As we count down to the start of the new season, in our weekly feature, we look back at some of Yorkshire’s highlights throughout last summer, be it great wins or memorable individual performances……
It had been a summer to forget for Gary Ballance.
Some good performances, yes. But the story of 2018 had so far proved to be one of disappointment, frustration and anxiety for the experienced left-hander.
Ballance had the previous winter toured Australia with England yet hadn’t played a Test. He was left out of their squad for the subsequent tour of New Zealand.
Then, not too far into May, he opted for some time away from the game to deal with some personal issues.
In all, he was out of the game for approximately a fortnight.
And despite the issues, everybody connected with Yorkshire cricket knew his undoubted quality would shine through once again.
Upon his return in late May, Ballance had opted to hand over the captaincy to Steve Patterson as he wanted to concentrate on scoring runs.
He had scored a first-innings century against Hampshire in a floodlit draw at the Ageas Bowl in late June, his first Championship appearance after his break, and had also added a series of useful limited overs contributions besides.
Now, coming into the back end of the season and just when Yorkshire needed him most, he was to stand up and be counted.
The White Rose headed into September second bottom in Division One and in danger of relegation.
But Ballance, along with young gun Tom Kohler-Cadmore, would score first-innings centuries in a high-scoring draw against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge to set the tone for an extremely positive final month.
After Notts had posted 448 all out, Ballance hit 104 and Kohler-Cadmore 106 – they shared 95 for the fourth wicket – to steer their side to safety.
In the end, a lead of 50 was claimed on a flat pitch and ultimately 12 points to set them up nicely for a blockbuster Roses clash at Emerald Headingley a few days later.
With both sides in trouble at the bottom, it promised to be a winner takes all affair.
For both Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore, this game was the springboard for them to end the season in style.
