2015 - Division 1 Discussion Thread

[LondonTiger]

First topic message reminder :

As pretty much every poster that follows County Cricket seems to be a Surrey fan I am sure the Division 2 discussions will be livelier.

Hopefully there are some followers of other counties to write a little bit about their team, but as a Yorkshire member it is them I shall concentrate on.

The start of the season will be an interesting one for us. Andrew Gale will miss the first fixture at Worcester as he completes his ban. Meanwhile the first 3 CC fixtures coincide with Englands tour of the WI meaning some unfamiliar faces will be featuring against Worcester, Notts and  the first home fixture against Warwickshire. With the County unlikely to see a great deal of Root and Ballance it is nor surprise that ewe have chosen to go down the batsman route as our overseas player - Aaron Finch returns as the main player, with Younus Khan deputising at the start of the season and Kane Williamson at the end. Glenn Maxwell makes up a quality group of players, joining for the T20s.


Squad:

Batsmen: Lyth, Lees, Gale (cpt), Finch (see above), Leaning, Root, Ballance
Keepers: Bairstow, Hodd
All Rounders: Rashid, Bresnan, Rhodes, Pyrah
Seamers: Plunkett, Brooks, Sidebottom, Patterson, Ashraf, Coad, Fisher
Spinners: Carver


Likely team for first match, away to Worcestershire:

Hodd, Lees, Leaning, Younus, Rhodes, Bresnan, Pyrah, Patterson, Sidebottom, Brooks, Carver.

Compared to the side likely to finish the season against Susses (injuries permitting):

Lyth, Lees, Williamson, Root, Ballance, Bairstow, Rashid, Bresnan, Plunkett, Sidebottom, Brooks.

[jimbohammers]

Going for a second run, direct hit

[NickisBHAFC]

I'm stsrting to think our batting could even put us in a relegation battle.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sussex start day 3 one run ahead with only five second innings wickets left.  Will do well to win from that position - even allowing for limitations in Hants' bowling attack.

[guildfordbat]

I think Jimbo will be celebrating this afternoon while Nick will be drowning his sorrows!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Hants beat Sussex fairly comfortably, while Durham beat Somerset with a bit to spare. Close finish in prospect in top of the table clash between Middlesex and Yorks.  In a match that has been tight throughout Yorks need another 35 with five wickets left.  This one likely to finish tonight with extra half hour if necessary, meaning that no Div 1 match will go into Day 4.

[NickisBHAFC]

I really think we might go down. Injuries really has messed us up.

[jimbohammers]

You were right Guildford

First win of the season, can hopefully push on now.

[JDizzle]

Some good news; it seems Michael Bates is playing for Somerset in their current CC game. Haven't looked about any details of how long he is with them, but it is certainly good to see him back playing FC cricket.

[jimbohammers]

Second that JDizzle

[LondonTiger]

i see that Hampshire were found guilty of "bad behavioue" this week and will be docked 16pts if a repeat offence happens in CC (2 points if in T20 or 50 over).

[jimbohammers]

Hampshire been battered by Somerset.

'Ice' Berg the only player who can hold his head up. Top bowler AND batsmen in both innings. Sums it up really.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Second that JDizzle

Ditto.  Really hope Bates is not lost to the first class game.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Yorks well on top against Notts - who must really feel they are Leaning into the Gale.  (current partnership of 241*)

[LondonTiger]

Notts won the first session, getting cheap runs from the tail and Yorkshire's top order. But after that we had that partnership. Gale's first ton in god knows how long.

On England watch, couple of wickets for Broad offset by failures from Lyth and Ballance.

[LondonTiger]

Broad has continued to take wickets, securing his 5th and triggering lunch. Yorkshire though have a lead of 194 with two wickets remaining.

[guildfordbat]

Tiger - yeah, you're looking very good for the win there, maybe by an innings.

Meanwhile, it's the last day of the game at Uxbridge. Middlesex lead Worcs by 175 with 5 second innings left and the new ball due now. The talk all seems to be about Middlesex saving the game. However, a bit of boldness by one or both sides could see an interesting finish ....

[LondonTiger]

Tiger - yeah, you're looking very good for the win there, maybe by an innings.

You may be right. Broad cleaned up the tail to finish with seven wickets, but now Yorkshire's seamers ripping through notts, who are still over 100 behind with just 4 wickets left.

