Red Rose flourishes after noon

 posted by John Winn

When Yorkshire skipper Steve Patterson won the toss at Headingley yesterday it marked his seventh successive correct call but contrary to what used to be accepted practice he did not choose to bat but gave Lancashire that privilege. Before noon, with Wells and Bohannon back in the pavilion, and with only twelve runs having come from eleven overs, Patterson's move looked a smart one. At 5:30 and 237 runs later when Croft was lbw Rauf for 104  the gloss had worn off and in his post match interview 'Patto' owned up to a frustrating day in which Lancashire had been 'let off the hook', an obvious reference to chances that had not been taken when the two centurions (Jennings finished the day on 150 not out) were still in single figures, bringing the number of catches Yorkshire have spilled this season into the high teens.  Given that in his evening interview the skipper also made reference to 'a decent surface' and being 'light on bowling' his decision made at 10:30 looked all the more puzzling. 

Lest readers think I have signalled Patterson out for unfair criticism he was by no means alone in choosing to field for in the 8 matches started yesterday in only two did the successful skipper opt to bat and in the six games where sides were inserted the average score was 324 for 5. Food for thought. Perhaps this piece of advice on what to do when winning the toss should be written on the dressing room wall 'if you are sure bat, if you are not sure think about it then bat'. Not quite as succinct as Mr Punch's advice to young men contemplating marriage* but not far off.

If choosing to field smacks of caution, and I think it does then this state of mind has also been apparent in 'target setting' this season. There have been several instances where counties have set daunting fourth innings targets only to have failed to bowl their opponents out. Durham, relying almost entirely on right arm seam to take wickets, have twice failed by a distance to turn draws into wins. Last Sunday having gained a first innings lead of 271 they felt unable to enforce the follow on, set Worcestershire almost 450 to win and when Borthwick and D'Oliveira finally shook hands to confirm the draw, Durham's fourth day efforts had yielded but one wicket. A few weeks earlier the game against Leicestershire had followed a similar pattern when the Foxes lost only two wickets having been set nearly 400. 

Last Saturday I spent an hour at the pleasant ground at North Stainley, just a few miles north of Ripon where MCC paid a visit to play the Nidderdale League a couple of seasons ago. Saturday's fare was a division two match from that league with Ouseburn CC the visitors. Ouseburn were batting when I arrived. A steady 74 from opener Peter Carr anchored  the innings and 212 for 9 looked a decent target. So it proved with North Stainley bowled out for 167 and young Jonty Moorhouse taking 5 for 40. Ouseburn's 100% record sees them top of the table after three matches but sterner tests lie ahead starting with a trip to Burton Leonard tomorrow.

* Don't. 

North Stainley CC