It was a battle of England past and present on the second day here. In the middle Michael Carberry and Adil Rashid sparred, each trying to outdo the other. Off the field, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, confirmed that the county had received no official approach to Jason Gillespie about England’s vacant head coach role.
“We’ve had a little bit of disruption with Paul Farbrace leaving and replacing him with Richard Dawson,” Moxon told BBC Radio Five Live. “He’s left and we’ve had to reinvent ourselves again. Clearly Jason has a massive affection for the team. He’s very highly thought of by us. [Losing coaches] is a frustration. The speculation with Jason, we’ll just have to wait and see. Nothing official has happened and we want Jason to focus on Yorkshire.”
If the 40-year-old is choosing to concentrate solely on Yorkshire then he will be pleased with how his bowlers have fared. Gillespie has a knack of getting the best out of unlikely players. Liam Plunkett and Jack Brooks are both in their third season at Yorkshire. Plunkett has progressed back to the Test team; Brooks has become an integral part of Yorkshire’s attack.
Beginning the day on 333-7, Yorkshire were frustrated by James Tomlinson. Tim Bresnan fell early, caughtat gully for 28 as he attempted an expansive drive. Jack Leaning never looked comfortable. He added five runs in 40 minutes and his nervy innings was brought to end when Tomlinson trapped him lbw for 82. Brooks was the last man out, miscuing a Fidel Edwards bouncer with wicketkeeper Lewis McManus taking a fine diving catch.
Brooks was then left pawing the ground in frustration as Yorkshire’s slips shelled two chances from Hampshire opener Liam Dawson. Leaning dropped a sharp offering to his left before Adam Lyth missed a regulation chance at second slip. Bresnan claimed the first wicket, trapping Sean Terry lbw, before battling with Carberry.
The biggest irony is that Plunkett, left out for disciplinary reasons, would have been effective on this pitch. Bresnan got the odd ball to rise and was difficult to get away when he bowled a good length. Anything too full was driven; anything short was pulled to the boundary.Will Rhodes broke the 74-run partnership between Carberry and Dawson, Dawson nicking to first slip as he tried to defend a good length ball. Yorkshire carried on chipping away, with Brooks dismissing acting captain James Vince lbw for six. Will Smith was walking back to the pavilion the next ball, caught at first slip as he tried to withdraw his bat.
Rashid bowled better as the day progressed. Initially he was too short and was smashed for two sixes. He dismissed Carberry with luck more than skill as Carberry swept straight to Pujara at midwicket for 97. Sean Ervine pulled Brooks to Steve Patterson on the boundary before Rashid claimed two late wickets. Gareth Berg was caught at slip as he tentatively pushed forward before Andre Adams brainlessly swept to Andrew Gale at point.
