Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath was disappointed with what he saw from his side at Taunton this week.
Anthony McGrath reflected on Yorkshire’s rain-affected draw with Somerset at Taunton this week and said: “I think we’ve had a very poor week.”
Almost 220 overs were lost across the four days of this 12th round Rothesay County Championship draw at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Yorkshire left the West Country with nine points and draw number five from 12 to their name.
Yorkshire replied to Somerset’s 441-6 declared with 134-9, slipping to 60-7 on day four before Jordan Thompson’s counter-attacking 57 settled any increasing nerves.
Head coach McGrath said: “I think the rain’s probably saved us if I’m being honest.
“We won the toss, we had the best of the conditions, started well and had them 30-2. But from then to speaking to you now, we’ve been very, very poor.
“We spoke about it in the dressing room, and sometimes it can happen.
“It’s not a lack of trying. But I think the strides we’ve made, and how we’ve played as a team – bowled in partnerships, batted in partnerships – we’ve done the absolute opposite this week.
“We’ve got out with a draw, which I think – bigger picture-wise – is important with what’s going on around the country. So, yeah, it’s one of those we’ve got to put behind us.”
McGrath continued: “We clearly know where we’ve gone wrong.
“I think our lengths with the ball were far too short.
“Tactically, we’ve probably got a couple of things wrong, and then when we batted it looked like we were batting on a different pitch to them.
“We’ve just got to get back to what we’ve done really well the last couple of months and make sure we’re ready come Monday again (Sussex at Hove).
“I think we just didn’t adapt all game.
“TKC (Tom Kohler-Cadmore) batted well and maybe put us off our lengths. But we just missed so much, and it’s unlike us because we’ve bowled so, so well as a partnership.
“And, again, we’ve found a way with the bat. I think it’s an exception this week how we’ve played.
“Maybe a bit of a hangover from the One-Day Cup. I don’t know, maybe that’s a bit of an excuse. But, yeah, we’ve just got it wrong this week.”
Yorkshire will head down to Sussex for their penultimate game, nine points ahead of second-bottom Durham after all bar one of the games in Division One was drawn this week. Nottinghamshire beat Worcestershire at New Road.
The White Rose are set to head to the South Coast with an extra bowling option in Matt Milnes, who McGrath believes should have recovered from the groin injury he sustained at the end of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Fast-bowling colleague Ben Coad (hamstring) is “a little bit behind, so I think he won’t be ready for Sussex”, according to McGrath.
Captain Jonny Bairstow took a knock to his left elbow whilst batting today, McGrath explaining: “Adam Lyth hit him with his bat running past, believe it or not. He’s got a bit of a bruised elbow.
“He’ll be absolutely fine.”
Before Yorkshire’s men start against Sussex, the county’s women face Glamorgan in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final at Worcester on Sunday.
And McGrath added: “We saw the girls on Saturday before they set off to Radlett (for their semi-final against Middlesex).
“We were all delighted that they got through, and it’s great for the club in their first year.
“We’ll be willing them on, and hopefully they get the trophy.
“So, very, very best of luck. The lads are willing them on. Hopefully they can get the job done.”