Five reasons for Yorkshire's resurgence in the County Championship

Jason Gillespie was controversially appointed as Yorkshire coach – the start of a new era

Yorkshire won the championship in 2014 and retained it in 2015If there’s anything more difficult that winning a major title in sport, it’s defending the title in the next competition. A single win might have you labelled down as a one-time wonder or a lucky accident, but once you’ve proved you can defend that title, you’ve truly made it yours. Just ask Roger Federer, or Jack Nicklaus, or for that matter, ask the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.Last week, amidst a wild potpourri of madness and emotion, Yorkshire defended the English County Championship title for the first time since 1968. Statistically the most successful side in the championship’s history, Yorkshire fell into a rut after their win in 2001, failing to regularly make the top 3 and finally getting relegated at the end of the 2011 season – an all time low.Hard decisions were made, officials were sacked, and a new look team was promised. One of the oldest and most respected cricketing clubs of all time was in decay, and there doubts whether Yorkshire could ever regain lost glory.But Yorkshire managed to fight it out. A few right appointments, a couple of new signings and Yorkshire quickly secured promotion to the main draw. In a complete makeover, Yorkshire chased arch-rivals Durham all the way through the tournament, but lost crucial matches and ended as runners-up. But their players never lost hope. They tried again the following year, and won the championship.Their best was yet to come, as Yorkshire passed the toughest test of them all and regained their title in the recently concluded 2015 season, to prove once and for all, that they had truly returned. Let’s take a look at 5 major reasons behind Yorkshire’s miraculous resurgence:

#1 New coach, new philosophies

Jason Gillespie was controversially appointed as Yorkshire coach – the start of a new era

Right after Yorkshire’s embarrassing relegation in 2001, their selectors sat down in a huddle. Their team was going nowhere, and if they didn’t take a step then, it would be too late. Desperate times called for desperate measures – and Yorkshire took one. They appointed former Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie as coach. For an Australian to be appointed coach of Yorkshire, it was clearly a sign that they were pulling out all the stops.

But Gillespie delivered. He immediately took over the team, and talked about his idea to create a disciplined team who would watch each other’s backs – something he tweets as #strongunit. His philosophy of strong unit immediately resonated with the players, who took to him quickly. Gillespie does not believe in mollycoddling his troops, preferring to let them have their fun. But that doesn’t mean he’s a lenient coach, as Liam Plunkett and Glenn Maxwell were suspended for not keeping in with the team’s strict disciplinary nature.

Gillespie has proven to be a shrewd and calculating coach – the kind that focuses on the long run instead of wanting to finish each match then and there. As Sir Alex Ferguson said – “Attack may win you games, but defence will win you titles”, Gillespie seems to be of the same mould. A quick look at his statistics each season will be proof enough:

Year

Played

Won

Lost

Draw

Position Finished

2012(Division 2)

16

5

0

11

2

2013(Division 1)

16

7

2

7

2

2014(Division 1)

16

8

1

7

1

2015(Division 1) Ongoing

13 (As of 12 September 2015)

9

0

4

1

It is evident that Yorkshire has only lost 3 matches under Jason Gillespie in the last 4 years. It is this mindset of keeping the balance that helps Yorkshire tick. Apart from his brilliant management, he has also been involved in multiple signings over the years which proved to be crucial for Yorkshire to get back in the big leagues. He helped bring back Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett to bolster the pace attack, while signing Kane Williamson and Cheteshwar Pujara as overseas players to keep the batting solid.

The signing of current sensation David Willey will be a huge boost for Yorkshire as they will undoubtedly look to defend their title for three years in a row – something that no team has done since 1968. The last team to do it was...Yorkshire.

Gillespie might attribute his players’ dedication and spirit as the reason for Yorkshire winning the championship, but credit must be give to his own inimitable style of coaching and hard-as-nails management.

