10/11 Yorkies

Warwickshire 244 all out 

v Yorkshire 269 for 4  

County Championship Division 1 

Close on Day Two 

Friday 20 May 2022 

Played at Headingley 

Because of all the patchwork quilting of overseas players, and injuries to & resting of others, Yorkshire have, somewhat unusually, put ten Yorkshire born players on the field for this one. Exeter born Dom Bess the incomed. And Warwickshire had Oliver Hannon-Dalby, born in Halifax. (Despite his Yorkshire pedigree, Will Rhodes was born in Nottingham).

For me, the day belonged to Whitby born Adam Lyth. A lot has "been said" about Lyth. A lot of it by me. There's a guy in the Lower North East who is keeping a running tally of catches he's dropped this year.

Lyth played out Danny Briggs over for a maiden. Will Rhodes took the New Ball and tossed it to Henry Brookes to have a go at Harry Brooks. Lyth backing up at the non-strikers had batted all the way through the first ball. 87 off 252 balls. Had he been scrappy during the morning. Had he been cautious during the morning. Don't matter. He was there for the New Ball. Superb. He crashed two fours in the 85th. To bring up his century. And then crashed another one for good measure.

Halifaxista Oliver Hannon-Dalby had bowled very tidily in the morning. At one stage, 12 overs, 9 maidens, 9 (wicketless) runs.

The day ended slightly early with rain. Brooks had gone. But, YCCC are 25 ahead, 4 down.

There had also been rain just before lunch. Huzzah. The Arcadia. I think they always try to have a Sour or two on. Today, I went;

Vault City Brewing (Edinburgh), Strawberry Sundae, on Keg at 5%

Lactose & Vanilla added. But, mainly strawberries. All chucked on a sour base. I mean, they've tried to recreate Strawberries & Cream in a "beer". And they have. I'll leave it there.

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The Sheffield Trap

Warwickshire 244 all out 

v Yorkshire 28 for 0 

County Championship Division 1 

Close on Day One 

Thursday 19 May 2022 

Played at Headingley 

Today. I'm afraid. We have another "Memory Match Feature". This time v Warwickshire at Abbeydale Park, Sheffield in August 1979.

Yorkshire batted first and made 259. Only Phil Carrick (65) went past 50. Stephen Perryman took 5 for 60 off 37 overs (17 of which were Maidens) for The Bears. David Hopkins also took 4 for 65.

For Warwickshire's first dig, The Birmingham Post reported…

"Overnight rain created a treacherous pitch on which Warwickshire's batsmen were hopelessly at the mercy of the Yorkshire seam bowlers."

Skittled for just 35 all out in 18.4 overs. Geoff Humpage, he went on the Rebel Tour to South Africa in 1981/82, and Chris Maynard were joint top scorers with 9 (nine). Graham Stevenson took 6 for 14!!!

John Hampshire enforced the Follow On. The Birmingham Post reported…

"With conditions easing considerably as the wicket dried out, Warwickshire's batsmen hit back in their second innings."

Both openers (Amiss & Smith) went past 50. And, a bit of late order humpty pushed it to 255 all out. Carrick took 5 for 80 off 35 overs (14 Maidens). Yorkshire had claimed the extra half hour late on this, Day Two, to push for a Golf Day. Once the final Bear trudged off, and a bit of abacus jiggling, I heard David Bairstow proclaim (the equivalent of) - "the umpires say we've got 4 overs to knock off 32".

Bairstow himself (came in at 6 in the first dig) opened with Bill Athey (I'd have gone with Graham Stevenson myself). But, they could only manage 30 runs off the four overs. Agonisingly two short of a two day win. Cricket is mad at times. The whole Circus had to go back to their Guest Houses & Homes, have a night in. (But, I strongly suspect, a night out). And come back to Abbeydale the next morning - to score just two runs.

"Did the erstwhile Carrier Bag Firm swerve it Phil? Do some college work or summat?"

NO. We were there. Front And Centre. Next morning. Two required. All day to get them. Warwickshire's Wicketkeeper & future SA Rebel Tourist, Geoff Humpage came on to bowl. I've retold this story time & time again and I don't know fact from fiction any more. In my head, I see Humpage wearing Black Brogues rather than Cricket Boots. Some Warwickshire slip fielders wearing jeans. And, a number of players' cars have their engines running. I'm not sure all (any) of that actually happened. But you get the general picture.

The Birmingham Post again;

"Bill Athey square-cut for two off the last ball of Geoff Humpage's over to take Yorkshire to their required 32 runs."

Difficult decisions in 2022 what to do if you win the Toss. Warwickshire batted. 28 for 1. 28 for 2. 41 for 3. 43 for 4. All in twenty overs. But, a fifth wicket stand of 74 built it up a bit. Michael Burgess came in then. He batted sensibly. But, in the circumstances, that meant aggressively. He was last out. Caught & Bowled Patto for 96 off 106 balls. He put on 41 with Oliver Hannon-Dalby - who didn't score a run!!!

