George Hill has revealed his stunning 6-26 on day one of the Roses game at Emirates Old Trafford represent his career best figures at any level of cricket.
Yorkshire’s all-round star, bowling for the first time since mid-July following a broken toe, turned the fixture around after Lancashire had made their way to 180-0 just before tea.
At close of play, they were 272-8 having lost seven wickets after tea, including five for five in 41 balls to Hill’s skilful seam.
“In all cricket these are my best figures, which is quite cool,” smiled the 21-year-old.
The game turned as Hill wheeled away from the James Anderson End of this ground, producing a spell of bowling the England legend would have been proud of.
Importantly, he did it with a ball that had been changed after the original one had been hit into a puddle beyond the boundary.
The second wicket to fall was that of centurion Keaton Jennings, the first with the changed ball and the first of the seven after tea: “When the second ball came along, it was a lot harder,” said Hill.
“I haven’t bowled for a while, so when Tatts chucked me the ball I was happy to be back bowling and just enjoyed it.
“My role usually is to try and make it as dry as possible and hit one area as consistently as I can. It was just that the odd one nibbled enough. The key for me was to run in – I felt in good rhythm – and hit the same area.
“I said to Tatts after my second or third wicket, ‘Get me off and put the strike bowlers on’. But, thankfully, he kept me on.
“Looking at that wicket, we knew it would be quite flat on day one – a little bit tired and slow.
“Our main concern was keeping that run-rate below three an over and controlling the rate.
“We’re very happy with the way it’s happened tonight. If we can bowl them out for 320, we’ll be well in the game.”
Hill broke a toe whilst batting in the Championship defeat against Surrey at Scarborough in mid-July, playing as a batter only through the recent Royal London Cup.
“I was fit to bowl in the last two (RL50) games, but I’ve been doing a lot of bowling in the nets,” he continued.
“I want to get as close to 50/50 with bat and ball, which will help me quite a lot as a cricketer and also the balance of the team.”
On today’s performance, which at one stage saw him on for all 10 wickets before Ben Coad struck twice late on, he added: “Tom Kohler-Cadmore said it as a joke (all 10 wickets) when I got the first one, and then it started getting closer and closer!
“I was just trying to run in and bowl the exact same ball every single time – to keep it simple
“When I had four, I knew I hadn’t had a professional five-for, so that was in the back of my mind. Thankfully, Peps took a good catch.”
Meanwhile, Adam Lyth will be fit to bat after leaving the field after tea having taken a blow to the face whilst fielding.
