Top Sledging

Yorkshire 430 all out
v Worcestershire 280 all out
and 306 all out following on
Yorkshire 157-3, win by 7 wickets
at Scarborough

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

In a way, that was both closer and not as close as it looks. The threat of rain meant that Yorkshire needed to take wickets and crack on with the bat on Day 4. It was close, as the rain threatened at any moment. But, it was at a canter, as it never materialised.

No panic, but another fail from the top order. And, it’s Bairstow who has got them out of trouble.  Some top quality sledging from the Worcestershire boys. Gale was run out for 4 off 3 balls. He was the non-striker, with Lees batting. Maybe Lees called him & sent him back, but he could basically have kissed Lees he got that far down. And he was run out by a country mile. He shouted, he huffed, he puffed, he looked back, he waved his bat maniacally. The guys in the Rooms pulled the sash windows down, he was let in & the door closed behind him. Minutes later he was out in Training Gear & slippers, out round the back of the Pavilion “having a moment”. That’s left ‘em 44-3.

He. Was. Not. Happy.

The Sledges I could hear (to Lees) included;

Lets send him back for a chat with Galey.

Look, Galey is still waiting for him.

That was relentless from Yorkshire. I’ve blogged before about them always finding a way & hands going up. But, it’s beginning to annoy me now. We need Plan A cricket as well. It seems we’re always 40-3 & then someone rescues us. That someone is Bairstow.

This relentless way that Yorkshire pursue things stands them in good stead. That and a deep squad. If your star rescuer is taken by England, there is a chance the guy you bring in will have been released by England. Hence Bairstow out, Ballance back. I'm not sure how much chopping and changing England will end up with. You'd expect Root to play both tests and T20/ODI for the season. Barstow likewise. Although he'd be T20/ODI squad rather than fixture. You'd expect Rashid to be T20/ODI squad. And to be frequently Test squad. But rarely picked. And hence then released. I firmly doubt Lyth will play White Ball cricket for England. Plunkett, don’t know what’s going on. He’s not firing. I’m thinking he won’t be in the White Ball squad.

So, for me….

We’ve seen the last of Root & now Bairstow until “at least” Hampshire at Southampton & Sussex at HQ. And, realistically, they won’t play those.
Ballance & Plunkett, we’ll have for the rest of the season.
Lyth, we’ll have for the last 4 Championship games. (Although the ECB may rest him for the first one or two).
Rashid, will be in squads & released. He’ll miss some YCCC 50 over stuff. But he’ll be available in the Championship until the last four. (Mirror image of Lyth).

I’m already thinking the arrangement we have with Andrew Hodd makes him the hero of the hour.

Scarborough Beer Wrap

Nice set up in the Pavilion. Local beer. One cask & two craft keg. The only one I tried was Rudgate Viking Bitter on cask at 3.8%. Some fruity bitterness comes through in the finish. Nicely balanced. Just background malty sweetness. Good cricket beer that. Sensible abv. Refreshing on the palate. Would be nice on a sunny, Summer day. But, we were on Weather Watch today.

Did Not Bat
Rudgate Jorvik Premium Blonde on keg at 4.6%
Wold Top Anglers Reward on keg at 4%

My Pub of the trip was The Stumble Inn. And Scholars is great in a does what it says on the tin way. I had a silly in The North Riding Hotel. But, it was busy and I’ll cut them slack. It’s still (should be) a good place. Indeed, their Eldorado Plus on cask at 4.5% was Outstanding Beer of the Trip.

170/365