The bell at Old Trafford
Ben Coad's impressive performance for Yorkshire against Hampshire has obviously not gone unnoticed. Some of his young colleagues in the second XI have been quick to make their mark as Martyn Moxon has already called for the youngsters to press for places. On the first day of a four day friendly between Lancashire seconds and Yorkshire seconds at Old Trafford on Monday it was James Wainman, yet another opening bowler prospect who took the headlines with 5-42. He was aided and abetted by young wicketkeeper Jonathan Read, who could get a first team call if anything happens to Andrew Hodd, the current deputy for starved of cricket Johnny Bairstow.
Read took five catches and a stumping which augurs well for the future.
The Old Trafford pavilion looks even worse than Headingley's.
I was at Old Trafford yesterday to see Yorkshire recover well from loosing two early wickets to spinner Kerrigan overnight. Lancashire were bowled out for 257 and Yorkshire finished day one on 31-2 with Callis and Willey already out. Will Rhodes and Johnny Tattersall started day two confidently and Tattersall had made a tidy 36 before he was out caught behind at 110-3. Matthew Waite joined Rhodes and after a quiet start began to play his shots. Rhodes had gone quickly to fifty off fifty balls without really hitting out and continued to play in a very solid fashion all day.
Will Rhodes in the runs at Old Trafford
The very small crowd sheltered from the persistent wind underneath the Point and when the cloud cleared and the sun came out in the afternoon session it was very pleasant indeed. Kerrigan, who was captaining Lancashire, did not bring himself on to bowl until quite late in proceedings, but he then captured the important wicket of Waite for 64 after a partnership of 133 with Rhodes. Gibson made 35 including six fours and Matthew Fisher 32 as Yorkshire were approaching 400 by the close with Rhodes on 170 not out.
The scoreboard tells the story
So a good day all round for Yorkshire and a shame that rain prevented play until after tea on day three of this four day match. However given a dry day tomorrow, Yorkshire will be confident of forcing a victory. I must comment on my dislike for all the modern architecture which now surrounds this historic field. It is not to my taste and the way the old pavilion has been submerged, the noise from the hotel building site and even the lukewarm coffee is enough to suggest this will be my last ever visit.
I think many of us would say 'No' to all of this
Apart from a few blustery showers early on it was a dry day at Weetwood today but the strong westerly wind made conditions for players and the few spectators very uncomfortable. About half an hour was lost to the rain and with a 12.30 start it meant we were heading for a very late finish.We could only watch from the warmth of the car as Cambridge MCCU batted first against Leeds/Bradford MCCU in this one day BUCS trophy game. Cambridge had not fared well in their games against the first class counties but put up a much better show today.
Akil Greenidge, the West Indian, was top scorer with 66, which contained only three fours, but he held the innings together in good partnerships with Palmer and Guest. Three wickets fell to run outs and it was good to see three spinners bowl their full compliment of ten overs each. Cambridge made a very good total of 260-8 in their fifty overs.
Leeds/Bradford lost four of their five top order batsman cheaply and were struggling at 79-4, but opening bat Martin Andersson, from Middlesex, played a fine innings and kept the home side in the game with a splendid century. He was unfortunately caught on the long on boundary immediately after getting to a hundred and the loss of more quick wickets made Cambridge favourites. An unlikely last wicket partnership of nineteen put Leeds back in with a chance and only eleven were needed off the last over. When Taylor bowled a no ball it was down to nine off four balls but Bocking going for a big hit was caught on the boundary and Cambridge won by eight runs at 7.20 p.m. Everyone was delighted to return to the pavilion, out of the wind which had blown fiercely all day without respite.
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