Thompson & Patterson, three wickets apiece.

In old money, if you bat first, you want more than 244 in 81.4 overs. Yorkshire - over to you. First objective. Get to the close. Tick.

Polly's Brew Co (Flintshire), Collab with Big Mountain Brewing Company (Passy, France), Oh My…, Citra & Sabro Pale on Keg at 5.8%. (In the Arcadia).

That was a nice beer. I wouldn't particularly say I could get anything particular out of those hops. Maybe some coconut. But, really - nice n standard.

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Welcome To October

Lancashire 78 all out 

v Warwickshire 518 all out 

Lancashire 171 for 6 

Close on Day 3 

Bob Willis Trophy Final 

Thursday 30 September 2021.

Played at Lord's 

That'll be the last day of County Cricket I'll be attending in 2021. Thought I'd fucking get it in before October. I'd missed all the action on the earlier days. Lanky gone double quick. After being 12 for 6 at one bit. The Bears piling it on. 133 for 1. 243 for 2. 340 for 3. 425 for 5. Lanky batting in October. The Bears batting in July.

Will Rhodes was eighth gone at 469. He'd made 156 in six an' half hours. Lancashire were at least making a better fist of it on Day Three. Wrapping it up and putting some partnerships together. But late wickets have left it horror show. Four left, 269 to make Warwickshire bat again.

We'll never really know the impact of winning that Toss & putting Lancashire in. The first morning looks awful in the scorebook. But then Warks have made loads. What I will absolutely guarantee is that we shouldn't be playing 4 or 5 day cricket this time of year.

By all means shoehorn Tests, ODIs, the T20 Blast and The Hundred into the height of Summer. Meaning that one County Competition has to be the Best Of The Rest. This year, that was the County 50 Overs. But, we just have to have four day cricket in June, July & August. I saw a very interesting idea floated on CricInfo. Play TWO County 3 or 4 day competitions every season. Firstly, a Pushed To The Margins (but at least you've got your players from The Hundred) County Championship in April May & September (as now). AND a Best Of The Rest Strength In Depth 3 or 4 day competition during the height of Summer when The Hundred is on. Outgrounds where necessary. Take cricket to the people. Re-energise. Boutique Cricket.

The Lord's Pavilion is, at the best of times, a bewildering warren of doors, corridors & staircases. Overlain with incomprehensible rules about where you're allowed to go with a beer. But, the Covid bubble caper has raised it to a whole new level. Screens effectively create new corridors for the players. And half of the Long Room is velvet roped off. I didn't dare ask whether I might use one of those seats.

"But, have they taken care of business Phil?"

I hear you ask.

"Yes, Sister"

The Long Room Bar, The Bowlers Bar, and The Members Bar are all up & fully functioning. Just don't ask me to tell you how to fucking get to them.

The cask offering was Marston's Pedigree & Ringwood Razor Back.

But, as it was our last day at Lord's for a while, the Carrier Bag Firm naturally went #CRICKETCANS.

Electric Bear Brewing Co, Shimmer Down, pale ale at 4.1%

Polly's Brew Co, Moonwrecker, pale ale at 5%

Both of those were superb. I'll give the award to the Polly's. Lots of Orange Juice in the smell. But the taste gets into tobacco bitterness very quickly.

But, the Shimmer Down was deffo the Best Of The Rest.

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One Thousandth Game Blog

Warwickshire 155 all out 

v Yorkshire 108 all out 

Warwickshire 176 all out 

Yorkshire 117 all out 

Warwickshire win by 106 runs 

County Championship Division 1 

Wednesday 15 September 2021 

Played at Headingley 

That seems a fitting way to mark the milestone. An absolutely shit display by my team. To slump to defeat. With ex players knocking the nails in. Effectively ending our season. Followed by a what the fuck is going on set of chaotic exchanges with barstaff to get a beer. Fitting.

You see, using my own Carrier Bag Firm counting system, that is the One Thousandth game/game day I have Blogged from. And, I'm quite pleased with myself. I've been keeping a little stats ticker going at the bottom of each Blog for some time. And I could see the 1,000 milestone approaching. But what with the possibility of Covid Cancellations, cricket rain days, mad trips to U23 games at a moment's notice, I couldn't accurately predict with which BALL or which SUP I'd make it. It was on a seven wickets in a morning fiasco at Headingley and a this is Kirkstall Pale, even though it says Abbott Ale on the clip, fiasco in The Golden Beam.

In short, my One Thousandth game Blog was a BALLS UP.

The Golden Beam, Headingley Ln., Headingley, Leeds LS6 1BL

is the fairly new Wetherspoons on the way to Headingley. Cavernous place. Sympathetic renovation I think. A very long bar front. On which there are two sets of handpulls doubling up & duplicating each other. Abbott, Ruddles and Doom Bar as the core. Kirkstall (2 from) & Leeds Brewery as the local guests. So, 12 pumps, 12 clips. But nothing is labelled from the staff's side. Read that again. They can't see which beer is which from their side.

