Somerset Stalemate

Yorkshire's first foray into the 2014 County Championship ended in a tame draw. However, this cricketing equivalent of a non-scoring draw is a big improvement upon our opening skirmish of 2013 when the Tykes were cruelly punished by Sussex. Meanwhile Somerset can also take heart from their performance which was considerably better than their two efforts against the white rose last year.

The visitors did well to amass 450 runs, having been asked to bat first. Our opening pair even added 100 for the first wicket in the second innings, having compiled 69 together in the first innings, so that is an encouraging sign. However, for all our batting heroics, we were unable to even achieve a first-innings lead as the hosts helped themselves to lots of runs too. In truth, one cannot blame Somerset for not making a sporting declaration and trying to force a result. The batting pitch was relatively benign and time was running out for anything other than a draw. Nobody really wants to throw their advantage away by making a tempting declaration which may result in gifting your opponents sixteen points. The question now is whether Yorkshire will consider tinkering with their bowling formation in the near future, as Adil Rashid looks more and more like a good batsman who can bowl a bit, but he's not really the demon spinner that we once thought he might become. With Graeme Swann's departure leaving a gaping hole in England's spin-bowling, it is apparent from recent selections that the talented Rashid is way behind the likes of Borthwick, Kerrigan, Parry, Patel, and Treadwell, to name but a few. The time may come when Yorkshire decide that he is not even our number one slow bowler. Azeem Rafiq and Jack Leaning are waiting in the wings, if Adil doesn't shape up. Nevertheless, he does have a good claim to being a number six batsman for England, who can also bowl some overs too. However, Joe Root presumably will be called upon to be England's second spinner in tests. Gone regrettably are the days when England would chance their arm with two specialist spinners, such as Edmonds and Emburey. Anyhow, here follows my comments on each of our players, arising out of their honourable draw in Taunton.

Lyth: Adam helped himself to 139 runs which is a good start as this talented opener strives for a lot more consistency this summer.

Lees: Alex failed to record a fifty, but still hit eighty-one runs in the match. He must convert his starts into much larger totals.

Williamson: A first-innings duck was followed by an unbeaten fifty as the Kiwi maestro again reminded us of his batting talents.

Gale: The captain failed to make many runs, averaging 17.5 from his two knocks, but some bigger scores will surely come in due course.

Ballance: The test hopeful placed himself in the shop window with 77 in the first innings. However, most batsmen cashed in on this batting surface.

Rashid: Repeating his early-season form of 2013, Adil hit the ground running with a century. He still bowls too many loose deliveries unfortunately.

Hodd: Andy weighed in with a half-century in the first innings and took three catches. He proved to be a good deputy for the absent Bairstow.

Plunkett: Liam takes the praise for claiming four scalps, but he bowls without much control. He only managed one maiden from his expensive 28 overs.

Sidebottom: Ryan only conceded fifty-four runs from his 27 overs which is really remarkable. He bowled much better than Liam Plunkett.

Patterson: Steven is still a reliable, steady seamer. Ten of his 31.5 overs were maidens, which is a credit to the control he bowls with.

Brooks: Jack bowled quite well at the start of the Somerset innings but he ended up conceding four runs per over, with 1 for 92, which is most disappointing.

Somerset versus YORKSHIRE; at Taunton; Somerset won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 450 (Rashid 108, Lyth 85, Ballance 77, Hodd 55; Overton 3-72, Meschede 3-105)

Somerset first innings: 553 (Myburgh 91, Jones 75, Gregory 69, Hildreth 67, Kieswetter 63, Meschede 59*; Plunkett 4-117)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 193 for 4 declared (Williamson 57*, Lyth 54)

Match drawn. Somerset 9 points, YORKSHIRE 11 points.