Not for the first time this season indifferent Saturday morning weather caused me to change my cricket watching plans. Cast aside was a scheme to visit four grounds in the Pontefract League and when the drizzle which had been steady since about 11:00 stopped I drove to Great Ouseburn where Ouseburn CC were taking on Burton Leonard. The visitors had done the hosts a favour last week by beating the previously unstoppable Pannal and when I arrived were making hay in a rain reduced game in anticipation that the sun would shine which it duly did to bring us a lovely late afternoon and evening.
Despite the loss of late wickets Burton made 265 for 8 from their 39 overs and while we enjoyed Mrs Parker's excellent tea there was a feeling on the viewing balcony that 'it was gettable' but we needed a good start. Alas that was we did not get with Sam Parker (son of) gone in the first over and with others following Ouseburn fell well short at 176 all out. I was impressed with Burton Leonard, especially the running between the wickets of the later batsmen and good bowling backed up by keen fielding. I was less impressed however by the constant noise they made in the field. This is repeated grievance of mine about cricket at all levels and until somebody proves to me that it makes one jot or tittle's difference to a team's performance to have repeated cries of 'keep working lads' resonating to all parts I shall continue to bellyache.
Home in time to see England complete a remarkable win over NZ and prove what all within the Broad Acres knew already, namely that Jonny should have been playing in all the matches. Instead of whom is perhaps less clear. As a non keeping keeper Billings was an obvious suggestion but he has shown in at least two matches that he can bat well in this type of cricket.
To Harrogate this afternoon for Yorkshire women against their Middlesex counterparts and then Headingley tomorrow where the visitors are the underperforming Notts. Yorkshire will be
keen to narrow the gap Durham have opened up at the top of the table before the two sides meet at The Riverside next Sunday and added interest is given to tomorrow's game by the presence of Lyth, Ballance and Broad, three representatives from 'the weaker northern counties' that continue to provide the majority of England's test team.
Finally I am indebted to today's Observer for this snippet. In the odi yesterday Ross Taylor was caught Bairstow bowled Willey, the same fate as happened to Rod Marsh twenty five years ago. I leave our readers to join up the dots.
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