"Pint of Kirkstall Pale please"

"Janet, which line is the Pale on?"

"Three I think"

*pulls pint from what is clearly labelled as Abbott on my side*

"Whoa, that's Abbott isn't it?"

"Oh, they must have put the wrong clip on"

*grabbing clip, taking it off, turning it around & reading it*

"It's the pale on three"

*pulls brown pint*

"That's not Kirkstall Pale"

"Should be, it's from line three"

Eventually, we shook hands on the

Leeds Brewery, Yorkshire Gold on Cask at 4%

I chose that because the pump clip on my side miraculously coincided with the deciphered line numbering system on their side. And wait, the first pull on the first phalanx of handpulls came out as water. So they had to switch to the others. Lots of head. Not particularly clear. Bit of a short measure. 

You can't run a bar like that. You just can't.

But, no lie, nice beer. Much more hoppy bitter in the end than I'd expected.

A Yorkshire win would have kept us in the County Championship race. And/or the race for the Top Two and five days out at Lord's for the CBF at the Bob Willis Trophy Final. Even though it was shit, this game was not lost this morning. Only seven wickets left. Chasing loads. Warwickshire bowlers rested on a rain day Tuesday. That always looked a tall order, having lost the game on the first two days. 

That's what you have to do to win pots & shields. Win from tricky positions. When Ballance went to the third ball of the morning. While I was still having a piss I might add. There was just no way from there. 

In the end, the 117 did at least beat the first innings 108. But, fuck me, that tells the tale of the game doesn't it? Tim Bresnan (ex player) took six catches at slip. And also had Dom Bess lbw. Will Rhodes (ex player) took the final catch. Yorkshire man of the match should therefore jointly go to Harry Duke (8 runs from 9 balls) and Gary Ballance (21 from 47) for being the only dismissals NOT to feature an ex Yorkie.

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Never PrePay The Hotel

Warwickshire 155 all out 

v Yorkshire 108 all out 

Warwickshire 176 all out 

Yorkshire 50 for 3 

County Championship Division 1 

Close on Day Two 

Monday 13 September 2021 

Played at Headingley 

Sighs. Thirty Three wickets gone in two days. Not a single ball of spin so far. Not even "just to see". Welcome to September. Keep your hotel bookings flexible. Never, I mean never, Pre-Pay. 

Low scoring games can bring tight, exciting finishes. But, I find games like these frustrating. We. Want. Cricket. Don't get me wrong. It's not hooping about. It's not got rearing bounce. With the odd shooter. It's just difficult to get set & bat on. You can look the Stats up yourselves. Toss of a coin who can win this. Toss was half an hour before the start.

Day one, we hit;

Arcadia, Headingley Central, Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2UE

They're still doing table service as they iron out their staffing issues. We were fine. But, a friend had some issues later on & had to leave without being served.

Bad Seed Brewery, Untold Future, Pale Ale on Cask at 3.8%

Just delightful that one. Got it all going on for 3.8%. Peach sugar. Into orange. And then seamlessly into a lovely bitter finish.

Kirkstall Brewery, Break Even, New England Pale on Cask at 4.6%

Previously a Collab with Verdant. But now cut loose and going it alone. Banging. Some pineapple. Nice n hazy but not over juiced.

Day two was a Monday. Upon which Arcadia doesn't open until 3pm. Fucking September cricket man. So;

Head Of Steam, 11-13 North Ln, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3HG

Wishbone, EeZee, Pale Ale on Cask at 3.8%

Gweilo Beer (Hong Kong), Hazy As DIPA, on Keg at 8.5%

Flipping heck. Capital S for Serious. Loads of pepper. Full on. Whisper it. But needs lowering a notch.

So, all told, the beers count for a Big Fat Win.

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The Three Hundred

Yorkshire 320 for 7 

beat 

Warwickshire 281 all out 

by 39 runs 

ECB 50 Over Cup 

Tuesday 3 August 2021 

Played at York Cricket Club 

I come to praise The Three Hundred, not to bury it. The other ECB new competition. The Hundred. Launched to hyperbole. Gathering together the very best, overseas commentators that money can buy. Has garnered all the column inches & volume. But, one door opens. There is now a real opportunity for proper County Cricket to connect with fans & heartland.

Some people will tell you that The Hundred has pushed County Cricket further to the margins. Get outta here. It's just nudged it back to where it should be (ish). Played around the Counties. On outgrounds. In the school holidays. Temporary stands. Folding chairs. Marquees for the Ten Bob Millionaires. Beer tents. Cask Ale in the Club House. Food vans on the rugby pitch. Ice cream. Portaloos.

The boys next door

The mums and dads

New weds and nearly deads

Have you ever been had….

