Ottis Gibson accepted Yorkshire didn’t bat well enough through their Vitality County Championship defeat against Middlesex at Lord’s, but the coach also identified the need for improvement with the ball as well.
Yorkshire left the Home of Cricket this evening having been consigned to a six-wicket defeat inside three days, the first loss of 2024 in the third round of the Division Two campaign.
No side topped 250 in the match, with Yorkshire’s first-innings 157 all out on day one proving particularly costly in the final reckoning.
Yorkshire fought back to give themselves a chance of victory, but Middlesex comfortably chased a 158 target today.
“We didn’t bat well on the first day, and they bowled well,” said Yorkshire coach Gibson.
“Over the course of the three days, we didn’t bat well enough. So credit goes to Middlesex for the way they applied themselves.”
Asked to asses the first-innings struggles, the Bajan continued: “This is one of our mantras in the team, assess the conditions, decide what skill or action is required and back yourself.
“The ball was moving around early in the morning, and therefore with the batting line-up we have you feel those guys know how to play.
“They don’t need me to tell them how to bat.
“They need to assess what’s happening, build some partnerships through that first period and soak up some pressure because Middlesex bowled well.
“We could have put ourselves in a position where we could reverse that pressure, but we just keep losing wickets and we’re all out for 157. That proved not to be enough.
“When we left home, had we said that we were going to bowl a team out for 246, you’d be happy with that. But when you’ve only made 159, it seems a hell of a lot.
“We bowled well, but in the middle period we leaked too many boundaries and gave them some soft runs. In a low-scoring affair, you can’t afford to do that.
“It meant that we needed to bat better in the second innings, which we didn’t.
“But just because we didn’t bat well, it doesn’t mean we’re a bad batting team.
“We had a bad week, and we need to put that behind us as quickly as possible and focus on our next game at Headingley on Friday.”
Gibson was asked about selection and fitness at the end of the game, with seamers Matt Milnes and Matthew Fisher both sitting this game out due to a stiff back and a stiff shoulder respectively.
Fellow quick Mickey Edwards also didn’t take the field at Lord’s this afternoon because of a foot issue.
“We have a good squad, and these injuries – these niggles – create opportunity for other people to come in and show us what they can do,” added Gibson.
Yorkshire are back in action against Derbyshire at Headingley on Friday.
