Blooming White Rose?

The first few blows struck in the opening bouts of the County Championship are traditionally rather soft, ineffective ones. Early season, the rain and the rustiness of the players often combine to produce rather dull draws. The opening few games of the 2013 season, however, have been bereft of damp squibs, certainly in Division One. Middlesex's much-vaunted fast bowling attack showed their pedigree by rolling Derbyshire for 60 after conceding a first-innings deficit, Warwickshire's seamers did something similar by knocking over Durham for 94, and Durham themselves have today pulled off a stunning victory over Nottinghamshire by brutally chasing down 183 in 20 overs and 2 balls on the final evening. If there's one team in Division One that have really caught the eye, however, then its Yorkshire.
After getting thumped by and innings in a dismal first outing against Sussex, Yorkshire's last two matches have seen them complete two of their most remarkable victories in living memory. An extraordinarily successful chase of 336 at the Riverside preceded an innings victory over Derbyshire that not many would have predicted following Derbyshire's first innings total of 475. These two wins see them sitting, not exactly pretty, but certainly confidently, joint second in the table, and will give the Yorkshire faithful belief, not that they needed it, that they can bring the Championship back to its (rightful) place in their sesquicentennial (yes I had to look that up) year.
Although I was born closer to the Riverside than Headingley, and have lived for most of the past five years within half an hours bus journey of Old Trafford, my home town is in North Yorkshire therefore count myself as a Yorkshireman and, most importantly, support the White Rose. Yorkshire is a funny concept within not just English cricket culture, but English culture in general. Of all regional stereotypes, there is none that is so accurate, or indeed so readily accepted by the target, than that of the Yorkshireman. A Scotsman would frown at being described as being a drunkard, and who can forget the Cockney Harry Redknapp's angry retort at being accused of being a 'wheeler-dealer'. Accuse a Yorkshireman of being stubborn, tight and plain-speaking and he will agree, often with a hint of pride. I'm not sure about whippets, but Yorkshiremen who wear flat caps do so without irony. Yorkshire is also irreversibly synonymous with cricket. Perhaps it is the abundant greenery, or the attritional, determined nature of the game, but it is true that the hills, dales and valleys of God's Own County are awash with cricket grounds. From the ones found in the tiniest villages, where daisies grow in abundance, horses occasionally make an appearance at cow corner and it is a constant cause of astonishment that the opposition can actually make up a team from their population, to the affluent, comfortably middle-class club grounds of Guisborough and Harrogate, where eager parents watch their offspring, resplendent in brand new whites and kit. Famous names from Yorkshire grace the lists of both high-achieving England players - Hedley Verity, Geoff Boycott, Herbert Sutcliffe - and particularly under the mantle of captain - Len Hutton, Brian Close, Michael Vaughan. It is perhaps not surprising then, that Yorkshire are the most successful of the eighteen first class counties, with thirty one Championship wins, twelve better than their nearest rivals Surrey. It has been over a decade since their last win though, but this Yorkshire side look galvanised and convinced they can celebrate their return to Division One with a 32nd Championship win.
Okay, everything looks and sounds rosy for them so far, but look at the scorecards for those two wins and you will see they were built for a large part on the performances of their two young, star, but most importantly incrementally contracted, batsmen, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root. Partially-forgotten man Tim Bresnan also played an not inconsiderable part either. It is doubtless that in this quite heady summer of international cricket, these three players will be highly involved. Yorkshire's season could well rest on both how many matches those three can play, and more importantly how the team manages in their absence. In fact, it is conceivable that Yorkshire will be missing their England trio for all their remaining Championship games, so how will they cope?
Bresnan, for all his doubtless quality and the valuable contributions he makes, will be the least missed of the three. Imports Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett seem to be acquitting themselves well, and no-one could argue that they aren't decent Division One quality seamers. Add in the experience of Ryan Sidebottom, the potential of Moin Ashraf and the willingness of Steven Patterson and there is a pace battery that will be potent at best and mediocre at worst. No, it is the loss of Root and Bairstow that will have management and fans alike nervously drumming their fingers.

A smaller, but worrying yet not unexpected spanner has been thrown into the works by the international recognition of Gary Ballance. Anyone who has watched the young Zimbabwe-born batsman play will say that this is not before time. Plenty of young Indian batters have first class averages of over fifty, but that is in the Ranji Trophy where the pitches are flat and the balls uncooperative. To maintain a 50+ average in the County Championship, as Ballance as done, is a truly commendable achievement. He has the ability to quickly and drastically alter the course of an innings or a match, a la Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior and (whisper it) Kevin Pietersen. I am in no doubt that Ballance will make some sort of England debut this summer, though probably not in Test cricket, putting even greater strain on Yorkshire's middle order. The management, and Ballance himself, will know he has to perform when he plays if Yorkshire are to lift the title.
Who then, will be required to really step up in that batting line-up? In my opinion it is three players that once, and perhaps still do, harbour England ambitions: Adam Lyth, Joe Sayers and, in particular, Andrew Gale. Whilst Gale has proved himself an intelligent and effective captain, the sort lion-hearted players want to serve well, he will know he needs to score heavily this season. Lyth has talent, and Sayers the mindset, but they need to convert their key attributes into runs and, possibly more importantly, time at the crease. There are some fine sides in Division One and it may be that Yorkshire's route to the title will encompass some grinding out of draws against the likes of Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. One thing is for sure, the top six cannot continue to rely on Phil Jacques as much as they have in recent years.
The final word on Yorkshire's squad must go to Adil Rashid. With an imperious fifth first class century in the ongoing Somerset fixture, the signs are there that this could be the season that the mercurial leg-spinning all-rounder finds his feet once again. Still only twenty-five, he will have a place back in that England side firmly in his mind. Whilst the route to it may not be currently clear, scoring runs and taking wickets to take Yorkshire to the title would be a fine path to go down.
It may be that this is all wildly ambitious postulates, and Yorkshire will embark on a downwards spiral culminating in an end-of-season relegation scrap. The competitive and unpredictable nature of the Championship attracts this sort of speculation however, so I make no apologies. Yorkshire's last game is against Surrey at the Oval, scene of many a dramatic end to an English international summer. Currently, there is no more satisfying vision for me than that of Andrew Gale holding aloft the champagne-soaked trophy on a hot September's evening in Central London. Currently, that image is not too far-fetched.