CRICKET IS to Yorkshire what tea is to, well, Yorkshire. God’s own county – their words, not mine – have won the County Championship a record 30 times, plus an additional shared title.
Yet after 1968 Yorkshire went 33 years without a Championship success.
When they broke that duck in 2001 a new era did not dawn, suffering relegation the following year. Yorkshire haven’t come close to another triumph since.
2013 could have been different. They raced out to a lead in Division One which they held for much of the summer. But they tripped up on the home straight. Durham were the beneficiaries, overcoming much adversity – including the nearly fatal heart-attack of their coach mid-season – to win a third title in six years.
The turning point came in August at Scarborough. Durham were the visitors, below Yorkshire in the table, but in an enthralling contest the White Rose came up short. Durham’s win was the second of five on the bounce as they cantered to the Championship with a week to spare. Yorkshire’s 33-point lead was erased and overthrown.
In many ways Yorkshire were a victim of their own success. A match-winning 182 not out by Joe Root, anchoring a chase of 362 at the notoriously tricky Chester-le-Street in April, alerted the England selectors.
Having made his debut over the winter, Root was backed for the summer. Sheffield-born Root hit two Test Match centuries including 180 against Australia at Lord’s.
Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan also answered the England call, leaving Yorkshire short of three top players for most of the campaign. In contrast, Durham’s squad was unmolested by the selectors.
For the winter Ashes tour, England have returned to Headingley’s well of talent. Gary Ballance, enemy of auto-correct and a Zimbabwean by birth, makes the trip after 1,363 runs in 2013 at an average of 64.90.
Adil Rashid was the surprise batting star, averaging over fifty with the bat. Yet averaging nearly as many with the ball has undermined any claim to be a genuine all-rounder. Recognised primarily as a bowler, an England recall remains distant and elusive.
It was former England stalwart Ryan Sidebottom who led the attack in his second spell at the county, averaging 19.09.
Yorkshire supporters are known for their fierce loyalty, and this season’s encouraging if ultimately disappointing performance is only likely to intensify that.
They look to have found a set-up which can return the county to its pre-1968 heyday. Coach Jason Gillespie, former Australian fast bowler and notorious target of Barmy Army banter, is leading that revolution. Over the next few years, Yorkshire’s one title in 45 years could be consigned to distant memory.