Yorkshire malaise puts Gough and Gibson under early pressure
At the start of the season, it would have been unthinkable that Yorkshire would make it to their break for the Vitality Blast winless. Even without a massive points deduction for the racism scandal – which is coming – their hopes of promotion seem done already. They are bottom of Division Two, with two losses, two draws and a no-result.
Admittedly, there has been some bad luck involved. They were in a strong position when rain arrived at Hove. Injury to bowling signings Neil Wagner and Matt Milnes, availability issues with Shan Masood (Pakistan) and Indian Premier League deals for Harry Brook and Joe Root have not helped matters.
But they should still be far too good to wallow at the foot of the table. The team who lost to Durham this week contained seven Test players, including the entire top five, none of whom made 50. The malaise at the club runs very deep. Are Darren Gough and Ottis Gibson the right men to steer the ship?
Bowlers fall victim to schedule
This was the sixth week of the season. Every team have played five games in that time. Is it just a coincidence that Test-ready bowlers are starting to pull up lame? It was not just James Anderson, but Brydon Carse and, it seems, Josh Tongue, who went down in this round. The championship is attritional for fast bowlers.
Godleman in Derbyshire fall-out
Billy Godleman, the Derbyshire captain until last season, quietly slipped out of the XI after recording a pair in a day – both lbw to Durham’s Ben Raine – at the end of last month. Word is that there has been a big fall-out with the club’s hierarchy and Godleman, who has signed for Rainhill CC in the Liverpool and District League, is unlikely to be seen in Derbyshire colours again.
Surrey’s chance to take charge
In Division One, a gap has opened up between Surrey, Warwickshire and the rest. Both recorded home victories and, already, feel like the strongest teams in the land. Both are simply more consistent than their rivals. Warwickshire have a break this week, which hands Surrey the chance to take charge of the league when they host lowly Kent.
Revived Patel leads from front
A word for Leicestershire’s Rishi Patel. He looked a middle-order player of potential at Essex, but has shone as an opener at Grace Road.