#2 Newbies stepping up to the plate

Alex Lees (L) and Jack Leaning are two of Yorkshire’s best young players

The perfect team is all about balance. Balance between batsmen and bowlers, the traditional and the innovative, and the old and the young. In the case of Yorkshire, all of the above are prevalent. Yorkshire has found it in itself to trust their younger players to perform, and they have. At times, they have been preferred over the old hands at crucial junctures, and they have stood up every single time.

Take the case of young Alex Lees. Just 22 years old, he has been given the tough job of opening under the swinging conditions of the English countryside – a job that several professionals have had trouble dealing with. But Lees doesn’t complain, he just goes about his job as usual. He has scored an impressive 670 runs this season, with one century and four half centuries.

Partnering Adam Lyth, Lees has led Yorkshire out of trouble many times, preferring to play the role of the orthodox opener and blunt the bowling attack. Lees has also been awarded the captaincy of the Yorkshire One-Day squad, which goes to show that the team awards its best performers.

Another young performer is batsman Jack Leaning, who plays at No. 3. Leaning is Yorkshire’s second highest scorer in the league, with 794 runs in 13 matches. He has 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries in the league, which shows his contribution to the team as part of the top order. Leaning is also a brilliant fielder, with 17 catches to his name – the highest for Yorkshire.

There are other youngsters as well – teenager Marcus Fisher who bowls superbly in the 50-over format for Yorkshire and is tipped to play tests next season, and Toby Roland-Jones who scored his maiden century recently. Individually, they might look young and inexperienced, but make no mistake. They form a vital cog in the well oiled machine that is Yorkshire.

#3 A dangerous pace attack

Jack Brooks and Ryan Sidebottom (L) along with Steven Patterson (R) form Yorkshire's pace trio

It is often said that pace bowlers hunt in teams of two, like Wasim-Waqar or Lee-McGrath or Lillee-Thompson. But in the curious case of the Yorkshire bowling attack, their pace battery is a trio – Ryan Sidebottom, Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson. All three have played more than 80 matches each, and Sidebottom has represented England in tests. Brooks is second in the list of highest wicket takers, Patterson holds the best economy rate among fast bowlers and Sidebottom has the best bowling average among fast bowlers. It’s safe to say each bowler has contributed in his own way.

Sidebottom was enticed back into the squad by coach Gillespie in 2010, he has delivered with 230 wickets at 20.68 so far. His average of 15.71 in the current season is spectacular numbers for a fast bowler. A natural swing bowler, Sidebottom started out well for England, but soon lost his way amidst injuries and drop in form. Though he managed to claw his way back into the side, he finally lost out to younger competitors. Coming back into the Yorkshire team, Sidebottom has taken 40 wickets in 9 matches, with a best of 6/34. His 5-18 against Middlesex last week sealed Yorkshire’s place as winners of the league.

Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson are veterans themselves, with 192 first class matches between them. He was second in the wickets pile for the 2014 season as well, with 68 wickets to go with the 56 wickets he has taken this year. His ability to generate pace and pitch the ball full has reaped rewards for him. On the other hand, Steven Patterson prefers to be the workhorse, running up and pitching the ball in the right areas, waiting for the batsman to make mistakes. He has one of the best economy rates in the season, along with 44 wickets with a best of 6/51.

In conditions where swing bowling is often the key to victory, it would not be far-fetched to name Yorkshire’s pace trio as the prime factor behind Yorkshire’s return to form. With David Willey joining them next season, Yorkshire’s bowling attack will be strengthened further – if that’s even possible.

#4 Experienced players leading the way

Captain Andrew Gale (L) and Jonny Bairstow have been central characters in Yorkshire’s rise to the top

If there’s one thing that Yorkshire can boast of, it’s that they are a team of extremes. If they have 17 year old Marcus Fisher, they also have 38 year old James Middlebrook in the bowling attack. If young Jack Leaning bats up the order, it is because the experienced Andrew Gale holds fort in the middle order. Yorkshire has a terrific balance of experience and variety, which will help them remain at the top of the table for a very long time.

