Yorkshire beat second-place Nottinghamshire by a commanding innings and 152 runs to seal their first County Championship title since 2001 with a game to spare.
Veteran and former England seamer Ryan Sidebottom took a thrilling 6-30 to extinguish his former club’s title hopes; Notts were bowled out for a miserly 177 after the White Rose took the five wickets they needed on the last day in an exhilarating 14.2 overs. The 36-year old has continued to roll back the years this season and his devastating bowling left him on outstanding figures of 9-65 for the match. Even more significant was that Sidebottom was a member of the last title-winning squad back in 2001.
“It’s one of the finest moments of my career. I had some great times in my playing career and really enjoyed it and now this is the peak of my coaching career. It’s a great feeling.”
Jason Gillespie
Yorkshire were bolstered by the return to an already rampant side of Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Tim Bresnan from their England exploits. The Yorkshire side totally dominated proceedings after in-form opening batsman Adam Lyth notched up his sixth hundred of the season in Day 1. Ballance and Bresnan then demonstrated their test experience with the bat to allow stand-in skipper Root to declare on an indomitable 532-9.
Nottinghamshire were blown away by the potency of the Yorkshire bowling attack in their reply to that mammoth total; having to follow-on after only scoring a disappointing 207 in their first innings.
On the final day Nottinghamshire’s rapidly fading title hopes looked ever more remote, as soon as Sidebottom struck early on in the second innings the away side never looked back.
Clinching the victory they needed seemed a formality when Nottinghamshire resumed on the final day on a precarious 149-5. Sidebottom showed his unwavering commitment even in this advanced stage of his career, as he raced round the boundary to make a stunning save and promptly took his fifth wicket of the innings dismissing Luke Fletcher. James Taylor led a valiant fight back but even he succumbed to the barrage from Sidebottom and his fall wrapped up a huge victory and a long-awaited championship title.
“We believe that we have played some really strong cricket this year and the lads deserve it…. to win the last five games by an innings is an amazing effort.
Jason Gillespie
Yorkshire securing a 31st County Championship title was the perfect culmination of many years of maturing and development for key members of the side, expertly guided by former Australian test paceman Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie has had the Midas touch with what was a despondent club on the decline when he took the reins; his Yorkshire side have only been beaten three times since his reign began three years ago. The White Rose have come a long way since the heartache of relegation in 2011, the side benefited from a season in Division Two with a much needed overhaul and the seeds of this year’s success were sown as Yorkshire were promoted as runners-up in 2012.
Jason Gillespie has brought with him that famed Aussie grit and competitiveness that many an England Ashes competitor has faced and ingrained it in a talented set of local lads who the vast majority played with each other since the county under-age squads. The blend of the new outlook brought from Australia and the close-knit relationship of his troops has proved to be the right remedy to restore the glory days back to Headingley.
The future is bright for Yorkshire cricket. The outstanding success of Joe Root and Gary Ballance in the England set-up this summer shows that the batch of talented youngsters that needed guidance a few years ago, are now maturing into assured top-drawer performers.
One of these is the 26-year old Whitby born opener Adam Lyth, who has been imperious with the bat this season and has thrust himself firmly onto the England test selector’s radar. With Sam Robson’s position as Alistair Cook’s opening partner looking vulnerable after a meek summer in both test series, Lyth has to be in contention to join the already strong Yorkshire contingent in the England set-up, with Root, Ballance, Bairstow and Bresnan donning the blue cap in recent years.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes in because he has really improved as a cricketer….the performances he has put in this year have been unbelievable.”
Gary Ballance on Adam Lyth
Lyth has been a prolific run scorer this campaign notching up six tons and 1,428 runs so far at an average of 70.40. His assured and consistent performance deserves an opportunity to test his mettle at the highest level. The experience of veteran Ryan Sidebottom who has also led by example this year has seen a great improvement from young seamer Jack Brooks.
Lyth is not the only one who has come on leap and bounds under Gillespie’s stewardship; leg-spinner Adil Rashid has rejuvenated his stagnant career with both the ball and bat and is starting to fulfil his potential that was much lauded earlier in his career.
Bairstow also proved he can compete with Lancashire’s Jos Buttler as England’s first choice gloveman with some spectacular performances behind the stumps.
Yorkshire have long been the breeding ground for quality players for the benefit of England side; from the greats of Geoffrey Boycott and Len Hutton to more recent stars Gough, Vaughan and now Root and Balance. It has taken a native of the old enemy Down Under for the White Rose to also reap the rewards, not that anyone will be complaining, they fully deserve their title this year after a dominant season under Gillespie.
Rhys Stevens
Picture: The Times