Grumpy old man reports

Posted by Tony Hutton

The Yorkshire v Hampshire match at Headingley this week has been reported on by our other contributors. Suffice to say that after an enjoyable first day, with fine innings from Bairstow and Bresnan, and meeting up with many people, including Cumberland secretary Gilbert Johnstone, things went downhill rapidly from my point of view on day two.

The weather was bad, with the biting cold wind and threat of rain, but the cricket in the first session was even worse. Shahzad's strangely negative performance with the bat, when he was stuck on 48 for about three quarters of an hour seemed inexplicable. Was he batting under orders ? If so, didn't Yorkshire realise they were wasting their own time in a game which looked certain to be shortened by weather interruptions ?

Whatever the reasons, I had enough after only an hour and a half and left the ground in disgust, not to return until the next day. Instead I had the rare pleasure of watching championship cricket on Sky Sports and an excellent third day's play which saw Sussex complete a nine wicket victory in the early evening.

The contrast between events at Headingley and Hove could not have been greater. For one thing the sun was shining and Notts with their backs to the wall, took a very positive attitude through Andre Adams, who went on the attack to score a very quick 64 off only 44 balls and put his side back into the game.

Chasing 184 to win, Sussex showed no apprehension in facing England bowlers Broad and Swan. A splendid century partnership from Joyce and Nash saw them very much in the driving seat. England under 19 player Luke Wells, son of former Sussex captain Alan Wells, came in at the fall of the first wicket and enhanced his rapidly growing reputation with quick runs which took Sussex home in style.

Even Sky commentator Bob Willis, not known as a supporter of county cricket, was impressed, and had to admit that the ebbs and flows of championship cricket played in a positive manner takes some beating. Sadly of course the bad weather and difficult conditions for both players and spectators continued at Headingley and the game finished in a predictable draw, despite initial hopes of a Yorkshire victory when early wickets fell in Hampshire's second innings.