Yorkshire are hoping to have the services of both their most destructive bowler and England's most successful captain for their next two county championship games.
Martyn Moxon and Darren Gough hope to have Matthew Hoggard and Michael Vaughan back in the Yorkshire line-up for both the four day game against Lancashire and the following Warwickshire match. The latter finishes in time for both players to return to the England fold to face India in the first Test match.
Should England give the green light for their inclusion Yorkshire's championship hopes would receive a huge boost. Since Hoggard's departure Yorkshire haven't won a championship match, something they were finding almost easy whilst the shaggy haired destroyer was opening the bowling.
Whilst the bowling department has been struggling without Hoggard, the batting has remained relatively solid. However if Vaughan was made available he would be favourite to replace Craig White and open the batting with young Joe Sayers.
The four day Roses battle will be televised live on Sky, one of the few championship games on the box this year. Yorkshire fans will be hoping they'll be able to watch two of England's finest increase the White Rose's championship lead and dent Lancashire's hopes of a first outright title win since 1934.
Friday 29 June 2007
And the winner actually is...Ajmal Shahzad.
In an earlier post I suggested Nick Thornicroft had put himself in pole position for a first team call up with his excellent performance in the UCCE game against Loughborough.
However that was before Thornicroft's fellow paceman Shahzad took four first innings wickets against reigning champions Sussex at Headingly. His excellent performance staved off defeat after Yorkshire were bowled out for 139, 32 runs of which came from the bat of Shahzad himself in 49 balls.
So when Yorkshire return to their four day campaign Ajmal will be hoping to continue his good run of form in the first team. With Darren Gough's miraculous recovery from a broken finger and the possibility of Matthew Hoggard's return to county cricket before the India Test match, the 22 year-old right armer might have to wait a little while longer for a regular run out in the first team.
However his progress does bode well for 2008 when Yorkshire may be without the services of the ageing trio of Gough, Kruis and overseas player Gillespie.
However that was before Thornicroft's fellow paceman Shahzad took four first innings wickets against reigning champions Sussex at Headingly. His excellent performance staved off defeat after Yorkshire were bowled out for 139, 32 runs of which came from the bat of Shahzad himself in 49 balls.
So when Yorkshire return to their four day campaign Ajmal will be hoping to continue his good run of form in the first team. With Darren Gough's miraculous recovery from a broken finger and the possibility of Matthew Hoggard's return to county cricket before the India Test match, the 22 year-old right armer might have to wait a little while longer for a regular run out in the first team.
However his progress does bode well for 2008 when Yorkshire may be without the services of the ageing trio of Gough, Kruis and overseas player Gillespie.
Back from the break.
Like County cricket's mid season break for the T20, I have had a brief break from posting in order to revise for and finish some pesky exams.
Now with them behind me I promise to keep this blog more regularly updated.
Now with them behind me I promise to keep this blog more regularly updated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)