[guildfordbat]

Meanwhile, game fizzling out at Uxbridge. Worcs only managed 2 wickets in the afternoon session and Middlesex have been content to bat out time for the draw. Unless the remaining 3 wickets fall quickly, expect a declaration at 10 to 5 and handshakes all round.

[guildfordbat]

Not quite sure what Middlesex are playing at. They finally decide to declare leading Worcs by 286 but with only 24 overs left in the day.

[guildfordbat]

Yorks wrap up an innings win over Notts with 8 runs and a day to spare. Yorks looking strong and good for the title imo.

Middlesex and Worcs earlier shook hands on a draw as expected. Today was a missed opportunity for Worcs. Draws aren't going to be enough for them to pull away from the relegation places.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Agree Yorks look a powerful side and are very likely to win the title.

[LondonTiger]

Agree Yorks look a powerful side and are very likely to win the title.

I think it is between us and Durham - mainly because we are the two sides with the best bowling attacks. Game between us at chester-le-street next week will be illuminating.

[LondonTiger]

Bloody typical. Umpires meet mid-over to discuss rain (had been raining for a few overs), decide to carry on and 3 balls later wicket ensues and they go off.

Suddenly the whole landscape of the game changes. Having won the toss in prime bowling conditions Durham put us in and would have been disappointed with just one wicket in fiorst session - though pleased with the low run rate.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Unbroken (and fairly rapid) century partnership between Bairstow and Bresnan has put Yorks back on top - 308 - 6 near the close.  More often than not Yorks seem to find someone to score runs when they encounter a difficult situation.

[jimbohammers]

Hants poor form continues. Pretty much lost the game after day 1. 176 all out. Middlesex 48-0 after 10 in reply. Sigh.

[LondonTiger]

Fantastic middle session for Durham, but Yorks dominated final session and having been put in will be pleased with 320ish for 6

[NickisBHAFC]

Better day for Sussex yesterday, whilst Hove was getting taken over with a Madness concert (fantastic night) Edgbaston was seeing a fantastic batting display from Chris Nash.

[LondonTiger]

Bresnan gets his ton, partnership over 200 and total closing in on 400.

[jimbohammers]

Bresnan for England..... As a batsman...

[LondonTiger]

And they go on, and on.

Both Batsmen have new highest scores and they now have the highest ever 7th wicket partnership in County cricket.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

And to compete with Yorks batting heroics, Sussex's No, 4, 5, 6, and 7 batsmen all score centuries against Warks.     That feat, of four successive batsmen anywhere in the line up scoring centuries must be very rare.

[LondonTiger]

Will be interesting to see when Sussex declare.

Yorkshire finally declared on 557-6. The unbroken partnership of 366 the third highest ever for the 7th wicket in global first class cricket.

Jennings and Stoneman seemed to have seen off the new ball, but with tea nigh, Rashid was called up for an over and had Jenning caught at slip off hi ssecond ball. Stoneman the played on in the next over for Durham to be 41-2 at the interval.

[dummy_half]

Durham slumping to 88-5 now. Perhaps unsurprisingly after his batting heroics, Trundler Tim only came in as the 5th bowler, but has a wicket in his first over

[NickisBHAFC]

A truly incredible display with the bat! Luke Wright, Ben Brown and Aszar Zaidi all hitting centuries like Chris Nash. 

3 wickets before the end of play was also very handy, hopefully a lot in the morning session!

[king_carlos]

Further to the news earlier of Michael Bates joining Somerset I am delighted to see that he has played their last two CC matches and the T20 against Gloucs.

I've said it a few times but a genuinely outstanding wicket keeper plying his trade is something I enjoy watching just as much as a genuinely fast pace bowler steaming in, a ball swinging round corners or a wrist spinner being challenged by a similarly skilled batsmen.

I'd also be very interested to know if there is a statistic anywhere showing how often a no 7 batsmen has saved the day when the first 6 before him have failed as well.

We often hear of the need for a good keeper to be vocal in order to encourage his bowlers and fielders. However the best encouragement any side can have in the field is knowing that any half chance will be taken or misguided throw cleaned up. Likewise a captain will be much helped by knowing that his keeper has the instincts to know where to stand for each bowler on each pitch and how to arrange his slip cordon, most importantly allowing his first slip to stand wider due to the extra ground he will cover. It will aid him more than an inept glovemen with a natural ability for shouting at his teammates whilst making mistakes himself anyway.

[guildfordbat]

Tiger - Yorks start day 3 of their match against main Championship rivals Durham in a great position. Massive credit there to Bairstow and Bresnan who have understandably and rightly taken the headlines. However, your dominance has also been helped by the bowling of Steven Patterson - current analysis is 13-7-16-2.

