Result: Draw

My Men of Match: Richard Pyrah & Ben Sanderson

[Scorecard]

Ey up,

There’s not much you can take from a three day friendly against one of the university sides, particularly one that’s reduced by the weather to little more than two days play, and one that’s reduced by the necessity to rest players to little more than an outing for the second XI.

There’s the opportunity to improve your career average, given the baffling fact that these games retain their first-class status. There’s also the chance to have a look at some of the fringe/emerging players with slightly more of a spotlight on them – emphasis on ‘slightly’.

So what did we learn?

Brophy’s form continues to impress, and gives us the option to rest Bairstow for more than just the one-day games if needed. Pyrah’s century, added to the confident sixty odd from the championship game against Essex, means we have two batsmen waiting in the wings with experience of the first team, some form and a second string to their bow should we need them. Given the England Lions match with Bangladesh clashes with our next CC game at Taunton, call-ups could mean one or both of those two are needed.

Sanderson took wickets, cementing his place as next seamer in line, although that may change with James Lee close to recovering from a bruised rib. That’s a badly timed injury on Lee’s part; he should be pushing hard for a first team place, not sitting out games like this whilst our assistant bowling coach takes the new ball – if someone has an explanation why that wasn’t shared between Sanderson and Ashraf, I’d like to hear it.

There was also an opportunity to get a few more overs under the belt of Wainwright, who’s bowling has yet to find its fluent best. His form so far this season is a concern, as he’s a player whose importance to the team will increase as the summer progresses.

For the rest, this was a chance to get a little more experience, a chance to play on the square at Headingley, a chance to catch the eye. But in reality this game came at the wrong time in the season to be of much use to Yorkshire. Pre-season and it would be a useful warm-up; as a first match coming out of the 20/20 games, a perfect chance to find feet in the longer form. But after 23 days play in the first month plus travelling, Yorkshire was always going to rest their first team.

Play these games by all means, they help the development of the young cricketers who do play, but let’s not devalue first-class cricket giving them that status.

Si’thee later,

Len