Promotion-seeking Yorkshire must be risk takers, says Jaques (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Promotion-seeking Yorkshire must be risk takers, says Jaques

6:57pm Sunday 15th July 2012 in Sport By Chris Parrott

Phil Jaques believes the poor weather this summer means Yorkshire are going to have to take more risks if they’re to achieve promotion from Division Two of the LV= County Championship.

The Australian’s comments come after the Tykes' latest fixture with Hampshire had to be abandoned yesterday due to heavy rain.

With no play possible because of three morning downpours, the final decision to call off the match was taken at 1.30pm at The Ageas Bowl.

Yorkshire picked up seven points thanks to their first-innings total of 350-9 declared, with Hampshire taking home six after being marooned on 39 without loss in reply.

Yesterday's washout was apt given the awful weather in Southampton.

In fact, with only 106 overs possible during the four days, last week’s encounter was the shortest ever in the Championship in the ground’s 11-year history.

Jaques, who acted as the Tykes stand-in captain on the south-coast, said: “I’ll be honest, I’ve never seen it this wet. I’m in my seventh season here in the UK and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“We need to get come cricket in, hopefully sooner rather than later. otherwise it’s going to be a dismal summer.”

The result moves Yorkshire up to second in the table, although Kent, who are third, now have a game in hand and are only seven points back.

Ahead of this week’s clash with the leaders Derbyshire, Jaques believes the elements have made the promotion race all the more exciting.

He said: “It makes every game even more important in terms of points in a way.

“I think we’re going to have to take a few chances from time to time now because we’re into the back end of the season and it’s important to get some results on the board.”

Yorkshire have confirmed that Jaques could again skipper the side this week with Andrew Gale being assessed because of his on-going hip injury.

However, the county say they’re hopeful that Gale will be fit for the trip to Chesterfield.

One player who will definitely be there will be Joe Root.

His 222 not out was undoubtedly the highlight of Yorkshire’s latest match, with only three other visiting players having ever scored a double century at the venue.

Jaques was one of them back in his first spell with the Tykes in 2004.

He added: “It (Root’s innings) was outstanding.

“I think he showed his class. It was tricky early on in his innings but he got through that and then cashed in at the end. That’s what the really good players do.”