Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2012

16 At the end of the season I feel floored. I can take no more of this last day drama. Congratulations to Lancashire and Middlesex of course. No more of this batting and finding a side 48 for six and finishing 300 all out. No more of this set a small target of say 120 and being all out for 80. It’s entertaining and for that I love it. But how much more can I take? There was so much which was good about the season. The amount of interest Lancashire generated by ending the 77 years wait to be crowned County Champions was amazing. I had no idea there were so many fans of the club. They came falling out of their offices and other such hide away places by their hundreds. It was exactly what we all needed. A brilliant story with a huge response. The rivalry with Yorkshire, however, is close to crossing the line with what is healthy and a year out of Roses clashes in the Championship is no bad thing. If it comes to a two-year absence that would be a different story. A club’s success is many fold but Andrew Gale’s views, aired early in the year over Lancashire’s likely difficult season ahead, stirred up Glen Chapple and his team and they made it work for them. Colin Graves’ attack on the Yorkshire players following relegation was forthright and beyond any doubt as to where he stood. His financial support for Yorkshire means his summary holds a lot of weight. His right to speak out is correct. The manner in which he went about it will be tested next season. The use of bad language and the fact it was published in such clear unequivocal terms did not go down well in this correspondent’s house. Twelve months ago I interviewed Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and was very impressed with him. But when things were tough this year I realised how he really needed another experienced man along side him to help sort things out. Mind you all captains seem to say you are only ever as good as the players who turn out for you. They were hopeless too often and perhaps that is why they are down and for no other reason. On a more positive note I’m looking forward to seeing another year of Root and Ballance. They both strike me as good characters on top of their talent. A bit of collective spirit and improved application can go a long way as Lancashire showed. I recently had to put together a best eleven from the County Championship. I couldn’t find a place for any of the Lancashire top six batsmen although I expect that to change next year. How much Horton, Brown and Moore will take from that will be intriguing. Best game of the season has to be either Lancashire’s win over Yorkshire in Leeds or Lancashire’s victory over Hampshire in Liverpool Views from cranky corner Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society