Brooks Celebrates

By Gary Watton
September 22 2015

I thought that Steven Patterson was more than a bit unlucky to be discarded for this season finale. I would have dropped the out-of-form Lyth and promoted Tim Bresnan to open the batting. I am convinced that Brezza has what it takes to open the batting. Anyhow, the contest was neck and neck at the halfway stage, and therefore became a one innings-a-side shootout. Sussex, who were scampering along at over five runs per over, fell desperately short of a much-needed second batting bonus point, although their tail rallied better than ours had done.

Second time around, the champions batted slightly better, courtesy of good knocks from the in-form Gale and another fine effort from red-hot Bresnan. On the final day, Sussex 'only' had to bat out ninety-two overs, but peculiarly they set off in chase of 309 and lost top order wickets accordingly, leaving the relegation strugglers reeling at 61 for five, miles away from the target, with half their batsmen already out of the equation. Michael Yardy (in his final first-class innings) steadied the ship with a good partnership, alongside Ben Brown, but when they fell in quick succession in early afternoon, Sussex's sorry fate was sealed. Mind you, Zaidi provided a marvellous cameo that delayed the inevitable. Alas for the visitors, their south coast neighbours Hampshire have pipped them to the one remaining place in next year's Division One. Hampshire pulled off a remarkable eight-wicket triumph against Nottinghamshire, even though the latter posted a decent first innings total, and had the advantage of batting first. Although it was defeat to the champions which sent Sussex tumbling over the edge of the abyss, it wasn't Yorkshire who put them down a division. They've clearly done that themselves. They are however too good a county to occupy the basement for too long. 

As for Yorkshire, this was a record eleventh triumph in the revamped County Championship. They won the league by a huge distance. It was a real team effort, with a multitude of contributions from all quarters of the first-team squad. Even Finch and Maxwell chipped in with useful runs. However, I would nominate the following as the pick of Yorkshire's County Championship team: Adil Rashid did quite well, but not as well as the outstanding Jonny Bairstow. Jonny missed a number of matches, when away on England duty, so it is only fair to recognise the duo who played virtually every match and were consistently effective. Tim Bresnan was a revelation with the bat, whilst weighing in with wickets and bowling economically. The latter cannot be said of Jack Brooks who sometimes goes for a few runs, but Jack took more than sixty wickets. He was immense. His acquisition has been a shrewd one, which he has more than justified. I therefore designate Jack Brooks as the Yorkshire CCC player of the year in the County Championship. 

Finally, the county has parted company with the trio of Moin Ashraf, Dan Hodgson, and Jonny Tattersall, none of whom seem capable of making the difficult transition from the second eleven to the firsts. Hopefully they can do themselves justice elsewhere and maybe show Yorkshire what they have thrown away. A fourth member of the squad has decided to walk the plank, as the admirable Richard Pyrah has announced his retirement. I fully expect him to remain involved with Yorkshire CCC in some capacity.

All that remains now is for the Tyke warriors to sink some champagne and fondly reminisce upon this summer's glory. They deserve their bragging rights.  

YORKSHIRE versus Sussex; at Leeds; Tuesday the 22nd to Friday the 25th of September 2015. Sussex won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 251 (Ballance 55, Rashid 53; Magoffin 4-57)

Sussex first innings: 248 (Yardy 70; Brooks 3-55)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 305 (Gale 67, Bresnan 55; Magoffin 3-57, Jordan 3-73 )

Sussex second innings: 208 (Bresnan 3-30, Brooks 3-39, Rashid 3-44)

YORKSHIRE win by one hundred runs. YORKSHIRE 21 points, Sussex four points.

Lyth - Adam ended his miserable summer with a decent 39, having made a dismal three in the first innings. He did at least take two wickets from only four overs.

Lees - His 29 in the first innings was yet another example of a good start that didn't progress to a big score. He then got dismissed for a first-ball duck.

Ballance - The England reject had a fine match, hitting a total of one hundred runs, which were quite precious in such a low-scoring contest.

Gale - 98 runs was a good return for the captain. He has finished the summer in fine fettle, scoring quickly, and reaching one thousand Championship runs too.

Bairstow - Below par scores of one and then 36 unfortunately took his average below one hundred. He did however weigh in with several important catches.

Leaning - Jack will be disappointed to miss out on one thousand Championship runs. In this match he could only make do with scores of 36 and then nine.

Rashid - 74 runs in a low-scoring tussle was a good effort. His bowling was nothing to write home about, but he still possesses a knack of taking wickets.

Bresnan - Tim conceded fifty-five runs from nine overs in the first innings but then conceded only thirty from twelve overs on Friday. His impact was enormous.

Plunkett - He hit nine runs from two innings, while his 24 overs cost 112 runs and produced only two wickets. Let us hope that he plays much better for England!

Brooks - He crucially dismissed Joyce and Machan quite cheaply in each innings. He took the first three wickets in Sussex's run chase, condemning them to defeat. 

Sidebottom - The 'old man' didn't really hit his customary heights, ending with match figures of seventeen overs, one wicket, at a cost of fifty-one runs.

FINAL TABLE:

YORKSHIRE - played sixteen matches; 286 points (won eleven, drew four, lost one)

Middlesex - played sixteen matches; 218 points

Nottinghamshire - played sixteen matches; 211 points

Durham - played sixteen matches; 188 points

Warwickshire - played sixteen matches; 186 points

Somerset - played sixteen matches; 183 points

Hampshire - played sixteen matches; 163 points

Sussex - played sixteen matches; 161 points

Worcestershire - played sixteen matches; 151 points

AVERAGES

BATSMEN (minimum requirement - one hundred runs):

Bairstow - 92.33; 1108 runs; highest score - 219 not out; five centuries and five fifties

Pujara - 52.8; 264 runs; highest score - 133 not out; one century and one fifty

Bresnan - 49.94; 849 runs; highest score - 169 not out; two centuries and four fifties

Finch - 41.33; 124 runs; highest score - 73 not out; one fifty

Maxwell - 40.67; 244 runs; highest score - 140; one century

Gale - 40.24; 1006 runs; highest score - 164; three centuries and three fifties

Leaning - 40.09; 922 runs; highest score - 123; three centuries and three fifties

BEST BOWLERS (minimum requirement - ten wickets):

Sidebottom - 17.9; forty-one wickets; best bowling: 6-34

Brooks - 22.77; 65 wickets; best bowling: 5-35

Patterson - 25.07; 45 wickets; best bowling: 5-11

Middlebrook - 25.94; seventeen wickets; best bowling: 5-82

Rashid - 28.03; 29 wickets; best bowling: 4-48

Bresnan - 30.89; 45 wickets; best bowling: 5-85

Plunkett - 32.79; fourteen wickets; best bowling: 4-61