© Elvis Costello

Here we are at York Cricket Club. Not just down my street. But, just down someone's. Fifty, six ball, overs a side. The Three Hundred. The best of the rest. And. Here's an inconvenient truth for the ECB. It's the end of the 49th. The home team are 7 down for a very gettable 288. The first ball of the last over is an above the belt no ball. The free hit goes for SIX. The second for FOUR. The bowler, Ethan Brookes, is trying to bowl Yorkers. He's missing that length. The batsman, Matthew Waite, knows this. And is setting himself for the shot. The bowler, Ethan Brookes, knows this. And his arse is twitching. The batsman, Matthew Waite, knows this. And his mind is cleared and focused. The bowler, Ethan Brookes, knows this. And, he's fucking gone. And the ECB want to simplify the game. WHY?

SIX. FOUR. FOUR. SIX. THIRTY TWO off the over. And, here's the inconvenient truth for the ECB. The big crowd packed into York. They don't care that it's not The Hundred Most Valuable Batter, Ben Duckett versus The Hundred Most Strike Rated Overarm Chucker, Ben Klaassen (btw, who the fuck's he?). It could be anyone. Mano y Mano. The game. Right there. A 32 run over is something, let me tell you.

The boy next door, sat with his girlfriend & two mates. At Uni in York. Squeezed in the Temporary Stand between mums & dads. Wouldn't even be here if the game was at Headingley. He turned to the nearly dead (moi).

"How many off that over?"

"Thirty two Kid"

"That could be the difference between winning & losing that"

(note - Warwickshire lost by 39 - but he was close)

Yorkshire lost two wickets in their first over. Will Fraine off the first ball. Hoping to get an easy leave. Or a solid block. But, got an edge and caught behind. And Luxton off the fourth. With a MAD heave ho skyer. But then. An impressive rebuild, platform, and humpty finish. Ballance & Duke took it to 89. Hill and Tattersall were majestic. Putting on 110 for the fifth. Hill went for 64 off 65. Tattersall went for (top scoring) 70 off 67, at 265 for 6 with 3.2 overs left. Matthew Waite, well we've already dealt with his day. Forty two off sixteen. Ridic. Five players got past forty. The Bears were rocking on their back paws.

In the scorebook, Warwickshire's innings doesn't look too bad. Dan Mousley & Jacob Bethell both passing sixty. And putting on 115 for the sixth. But, it never really felt like they were in the chase. They lost 7,8,9 quickly. And it was all over with 16 balls left. Coad & Hill three wickets each.

My first ever visit to the York ground in this Dividend from The Hundred. So, I didn't know this, but the ground is on a sprawling, multi use site. Including a caravan site. And, one of those tanker wagon things had rocked up to empty shit & piss out of the campsite latrines. (Incidentally, you won't get that in The Hundred). And, inevitably, it stunk. And, good news, I could smell it. A bit. So maybe my smell & taste is returning & I can Blog about Beer again soon.

In the meantime, that meant I had to pass on the Leeds Brewery, Leeds Pale on Cask in The Pavilion.

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Four Brewers, Five Styles

Yorkshire 247-9
lost to Warwickshire 248-5
by 5 wickets

One Day Cup, Group Stage
Played at Headingley

Sunday 20 May 2018

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That game just emphasised the hit & miss side of the 50 overs. Yorkshire were OK at 112 for 2. But, not at 149 for 6. A rebuild & rearguard got 'em to 247. But, it never felt, looked, nor proved to be enough. The Bears ended up winning it with four overs & bits to spare. They lost two wickets within 17 of the total - ie, once it was already won.

Sam Hain was unbeaten on a 110 ball 102. Jeetan Patel had earlier done four for 33 off his ten. Yorkshire made inroads, but couldn't get anywhere close.

Plunkett & Willey at the IPL. Root & Bairstow back preparing for the Test. But, we knew all that. Former one day skipper Lees all over the place, in all formats. Current skipper Ballance missing in as yet unexplained circumstances. The Fish injured. White Ball Only Specialist Rashid caught behind off their spinner for 4 off 5, & going for 46 wicketless. Black Sheep the only beer on. If you say it like that, it sounds a bit oh no here we go. But, just the hit & miss side of the 50 overs I'm afraid.

Good, bright, partisan crowd in. Lots of kids & activities. Some You Bear’ers. But of nice weather helps. Great beer in Growlers. Same old. But, you could get used to this.

Wylam, In Every Dream Home A Heartache, from a tin at 6%.
Wylam, Track, Dry & Bitter & North Brewing Collab. Four breweries, five styles - it felt like. Dry Hopped. But Double. Heading for IPA. Via a Sour Mash. Don't read the can, you'll never buy it.
Look. Nice, powerful beer. I'm not quite sure what they're trying to do. It tastes v hopped to me. The sourness is buried layers below.

