Ever Decreasing Circles
Championship: Warwickshire v Yorkshire – Edgbaston, 13th – 16th July
Two days on from the Lancashire game and we find ourselves at another sodden ground, struggling to get enough time over the ropes to make a meaningful game of it; but knowing deep down that an exercise in bonus point collection is probably the best we can manage. The weather this English ’summer’ seems to be trapping us all in a continuing loop of hollow activity with no prospect of it ever counting for anything. It feels a bit like being the guy who cleans the championship trophy cabinet at Old Trafford.
Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and the Luftwaffe. Just some of the people to visit Old Trafford since the County Championship last did.
What helps us through all these rain-interrupted matches is the improved atmosphere in the dressing room this year. I guess it helps that a number of the guys have bonds beyond YCCC. Bres and Adil roomed on tour with England A, this last winter. A few of the others are developing off-season coaching work together. Then of course, there’s the Barnsley connection: Gough and DoubleM having been born and raised there and Virgil currently renting it back out to the local council.
It’s worth checking your Title Deeds, as Michael Vaughan may in fact own your home
What almost made the wait for play worthwhile was a chanceless 188 not out by the in-form Mags. Thank God for that innings, and the excellent supporting role given by Jacques, as without them we’d have struggled to reach 200 rather than be in position to get all five batting points before declaring. After a slow start in the championship, Mags’ form has started to match that shown in the one day game and it looks like the problems during the winter haven’t slowed down the avalanche of runs he’s scored in the last few years. In fact he’s another example of someone who’s become a much more consistent and better player since being dropped by England. Perhaps we should get them to do that to all our staff?
On the other hand…
All that remained in the match was for another mad rush for bonus points as Warwickshire tried and succeeded to reach 250 from the time left. Whilst we tried and failed to get the three wickets or more required for bowling points. Now I love my championship cricket, but even I was starting to agree with the view that all this chasing of bonus points is, well, ultimately rather pointless. Time to get out the prayer mats and beg for better weather.
So yet another game ruined by rain and more importantly another match where we’ve had Hoggy back, but barely been able to use him. He’s bowled just sixteen overs here and at Old Trafford, at a time when we’d want him to be carrying us back into a healthy lead in the Championship. As it is, there are a number of teams starting to bunch up at the top of the table. It’s beginning to look like we could be in for the closest finish in years.
Si’thee later,
Len
My Man of the Match: Mags
Result – Yorkshire (9 points) drew with Warwickshire (9 points)
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