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Yorkshire stumble against Somerset as Alex Lees hails ‘proudest moment’ Yorkshire stumble against Somerset as Alex Lees hails ‘proudest moment’
(35 minutes later)
Andrew Gale’s part in Yorkshire’s great homecoming would not have been the one he envisaged. Circumstances meant he was holding court in the Long Room here rather than directing the team on the field.Andrew Gale’s part in Yorkshire’s great homecoming would not have been the one he envisaged. Circumstances meant he was holding court in the Long Room here rather than directing the team on the field.
With the 300-plus members present barred from asking during their Q&A about his disciplinary hearing on a racist abuse charge which he denies – the date is to be announced within 48 hours – the most pressing question from the floor was whether the club had plans to invest in a new microphone. Between false starts and embarrassed pauses, Gale spoke of the legacy possible following the club’s first County Championship title success for 13 years.With the 300-plus members present barred from asking during their Q&A about his disciplinary hearing on a racist abuse charge which he denies – the date is to be announced within 48 hours – the most pressing question from the floor was whether the club had plans to invest in a new microphone. Between false starts and embarrassed pauses, Gale spoke of the legacy possible following the club’s first County Championship title success for 13 years.
Its foundations, he said, will be laid by players such as Alex Lees, one of those to come off an enviable production line (the academy team were simultaneously showing off the Yorkshire League trophy to the rest of the 3,000 crowd). Earlier, one of Gale’s more pleasant off-field duties in the three weeks since his verbal spat with Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince was to hand Lees, 21, his county cap. Its foundations, he said, will be laid by players such as Alex Lees, one of those to come off an enviable production line (the academy team were simultaneously showing off the Yorkshire League trophy to the rest of the 3,000 crowd). Earlier one of Gale’s more pleasant off-field duties in the three weeks since his verbal spat with Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince was to hand Lees, 21, his county cap.
It represented a career pinnacle for Lees, who had to contend with his emotions as well as whatever Somerset’s bowlers had to throw at him after Yorkshire’s acting captain, Joe Root, won the toss. The England Lions batsman lost his father, Simon, three years ago and could not hold back the tears before heading out to the middle.It represented a career pinnacle for Lees, who had to contend with his emotions as well as whatever Somerset’s bowlers had to throw at him after Yorkshire’s acting captain, Joe Root, won the toss. The England Lions batsman lost his father, Simon, three years ago and could not hold back the tears before heading out to the middle.
“It is fair to say it’s the proudest moment in my life,” Lees said. “It is tribute to my dad. He spent countless hours in the garden bowling at me and unfortunately never saw me as a professional. So to come through and get capped this morning was a quite overwhelming feeling.”“It is fair to say it’s the proudest moment in my life,” Lees said. “It is tribute to my dad. He spent countless hours in the garden bowling at me and unfortunately never saw me as a professional. So to come through and get capped this morning was a quite overwhelming feeling.”
Lees, requiring 135 runs to reach the 1,000 mark in Division One this season, appeared on course during his three hours at the crease but became the second of five afternoon victims as Somerset clawed their way back into the contest. In the end it was overexuberance that did for the angular left-hander as he succumbed to a forcing shot, attempting to hit Peter Trego for a third consecutive boundary. Lees, requiring 135 runs to reach 1,000 in Division One this season, appeared on course during his three hours at the crease but became the second of five afternoon victims as Somerset clawed their way back into the contest. In the end over-exuberance did for the angular left-hander on 83 as he succumbed to a forcing shot, attempting to hit Peter Trego for a third consecutive boundary.
Trego was instrumental in Yorkshire’s demise after addressing an early waywardness that led to him being picked off for 18 runs from his opening seven deliveries, also accounting for Jonny Bairstow and Steven Patterson before bad light plagued the final session. Trego was instrumental in Yorkshire’s demise after addressing an early waywardness that led to him being picked off for 18 runs from his opening seven deliveries. He accounted for Jonny Bairstow and Steven Patterson before bad light plagued the final session.
Yorkshire’s coach, Jason Gillespie, concerned by the dead-rubber nature of the contest, used the fact victory here would see his side set a points record in the two-division era as pre-match motivation. Yorkshire’s coach, Jason Gillespie, concerned by the dead-rubber nature of the contest, used the fact that victory here would see his side set a points record in the two-division era as pre-match motivation.
In contrast to the top flight, Division Two has top-end issues to resolve, and it made for a fascinating opening day which saw Essex continue their extraordinary late surge by blitzing the leaders, Worcestershire, for 84 at Chelmsford. In contrast to the top flight Division Two has top-end issues to resolve and it made for a fascinating opening day in which Essex continued their extraordinary late surge by blitzing the leaders, Worcestershire, for 84 at Chelmsford.
A sixth victory in seven for James Foster’s team – who closed on 198 for three – allied to a healthy set of bonus points would earn them promotion if Hampshire fail to win against Glamorgan. However, another Sean Ervine-inspired recovery in Cardiff – both he and James Vince hit hundreds from a position of 57 for five – has left Hampshire in a position not only to foil the Essex quest but snatch the title from Worcestershire’s grasp with a win of their own. A sixth victory in seven for James Foster’s team – who closed on 198 for three – allied to a healthy set of bonus points would earn them promotion if Hampshire fail to win against Glamorgan.
However, another Sean Ervine-inspired recovery in Cardiff – both he and James Vince hit hundreds from a position of 57 for five – left Hampshire in a position not only to foil the Essex quest but to snatch the title from Worcestershire’s grasp with a win of their own.