James Middlebrook’s shock return to Yorkshire colours mirrored the statistical yield of his previous County Championship appearance for them at Headingley.
Middlebrook, a 37-year-old free agent released by relegated Northamptonshire seven months ago, was drafted in by the reigning champions after their request for Adil Rashid to be released from England’s Test tour of the Caribbean was declined. Wicketless against Kent on his farewell during the club’s previous Division One-winning season in 2001, he failed to claim the single victim required to take his first-class tally for Yorkshire to 50.
On Saturday, having arrived in a rush following a morning training session with Yorkshire, his off-spin returned figures of 7-0-56-1 for New Farnley in a Bradford League match against Hanging Heaton. Twenty-four hours later, Warwickshire’s aggression towards him was more calculated – a couple of clean blows downtown from Will Porterfield and Sam Hain aside – during an old-school milking of three an over.
Middlebrook’s holding role proved necessary on what is the flattest pitch on the square – it is the one used for one-day internationals here – as it provided the quintet of seamers some respite. Tim Bresnan, settling into a new straighter approach to the crease following winter work with Yorkshire’s coach, Jason Gillespie, was the pick with three for 39.
“The last few days have been a bit of a whirlwind really but this is a fairytale little end to my career,” Middlebrook, registered until September but not expected to feature after this week, said. “You can’t turn down playing for the white rose.”
To feature here, Middlebrook reneged on two umpiring appointments – he is currently attempting to force his way onto the ECB’s reserve list – as well as pulling out of a one-day match for Bedfordshire, who he is captaining in 2015.
International calls afforded him another day in the sun and the same could be said of Ian Westwood, who cashed in on the absence of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott from the Warwickshire top order to hit an unbeaten 151. Only the silky Hain, who succumbed for an even 50 to Bresnan with the second new ball, looked as assured as the left-hander in his time at the crease.
“As an opener it’s your job to try to bat out the day, thankfully I managed it, and it’s given us a good start, although there’s a lot more work to do,” Westwood said.
