If ifs and buts.......

Posted by John Winn

Travelling to Headingley on Wednesday morning the man opposite me on the train was holding a conversation on his mobile phone along the lines of ...'it will happen sooner or later, probably sooner and if the weather is OK then it will probably be on Friday so if you don't want to be there when it happens then you had better come tomorrow.'It would not have taken Simon Hughes to know what 'it' was but if there was any doubt then this was dispelled when the train stopped at Burley Park and the speaker alighted and turned to walk up the hill towards the cricket ground.
Writing this on Saturday morning 'it' hasn't happened yet and there is the slenderest chance that 'it' might not happen today but I advise any readers to brace themselves before reading the next sentence. Yorkshire's relegation may well be confirmed today, there I've said it. The supreme optimists among our readers will be considering the impact of a Yorkshire win today coupled with a Worcestershire loss and the possibility that 'The Pears' will get no points at The Riverside next week for those three things need to happen for Division One Cricket to be played at Headingley and Scarborough in 2012.'Nuff said'.
After the frustrations of Wednesday's and Thursday's showers and the frequent interruptions to play they caused, yesterday gave us a full day's play with, at times, some warm sunshine.Considering the situation Yorkshire supporters assembled in good numbers only to be let down by their batsmen who for the fourth time this season failed to get any bonus points.Spirits were lifted either side of tea when Sidebottom swept aside Somerset's inexperienced top order but two South Africans, Thomas and Meschede, will resume their partnership this morning with a lead of 194, just one less than Yorkshire's first innings total.An early burst from Sidebottom in what it seems likely will be seam friendly conditions and Yorkshire might still find themselves chasing a gettable fourth innings total. Let's hope so and let's hope they make a decent fist of it and reward those who turn up more in hope than expectation.

Just to tidy up Warwickshire are the 2011 Second Eleven Champions and look likely to add the County Championship to that next week.Warwickshire II beat Glamorgan II by six wickets yesterday.