By Gary Watton
April 29 2013
The white rose county admirably and stubbornly soldiered on with its policy of restricting its recruitment policy to Yorkshire-born cricketers. However as the first XI failed in all ten years of the 1980s to finish once in the top five of the County Championship, the stark truth confronted Yorkshire County Cricket Club that sooner or later the county would have to sell its soul and employ non-Yorkshire personnel if success was to be attained once again. Meanwhile Martyn Moxon took over Geoffrey Boycott's role as the prime source of runs, Richard Blakey emerged as the long-term replacement for the trusty wicket-keeper David Bairstow, and Paul Jarvis was relied upon to take on the seam bowler's baton from Chris Old. The one-day successes in the Sunday League in 1983 and the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1987 were but an oasis of glory in the midst of a desert of under-achievement. One notable milestone was the tenth wicket stand of 149 between Geoffrey Boycott and Graham Stevenson at Edgbaston against Warwickshire 1982 which became a new county record.
County Championship positions
1980: 6th (champions: Middlesex)
1981: 10th (champions: Nottinghamshire)
1982: 10th (champions: Middlesex)
1983: 17th! (champions: Essex)
1984: 14th (champions: Essex)
1985: 11th (champions: Middlesex)
1986: 10th (champions: Essex)
1987: 8th (champions: Nottinghamshire)
1988: 13th (champions: Worcestershire)
1989: 16th (champions: Worcestershire)
1987 BENSON AND HEDGES CUP FINAL; at Lord's; versus Northamptonshire; Yorkshire won the toss
Northamptonshire: 244 for 7
Cook.G c Blakey b Jarvis 1
Larkins c Carrick b Hartley 15
Bailey c Moxon b Fletcher 26
Lamb c Bairstow b Jarvis 28
Capel b Hartley 97
Williams c Bairstow b Jarvis 44
Wild b Jarvis 6
Davis not out 10
Ripley not out 6
Extras: 11
Jarvis 4-43
Yorkshire: 244 for 6
Moxon b Cook.N 45
Metcalfe c Davis b Williams 47
Blakey c Davis b Williams 1
Sharp b Williams 24
Love not out 75
Bairstow run out 24
Carrick run out 10
Sidebottom not out 2
Extras: 16
Williams 3-32
Yorkshire collapsed from 97-0 to 101-3 before man of the match Jim Love rescued the team's difficult run chase.
YORKSHIRE WON BY LOSING FEWER WICKETS
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