THE TIME FOR TALKING IS OVER - LET BATTLE COMMENCE

By JMB
March 9 2007

The time for talking is over. The madness of a winter filled with twists at every turn is now vanishing in the rear view mirror. As pre-season kicks in the players finally get the chance to do what they are good at, playing and talking about cricket.

It is one of the blessings of a winter where Yorkshire’s hopes have hit the depths that the players have been otherwise engaged. As Stewart Regan and his team have engineered a post-Adams Houdini-like recovery the team has been enjoying their winter sabbatical. They have all been aware of the situation, but have been able to deal with their concerns privately and outside the dressing room, where discontent breeds quicker than a wagging tongue flaps.

As the events of Thursday unfolded I couldn’t help but get caught up in the ‘buzz’ that Yorkshire’s chief executive. Stewart Regan, feels is at the club. The unveiling of Martin Moxon and Ian Dews as Director of Cricket Operations was described by Chairman Colin Graves as 'the final piece in the jig-saw'. They join Darren Gough in the ‘dream team.’ The club has hit the depths of despair and met the challenge.

As we move into the summer with the speculation behind us the club now faces a more positive, but equally tough encounter with the burden of expectation. People should not forget amidst the back-slapping and rhetoric that a ball has not been bowled in anger yet in 2007. There is still a long way to go.

The Corridor has backed the club to come good all winter. The sense of excitement on the various message boards is tangible. As supporters we can pull out the fixture list and start to talk about matches, players and our predictions. The life of a Yorkshire cricket fan can never be described as dull, but one thing is constant – supporting them through thick and thin is part of the job description. It is easy to get caught up in the hype, but where is the club now compared to this time last year? Is a sense of relief getting the better of us? Let’s start at the top.

The board have done an admirable job this winter. They were criticised for being taken off guard in the autumn, but who could have anticipated that Chris Adams would arrive, do the press conference and then decide he’d made a mistake? The board had put a lot of work into Adams arrival, work that was ultimately futile, but efforts in the right direction all the same. Once the shock had passed they bit numerous bullets and moved on. Stewart Regan, employed for his business acumen has played a cricket role he never expected and has done so with the smile of determination. Geoffrey Boycott must be congratulated for his hard work behind the scenes. The feeling amongst supporters is that we are finally in safe hands at last.

In Moxon, Gough and Dews Yorkshire move forward with more than a glimmer of hope. Moxon spent 20-years at Headingley as a player and then as a coach and what he doesn’t know about Yorkshire cricket is not worth knowing. The six years he has spent with Durham are not wasted ones as far as Yorkshire is concerned. He re-enters the fray, fresh in outlook and more experienced. Darren Gough is energetic public face of the partnership that would appear at first glance to be perfectly balanced. Where Gough will be loud, in the oppositions face and up for the fight, Moxon will sit calmly and see the full picture. Gough is the sleek and flashy exterior of the vehicle, eye catching and fashioned over years of road testing. Moxon is the engine and in built satellite navigation.

Ian Dews was hardly mentioned as the rumour mill has turned noisily over the last few months. As the names of everyone from Lord Lucan to Gareth Gates (well nearly) were mentioned every day as possible candidates for the two directors jobs, Dews kept a low profile and got on with the business of running the ship. Ever since Byas’ departure Dews, Sharp and Oldham, with the addition of Dean Riddle, have kept the players motivated, directed and informed. They have gone largely unnoticed in the surrounding mayhem and should be praised for their commitment.

Dews has done sterling work at the Academy and it is great to see a guy rewarded for hard work, when it is often easier in this modern age to get a job with a big name rather than an impressive CV. Dews’ appointment rewards loyalty, industry and performance, which isn’t a bad message to give the players.

As the pieces have come together so did Anthony McGrath’s Yorkshire future. Mags did what he thought was right, and let's be honest, he was standing up for what most supporters had been saying for years. He should be admired for his principles, rather than castigated for disloyalty. They were the principles of a man who cares about the county and it’s great to have him at Headingley, where he belongs.

This summer we welcome back Dizzy Gillespie. We open the gates to Younus Khan and Jacques Rudolph. We look at the squad filled with experience and ability. The anser to the question of where we are compared to this time last year depends on the players. Forget about averages, runs and wickets. There are lies, damned lies and statistics. We can compare players until we are blue in the face, but the bottom line is nothing that has happened before Wednesday April 18th 2007 matters. If you scored runs and took wickets in 2006 you have got to start again. If you disappointed last year, you've got the perfect chance to put that right.

As we try and establish our 1st XI we realise that there are not enough places for our favourite names. We look at the youngsters coming through and have read the good reports about the massive potential they possess. We seem to have the strongest squad we’ve had at Yorkshire for years. It’s time for the talking to stop and for the players to grab their chance and really play for this great county.

As the Yorkshire players head off into pre-season The Corridor says this:
You all have the opportunity that Corridor readers can only dream about. You are blessed with talent and if you mix that with desire, commitment and give it everything you have The Corridor will applaud you all summer long. GOOD LUCK and MAKE US PROUD!