Thunderball

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Championship: Yorkshire v Hampshire – Headingley, 23rd – 26th April

You know, even when the season is already underway, it’s not until the first day back at Headingley that I feel the ship has really left port. I guess I need that ambience of gloom rolling down from the Winter Shed faithful to get me feeling like we’re back in the old routine again. And given that most of our lot think civilisation is on it’s last legs if they can’t find a car parking space on the Kirkstall Lane, you know it won’t be long before they’re trudging by, radiating a vibe of ‘it ain’t right this’. Which of course, is the one sure sign that, actually, all is well with the world and we can start the season proper.

But this year, I still had an inkling on the first day that we weren’t quite ready. Perhaps because the pre-season was almost obliterated by the weather. Perhaps because ‘TV’s Mr Saturday Night’ had to get some match fitness with the colts in Leicester rather than being in the dressing room with us.

It probably didn’t help that DoubleM was also absent, spending part of the first morning reporting on the season’s preparations to the committee. ‘Entering Thunderdome’ as such a summons is known amongst the staff. Although I’m not sure why, as we don’t employ anyone who looks like Mel Gibson and Brian Close is about the last person you’d expect to say “Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be Tina Turner”. Still, if there’s one phrase that sums up the Yorkshire committee room, it’s “Two men enter, one man leaves”.

Brian Close: Wouldn’t have stood for any nonsense from Ike Turner

Now the run up to this game had seen nothing but predictions of poor weather, with the assumption a draw would be the most likely outcome. But come the match, far less time was lost than had been thought. Add that to a Hampshire side who were a pale imitation of the one we faced at a similar point last season and you’re part of the way to understanding how we won this match by an innings. The other part being an acknowledgement of a heartening, all round team effort that kept the pressure on an opposition who never looked like coping with it.

Hampshire actually got off to a decent start. Winning the toss, opting to field and taking advantage of the overhead conditions to reduce us to 54/3. Included in those wickets, rather predictably, was the England captain, who yet again batted like a millionaire before being mugged on the way to the ATM. It’s getting frustrating for everyone, the run he’s going through at the moment. He always looks good, but it only ever seems like a matter of time before he hits something he shouldn’t. A bit like being on a date with Naomi Campbell I suppose.

But having created an opening for themselves, Hampshire just didn’t possess the depth of bowling resources to press home the advantage. In fact the signs aren’t good for Hampshire’s season beyond this match either.

Mascarenhas is a decent enough third or fourth seamer but he’s hardly express pace over 22 yards, let alone the 5,000 miles from Jaipur. ‘Bond. Shane Bond. Licence to kill time on the physio’s table’ is quick, except when he starts limping, which he did about half way through the first day of this game. Tremlett has been given just about all the physical attributes a fast bowler could want, but marries them to the body language of someone who’d rather be nursing a kitten back to health. Ok, I know body language doesn’t put the ball in a different part of the pitch, but it can effect the way a batsman plays where it has landed. Add in the other two bowlers that played here, who you’d only call ‘front line’ if used in conjunction with the phrase ‘cannon fodder’, and they’re going to have one hell of a job consistently taking twenty wickets in a match.

Shane Bond appeals (for a stretcher to be sent out)

None of which should detract from an excellent century from Andy Gale, an innings that could be of considerable significance for both individual and team. As at the start of this season there are two or three batting places up for grabs, with the number five slot probably the highest prized, coming as it does between the engine room of Mags & Rudolph and three all-rounders whose batting is fast improving. If you wanted to ease your way into a team, that would be a good place to do it, and after excelling in the pre-season games, Gale got first dibs. An opportunity he seems to have grabbed with both hands – all be it, slightly nervy, shaky hands, as he was coming closer to reaching three figures. Still, if you’re going to have kittens on a cricket field, best do it when Tremlett is around I suppose.

Gale top edges his way to a ton

Despite being without the services of our captain or overseas pro, the Yorkshire attack still looked far better suited to the conditions than our counterparts. Particularly the presence in our ranks of a world class swing bowler with a point to prove. The point being that you don’t drop someone after one bad game, particularly if they’ve spent the last few years cleaning the crap of the wicket left there by the rest of the England attack. Yet despite that, some people have voiced the opinion that Hoggy’s bowling is in steady decline. Oh really? Well on the evidence of this match, the only thing in decline is Michael Carberry’s chances of fathering children, after Matthew ‘wanged one down’ that split open the Hampshire man’s box.

Not that Carberry was the only batsman who had his stumps rattled. As their entire top six fell in quick succession to a master class in early season bowling from a Hoggard who was running in with real purpose. With the Hampshire tail divided up amongst the rest of the attack, we didn’t even need the second new ball to bundle them out for a rather emaciated looking 159.

From then on in, having been forced to follow-on, there was no real way back for Hampshire. They made a better fist of it second time round in still difficult conditions, suggesting that they may fair better with the bat this year than in the field. But with the weather looking bad but never threatening to take the players off for significant periods of time, it became a case of gradually working our way through them a second time. Which we did about half way through the final day, with five of our attack taking two wickets each. A fair reflection on the how well they’d all bowled.

So, a cracking victory to start the season that leaves us with a real selection headache for next weeks game against Notts. Who to drop if, as is likely, Gough and Morkel are available?

As for the man of the match, I’d go for Gale, as his innings can have such a positive effect on the rest of the season for both himself and the team. Hoggy runs him close, but his effort was more expected. And I guess that’s Matthew’s problem – he’s so reliable that he’s taken for granted. Still, given his performance in this game, it won’t be long before his back cleaning up other people’s mess for England again.

(Match photos: By kind permission of Dave Morton)

My Man of the Match: Andy Gale

Result: Yorkshire (21 points) beat Hampshire (3 points) by an Innings and 27 runs

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~ by lentheyorkshirekitman on 26 April, 2008.