Yorkshire CCC v Lancashire, day one review - Soggy start for Jared Warner

When a journalist turned up to a game between Yorkshire and Lancashire many moons ago, and announced himself as working for “The Times of London”, he was abruptly told that “it’s got nowt to do with thee” and invited to “booger off”.

The fact that this match is proceeding without spectators seems appropriate in the sense that inquisitive neutrals cannot gain entry but poignant in that there would normally be some sizeable crowds.

Granted, not quite of the five-figure sort once commonplace in the days of Trueman and Statham, Washbrook and Hutton, but sizeable nonetheless, and there was no sadder sight than to approach the ground on the first morning to see empty streets and redundant turnstiles.

It was a morning on which only 13 balls were possible in any case due to rain, with a brief sunny interlude sandwiched between a heavy shower which had delayed the start by 30 minutes and a prolonged period of rain which then drove the players from the field after eight minutes’ action.

Yorkshire reached 8-0 in that time after winning the toss and as the heavens continued to spill forth off and on – although mostly on – it was the only action witnessed all day.

Among the many maxims of Roses folkore is “no fours before lunch”, but there were two in the little cricket that Saturday allowed.

From the third ball, Tom Bailey, bowling from the Emerald Stand end, fired a delivery down the leg-side that not only evaded batsman Adam Lyth’s attempt to reach it but also diving wicketkeeper Alex Davies, the ball disappearing for four byes.

From the first delivery of the second over, George Burrows, a 22-year-old paceman on first-class debut, served up a gentle away-swinging full toss which Tom Kohler-Cadmore persuaded to the gaping destination of the extra-cover boundary.

It was the sort of delivery that a batsman who had recorded ducks in his previous two innings would have dreamt of receiving.

“Welcome to first-class cricket, young Burrows. It can only get better from here, lad.”

Burrows was much more on the money in the rest of his over and then the first day was over almost before it had begun, umpires Peter Hartley and James Middlebrook eventually bowing to the inevitable at 3.10pm.

By then, enough rain had fallen to leave puddles on the practice pitches and parts of the outfield, the scene so grim and miserable that the competition’s title, the Bob Willis Trophy, had never felt so apposite.

Although Burrows is the only debutant on show, Jared Warner, the 23-year-old pace bowler, is making his first-class debut for Yorkshire, having played two games on loan at Sussex last year.

Warner replaced fellow youngster Dominic Leech, who had made a good impression in the previous two games.

It is good to see Yorkshire giving plenty of chances to their younger players.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson