Seasonal Cricket News Christmas/New year.

[tbsteve]

Thanks Karma. Happy New Year to you too! We're 6.5 hrs ahead at this time of year, so yeah a little sooner.

And posting at 1am, I did move away from your point on coaches to players, though I do think the same applies as the coach could potentially bring the negativity of a fan forum into the dressing room. And, the other place in particular, is less than objective. For example, Lyth got a horrible roasting on there for a long time. I think it was the Covid season, where he had a great start, and then a barren middle patch, and ended with a century at Notts. He was still one of our top 2 scorers but was well and truly pilloried.

The physios would have a better idea on team strength than the fans. If I understand the coaching set up correctly, then we have a 2XI coach and an Academy Director to offer insights on up and coming players (who presumably they see every week, and so will be less likely to be influenced by a stellar/terrible performance), and batting and bowling coaches to offer insights as to these disciplines, especially with those in the 1XI. And then there is DG who should offer OG an honest assessment of OG's performance, strengths and weaknesses, and the board to offer feedback to/on DG.

I think the ideal is someone like Alister Cook, who has no social media, and retires to the farm after play with only a few insights from the press ringing in his ears (and even then, I remember him saying it was hard hearing what the likes of Agnew were saying towards the end of his career)

 

[Karma]

Thanks Karma. Happy New Year to you too! We're 6.5 hrs ahead at this time of year, so yeah a little sooner.

And posting at 1am, I did move away from your point on coaches to players, though I do think the same applies as the coach could potentially bring the negativity of a fan forum into the dressing room. And, the other place in particular, is less than objective. For example, Lyth got a horrible roasting on there for a long time. I think it was the Covid season, where he had a great start, and then a barren middle patch, and ended with a century at Notts. He was still one of our top 2 scorers but was well and truly pilloried.

The physios would have a better idea on team strength than the fans. If I understand the coaching set up correctly, then we have a 2XI coach and an Academy Director to offer insights on up and coming players (who presumably they see every week, and so will be less likely to be influenced by a stellar/terrible performance), and batting and bowling coaches to offer insights as to these disciplines, especially with those in the 1XI. And then there is DG who should offer OG an honest assessment of OG's performance, strengths and weaknesses, and the board to offer feedback to/on DG.

I think the ideal is someone like Alister Cook, who has no social media, and retires to the farm after play with only a few insights from the press ringing in his ears (and even then, I remember him saying it was hard hearing what the likes of Agnew were saying towards the end of his career)

Again really good points well made tbsteve. I recall being at Headingley when Adam Lyth didn't take a very difficult catch. Someone shouted from the seats under the Long Room for him to leave the pitch (but in more forthright language) Adam shouted back in the negative (ditto) . I posted words to the effect that the man shouting was out of order and Adam doesn't miss chances on purpose (no player does) , over the years he's been a great player and he'd be one of the first on my team sheet.

Sadly, unsocial media is seen by many people as a means of anonymously venting their spleen , so i don't use them. This Forum is, I feel, populated by contributors with a good understanding of the game and with a reasoned and honest approach to comments particularly relating to players and performance. Likewise to the coach , whom I actually met at Weetwood and found positive, knowledgeable and engaging and I posted as such. I did on this forum however subsequently say that Mr Gibson becoming a coach for The Hundred franchise operating out of Headingley was perhaps not great at a time when I thought his loyalties to YCCC should be to coach and support the One Day Cup team. I felt that although the ECB decided that the One Day Cup competition had been downgraded, I and most supporters didn't or rather shouldn't be so. More importantly the players for the One Day Cup might have received the message that the Head Coach doesn't think it's important ie by his absence. Other wise voices said that he might have been contracted to the Headingley Hundred franchise before being contracted to YCCC.

I believe messages posted on this forum are read by some employees of YCCC. Employees can include coaches, players, directors, chair, etc .etc
Personally if I was a player or coach or anyone working for the club I would be interested in what people thought, not just direct and fellow employees but the paying public. Personally I post for my own pleasure and also with the hope and belief that part of my contributors and those of other might get across to the Club.

I banged on long enough on this forum about my belief there was a lack of diversity within the club for the majority of members and supporters . We subsequently had a Christmas celebration at Headingley , with carols and a band and which I attended , it was very good. Likewise with Yorkshire day on 1st August. The club missed this , almost entirely , until there was a very late pm post on Twitter (I understand) and following several posts that the club had forgotten I'd like to think there was a conncetion.

I've said too much a digressed too much - this tends to come with age

 

[Tykemania]

In years of watching Yorkshire cricket, I have only ever once felt the need to say anything at more than a normal conversational volume about events on the field, because I know very well that on almost every occasion those on said field are genuinely giving their best efforts to try and win the game. The one occasion was way back in the late 90's, and came when Michael Bevan quite blatantly batted for his own hundred in a one day game either oblivious or more likely not interested in the fact that the singles he was knocking were elevating the required rate from challenging through improbable and on toward impossible.

Its harder with coaches especially once players have reached the supposedly elite level of the game. Brendon McCullum is feted for the value he brings to a team, yet he apparently never does actual coaching - he instead talks about playing aggressively, and plays golf with his team. On paper, a recipe for a barracking yet...hell, it seems to work!

This coming season will tell us more about what Gibson brings to Yorkshire - last season it looked like the answer to that question involved a pair of rose tinted sunglasses at times - because he will not see much of three of his four gun middle order players (maybe all four, because I wonder whether Malan will really have the motivation to keep play the long format at 35 when his tests days are now definitely behind him). He has the players he has brought in (well, sort of) and a promising but raw group of youngsters to mould into shape.

