By JMB
September 24 2006

2006 was a season that started poorly and got better. I spoke to Yorkshire members in April who were not convinced the County Cricket Club had a chance. We had offloaded yet another strike bowler and crowd favourite in Chris Silverwood which left us inexperienced in attack.

The batting was potentially weak and relied heavily on Darren Lehmann and Anthony McGrath. Many fans saw their glass was half empty. To be fair to those embittered fans, for much of the season they were right.

Here is our take on the season.

TOP TEN REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1. Lehmann 339 against Durham. Probably top of the pile for the last twenty years.
2. The team effort to drag the county to safety in the last weeks of the Championship season.
3. Adil Rashid's 6/67. Adil announces his talent to the world.
4. Craig White's stubborn 147 against Notts. Typical Chalky when the chips were down.
5. Reaching the quarter final of the Twenty20 Cup.
6. Andrew Gale's 147 against Warwickshire.
7. The Spin Twins 10 wicket haul against Middlesex at Scarborough.
8. Michael Lumb's 98 against Durham which showed the maturity and concentration we have been looking for from him for some time.
9. David Byas' decision to give youth a chance to shine - hence the spin twins.
10. Terrific test match as Headingley against Pakistan.

TOP TEN REASONS TO DESPAIR

1. Losing Darren Lehmann at seasons end.
2. The performances or lack of them in the Pro40.
3. Jason Gillespie's inconsistency. We were looking for more from him.
4. Richard Dawson's lack of success.
5. The release of Chris Silverwood to Middlesex.
6. The Championship form for the majority of 2006.
7. The weather ruining a couple of games we were going to win.
8. Warwickshire's Headingley comeback in the Championship.
9. Matthew Wood's disappearance from the 1st XI due to form.
10. Michael Vaughan's knee.

THE PLAYERS - END OF SEASON REPORT

JOHN BLAIN (E-) Fell well short of what is expected of a bowler in first class cricket. It wasn't for want of trying and always a pleasant guy off the pitch. Has anyone given him a contract for next season?

TIM BRESNAN (B) Injury prevented a better season from Tim. Showed all the right signs of developing in to a top all-rounder. His 27 wickets at a cost of 31 and some decent knocks with the bat saw him progress in to the England ODI side. This international chance proved too mucg for him but Bres will learn from the experience which should benefit Yorkshire next season.

GERARD BROPHY (D-) He promised us 1000 runs on his arrival as wicket keeper batsmen but 251 runs at 15.68 was a weak comparison. Has been scoring heavily in the seconds lately but surely must go. Only moment of any note was 97 against The Bears.

DAVID BYAS (A-) There is a long way to go but Byas has got the side moving in the right direction. Throwing the young players into the side was a masterstroke, although it could be debated how much was design and how much was necessity. Has broad shoulders but must get frustrated by some Yorkshire fans inability to look past the great names of the past. I think his forward thinking is sometimes stifled at Headingley. Can take a lot of credit for the escape from relegation and although the results don't always back this up - is making progress in the one day arena. Much of his progress next season will depend upon who he can sign to take over from Darren Lehmann.

MITCH CLAYDON (D-) Looked good early season and his performances in the Twenty20 got him in the side. 2 wickets at 85 don’t look good. His back injury prevented a much better season and we would expect more in 2007.

RICHARD DAWSON (E) Oh what has happened to Billy? 8 wickets at 88. Bowled more overs than the spin twins and still fell well short of their haul. His batting let him down also. His release from the county was expected but people should never forget he was a key factor in Yorkshire winning the Champioship title in 2001. Best of luck Billy wherever you go!

ANDREW GALE (C-) Prolific scorer for the seconds but falls short when he moves up. His 149 against Warwickshire though was very impressive and again priceless especially as Lehmann was out injured. Should see more of him in 2007.

