Match report day 1: Hampshire v Yorkshire in Championship 2004 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Hampshire v Yorkshire

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Toss: Yorkshire, to bat
Lunch: no play
Tea: Yorkshire 10/1 off 4 overs (Jaques 7*, Taylor 0*)
Close: Yorkshire 34/1 off 10.4 overs (Jaques 22*, Taylor 5*)

 

It was a frustrating day’s play at the Rose Bowl, thanks to the annoying weather, the fussiness of the umpires and the unwillingness of the batsmen to stay on the field when the light was less than perfect, even if spinners were bowling. Yorkshire scored 34 runs for one wicket in three sessions of play that totalled 10.4 overs.

 

The weather, as elsewhere in the country, was a major frustration. The umpires initially inspected the pitch at the starting time of 11 o’clock, but several little showers of rain kept delaying their decision to start play until after lunch. It finally started at 3.30 p.m., on a light emerald green pitch. Yorkshire surprised a little by deciding to bat on winning the toss. They presumably based their decision on the local theory that the pitch tends to deteriorate quickly and bounce unevenly, and it is always desirable to bat first, whatever the pitch or weather look like.

 

Play duly began under a low overcast sky, with the light just fit for play. Both teams were captained by deputies, Shaun Udal of Hampshire and Matthew Wood of Yorkshire, due to injuries to Shane Warne and Craig White respectively. It was an important match for both teams, third and fourth in the second division of the championship.

 

The pitch soon helped to account for the captain who decided to bat, as Chris Tremlett got a ball to lift sharply and Wood (1) was unable to get his bat out of the way in time, wicketkeeper Nic Pothas completing the catch. Yorkshire were 10 for one. They had not added to this score when the umpires decided to offer the light to the batsmen, although nobody else seemed to notice any difference since play began, four overs earlier. However, within five minutes a light rain had again started.

 

When the rain stopped, the light remained poor for well over an hour, and it was not until 5.30 that play restarted; even then it was uncertain how long it would be possible, although 18 overs were possible in theory. With the wind howling around the ground under a grey sky and the ground virtually empty, Tremlett continued the bowling to Chris Taylor, who did not find the blustery conditions easy to handle.

 

Udal, perhaps worried about the light or relishing the breeze, came on to replace Billy Taylor at the other end. Then Australian Michael Clarke came on to bowl his left-arm spinners in place of Tremlett. Even so, umpires Nigel Cowley and Alan Whitehead seemed unnecessarily paranoid about the light, quick on the draw with their meters.

 

Phil Jaques, who had opened with Wood, was working the ball around the field skilfully, but he was still willing to depart the field after five further overs. It was not an incident to do cricket any credit, but there were too few spectators to organize a riot. Yorkshire were then 28 for one, with Jaques on 16 and Taylor 5.

 

Another half-hour was lost, and it was almost laughable when, just before 6.15, there was an announcement that play would recommence in five minutes, with three overs to be bowled before close of play! Once again it was a case of long unnecessary delays to take advantage of what potential playing time was left by the weather.

 

The light was now considered good enough for Taylor to return, and the most exciting moment of the third and final session of the day was when Jaques stole a single and enjoyed the benefit of four overthrows from a shy at the stumps. Even this session was cut in half by the umpires’ desire to hustle the players from the field again as their light meters dropped a notch. What a farce!

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)