666/1370

A Very Successful Cricket Club

Warwickshire 219 all out
lost to Yorkshire 296 all out
Warwickshire 251 all out
Yorkshire 178-8
by 2 Wickets

County Championship Division One

Played at Headingley

Friday 22 September 2017

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Someone wearing a cape has come to save Yorkshire. Again. Chasing 178. In a fairly low scoring game. 71 for 4. 86 for 5. 86 for 6. 96 for 7 when Hodd went. Ballance has got to 21. The highest score. In one of the worst decisions in a game full of poor decisions. Gale had chosen to sit right at the end of the Bird Ego Project Players Balcony. He had a full view of the Trueman Enclosure. And they/we/I had a full view of him.

With the scores I've listed. Culminate 96 for 7. The Members don't think we'll get there. So. Some begin to “question” Gale. He decides initially to Chirp back. Oh, do Fuck Off. How is that going to end well. I'm a big, big Andrew Gale fan. But, I'm not a fan of coaches. How many different ways are there to lay a set of cones out?

In an unlikely, but glorious, win from there, Patto top scored with 44 not out off 78. He's got the cape on. But, I actually thought the real hero was Matthew Fisher. Out at parity. For 15 off 70 balls. He just played with a clear head. Leave the right ones. Defend the right ones. Whack the right ones. Run 'em. Look calm, be calm, fly.

So. As well as new, intriguing cone patterns. That's the environment I want The Coach to set. The players need to be calm. Make the right decisions. As The Fish went about his business, I just thought - that's it, intelligent cricket.

These players. Lyth, Lees, Leaning, Hodd, Bresnan, Patterson, Rafiq. They're not bad players. We know that. They just have to get their MoJo back. That's coaching.

That leaves YCCC eighteen points ahead of Somerset. Hampshire & Middlesex are just behind us in the mix as well. Middlesex go to Taunton next week. They can't both win. It ain't over. But, that PattoFish win today was a big step. It is over for me. I won't go to Chelmsford for Yorkshire's game at Champions Essex next week. I'm going to look forward not back.

This. Is. Cricket. No quick fixes. We won two Champos. Came close in others. But, it's a Game Of Cycles. Negatively, we're a team on the decline. Positively, we're a team in transition. We're also a very successful Cricket Club. The nature of the English game is that success comes in two ways. Silverware & England Players. Instead of constantly blaming England for nicking our players. We need to CELEBRATE that our players are the backbone of the England Red, White, Pink Ball teams. Home growners Root, Bairstow, Rashid. Yorkshireman Plunkett. Incomer Willey.

Have a pop back. I'm 58. Dinosaur territory. It ain't all about silverware.

I'm not a bring him iner. I'm not a sign himer. I'm a pick themer. If our best are in Tests. And, if the other team's best. Beat our best. When our best have been the best they can be. That'll do. I just doubt that our best of the rest after Tests have been the best they can be in this underfiring season.

My strategy. Stick with the core. Get the best out of them.

Mallinsons, American S.I.P.A. on cask at 4.5% (in Sheffield Tap)

That was superb. Crystal clear & bright as a button in the glass. Thin PermaHead. Great Lacing. Some initial sweetness. Gives in to fantastic growing bitterness. Maybe some Rocket. Tangy. Then some bitter oranges. Superb.

539/1130

I was already in the aisle

Warwickshire 219 all out
v Yorkshire 296 all out
Warwickshire 251 all out
Yorkshire 56-3
close on Day 3

County Championship Division One

Played at Headingley

Thursday 21 September 2017

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The number there is 22 overs. There was a little bit of rain threatening through the day. The light didn't look great at times. The meter twitched. It's wearing. It's a Day 3 pitch. But, the best of the day weatherwise was that final couple of hours. Having got the game to 175 to win. Lyth & Brathwaite (and then Lees & Ballance) stride out there. Knowing if the light held. There'd be 22 overs to face. To be grandiose. To save Yorkshire's season. And, they've lost three wickets. Three.

Sums it up.

In different circumstances, that's what we've come for. Professional sportsmen. Knowing what they've got to do. It's all there on the line. Mate, have you got it? Have you got the skills? Have you got the ticker? Well, have you? But, that all seems better when it's abstract. When it's academic. Let's have it right. When it's not your team. But, when it is your team. Oh FFS.

We know Jeetan Patel has the skills & ticker. 6.4 overs. Three Maidens. Two for 20. Drop it in there. Few round the bat. Little strike rotation. Stuck on a number. What's the batsman gonna do next? Get out. Brathwaite has a Yorkshire career of four innings to contribute. On his bit of the patchwork quilt. He's halfway, the lad. Got 35 runs. Got out with three balls of the day left.

I needed to get to the Alehouse. I'd put my stuff in my bag. I'd zipped my fleece up. I'd put my bag on. I'd stood up. I'd pushed past Trev. I was in the Aisle. In. The. Aisle. And, he's got out. And now, the others have their go. Some of 'em are even Yorkshiremen. Ballance 16 Not Out. And the rest. Make 118. Go on.

