Bears in (B)ruins

posted by John Winn

There are times when the minutiae of a cricket match need to be raked over to carry the faithful through a slightly dull period of play. The opening hour at Headingley this morning fell into this category as Bell and Barker made steady progress against the Yorkshire attack. Topics under discussion included why Yorkshire began with spin at both ends, why Gale was under the helmet, why Root was setting the field and what is for lunch at 'Stumps'? Answers on a postcard.

Brightening skies provided the answer to the first and the introduction of pace put the skids under Warwickshire so that by lunch they were 2 for 0 following on, four wickets having fallen in the morning session to leave them looking at a mountain 222 runs high if they were to avoid an innings defeat. A whisker short of 50%  of the Bears' first innings runs had been scored by Bell and when he was fourth out in the second dig to Bresnan it was time for he visitors' coach driver to set his sat nav for B5 7QU. Rain delayed the inevitability of a Yorkshire victory as the afternoon turned from 'Cracking flags'  to 'It's black over Calverley' and by 3:45 the umpires had no option to take the players into early tea at 84 for 7.

The Long Room multitude on the whole seemed optimistic and blue sky over the popular side was followed by a cessation of the rain and an announcement that the umpires would inspect at five. Another heavy shower intervened but good work by the ground staff and one suspects a commitment by 22 players and two umpires to avoid the caterers having to decide how much sponge pudding to make tomorrow, saw a  resumption at 6:15, by which time I was back in the Lower Ure Valley. Brooks and Plunkett finished proceedings in about ten minutes to send Yorkshire 11 points clear of a Warwickshire side that had been outplayed throughout the three days. In theory Sussex could overtake the new leaders  tomorrow but the weather on the south coast has been such to leave a victory over Durham very unlikely.

Trent Bridge for me tomorrow but  there are more games in and around Leeds than you could shake a Jack Brooks' headband at,

11:30 Leeds Met Women v Edinburgh Women @ Horsforth

and all 12:30 starts

Leeds Met 1 v Warwick ! @ Kirkstall Educational

Leeds Met 2 v Manchester 1 @ New Farnley

Leeds Uni 1 v Durham Uni 1 @ Weetwood

Leeds Uni 2 v York St John @New Rover

Leeds Uni 3 v Northumberland 2 @ Weetwood no 2 ground

Many thanks to Tony Hutton for supplying the above. With sunshine promised let's hope we all have a good day. Enjoy.