Brooks Ensures Excellent Innings Triumph

On the sporting theme of April, it always feels like successfully landing on the other side of Becher's Brook when your county records its first win in the County Championship season. Yorkshire have duly done so, as they comprehensively dismantled the newbies of Northamptonshire with an impressive innings triumph.

The only real resistance to the Tykes came from the weather which threatened to spoil the party [not for the first time.]. Isn't it the mother of life's little ironies that the rain tends to intervene when you are on top, but then goes hiding when you are struggling? Anyhow, commiserations must go to the visitors who were taught a harsh lesson about life in the top league. They did benefit from no fewer than eight successful lbw appeals in Yorkshire's innings (including four for Andrew Hall), but the hosts recovered well after being reduced to fifty-seven for three.

Meanwhile, the white rose are numbered amongst the favourites for English cricket's blue riband event, and even in the absence of Bairstow, Bresnan, and Joe Root, the team look formidable in most departments. Admittedly, I have concerns about Rashid's spin bowling while the first XI still have an unenviable knack of failing to close out an innings by rolling over the last wicket. In the second innings, the east Midlanders contrived to frustrate their hosts with a fifty-run stand for the last wicket. In the event, it was of little significance, but there will be contests this summer [and beyond] where Yorkshire's bowlers will need to ensure that they don't cede momentum by allowing opposing tailenders to get their team off the hook.

YORKSHIRE versus Northamptonshire; at Leeds; Sunday 20th -Wednesday 23rd April. YORKSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 459 for 9 declared (Ballance 174, Lees 90; Hall 4-103)

Northamptonshire first innings: 94 (Brooks 5-36, Sidebottom 4-16)

Northamptonshire second innings: 245 (Middlebrook 63; Sidebottom 3-34, Brooks 3-76)

YORKSHIRE won by an innings and 120 runs. YORKSHIRE 23 points, Northamptonshire 2 points.

Here follows my summary of each player's contributions, or lack of them, in our mighty victory. May it be the first of many.

Lyth: Adam failed to build upon his good scores in the previous match, with an 11 this time. He is acutely aware that consistency is what he needs to strive for.

Lees: Our latest prodigy survived the early collapse to post an excellent ninety. He just needs to convert his good starts into bigger scores.

Williamson: A notorious slow starter, the Kiwi spent 36 minutes, recording a score of 3. He still remains a fine acquisition who has a big summer ahead of him.

Gale: The captain won the toss, but he did not cash in on his decision to bat first. He is repeating his slow start of 2013, which is most regrettable.

Ballance: England test places are up for grabs and Gary looks set to seize one, after posting a big century that contained 25 fours and two sixes.

Rashid: Thirty-three runs and a tidy spell of bowling at the end of the match represent a good return for this talented individual.

Hodd: He took seven catches and weighed in with 21 runs whilst Ballance ran amok. It's hard to fault our stand-in for Bairstow.

Plunkett: He's my biggest worry for the team. His bowling is erratic. Even his batting prowess has deserted him. Liam is becoming something of a liability.

Sidebottom: He continues to amaze with his deadly accurate bowling. His 27 overs cost only fifty runs. Liam Plunkett, please watch and learn!

Patterson: Steven remains invaluable with his fine control. His eighteen overs only cost 38 runs and our steady seamer helped himself to a couple of wickets.

Brooks: Jack the lad ripped his former team apart to register his best first-class bowling figures. He even smashed an unbeaten 37 off 39 balls as well.