Hopjacker, Stargoon, West Coast IPA on keg at 6%
Welbeck Abbey, Seth's Hillbilly Rye on cask at 4.5%
Brewsmith, New Zealand Pale on cask at 4.2%

That Hopjacker was a Day Saver. Proper West Coast. From Dronfield.

538/1129

The Campaign Starts Here

Warwickshire 219 all out
v Yorkshire 296 all out
Warwickshire 49-1
close on Day 2

County Championship Division One

Played at Headingley

Wednesday 20 September 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

The CAMPAIGN starts here. Write to your MP. Buy some Boltcutters. Whack a Balaclava on. We must get a permanent on site licence for Growlers on Otley Rd. Lovely bright, modern Craft Beer bottleshop. Just up the top of St Michael's Lane. Left at The Skyrack. They've got four keg fonts. But are really only able to sell them into Growlers, take away bottles, flasks. Call 'em what you will. For consumption OFF the premises.

But, not this week. This week. The Students arrive. So they have a temporary ON Licence. Make. It. Permanent.  Because, that is/could be a neat addition to the Headingley Beer “Scene”.

I had some lovely fellow travellers with me. Everyone helping everyone out with tickets & lifts & favours. Naturally, I invited them to Growlers. To buy them a drink. Fella goes.

“Have you got anything that's like John Smiths?”

Partly Bless. But, partly, help the fella chuck himself in & see how he gets on. I toyed with suggesting a First Chop tin. But I cajoled him into trying a Verdant/Northern Monk Pale & a Thornbridge AM/PM. Both kegs. He plumped for the Thornbridge.

I went for that Collab. Verdant/Northern Monk/YCH Hops Noibu on keg at 5.5%. Loved it. But, I was too busy firing questions at the guy running the shop to make proper notes.

I haven't got the spreadsheet out. But, it's a be very good to win this one game for Yorkshire's relegation battle. Missing out on that point at 300. Four short. Ain't helped. And, going from an utterly dominant position on the first morning. To The Bears being only 28 behind. Nine in hutch. That ain't helped. But, that's the game. Lots of starts. But, only Lyth got past 50. Matthew Fisher was third best with 37. Extras were 32. It's not good enough. We still might survive. But, it's not good enough.

537/1128

Patelslaught

Warwickshire 219 all out
v Yorkshire 62-1
close on Day 1

County Championship Division One

Played at Headingley

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Lunch. The Arcadia
Heavy Industry, 77, Amber IPA on cask at 4.9%.

Very appealing in the glass. Tan. Is what I'm saying. Lovely narrow head. Which stayed. Powerful smell. Fresh & hoppy. The taste grows. From nothing. I like that. Innocuous. Then the bitterness. Comes & comes. No harshness mind. Loved that.

At the end of all that. Yorkshire are in a fair position. Although new Big Dog, Brathwaite managed to get out with less than 3 overs left in the day. But, The Bears were 49 for SIX. With less than 29 overs bowled. Really, that has been a hell of a counter attack by Warwickshire. Partly Ian Bell with 51 off 123 balls. (Body language suggested he felt he'd been fired out LBW to Fisher). But, gloriously, by Jeetan Patel. Bludgeoned 17 fours. To end with 100 off 112. Look. He took his chances & played his shots. And, it's come off. A healthy lead for Yorkshire looks a long way off. Patel has put his side in the game.

I felt all Yorkshire's bowlers did well until the Patelslaught. Economical. Beating the bat. Big shouts. Matthew Fisher has ended being a tad expensive. But. Blow that. He's done five for 54. Salute.

536/1127

Barely in it

Yorkshire 281-8
lost to Warwickshire 284-5
by 5 wickets

Royal London One Day Cup, North Group

Played at Edgbaston

Sunday 14 May 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

For a lot of that, it felt like Yorkshire weren't in it. Didn't help that Lyth was out to the first ball of the match. Bairstow was out halfway through the 4th. They had dragged it back to 114-3 around half way through. But, then lost Ballance. And a 116 stand between Bresnan & Waite pushed 'em towards 300. Jeetan Patel went for just 32 off his 10. As a rule of thumb, you're looking for a minimum of 300 nowadays.

Trott & Bell put on 124 for the first wicket. Emphasising that it didn't feel like YCCC were in it. Alright, a bit of a wobble as Rafiq did for Hain, Ambrose & Ateeq Javid. But that gave way to a 111 stand from Bell & Rikki Clarke took them to just 4 runs away. They were over the line with 2.3 overs to spare.

The Tom Dollery Lounge had Marston's Pedigree on cask. And 61 Deep Pale & Pearl Jet Stout on keg. I was on the tins. Sourced from Beer Central in Sheffield.

Magic Rock Tap Type APA at 6%. Very very tropical fruit salad in the smell. Lovely and thick n chewy in the mouth. First up, the bitter feels a long way back. But, it's intense when it gets there. Nice long finish. Interestingly, as you get further down it, it is much more bitter hop forward.

