After all the excitement of Friday Yorkshire's cricketers can put their feet up for a week before making what will no doubt be a triumphant return to Headingley where they have not played Championship cricket since Durham were the visitors two months ago. There are however six championship matches being played this week. I shall be at The Riverside, probably for all four days for a game with Northants which a couple of weeks ago looked as though it would offer Durham their best chance to avoid relegation but with wins against Notts and Middlesex since then they have made certain that first division cricket will be seen in the north east in 2015. Durham can hardly be blamed for looking ahead to their date at Lord's next Saturday and may rest one or two players, although they are in second team action in Sussex tomorrow. Much interest will no doubt focus on Indian paceman Varun Aaron who has signed as overseas player for the last two games. Quick, just ask Stuart Broad, but a little erratic seems to be his style, We shall see.
The game carrying most significance in the first division is at Taunton where visitors Middlesex can make their 'showdown' at Old Trafford the following week a dead rubber, but a win on the Somerset ground will not come easy and there may just be something to play for in Manchester on Tuesday week.
In the second division a win for Hants and anything less for Essex means they (Hants) will join Worcestershire in the first division next April. So confident am I that Hampshire will be promoted and therefore may not play Glamorgan for some time to come that I have booked my train tickets for Cardiff next week: my eighth and last must see game this season. It is possible therefore that all championship, prize money and relegation issues will be settled when the final round of matches begin on Tuesday week but that will not I am sure make those last few days at Headingley anything but a joyous occasion.
Finally the result of the Royal London Club Championship National Final was awin by 2 wickets for Sandiacre Town of the Derbyshire Premier League. Congratulations to them and the cup stays in the East Midlands, last year's winners being Nottingham based West Indian Cavaliers. And oh yes Ouseburn CC are Nidderdale champions and Darlington NYSD champions, not a bad weekend for this blogger.
A previous Yorkshire championship side, that of 1894 with Lord Hawke as captain . The county won nine titles between 1893 and 1912, something for the present bunch of lads to aspire to.
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