The game at Headingley this week could go a long way to deciding which of these teams goes up
There is a mouth watering game in Leeds this week with second taking on third in Division Two. With two teams gaining promotion the winning team from this contest will be in pole position. They each come off wins from last week, Yorkshire overcoming leaders Sussex and Middlesex defeating bottom placed Northamptonshire. Both would have been glad to get back to Championship cricket having had disappointing white ball campaigns.
As with last year, Middlesex have not been scoring big first innings runs despite having Ryan Higgins and Leus du Plooy near the top of the Division Two run scoring with 908 at 82.54 and 850 at 60.71 respectively. They also have six fewer bowling points than Yorkshire, although the evergreen Toby Roland-Jones sits at the top of the Division Two wicket taking with 37 at 23.78. Ethan Bamber is next for Middlesex with 26 at a more expensive 37.88. They managed the win against Northants without Higgins, missing with a knee injury and may well have to manage without him again.
Middlesex have won one more game that Yorkshire and crucially came out on top when the two teams met at Lords back in April. This was a relatively low scoring affair despite the presence of Joe Root and Harry Brook in the Yorkshire side. Four wickets for Tom Helm and three for Roland-Jones helped dismiss Yorkshire for 159 and then half centuries from du Plooy and Joshua De Caires saw Middlesex into a useful 87 run first innings lead. Despite 75 George Hill, Yorkshire only managed 244 in their second innings and Middlesex got home four wickets down.
Yorkshire look a different team than that which started the season with two losses and five draws, winning their last three games. Ben Coad is in the wickets, taking seven against Sussex and has captured 35 in total this season at a very impressive 17.37. In the absence of Matthew Fisher he has been backed up by Jordan Thompson who has taken 27 wickets at 26.29.
Yorkshire are currently without an overseas player, with Shan Masood involved in Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh. Jonny Bairstow played in the last game, in which he scored a half century and a duck and it is expected he will be available this week following his omission from the England white ball squads just announced. They are blessed with a productive opening pair in Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean, but apart from Bairstow the middle order is rather inexperienced.
The strength of the bowling line ups would suggest that a positive result is likely, but which way it will go is too close to call.
Key players:
Will Luxton is just 21-years-old with four first class games under his belt, but is coming into this final batch of Championship fixtures on the back of an exhilarating knock of 105 not out against Warwickshire that took his side home. He scored a half century in the last game against Sussex and Yorkshire will be hoping he continues this form, especially in the absence of Masood.
Sam Robson has been in the runs this season with 601 at 60.10. He missed some early games through injury and Middlesex will be hoping he can get them off to a solid start alongside Mark Stoneman and post some batting bonus points. He scored two half centuries in the win against Northants, although there will be a step up in the quality of the opposition bowling this week.
Team News:
It is expected Fisher will return for the next game, while Dom Bess comes back in. Otherwise the squad is unchanged.
Yorkshire Squad: Jonathan Tatersall (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Finlay Bean, Dom Bess, Ben Cliff, Ben Coad, George Hill, Noah Kelly, Will Luxton, Adam Lyth, Dan Moriarty, Matthew Revis, Jordan Thompson, James Wharton
Higgins has a knee injury and may still be absent.
Middlesex squad (from): Toby Roland-Jones (c), Ethan Bamber, Henry Brookes, Jack Davies (wk), Josh De Caires, Leus du Plooy, Stephen Eskinazi, Nathan Fernandes, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Ishaan Kaushal, Sam Robson, Mark Stoneman
Weather and Conditions
The forecast is for positively summery conditions with temperatures up to 24°C and more importantly, no rain.
There has not been a Championship game at Headingley since the beginning of May, when the captain winning the toss favoured bowling first. There will be some moisture around on the first day so the same decision will likely be made. However it will be warm and sunny for the duration of the match, so there should be plenty of runs.
Date: 29th August 2024
Time: 11:00
Ground: Headingley, Yorkshire