JASON GILLESPIE (C) On many occasions his runs in the Championship got us out of a hole. He was hired for his bowling which has been inconsistent. To be fair his 6/37 against Durham did help kick-start our season but he would have expected more than 36 wickets.

SIMON GUY (D-) Again a good second’s player who can score big but again fails to impress on promotion to the first team. Did well against Nott’s behind the stumps to Rashid and Lawson and his maiden fifty against Durham may give him an  outside chance next season.

MATTHEW HOGGARD (D) Managed just 8 wickets at 38 in his few Championship outings. Didn’t look at his best on his brief returns.

DEON KRUIS (B-) Poor start after injury but his bowling in the last two or three matches has been excellent. His final tally of 38 took him to 100 first class wickets in only two seasons! Received County Cap.

MARK LAWSON (B) The other half of the now famous spin twins. Finally kicked on after several seasons of treading water, although to be fair his chances have been limited. He took 27 Championship wickets at 31 again in under half a season and can definately hold a bat.

DARREN LEHMANN (A+)  1706 Championship runs at 78 including six hundreds. One of those six hundreds he saved until last as a fond farewell gesture to the Yorkshire public who love him, yet it wasn't just a century. It was 339 runs and a single handed rescue mission. Lehmann the legend kept us up! One of the all time Yorkshire greats and will be missed! Won this sites Player of the Season Award 2006 by a huge margin.

MICHAEL LUMB (B) Often criticised for a cavalier approach to batting. Knuckled down this season to score 963 Championship runs at an average of 42. This included two hundreds and seven fifties. Came of age in the important final two Championship matches playing two very important and restrained knocks at crucial times. With Lehmann gone next season it will be Lumb's chance to really fire.

ANTHONY McGRATH (A-) 1293 CC runs at 62 including 4 100s + 18 wickets. Will be even more important next season without Boof. If he is to get the captaincy he will have to shoulder the burden of marshalling the middle order as well as the whole side. Captaining a team without Lehmann's runs might prove to be a tough task.

STEVE PATTERSON (D) Given several chances in the first team but just 2 wickets at 105 is a poor showing. Leading wicket taker in Pro40 with 8. Will get opportunities next season. Did show a lot of promise with the bat!

ADIL RASHID (B+) Still only an academy player and has taken 25 CC wkts at 25 in under half a season. His 6/67 against Warwickshire was priceless and thrust him into the spotlight, which he has handled with a maturity beyond his years. Showed he can bat with 63 against Notts. Has a huge amount of potential and is the man to watch in 2007! Won this sites Young Player of the Season Award 2006. 

JOE SAYERS (B-) Pulled himself around after a poor start. An outside bet for skipper next season now Craig White is standing aside. 590 Championship runs at 32 is okay but he needs to score more next season to help fill the void that Lehmann leaves. Top score of 122.

AJMAL SHAHZAD (D-) Plenty of potential but looked out of his depth in the Championship match against Middlesex.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN (C-) He did not play many matches but did okay whilst he came back. In his three Championship games he managed 178 runs (99 HS) at an average of 30. Too many sick notes.

CRAIG WHITE (B) 859 Championship runs at 39 including three hundreds plus runs in both the Pro40 and C&G competitions. He has solved the opening spot and his innings of 147 against Nott’s was the dictionary definition of a captains innings. It is a shame bowling is no longer a regular feature of his game. A great show of leadership towards the end of the season saw Yorkshire stay up in the Championship. Craig has already resigned the captaincy for the 2007 season.

MATTHEW WOOD (E) Again what’s happened to Wood? 1400 runs in a season a few years back. In 2006 only 177 runs at 17.7. Too good a player and too brief a decline to show him the door. Will Boycott work with him? Could still prove important as we do need a replacement for Chalky soon. After a winter of hard work lets hope we get the real Woody back next season.

NICK THORNICROFT, JAMES LEE Unfair to judge these guys on a single Championship match and a couple of Pro40 matches. Both could be useful players.

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