Kolpak paceman Deon Kruis enough time to recover from his hamstring strain. But should he, The Dazzler or 'The Dizzler', as Jason Gillespie is now known, break down the young pool of talent waiting in the wings is raw, erratic and toothless compared to the classy Hoggard.
No doubt that bridge will be crossed in due course. For now followers of the White Rose can sit back and enjoy a 12 point buffer between themselves and the chasing pack. It may not last for long.
The remarkable turnaround from relegation candidates to champion contenders has happened so quickly fans have been left dizzy. The crushing victory by an innings and 260 runs over Worcestershire was completed despite the match being curtailed by rain.
Yorkshire lost only seven wickets in the match and batted supremely to rack up 521 runs thanks to centuries from Jacques Rudolph and the "Headingly Limpet" Joe Sayers. The 23-year-old left hander batted for 459 minutes for his 123. This comes on the back of his two unbeaten knocks in the last match against Durham where he was on the field for the duration of all four innings.
But to wrap up victory against bottom of the table Worcestershire before the rain stepped in Yorkshire were going to have to take 20 wickets quickly. And that they did, despite having to face former Yorkshire overseas player Phil Jaques, England nearly-man Vikram Solanki and the evergreen Graeme Hick.
Matthew Hoggard played his way into form ahead of the impending Test series with five top order wickets in the first innings. After the Black Pears could only muster 129 they followed on. In their second attempt they escaped the clutches of Hoggard but in their determination to flee their shaggy-haired first innings destroyer they ran headlong into a wicket hungry Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid. The ensuing carnage left the batting card in tatters and the two young English bowlers with four wickets each. The victory was capped off with some fine fielding and close catching.
Yorkshire once again had to replace wicket-keeper batsman Gerard Brophy after he suffered a hand injury. He was replaced by mask-wearing Simon Guy. The gloveman donned a clear plastic visor to protect his face, and despite looking like Hannibal Lector it didn't seem to hamper his keeping. Guy said he was using the mask to protect his livelihood as he couldn't afford another injury. Whether it catches on time will tell.
Yorkshire will be buoyed by yet another 'easy' win but here the real test starts. England now pluck Hoggard from their midst and without him to lead the attack Yorkshire will be relying on three aged pros, one of which is currently injured. As scheduling would have it Yorkshire now have a break from LV County Championship matches with a University game. This may give their Kolpak paceman Deon Kruis enough time to recover from his hamstring strain. But should he, The Dazzler or 'The Dizzler', as Jason Gillespie is now known, break down the young pool of talent waiting in the wings is raw, erratic and toothless compared to the classy Hoggard.
No doubt that bridge will be crossed in due course. For now followers of the White Rose can sit back and enjoy a 12 point buffer between themselves and the chasing pack. It may not last for long.
Sunday 6 May 2007
The winning habit
Following Yorkshire failing to clinch victory against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl man of the match Younus Khan was interviewed by BBC reporter Kevin Howells. In his rather broken English the Pakistani right-hander explained how despite scoring more than 300 runs and taking four wickets he was disappointed to not to be on the winning team.
Having players with winning mentalities is crucial to sporting success. It seems obvious that all professional sportsmen would want to win and be successful. However there is a difference between wanting to win and being prepared to do anything to be victorious.
It's a sliding scale. One player may want to win a match, but another may be desperate to and will run faster, concentrate harder and go further to achieve victory. It's often said about sporting teams in cup matches that one team 'wanted it more' than the other.
Peter Schmeichel the Danish goalkeeper who was the backbone to Manchester United's many years of success spent one of his final playing seasons at mid-table Aston Villa. The charismatic 'keeper publicly condemned the Villa players saying they had no desire to win matches. He said by losing they actually reduced pressure on themselves because expectations were lowered. Losing was easier. Schmeichel had spent years in the Old Trafford dressing room surrounded by winners such as Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson and the difference was clearly more than Schmeichel could take.
Looking at the current Yorkshire team it is good to see there are characters who are used to winning. Younus Khan is one of the best batsmen in the world and has been vice captain of Pakistan, a country where cricketing victory is expected. Captain Darren Gough, despite being in his twilight years, has never settled for second place giving his all for England and inspiring Essex to one-day silverware. Craig White and Matthew Hoggard have both been part of successful England teams surrounded by other determined 'winners' such as Dominic Cork and Andrew Flintoff. Australians are known for their win-at-all-costs mentality and having Jason Gillespie in the team must also be positive. After sharing dressing rooms with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh and being the 5th most prolific Aussie test bowler I can't imagine he will tolerate less than determined play from his Yorkshire team mates.
Hopefully these older players can pass on not only their cricket ability but also their winning mentality to Yorkshire's new generation. Whether Adil Rashid, Joe Sayers and Tim Bresnan will be prepared to go the extra mile to secure victory time will tell. But having an environment in which victory is expected and forging a winning habit can only help.
Having players with winning mentalities is crucial to sporting success. It seems obvious that all professional sportsmen would want to win and be successful. However there is a difference between wanting to win and being prepared to do anything to be victorious.
It's a sliding scale. One player may want to win a match, but another may be desperate to and will run faster, concentrate harder and go further to achieve victory. It's often said about sporting teams in cup matches that one team 'wanted it more' than the other.
Peter Schmeichel the Danish goalkeeper who was the backbone to Manchester United's many years of success spent one of his final playing seasons at mid-table Aston Villa. The charismatic 'keeper publicly condemned the Villa players saying they had no desire to win matches. He said by losing they actually reduced pressure on themselves because expectations were lowered. Losing was easier. Schmeichel had spent years in the Old Trafford dressing room surrounded by winners such as Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson and the difference was clearly more than Schmeichel could take.
Looking at the current Yorkshire team it is good to see there are characters who are used to winning. Younus Khan is one of the best batsmen in the world and has been vice captain of Pakistan, a country where cricketing victory is expected. Captain Darren Gough, despite being in his twilight years, has never settled for second place giving his all for England and inspiring Essex to one-day silverware. Craig White and Matthew Hoggard have both been part of successful England teams surrounded by other determined 'winners' such as Dominic Cork and Andrew Flintoff. Australians are known for their win-at-all-costs mentality and having Jason Gillespie in the team must also be positive. After sharing dressing rooms with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh and being the 5th most prolific Aussie test bowler I can't imagine he will tolerate less than determined play from his Yorkshire team mates.
Hopefully these older players can pass on not only their cricket ability but also their winning mentality to Yorkshire's new generation. Whether Adil Rashid, Joe Sayers and Tim Bresnan will be prepared to go the extra mile to secure victory time will tell. But having an environment in which victory is expected and forging a winning habit can only help.
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