Apart from Ryan Sidebottom, another surprise return for Yorkshire was James Middlebrook, who was drafted in as the second spinner to back up Adil Rashid. Though he was only picked when Rashid was unavailable, Middlebrook proved to be a worthy selection as he took 15 wickets at 24.26 apiece, including a five-wicket haul. It would later prove to be a masterstroke, as both Middlebrook and Sidebottom, the oldest men in the squad had the best averages halfway into the competition.

Captain Andrew Gale suffered heartbreak two years ago when he saw Durham clinch the trophy as Yorkshire unsuccessfully tried to catch up with them all year. The second successive championship victory would be especially sweet for Gale, as he finishes as Yorkshire’s third highest run scorer, with 780 runs in 13 matches. Opener Adam Lyth was a late addition to the squad, but he immediately made the headlines with three fifties in eight innings. England ‘keeper Johnny Bairstow has been spectacular throughout the season, finishing as the fourth-highest run scorer with 1071 runs at an average of 107.10 at a tremendous strike rate of 77.83.

Test match players Tim Bresnan and Gary Ballance are unsung heroes of the team, but their worth and contribution is no small matter either. Yorkshire also benefitted from two good overseas players in Pujara and Williamson, who provided solidarity in the middle order and prevented collapses. All in all, Yorkshire’s experienced hand played a vital role in their rise to being Number 1, and again it all comes down to coach Gillespie who has united both experience and inexperience into a formidable team.

#5 Important victories at important times

Tim Bresnan and Johnny Bairstow during their partnership against Durham

It is a common misconception that the strongest team wins the competition. A team could be composed of the best players in the world, but they have to make sure they don’t succumb under pressure and give the match away at a crucial stage – something that South Africa have repeatedly done in knockout matches. Teams who back themselves to perform and are not afraid to gamble on their players often come out on top when the chips are down.

Yorkshire’s ascension to the top is hinged on their ability to treat all matches the same and not collapse under tremendous pressure. If Yorkshire had to defend their trophy, they had to face some stiff challenges on the way.

A good example would be their match against Somerset at Taunton. Though Yorkshire were unbeaten in the season so far, they were at a precarious position in the match, leading by just 70 runs with only five wickets remaining in the second innings, and a whole day’s cricket to be played. Yorkshire’s lower middle order would be put to the test – and they passed with flying colours. Johnny Bairstow and Adil Rashid batted 44 overs for 117 runs before the former fell. But Rashid was still unstoppable – he batted for another session with Liam Plunkett, finally falling for 99, one short of a magnificent hundred. But he had played his heart out, and the match would go into a draw. Yorkshire remained unbeaten.

Even though Yorkshire continued to put in good performances consistently, it would all be for naught if they didn’t beat rivals Durham. When Yorkshire and Durham met, tensions boiled over and nerves were frayed. But Yorkshire fans had nothing to worry, as their team would win both matches comfortably.

Johnny Bairstow’s brilliant 219* and Tim Bresnan’s 169* propelled Yorkshire to 557-6, while a combined bowling effort bowled Yorkshire out in both innings, giving them an innings victory. The rematch at home proved to be a similar affair, with a team effort giving Yorkshire a 183 run victory – Glenn Maxwell and Adil Rashid being the heroes.

The twin victories over Durham ensured Yorkshire’s title defence, and when Ryan Sidebottom’s 5-18 skittled Middlesex for just 106, Yorkshire were crowned the champions. They had proved that they could battle even in the toughest of conditions and beat the most powerful opponents. Yorkshire had started the tournaments with whispers following them about how their previous win was a lucky thing, and had squashed those whispers flat. Nobody would be talking behind their back again.

Yorkshire’s immediate target is to get to 258 points by the end of the season, which would be a record for any team in Division One, and they need 17 points from three games. It will be difficult, but fast bowler Steven Patterson believes his team can manage it. After all, belief is what holds the entire team together.

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Edited by Staff Editor