Byas on the Brink

Byas Scapegoat?
By JMB
November 2 2006

With David Byas and Anthony McGrath pondering their Yorkshire futures we wonder whether Byas has been unfairly treated. Are the county really hoping he turns them down so that Headingley can become a Byas free zone?

David Byas is said to be seriously considering whether to accept the new appointment he has been offered as head of cricket development. With Chris Adams arrival as captain and head of professional cricket Byas' previous role as Director of Cricket has ended. Chief Executive Stewart Regan is making the right noises saying publicly that they hope Byas stays and takes on the new role but one cannot help thinking it would be easier for everyone if Byas left now.

Regan said "There is still a huge cricket-development job to be done, and David is very experienced in this area. He is Yorkshire through and through, and we would like to persuade him that he really is the right man for the job. At the moment he is still thinking about it, and wants to consider the personal implications, but he has not dismissed it, and hopefully we can get him to stay with the Club."

Were Byas to accept the new position it would be a huge comedown. He would go from someone in charge of the first team to someone almost completely out of the public eye. Byas must wonder if the headaches and hassle are all worth it.

Chris Waters has written in the Yorkshire Evening Post that "Yorkshire had long identified Byas as an obstacle to first team progress; some players had expressed disquiet at his management methods and the writing had been on the wall for quite some time. Whatever one's views as to Byas's ability, and many will say Yorkshire have taken the correct decision, there is no doubt whatsoever he has been hung out to dry. Less than two months ago the club insisted he would be staying as director of cricket and yet his possible removal was already being contemplated. Indeed, it is perhaps not impudent to speculate whether there were one or two hearts in mouths when Yorkshire secured the win and the draw that guaranteed their County Championship survival. As it is, it seems the die for Byas had already been cast."

It would be hard to argue with Chris's assessment. Byas has recently been associated with a management style that has seen Michael Lumb leave, McGrath seriously consider his future and Darren Lehmann decide not to return for one last season at Headingley. This cannot be coincidence.

So if Byas stays he is to a large degree dead wood. If he leaves he will be severing ties with Yorkshire cricket for good. Not an easy decision for a very proud Yorkshireman to make.