Patterson's someone I know very little about. He's largely escaped my radar although I get the impression that he regularly makes a useful contribution. Surprised to learn that he's 31, didn't realise he had been around that long. Grateful for any ''home'' input, thanks.

[LondonTiger]

Patterson is the kind of bowler any county could do with. He bowls quick enough (with a slightly odd action) and can wobble the ball off the seam and in the air. He will come in first or second change and do a job. he puts the ball in the right places and is rarely hit off his length. Most importantly he does not sulk when overlooked for the bigger "names".

Next month he will appear in his 100th FC start and he will continue to do what he does. He is not a huge wicket taker (less than 3 wickets per match) but he gets them quickly enough at a good average (strike rate less than 60, average less than 28).

All in all a really good, solid pro who may well have been a bigger name at another county.

[guildfordbat]

Thanks, Tiger. That very much confirms my positive thoughts.

[JDizzle]

Steve Patterson had the highest dot ball percentage of any bowler to bowl 200 balls in the last CC season. (http://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/3824/yorkshire-informer-yorkshire-v-nottinghamshire)

[guildfordbat]

Thanks, JD. I couldn't actually open the attachment but no matter, point made. How do you guys find out all this stuff? Guess it goes along with being so young!

[LondonTiger]

Yorkshire wrap up the Durham innings.

Bresnan and Brookes each get 2 wickets in an over while Dilly gets the last with his googly.

[LondonTiger]

YCCC website loves having quirky facts in its match previews.

That one was from before the Notts game:

Steven Patterson (83.3%) has the highest dot ball percentage of any bowler this season. Last season his dot ball percentage was 82.4%, the highest of those delivering at least 200 balls.

[JDizzle]

Someone popped it up on twitter, so I knew they must have got it somewhere! Strong fact from YCCC. It means he is averaging pretty much one scoring shot per over off his bowling, which is a skill that shouldn't be overlooked!

[guildfordbat]

I'm no great fan of the concept of nightwatchmen but I'll take my hat off to Warks' Chris Wright as Hoggy's struggling side try to scrape a draw against Sussex. Having gone in late yesterday evening, he's still there on 62 having batted for over 3 hours and faced getting on for 150 deliveries.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Warks 367 - 5 at close of play, including an unbeaten century from former Surrey man, Laurie Evans.  There's a strong chance that Warks will avoid defeat against Sussex, despite the latter's massive first innings total.

Hants facing defeat against Middlesex, 41 ahead with only three second innings wickets left.  Jimbohammer's pessimism about Hants this season appears well justified.

Durham doing better following on in their second innings, but with four wickets down still need another 105 runs to make Yorks bat again. Durham will need to bat until after tea tomorrow to prevent a Yorks victory.

[NickisBHAFC]

Looking like our first draw of the season. Should of declared earlier.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Looking like our first draw of the season. Should of declared earlier.

Possibly - but the reports suggest the wicket is so far offering little or nothing for the bowlers.

[guildfordbat]

Warks 367 - 5 at close of play, including an unbeaten century from former Surrey man, Laurie Evans.  There's a strong chance that Warks will avoid defeat against Sussex, despite the latter's massive first innings total.

Hants facing defeat against Middlesex, 41 ahead with only three second innings wickets left.  Jimbohammer's pessimism about Hants this season appears well justified.

Durham doing better following on in their second innings, but with four wickets down still need another 105 runs to make Yorks bat again. Durham will need to bat until after tea tomorrow to prevent a Yorks victory.

Agree with the Corporal's pointers on these matches. For me - wins for Middlesex and Yorks today with a draw between Sussex and Warks. Whatever transpires in that last match, I can't see Warks losing 15 wickets in the day which is effectively what is needed for the only possible positive result.

The Notts v Worcs game at Trent Bridge is a day behind. So day 3 - ''moving day' - about to begin there and it will be mighty interesting to see where these two relegation candidates are this evening. Notts in their second-innings resume on 115/3 and lead by 72. Furthermore, Notts are 2 bowlers light - Norman Stanley (again) and Carter got crocked very early on. That should of course all favour the visitors but Worcs do seem to be making a habit of mucking up promising positions. I'll duck a call on this one until lunchtime ....

[LondonTiger]

Durham fold as second new ball does the trick.

[jimbohammers]

Another heavy defeat for Hampshire. Div 2 beckons....

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