From Pillans to post

Yorkshire 216 all out
and 170 all out Following On
lost to
Worcestershire 572 for 7 declared by an Innings and 168 runs

County Championship Division One

Saturday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 19/20/21/22 August 2018

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What Yorkshire need is a Recruitment & Retention Strategy for forthcoming seasons. And, they need to explain that to Members & fans. Communicate FFS. Leg Spinner Josh Poysden (who had trialled in previous games), was a permanent signing before this one. Seamer Mathew Pillan was signed in the days after this debacle. Tim Bresnan signed a contract extension a few weeks ago. New Zealander Jeet Raval has been signed for the last four Champos.

Lees has gone to another County. We see Carver & Rafiq every now & then. Plunkett has signed for Surrey. Andrew Hodd has retired. Elected Chairman Steve Denison has had to resign. There are rumours about Jack Brooks not staying with the County. Ballance begat Patterson begat Willey at the Toss. Wasn’t Bresnan Vice Captain at some point?

Now, benignly, as I write, that does look like the bones of a strategy. Decide which players you’re going to stick with. If you’re not sticking, get rid. Recruit to fill the holes. But, in real time. No. It looks like LURCHING from pillar to post. (The pun would/should have been from Pillan to post). The Management need to tell us whether we’re lurching or whether we’ve got a strategy. If you have a strategy & it’s a piss poor strategy. Or, if you have a strategy & it’s a good ‘un, but you’re shit at implementing it. Both of those are better than having no strategy. I’m broadly OK with having a strategy, but not quite being up to it. What is the strategy?

There were a lot of murmurs around Josh Poysden at North Marine Road. 25 Overs. Only one Maiden. Leaked 128 runs. OK - he got three wickets out of the seven to fall. But, Yorkshire only took the second wicket in the 109th Over. Poysden’s first wicket was in the 132nd over - to take the score to 525 for 5. If they’ve brought him in for an immediate impact. To wrench control. And hoover the tail. That has not gone well. If they’ve done some detailed scouting & analysis. If they feel he’s one for the season after next. After a necessary season of development. If, that’s the strategy. Then say so. Otherwise, you’re hanging him out to dry.

I’ll hear the excuses. The injuries. The situation with Captain Ballance. (Although of course, we never heard that). The unforeseen circumstances around Rashid & Red Ball. The loss of form. The beating the bat. The if we’d held on to a few chances. The luck of the draw on Umpiring Decisions. Some weather about. They had the best batting conditions. I’ll hear them. Trot. Them. Out. But, let me hear where we’re going & how we plan to do it. I’m a big boy……

We dug in in the first dig. But, you dig in. Some storm is weathered. And, you still end up at 63 for 4 in the 23rd. Dillon Pennington has got 4 for 53 in the first & 2 for 27 in the second. In the second innings. Facing a mammoth mountain. Moeen Ali blew away Yorkshire with 6 for 49 & 7 Maidens in 23 Overs. There were, naturally, self inflicted elements. Including Brook chipping a catch just before Tea on Day 3 - to put it at 40 for 2 in the rearguard.

You see that bush? Don’t beat around it. For long periods, Worcestershire looked like they'd never lose another wicket. For most periods, Yorkshire looked like they were going to lose a lot, quickly.

We were also left a little disappointed by the “Beer Scene”. The Stumble Inn & Scholars have been staples. But, we didn’t do those this year. The Angel is getting frayed at the edges & the beer range was limited and safe. The newly renamed The Yorkshire Tap had Black Sheep & the back of many other pumpclips. The Rivelyn Hotel, theoretically an outlet for Scarborough Brewery had NONE ON. The Highlander was uninspiring. Our fault. Should have stuck to the strategy. But, questions. Scarborough. August. Festival Week. Come on. Why not put a few beers on?

The Outstanding Beer Of The Trip - was actually in Wetherspoons, The Lord Roseberry. Oakham, American Red Rye on cask at 4.2%. Great beer. I was hoping for a little more red fruit off the rye if I'm honest. But, it's complex & balanced. A lot to like.

702/1464