Looking at Twitter in the build-up to Hampshire's trip to Yorkshire last week, I noticed some comments questioning the Hants batting order. Sure, it's been difficult at times at the start of this season, but it’s not time for wholesale changes yet, is it?
Hampshire won the toss at Headingly last Wednesday and took the positive decision to bat first, and with the batting conundrum in mind one hoped that they'd get off to a good start, for their own sakes if nothing else!
They didn't of course, as Yorkshire reduced them to 83 for 4 with Adams, Dawson, Carberry and Vince all out cheaply. And it was the failings of Liam Dawson and James Vince that brought about most debate, having both struggled with the bat this season.
In Liam Dawson's case though, there's more to consider than just his batting. Daws has been quite superb fielding at slip this summer, having taken 15 catches so far including a Hampshire equalling record of 7 in one match, against Northants at Wantage Road at the start of May. His left arm spin has also been a massive plus for the side, taking 3 more wickets in his 19 overs against Yorkshire at only 3.2 runs an over, a bowling prowess that has forced England hopeful Danny Briggs out of the side in recent weeks.
If Daws is struggling opening up the batting, would it pay to move him down the order a bit, with perhaps Michael Carberry opening with Jimmy Adams instead? To me, Dawson is the most in-form all rounder Hampshire have, and he will surely stay in the side.
For James Vince it's slightly different. Other than a dogged 46 against Northants three weeks ago, and then 83 in the CB40 success over the Welsh Dragons in the same weekend, Vince has also struggled for runs this season. However, other than a couple of token overs against Northants and Leicestershire, Vince isn’t really an option with the ball. Added to that, Bilal Shafayat is waiting in the wings after a hugely promising 93 against Derby on debut last week, all of which means Vince in particular needs a score to consolidate his place in the side, and quickly.
And he could take a leaf out of Australian Simon Katich if he likes, with the Kat finding his rhythm in Yorkshire, scoring a glorious 196 in the first innings at Headlingly, followed by an undefeated 61 in the second. Many predicted Katich would be LV Division Two leading run scorer this season and with a few more performances like that, he won't be far off.
Katich, ably assisted by first Sean Ervine (44) and then wicket keeper batsman Michael Bates, who scored the first century of his career in this match, lead the Royals to a respectable first innings total of 427 all out. Bates who scored 103, is starting fulfil the potential many hoped he would at the start of the season, stepping into the departed Nic Pothas’ shoes not only with the gloves, with which he has been outstanding thus far, and with knocks of 87 against Gloucestershire and now 103 against Yorkshire, his batting is on point too.
Just a note on the Yorkshire batting while we're at it. Having been reduced to 32 for 3 in their first innings, the home side rallied, with Phil Jaques (93) and Gary Ballance (76) scoring a 149 run 4th wicket stand, before Anthony McGrath scored a wonderful 106, guiding his side to 399 for 9 declared. McGrath, a loyal Yorkshire pro batted wonderfully showing a great deal of resolve in his 251 ball innings.
Liam Dawson was the leading wicket taker for Hampshire with 3 wickets but Kabir Ali, taking another two for the Royals at Headingly, is beginning to find his rhythm having recently returned from an ankle injury sustained on Hampshire’s pre-season tour of Barbados. If Kabs can stay free of injury for the rest of this season and bowl to his potential, he could be a massive asset to Hampshire’s bowling attack.
Hampshire scored 191 for two in the second innings with Michael Carberry (61) amongst the runs with Katich. It was enough to secure a draw against undefeated Yorkshire, earning the Royal’s 10 championship points to take them to fifth in the Table. With Ali, Balcombe and Dawson standing out as the pick of Hampshire’s bowlers so far this season, a consistent batting line up would make Hampshire’s push for promotion all the more realistic.
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