Crisis talks as Yorkshire sink to bottom of pile

By James Buttler
June 28 2006

The season is not that old but Yorkshire supporters are getting a sinking feeling. It's the same old problem. Frustration is rife, both inside and outside the dressing room.

With one win and four defeats in seven matches Yorkshire sit firm at the bottom of the First Division of the County Championship.

When I spoke to people before a ball had been struck they predicted a long struggle. With the bowling department bereft of class members feared that we might score runs but wouldn't be able to bowl a side out twice, and so it's proving.Yorkshire members are never short of comment when performance on the pitch does not match expectations off it. Over recent years we have seen Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Paul Hutchinson and Steve Kirby move on to other counties when their services seemed required at Headingley. When Chris Silverwood left for Middlesex prior to this season heads began to shake again.

Chief Executive Stewart Regan has responded to criticism my arranging crisis talks with the players and management in a bid to prevent relegation. He is conscious of the knock on effects of struggling team. Even though relegation in cricket is not as damaging as it can be in football it still has financial repurcussions and an effect on future gate receipts and membership levels.