On this day (3)

posted by John Winn

This year's first class season began in March and ended on the 13th of September. The earliest ever start but not the latest ever finish for on this day in 2009 there was a full programme of championship matches which ended on Saturday 26th of September. Durham had already clinched the championship two weeks previously when they had defeated nearest rivals Notts on a gloriously hot day at the Riverside. There was still however much to play for when the last round of games began on Wednesday 23rd, not least Yorkshire's survival in Division 1 for as they entered the game with Hampshire at Headingley they needed five points to ensure they avoided the drop. Hampshire too were not free from worry for they still needed three points.In the event both were saved by Sussex's defeat at Trent Bridge and it was the Hove side who accompanied Worcestershire into Division 2.

The first morning saw barracking of umpires Bodenham and Cowley for their failure to allow play in what they judged to be poor light but when it did get underway Hampshire batted solidly and ended the day on 227 for 4 with Lumb leading the way and good resistance on the second morning saw them to the batting points that guaranteed safety. Rudolph and Sayers began well for Yorkshire and when the former was out shortly before the close they had added 162 and with Sayers making 95 and an unbeaten fifty form Bairstow Yorkshire were dismissed just three short of Hampshire.A last wicket stand with Deon Kruis, playing his final game for the county, just failed to gain a fourth batting point.

The final day of the season saw the wicket get slower and slower and Hampshire had no problem seeing out the day until the captains shook hands, Mc Grath's last action before handing over the captaincy to Gale. The crowd gave Kruis a rapturous ovation but what was not known at the time was that this was to be Hoggard's last game before setting his satnav for Grace Road. He did not end on a high note however, 1 for 146 and a duck being a poor return for one who had given so much for his native county. Just a week earlier he had taken a hat trick at Hove that had pushed Sussex to the brink and yet on October 9th it was announced that Yorkshire would not be offering him a new contract after all and just a week later The Foxes stepped in.

Just three years on only three of those who wore the white rose that day, Gale, McGrath and Lyth played in the last match of this season against Essex.