All-rounder George Hill paid tribute to some helping hands after he today scored his first century of what he admits has been a frustrating season with the bat.
Hill was exceptional for a career best 169 not out – his fifth first-team century of a burgeoning career in all and his fourth in the Vitality County Championship.
Alongside Jonny Bairstow, who made 160, and Dom Bess with an unbeaten 60, he helped Yorkshire to 601-6 declared in their first innings.
Hill, 23, has impressed with his seam bowling of late, taking a superb six-wicket haul in a recent Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over Warwickshire at Rugby School, for example.
But this was his first ton since last June, and in the last couple of Championship matches he has been batting at eight and seven having slipped down the order.
“I’m pretty relieved,” admitted the former England Under 19. “I’ve had quite a lean patch of things, but credit to Ottis for keep picking me.
“I’ve worked really hard with Gibbo, Ali (Maiden) and Lowey (James Lowe) for the last couple of months. It’s not been a technique thing, it’s been more the mental side of it.
“I’ve also been to see Martin Speight (former head of cricket at Sedbergh School) a few times as well.
“A big thanks to those guys for supporting me and helping me get those runs today.”
Asked why he felt things had changed for the better over the last couple of days, Hill continued: “I’ve been a bit obsessed with thinking about technique – hands, foot movement, all those kind of things.
“Yesterday, I went out without thinking about technique. I tried to watch the ball as hard as I could and have a positive mindset.
“Batting with Jonny helps a lot (they shared 238 for the sixth wicket).
“He’s played 100-odd games for England, so having that experience at the other end helped me through.”
After declaring shortly before tea with 600 plus on the board, Hill then watched Middlesex’s top order start their reply encouragingly, closing on 141-1 thanks largely to an unbeaten half-century from ex-England opener Sam Robson.
The pitch is clearly benign, and the Kookaburra ball has contributed to making this match a batter’s paradise.
But Hill added: “With the spin, it’s about being patient because it is going to start spinning more, I hope, and breaking up.
“When Bessy got Stoneman out and was a bit slower through the air, it did spin.
“There’s not much on offer for the seamers off the pitch. But if we can get that ball tailing and reverse swinging, as Tommo did at the end, we’ll definitely be in with a good shout.”
