Thunderbirds Are Go

Yorkshire 275 all out
v MCC 0-0
close on Day 1

Played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Sunday 20 March 2016

Dry Day

Twitter @ball_sup

Yorkshire born or nurtured - 8
Gunslingers - 3 (Ballance, Hodd, Brooks)

Right. The initial First Class fixture of the season. There's been a lot going on. Strap yourselves in. The Blog today is 1. Opinion Piece, 2. Local Colour from the game, 3. A bit about the cricket.

Opinion Piece

This is because they've brought in Willey.

I don't want Yorkshire to win a third consecutive County Championship title. There, it's been said.

I'll clarify. I don't want ANY County Club called Yorkshire to win the Title. I want MY County Club called Yorkshire to win the Title.

Identity.

What will we settle for? 11 players born outside Yorkshire in the team? 11 gunslingers bought in? No players from the Academy Ranks? How many is too many?

We don't yet know the make up of the Championship team. But, there could easily be days with FIVE non-Yorkshire born, nor nurtured players on the park.

Ballance, Williamson, Hodd, Brooks, Willey

They could be joined by nurtured but not born Leaning & Rhodes. And born but not nurtured Plunkett.

Gale, Lyth, Lees.

Look, I know that 11 is unlikely. No Bresnan. No Patto. No Ryan. But, how many is too many?

I'll wind some of my neck in. Plunkett is a Yorkshireman. Fair n square. Leaning & Rhodes are fully nurtured through our Academy system. Fair n square.

Point remains. With the signing of Gunslinger Willey. There seems a real chance of five non-Yorkies at some point. How many is too many? Before we lose the identity that has been crucial to the Club over the years.

You're a Dinosaur, I hear you bleat. Those days of an all Yorkshire Born XI are gone, I hear you whine. Get with the program GrandDad, I hear you blather.

Not me, fella. I'm posing a question. Are you happy with an all non-Yorkie XI? Ten? Nine? Come on how many?

This season, The Blog will feature an Identity Count. Denison, Moxon, Gillespie you're being watched.

Local Colour

My fourth time at this Stadium. I'm always amused by the fact that they never seem to have the details down in time. Today, they decided to remove the black sheets from the back of the sightscreen. Red ball. White sightscreens facing the pitch. All good here. One would assume.

The black sheets at the back. Presumably get draped around the front for white ball games. Leave well alone. No. No. No.

Start removing them after 60 overs. Fifteen minutes before the tea interval. While the game is in progress. Four man job. Sheets tie wrapped to the top. Mate, that ladder is too short. You'll have to become a balancing act & reach.

But, the Coup de Grace. Tredwell is bowling from this end. Round the wicket to Ballance. Over the wicket to Will Rhodes. One run. Down the ladder. Reposition screen for around the wicket. Reposition ladder. Up she goes. One run. Down the ladder. Reposition screen for over the wicket. Reposition ladder. Shin up. Repeat.

What, wait 5 minutes until Tea? Are you mad? What, wait until they are bowling from the other end? How would that work? Classic.

Today's cricket

Elements of Thunderbirds again. As per last season. Get in the mire at 88-5 before lunch on Day 1. Thunderbirds are Go. Someone organises a rescue. This time Ballance & Rhodes. The initial new ball & the 80 over one have done the trick really. Although I don't think it was doing a lot sideways.

Marvelously intelligent cricket from Rhodes & Carver at the end. He will, but I don't give a toss Rhodes missed out on his ton. It was a fine innings. Farmed the strike. Hit it out when he thought he could. Carver faced 9 balls.

292/607