Memories of Root and Bairstow 2009 - Jennifer Ellison

Posted by Jennifer Ellison

Bairstow and Root at Headingley yesterday.

Kevin Sharp, now Head of Player and Coaches Development at Worcestershire, yesterday jogged my memories from way back in 2009, by tweeting the scorecard from a game between Leicestershire second eleven and Yorkshire second eleven at Oakham Town cricket ground. This sets the scene for yesterday's dramatic partnership between Joe Root and Jonathan Bairstow to win the Test Match at Headingley. Kevin of course was a major influence in the development of both players at Yorkshire. Here is the second innings scorecard he posted - 

I was there, together with my late husband John, along with another couple from Yorkshire and Joe Root's grandad Don, among a mere handful of spectators. As you can see Leicestershire had a first innings lead of 140 runs. When the Yorkshire first innings ninth wicket fell at 181, 15 more runs were required to save the follow on, and the last pair of Finch and Ashraf saved the day with a partnership of 25. Leicester then made 261 in their second innings and set Yorkshire the daunting target of 402 to win on the final day. Yorkshire started badly and lost three wickets for 44 during the first hour. 19 year old Bairstow and 18 year old Root then took control.

Bairstow takes the applause at the tea interval at Oakham.

Bairstow led the way and by tea the score was on 294-3.  Both players passed the century mark, then made short work of the remaining 100 or so runs after tea and Yorkshire won the game by seven wickets with an hour of play to spare. Bairstow just reached his double century shortly before the end of the game. In the process the pair had added an unbroken partnership of 358 which was then the highest for any wicket in the Second Eleven Championship. In addition the second innings total of 402 was the highest ever recorded in the competition.

Here is the rather flimsy scorecard which records the two teams, but did not have sufficient space to fill in all the details.

A truly memorable occasion which will always be remembered. How good it was to see these two great players grow up with the Yorkshire Academy and Second Eleven to become the major Test stars they are today. Such a shame that now we so very rarely see them in County Championship action for the county which developed them.