478/999

YCCC Magic Pill

Warwickshire 178 all out
v Yorkshire 295-6
Close on Day 2

Played at Edgbaston

Saturday 15 April 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

In my last Blog of last season's County Championship, with Gillespie as good as on the plane, I asked for stability. In particular, I suggested Gale should not fall on his sword.

Well. It's mapped out differently, but it's compatible. Gale has retired from playing. But, he's been appointed coach. Non-Yorkshire born, non-Yorkshire nurtured, gunslinger for hire, Ballance appointed Captain. At least that gives some stability.

Here's the Magic Pill for this season. Top order to make runs consistently. Seam bowlers to be penetrative. But, tight & economical when necessary. Rashid to hoover tails. Extra medication includes Rashid to make runs as well, Hodd to make runs. Rafiq to get bang at it with ball, bat & general geeing up & in your facedness when he gets a shirt. Plunkett to rattle 'em.

First thing Gale should've done is put the required fitness science into play. Fail. Brooks, Sidebottom, Plunkett, The Fish all Crocks. Give 'em the Bresnan pill.

Big, big season for Leaning. Gale gone. Bairstow kidnapped by Bayliss. There is a shirt there if Leaning wants it. (See also Rhodes). Leaning's 40 doesn't look too bad. But, it was 114 balls. Bresnan got 61 from fewer. Handscomb got 75 from fewer. I feel Handscomb will be disappointed. He should be. Looked like a ton for the taking. Maybe he got a snorter though. Looked to be a booming inswinger.

Glass half full. Leaning, Handscomb, Bresnan & Red Ink Rashid all played their part in a team effort 117 lead with 4 in the hutch.

You know the drill. Major sports ground. They're gonna have Pouring Partners. Of the Industrial Brewer type. In Edgbaston’s case, that is Marston's. Infrequency of games means Cask Ale may be a challenge. You're hoping for some “interesting” keg, or bottles. The EPA handpull was turned around. For the first hour, there was a sign up saying “no draft beer”. Apparently “unforeseen circumstances”. FFS.  But, they got there.

Marston's, 61 Deep, Pale Ale on keg at a quaffable 3.8%.

Good first impression. Smells lovely. Bursts full of flavour. Hop aroma, hint of citrus in the background. First mouthful has a nice upfront bitterness. By the second, it does taste a little too sweet. But, I'll have that. Refreshing & tasty.

(Marston's, Pearl Jet, Stout was also on keg).

463/970

Low scoring

Yorkshire 257 all out
v Warwickshire 179 all out
Yorkshire 78-5
close on Day 2

Friday 5 August 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - steady at THREE. Hodd, Brooks & Head.

There was a funeral wake at the place I had my eye on for Lunch. So, it was back to The Headingley Head Of Steam instead. Sonnet 43, The Raven, Bourbon Milk Stout at 4.3%.

Blimey, the game has moved along there. Yorkshire’s last pair added just a few. Clarke and Hain scored just under a hundred between them. The others could only get it up to 179. Yorkshire doubled that handy 78 run lead. But lost Lyth, Head, Gale, Leaning & the NightWatchman in doing so.

The wickets were shared between Sidebottom, Brooks, Patterson & Rashid. So, we’re still firing OK on those fronts.

Lees is not out on 39. Him, Rashid & Bresnan need to get to the stage they have something a bit better to bowl at.

347/745

Frail

Yorkshire 252-9
v Warwickshire

close on Day 1

Thursday 4 August 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - steady at THREE. Hodd, Brooks & Head.

The Headingley Head Of Steam for the lunch drink. I quite like this chain. Although the jury is still out on their craft keg range. I can't quite figure out how much rotation there is. Any discount on cask for CAMRA members. I did Tyne Bank Brewery, Single Blonde at a quaffable 3.5%.

Yorkshire's usual batting frailties on display there. Only Leaning & Head above 40. Lots of crease occupation. For not many runs. You cannot criticise Bresnan this season. And he rescued the top order many times last season. But, he's stayed there for 114 minutes. Twenty eight runs.

And, of course, it's fun n games at the end. Hodd was eighth gone at 199. Short of the first point. Brooks went at 204. But Patto & Ryan still there at the close. Past the 2nd point at 252. The second biggest partnership of the dig.

346/744

Dumbing Down

Warwickshire 283-6
beat Yorkshire 167 all out
by 114 runs D/L method

Monday 1 August 2016

Royal London One-Day Cup, North Group

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie Gunslinger Gauge - steady at THREE. Willey, Head, Hodd.

Lovely beer in The Arcadia. Burning Sky, Easy Answers IPA on keg at 6%. There's the Pun right there. Yorkshire lose heavily again. There are no Easy Answers.

Very pale in the glass. Gentle rather than rich. But packing a nice hop hit.

