Welcome Sanath - Yorkshire CC2

Opening Shot
By Grockle
April 19 2005

So, the mighty Jayasuriya joins the fold and strengthens a side that looked like it could do something in Lancashire. But can it? If our friend the weather gives us the opportunity, we ought to show our mettle this week against the Tykes.

v Yorkshire @ Headingley CC2 April 20 2005

The mighty Sri Lankan has arrived and walks straight into a side at a test venue he should feel at home in.  I have no idea what his record is like in Leeds but he strengthens an already strong batting line-up and partners Marcus Trescothick in the most exciting opening pair since Banger joined Lathwell in the early 90's.  Hope I haven't put the mockers on him!

But who makes way?  Mike Burns has cemented his place in the top order with his excellent 107 at Edgbaston in a game taken away from us by rain.  He could step down if the policy is for youth but I personally doubt that Mark Garraway will make that move this early.  He'll go with what is strong.  That leaves someone moving down the order or stepping aside.  The two players who that may happen to are John Francis and Matt Wood.  John has started slowly this year, and although it is early, he may be the man to take a backseat until Banger returns to English duty.  Matt Wood has been the 'bridesmaid' more than most and may lose out because of past policy but that would be unfair.  He hasn't failed, except when his ex-boss ran him out and looks confident and assured at the crease.  It's going to be a knotty one!

Front End? Trescothick, Jayasuriya, Burns, Wood, Hildreth

The middle order sort of picks itself ...welll for 67% of it anyway.  Ian Blackwell is on the list very early these days and will bat at 6 and Rob Turner will come in at 7.  Who at 8?  Well it is uncertain what is happening here.  Aaron Laraman is the guy who should be trying to make this place his own special position and has been very tight with the ball in his outings so far.  However, Simon Francis was preferred over him for the one dayer against Warwickshire, either because of confidence that the top six can put the scores up or because we wanted to spread the bowling.  We don't know because the rain stopped the plan being put into practice.  It could be that Simon has come on in leaps and bounds in the batting stakes and is there as the batting bowler but I'll plump for the first reason until I see that proven.  I'd go for AL because he can contribute in both areas but we may see SF making a play for the number 8 spot.

Middle Order? Blackwell, Turner, Laraman

The back end picks itself at the moment, if injury is not a worry.  Caddick looked like Mr C of old, Nixon was hostile and Johnson looks to be getting back into the groove that makes him vital in the wicket stakes.  I'm not sure they are all firing fully yet, but let's hope that happens this week and Yorkshire get a hot foot because of it.

Bowling? Johnson, Caddick, McLean

It looks flipping tight and strong in each of its sections to me, but we still wait for the weather to give it the opportunity to show us what it can do as a unit.  It is as a unit it will stand or fall.  The batsmen have to murder the Yorkshire bowling during the same four days as the bowlers murder the Yorkshire batsmen.  It happened last time we came up here with the arrival of last year's batting sensation so there is a precedent.

Yorkshire have at least one of their internationals back..but it isn't Vaughan. Matthew Hoggard will be eligible to play in this game and there'll be a Kolpak guy called Deon Kruis ("South African") who bowls.  Other than that White has McGrath, Silverwood, Wood (the other one) and then, of course, Ian Harvey (if he's arrived yet) and Phil Jaques to call on.  We should be better but we'll have to see how it unfolds.

Oh, one other thing.  Looking on the YCCC site I found something else out.  Marcus is available for the 4th and 17th May C&G games.  Which is nice!