Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jonny Bairstow savours victory over Surrey at Headingley this afternoon.
Anthony McGrath is targeting consistency as Yorkshire bid to progress towards silverware in the Rothesay County Championship.
The White Rose head coach has seen his side win two, lose two and draw two so far in Division One.
They were beaten at home by bottom side Hampshire last month before losing badly from a winning position against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last week.
That defeat against the Bears was sandwiched in between victories against Somerset at Taunton and, this week, Surrey at Headingley.
The latter came by an innings and 127 runs and fell into the category of ‘all-round team performance’.
After centuries for Adam Lyth and captain Jonny Bairstow in the first innings, the wickets were shared around the seamers, who were ruthless in bowling Surrey out cheaply twice.
Head coach McGrath said: “Seven days, two completely different performances. I keep saying that it’s consistency for us.
“We know that at our best we can do what we did there against one of the best teams, and at our worst we’re very bad. When we’re not going so well, it’s about finding a way to stay in games and be better.
“I’m really pleased for everyone because it’s not a lack of effort. Everyone is really trying hard.
“I’ve said a few times that at our very best, we’re up there – I think – as a team and a squad with the best in the country. It’s just when we’re not, we see a massive drop-off.
“I think other teams who have been in Division One more often find a way of staying in games and either don’t lose or wrestle back momentum, whereas we’ve kind of just crumbled in a couple of games. That’s our next stage, sorting that out.”
While all Yorkshire’s bowlers were excellent in this game, George Hill, Jack White, Matthew Revis and Jhye Richardson, Harry Brook will have taken the majority of the headlines nationally for taking three wickets last night, including England Test team-mate Jamie Smith bowled.
McGrath laughed: “When he came off last night, I did say to Harry that it was a bit like watching Wasim Akram. To get the wickets he did, particularly Jamie Smith, who’s a good mate of his, I think it’s a big feather in his cap.”
Brook’s England team-mate also gave a jovial response when questioned on it.
He said: “We’re not going to hear the end of it are we?!
“He’s even been talking about how he was using the crease. I was like, ‘It’s getting too much now’.
“Look, it’s good. If there are different ways you can affect the game, that’s what you pride yourself on as a player. You want to look at different ways you can help your captain and the guys out.
“It was actually a really nice ball which got Smith out, wasn’t it. I’m not sure about the other two, but he bowled nicely as a whole on that surface.”
This was Australian overseas Richardson’s last game of his spell with the county. He played four games, taking six wickets and adding one half-century with the bat. He struck once in each innings in this farewell appearance.
McGrath added: “We’ve spoken a lot about overseas, particularly coming in for a short period of time. Unless you hit the ground running, which is tough, it does take you a little bit of time. Hence why we all want overseas for the full year.
“Jhye himself said before this game that he just feels as though he’s finding his feet now and settling in. He wished he were here for another few months.
“We know how good he is. You just look at his record, see how he’s been in Australia, played in the Ashes. It was only a matter of time.
“With bat and ball, he’s made very good contributions, particularly down at Somerset and here. It’s just a shame he’s going back.
“But, hopefully, we’ll see him back in White Rose colours down the line.”
Meanwhile, McGrath confirmed that Hasan Ali will miss the first two Vitality Blast matches against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Friday and Derbyshire at Headingley on Sunday because of international commitments.
Faheem Ashraf is set to debut at Trent Bridge alongside Moeen Ali and AJ Tye.
Dan Moriarty has been ruled out having sustained a left hand injury in training, but Sam Whiteman is closing in on a return to fitness and Logan van Beek is also available for the first half of the competition.
Brook and Root will not be available as they prepare for Test duty with England at the start of next month.