Received wisdom has it that Yorkshire are capable of/are conceding lots of runs in the last 10 overs. No go to death bowler. The game gets away from you a little bit. The oppos gain momentum. You have to chase it a bit more than you expected. You lose a few wickets. You're a long way behind. It's over quickly.

Trott scored a nice Ton. Set the platform for some buckles to be swashed. Ambrose was 4th out at 185 in the 42nd over. Trott was still there. And, they've ended on 283. Nearly 100 runs on. That's it.

My head got a bit done in by the BBC Radio commentary. Which was live nationally on 5 Live Sports Extra. They were trotting out any old shit. Much of it given to them by random email correspondents not at the match.

It rained. The BBC happily telling the Nation we needed Yorkshire to bat 20 overs for a result. You need to bat 10.

Some self appointed Cone Head had emailed that Yorkshire needed 235 for a home QF. Much talked about by the BBC as the Nation listened. They needed 189.

Poor.

343/741

That'll take some beating

Yorkshire 177-4
v Warwickshire
close on Day 1

Sunday 24 April 2016

County Championship Division 1

Edgbaston

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - TWO. Ballance & Brooks. Good effort. Watch out for FIVE somewhere down the track.

We know the problem well. Most professional sports clubs will be tied to one brewer. More than likely as a major sponsor. And, they have a lot of customers in a short space of time. And then nobody for a week or two. All of which doesn't make the keeping of a range of cask beer easy.

So, that is a superb start to the season by Warwickshire. Cask & Craft & Bottles to give a great range. All from the Marston’s stable natch. Given the weather. (We shouldn't be playing Championship Cricket in April). I was mainly sheltering in the Tom Dollery Member's Lounge.

Which had; Pedigree on cask
Pedigree & New World Pale on keg
Revisionist Craft Stout on keg
Boon Doggle, Brakspear Bitter, E.P.A.,Forty Niner & Sneck Lifter all in bottles. And your industrial lager & cider offerings.

A great way to organise it if you're tied in to one supplier. A big Salute. I even wandered over to the Birmingham/City end lounge. Marston's Oyster Stout on over there to add to the mayhem.

It's a long hard season. (Which shouldn't be starting in April). But, that beer range is gonna take some beating. Did I mention, it's still only April.

I had the Revisionist Craft Stout. Not outstanding. A bit too sweet. But, perfectly OK “in the circumstances”.

A weather dusrupted & truncated day. Off for bad light, with the floodlights on. And, this is April remember.

307/642

They're not not going for it

Warwickshire 435 all out
v Yorkshire 303 all out
Warwickshire 219-7 declared
Yorkshire 221-4
Match Drawn

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

I must drink more beer. Dry again today. No excuse. But games coming thick n fast at the moment.

Neither side could make it happen today. There is usually a feeling that the third innings goes on too long. I don't fret. Captain has to do what he has to do. Warwickshire played some aggressive shots. Players got out. It ended with 5 wickets for Middlebrook.

When asked "did Yorkshire go for them?" My view is - they didn't not go for them. Play shots. Put bad balls away. Run hard. Rotate. See where you get to. That's the way to do it. They were at 4 an over at one stage.

But, they lost a few wickets. Had to consolidate & get to the draw. Gripping for key moments.

130/281

Lights, Camera, No Action

Warwickshire 435 all out
v Yorkshire 303 all out
Warwickshire 108-2
close on Day 3

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

They had to use the new floodlights here at Headingley late on Day 3. Then, with them on, they went off for bad light. On again, then off for the light. I'm fairly neutral on it. But if you come at it cold. They've got floodlights, but it's too dark to play. Give me a gun, I'll just shoot this foot off.

Plan A day for Yorkshire. But, of course, from a poor position. Rather than the excellent positions they got themselves in last year. Bat first to save the follow on. Collect some bonus points if you can. And, they did just that. Put the ball in The Bear's court.

Dry today.

129/280

Umpire Free Zone

Warwickshire 435 all out
v Yorkshire 128-3
close on Day 2

Monday 27 April 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

We're gonna do without Umpires at Headingley. Just leave it to the loudest Gobshites in the East Stand & Trueman Enclosure. Never any justification for calling a player a Cheat. Strong that.

Pujara edged one. Keeper McKay spilled it. Dived forward. Claimed it. The umpires had the conflab & gave it. The Gobshites shouted Cheat. Few boos.

Rikki Clarke asked the Trueman Enclosure umpire what view he had of it. You know, from behind the keeper/slips & a hundred yards away. Salute.

Some powerful binoculars down there.

Call him Iron Gloves. But don't call him a Cheat. Some poor weather forecast for Day 3. Despite the need to be indoors, I'll swerve the Long Room. The Cabal will have worked themselves into a frenzy overnight.

Yorkshire's famed a bum on a seat is a bum on a seat policy means it'll probably go unremarked & unrebuked.

Dry day.

All together. ... wiiiiiidddddde

128/279