YORKSHIRE are seeking a first win of the Vitality County Championship Division Two season against Middlesex at Lord’s, and a change of ball could help them.
A combination of wet weather and batting dominance meant their opener with Leicestershire at Headingley barely got going.
In their second fixture away to Gloucestershire, their bowlers, like those up and down the country, struggled to make breakthroughs with the Kookaburra ball in use, and it fizzled out into a tame draw.
Remarkably, every single game last week in both divisions ended in a draw and in fact, Essex are the only team to have won a County Championship fixture all season, beating Nottinghamshire by 254 runs in their Division One opener.
But the Dukes ball, much more familiar and popular with English seamers, is back in use for this round of fixtures, as it will be for all-but-two more games this season, meaning there should be far more positive results this weekend.
Yorkshire’s game at Middlesex gets underway today, and there is one change to the 13-man squad that drew away to Gloucestershire last time out.
Seamer Matt Milnes, who has started this season well but is coming off the back of nearly a year out with injury, has been rested and replaced by Australian pacer Mickey Edwards.
It is a strong Yorkshire squad, with Joe Root, Harry Brook and Shan Masood all included.
Opening batter Adam Lyth is the man in form for the White Rose, having scored a century in both of his side’s fixtures so far.
Squad News Incoming 🚀
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) April 18, 2024
Ottis Gibson has named a strong 13-man squad for our @CountyChamp clash with @Middlesex_CCC which gets underway at Lord’s tomorrow 🙌
One change to the squad, Mickey Edwards has been added and Matt Milnes has been rested. #MIDvYOR pic.twitter.com/hj5LYwmh4R
Yorkshire currently sit second in the table on 25 points, with Sussex leading the way on 29.
But as previously mentioned, no-one has won a game in Division Two yet, meaning things are extremely tight.
Derbyshire are currently bottom of the division, but sit just 10 points behind Sussex, meaning the table could look very different by the time this round of fixtures is over on Monday evening.
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