Champions Make Promising Start

It may have only been a pre-season warm-up, or at best the county season's curtain raiser, but a scratch Yorkshire first eleven made short work of overcoming an MCC team that boasted the presence of three England openers: Carberry, Compton, and Cook. For the reigning county champions to win inside three days, without their captain Andrew Gale, without an overseas player, and without the England test trio of Ballance, Plunkett, and Root, is a tremendous achievement. 

In the event, with Alastair Cook failing conspicuously in either innings to muster any runs of substance, it was Adam Lyth who used the occasion to advertise his credentials as Cook's partner in the three tests in the Caribbean, and the Yorkshire batsman came through his audition with flying colours. This ought to put to bed the speculation from the likes of Jon Agnew that Trott ought to be enlisted as Cook's opening partner in the West Indies. Instead, it may well be the case that Ballance and Trott will be given the two warm-up matches to record the kind of innings that will ensure either is drafted in as the number three batsman. Anyhow, here follows the scores summary from Yorkshire's convincing conquest of the MCC in Abu Dhabi:

YORKSHIRE versus the MCC; Sunday the 22nd to Tuesday the 24th of March. MCC won the toss.

MCC first innings: 221 (Hildreth 89, Mitchell 54)

YORKSHIRE first innings: 372 (Lyth 113, Rhodes 61, Hodd 57; Riley 3-90)

MCC second innings: 220 (Compton 74; Rashid 4-72, Brooks 3-22)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 73 for one

YORKSHIRE win by nine wickets.

Lyth - The England opener-in-waiting amassed 159 runs, losing his wicket just once. Test cricket surely beckons. He even took the wicket of Carberry too.

Lees - Appointed as captain for the occasion, Alex was as non-prolific as his opposite number. He really needs to perform this summer, especially if Lyth is absent.

Leaning - JL did at least finish unbeaten on thirteen in the second innings. He also has to improve this year, especially with Will Rhodes impressing in Abu Dhabi.

Patterson - Mr Reliable scored 36 runs as a nightwatchman and bowled tidily in both innings, ending with match figures of two wickets, costing seventy runs.

Bairstow - Jonny took two catches in each innings but also posted a six-ball duck. He will be a key member during the county's defence of their 2014 Championship.

Rhodes - Three wickets, two catches, and a half-century on his first-class debut was a mighty fine start. Big things are expected of this talented all-rounder.

Hodd - Andy assisted his team's cause with a highly enterprising fifty-seven from 68 balls. He may prove a useful asset in one-day cricket contests this summer.

Rashid - The maestro took six wickets at a cost of 123 runs which highlighted both his ability to take lots of wickets and also to concede quite a lot of runs too.

Bresnan - Brezza did at least trap Mitchell leg before wicket when he was poised to reach a century. Otherwise, Tim had a quiet and undistinguished match.

Sidebottom - Not for the first time, this ace bowler got the Tykes off to the best possible start, as he took the scalps of Compton and Cook in another fine display.

Brooks - His first innings bowling was erratic while his second innings efforts were spot-on. Match figures of five for 79 represented a good return nevertheless.