See you in Abu Dhabi

Yorkshire v Somerset

Thursday 25 September 2014 Day 3

Twitter @ball_sup

That’s it for me. I won’t make Day 4. What a great season for Yorkshire. Deserved Champions. Annoyingly, I missed some of the late season games with football commitments.  I absolutely love Division 1 Cricket.  Nearly every team come at you hard but patient in every session. Coast and you’re toast.

Maybe the days have gone, but I really wish we could all find a way to get more people into the stands. It is a fantastic product. If only Yorkshire could find a way of liquidising the outpouring of support they had in those days just before & just after they clinched the title.  I’ll say it loud & proud.  To be a supporter, you’ve got to go to the games. Watching on tele. Listening to Cally’s commentary, Following on Twitter. All well & good - but get yourself down to Headingley & get a Membership.  If your life is too busy - change your life.

I was pessimistically worried at times. I had Yorkshire down as a one trick pony team. Albeit with a good trick. Rack up 320, 400 if you could, push towards 460. And then bowl the other mob out twice.  The number of times I’ve cleared off at the end of Day 3 thinking - only 6 wickets to get, but it ain’t gonna be easy.  Yet, they’ve won it with consistency.  It hasn’t been grinding out wins & draws. But neither has it been spectacular one-off performances. High tempo when needed. Patience when needed. Entertaining.

Lots of players, at the top of their game, believing in themselves & each other & playing to an effective & efficient plan.  Liam Plunkett was superb in the early games & rightly recovered his England place.  A pity he picked up a niggle. I hope they take him to the West Indies.  Adam Lyth has made it difficult for the Selectors to ignore him.  As Carberry, Compton & Robson have all had a shot at the openers spot, I hope Lyth does get a seat on the plane. Although, I would have preferred it if England had stuck with Compton.

Adil Rashid has had a great season. Is he the second spinner behind Moeen Ali?

Anyway. A great season. Come back next year & do it again.  I’m waiting on the announcement of the MCC v Champions County match. But, if all goes to plan. I’ll see you in Abu Dhabi.