 

[DaveMorton]

Adam Lyth is very much the key. He tends to have streaks of great form, punctuated by periods when the runs dry up. We could do with him having one of his best seasons. Malan is the only other really experienced batsman, apart from Masood who, at least, has previous form in the Championship. That's useful only if he's available.

Then we've got Will Fraine who is in danger of becoming a journeyman pro, hinting at quality, but not actually doing it often enough. Perhaps this season. If not, I fear never. Between these experienced players, there are young batsmen like Hill, so close to being the real thing already, Wharton, Duke, Bean, Revis and Luxton. I hope Revis is given a proper chance, up the order, with his bowling an add-on bonus only.

Given that we've also got Tattersall, Bess and Thompson, that should be plenty of batting. What we really need is for someone (or some two) of the above to step up and make real runs, not just the occasional promising 30. It is important that the coaches identify the right ones and get the right balance. They have seen plenty of everyone now, which was not the case twelve months ago. Tough choices to be made, and if the team doesn't win the coaches will get the stick, even if they were right!

Just counting, I have named 13 players as candidates for those top 7 or 8 positions. Plus I've probably overlooked a couple.

 

[DaveMorton]

TM - on the subject of shouting at cricket matches, there was an occasion at Hove when Yorkshire needed to take about 5 wickets on the final morning, then knock off the runs to win the game.

What actually happened, was that Gale and Lyth bowled more than a few overs of filth to set up an agreed declaration target. At the end of one over, I walked down from the Sharks Stand (the big one near the exit) and shouted: "I've paid to watch first class cricket. This is rubbish, and I'M GOING HOME."

My mates still take the mickey about it. I don't recall any other time. And, by the way, it rained all afternoon at Hove, so it would have made no difference whatever they had done. I was up near Devil's Dyke when the heavens opened.

 

[Newby]

Matthew Fisher, certainly a contender to bat at 8, if not 7.

He has been selected for both the red and white ball Lions squads due to play in Sri Lanka starting later this month. Saqib Mahmood has also been selected, but only for the white ball leg. Good luck to the pair of them because time is running out for both players to fulfil their early promise.

Two other experienced players selected for the red ball leg, Alex Lees and Haseeb Hameed. With the best will in the world I can't see a way back into the full England team for these two Lions.

 

[Newby]

It always takes me by surprise when someone gets so incensed that they shout at either a player or the coach, at a CC match especially. Andrew Gale used to get shouted at occasionally at Headingley when the team performed badly. Players stepping straight up to the top coaching role at the same club seem to be on a hiding to nothing.

It's a much easier ride for an outside coach I think as it takes a good few years for any real antipathy to build up.

 

[Karma]

Adam Lyth is very much the key. He tends to have streaks of great form, punctuated by periods when the runs dry up. We could do with him having one of his best seasons. Malan is the only other really experienced batsman, apart from Masood who, at least, has previous form in the Championship. That's useful only if he's available.

Then we've got Will Fraine who is in danger of becoming a journeyman pro, hinting at quality, but not actually doing it often enough. Perhaps this season. If not, I fear never. Between these experienced players, there are young batsmen like Hill, so close to being the real thing already, Wharton, Duke, Bean, Revis and Luxton. I hope Revis is given a proper chance, up the order, with his bowling an add-on bonus only.

Given that we've also got Tattersall, Bess and Thompson, that should be plenty of batting. What we really need is for someone (or some two) of the above to step up and make real runs, not just the occasional promising 30. It is important that the coaches identify the right ones and get the right balance. They have seen plenty of everyone now, which was not the case twelve months ago. Tough choices to be made, and if the team doesn't win the coaches will get the stick, even if they were right!

Just counting, I have named 13 players as candidates for those top 7 or 8 positions. Plus I've probably overlooked a couple.

"All we are saying is give Hill a chance" - and Revis too.

(as a batsman, who can bowl a bit)

 

[Tykemania]

I'm not sure how I'd put together a top six without the big three. I think Lyth, Masood, Hill, Malan is pretty much a given, but thereafter which of the two keepers to pick, and who bats five, are tough calls. And if as I fear Malan is an occasional presence at best and Masood stays a part of the Pakistani plans, it gets even trickier. As much as I rate them as prospects, Lyth, Bean, Hill, Luxton, Revis, Duke doesn't fill me with too much confidence as a promotion winning side.

 

[DaveMorton]

Every great player was a 'prospect' at some stage. So were lots of mediocre ones too, unfortunately. The only way you find out is by playing them. Harry Brook took a few years to find his feet.

I agree with that top four (Lyth, Masood, Hill, Malan), though you might want to bat Revis and/or Bean and/or Luxton between them, so the inexperienced player has experienced either side. My gut feeling is that Revis, Bean and Luxton are the most likely lads....but I've been wrong before, I seem to remember!

Now that's seven, for only five places, and still leaves a really strong bunch of wicket-keepers and all-rounders to follow: 6 Tattersall/ Duke, 7, 8, 9 Bess, Thompson, Fisher, and Ben Mike is reputed to be a good bat also. Oh, and Wagner! We might have come in a year too late for him, judging by his Pakistan performances. Then there's Ben Coad. And this bloke from Kent, if he's fit. And Dom Leech, and Jack Shutt.

Researching the scorecards, and remembering the games, while doing my Gary Ballance appreciation album (almost complete), I had forgotten just how superb Coady had been with the ball, pre-Covid. And he's one hell of a number 11. We need him fit, taking his wickets at 20, like he used to.

I honestly think we have almost two teams good enough to win Div 2, given a bit of stability in the Club and some concentration on the actual cricket. Let's go destroy! Lay waste!

 

[Donnylad]

......"Cry havoc and let loose the ......" well something like that!

We have a really good group of players and yes we could turn out 2 decent teams, very much so if everyone were to be be available, fit and focussed. Let's hope for decent weather, decent pitches and a positive approach from everyone.