County Cricket

A special mention for Ben Coad who passed 300 First Class wickets yesterday. Operating at the high 70's to low 80's he is up there as one of the best new ball bowlers in County Cricket. Predominantly a seam bowler he constantly tests batsmen with his skill, subtlety & accuracy.

Glamorgan and Gloucestershire have opted for some last match fun and games .

A double forfeiture of innings has left Gloucestershire chasing 382 to win.

With Middlesex only gaining one batting bonus point, Yorkshire have a chance of securing promotion this evening if they can reach 350.

Lancashire are relegated to division two after being bowled out for 177 at New Road. Notts and Warwickshire have escaped the drop.

YORKSHIRE PROMOTED - Back where we belong IMHO. Bigger challenges ahead. But first now the pressure's off, although it was a formality, push on tomorrow, weather permitting & finish the season off in style with a win. It wont be easy the pitch is playing well. which has been an issue for a number of years.

Commiserations to my Lancashire friends, I know they are the old enemy, but that will be 3 years without a Roses match in the Championship, always the highlight of any season. Hopefully Yorkshire can stay up & be joined by Lancs in 2025..

Cobblers

Division One
Champions: Surrey
Runners up: Hampshire

Relegated: Kent and Lancashire

Division Two
Champions: Sussex
Runners up and promoted: Yorkshire

Wooden spoon: Derbyshire

It is always with a hint of sadness as the last day of the English Cricket seasons draws to a close. It was party mode at Headingley yesterday as Yorkshire who had earlier promised to go far the win, decided to save the bowlers & fielders from a day in the dirt & cold & opt for batting out most of the day. When they finally declared at tea it allowed supporters one last chance to see Matthew Fisher in Yorkshire colours before he heads off the Surrey. He delivered 2 wickets to sign off a 12 year career at the club, blighted by injuries. At the time of his debut aged 15 he was the youngest cricketer to play a competitive county match. The fact that he averaged only 4 or 5 Championship games per season is a reflection of his troubles. I wish him well he's a credit to his family a nice lad, & at 27 he should be in his prime & hopefully put all his injuries behind him & add to his one England cap as I'd prefer him in England colour rather than turning out for our old rivals & taking wicket against us.
Back to the batting statisticians were kept busy as Yorkshire's 726-7 dec was their second highest in First Class history behind the 887 at Edgbaston in 1896. The 285 from Wharton was the equal 8th best by a Yorkshire batsman & the 5th Highest score at Headingley bettered only by Lehmann 339, Bradman 334 & 304 & John Edrich 330. He's a player to watch out for in the future, who many believe has been one of the best fielders in the country this year.

Within the next 2 weeks Yorkshire expect to announce their new Head Coach after the departure of Otis Gibson.
Decisions will have to be made regarding the retention of Shan Masood as overseas player & captain. As he is now the Pakistan Test captain I don't see how he can give his all to both jobs & Tattersall has done a fantastic job & should be backed. If Malan has a re-think about playing Championship cricket we have a ready made experienced player to slot straight in. My priority would be to sign a quick overseas bowler, but they are hard to come by, especially for a full season. We need at least 2 seamers with the loss of Fisher & Leach.
Bairstow hasn't made his intentions clear, he will lose his England contract in October & terms will have to be agreed with Yorkshire. If he is serious about playing Test Cricket again, Championship Cricket is a must. I truly believe he has played his last match for his country, the emergence of Smith has shut that door. Even with injury or loss of form the Smith, I'd expect England to look elsewhere.
It would be hard on Tattersall, but could Yorkshire dangle the carrot & offer extra incentive by making Jonny captain, surely that would be a challenge too hard to resist for a proud Yorkshireman. I really hope his immediate future does lie with T20 slogging, as he still has plenty to offer in the longer form of the game. His presence in the dressing room & on the field has added to the Yorkshire Team-spirit that is as strong as I've known it since the back to back Championship seasons in 2014-15.