Yorkshire president wants return of England players
As if to emphasise a point made forcibly by their president, Dickie Bird, champions Yorkshire, badly depleted by England’s decision to take six of their side to the Caribbean, have found it hard to impose themselves against probably the weakest opponents they will meet in the defence of their 2014 County Championship title.
Bird is livid that only Gary Ballance and Joe Root made the cut for the first Test in Antigua, suggesting that if Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid are only along for the ride then seats should be found on the next plane home.
“They’ve ripped our team apart and only two of the six are playing,” Bird said. “I know it’s early days but this could cost us in the long run. If they are not going to play, why not fly them home?”
In their absence, after Worcestershire had recovered from 216 for 7 to 311 all out, thanks largely to a fine 59 from Gareth Andrew on his return from a serious back injury, Yorkshire closed nine wickets down and 13 runs behind, indebted most to Alex Lees, who made 87, and Tim Bresnan, unbeaten on 78.
To make matters worse, they have a major worry about Ryan Sidebottom, the 37-year-old former England left-armer, who pulled up sharply after setting off for a single and retired hurt with an injury to his left calf, returning in considerable discomfort to bat with a runner as Yorkshire tried to claim a third batting point.
Although he has played second fiddle to new-ball partner Jack Brooks (5 for 56) here, Sidebottom remains a key component in Yorkshire’s match-winning formula and a lengthy absence would hit them hard.
Lees, mature enough at 21 to be given the captaincy as Andrew Gale completed his suspension, hit 10 fours and two sixes before he was dismissed leg before for 87. His innings will have impressed the watching national selector James Whitaker, who was on the ground to assess Moeen Ali’s readiness to join England in time for the second Test against West Indies, which starts on 21 April.
Will Rhodes fared less well, caught at second slip for a fifth-ball duck on his Championship debut.