Shan Masood admitted his frustration after a number of Yorkshire’s batters, including himself, were unable to build on starts during their disappointing opening day against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Captain Masood top-scored with 33 in the county’s 159 all out, while Adam Lyth made 15, Fin Bean 29 and George Hill 16 in the top six.
Middlesex closed a weather-disrupted opening day on 84-2 in reply.
“We started off pretty well, got off to a flying start, scoring at sixes,” said the Pakistani overseas. “But then we had a collapse, and that’s what you don’t want to do as a batting unit.
“Whenever there’s a wicket or two down, the important thing is to build a fort or steady the ship. Unfortunately, we lost our way through the middle period and had to scratch our way to some runs at the end.
“We lost the toss, which wasn’t ideal, and conditions did favour seam bowling today. But, for us, the lesson was that some guys got in and we couldn’t stay there for long enough to make the ball older and make it easier for the guys coming in. We just wish the thirties would have been a bigger score.
“You have to give credit to Middlesex.
“I thought they did bowl very well because easily sides can go astray when you’re 63-1 after about 10 overs.
“It’s not the ideal batting performance, but we have to put that behind us.
“We still have a second innings, a first innings to bowl. For us, right now, it’s how cheaply can we get Middlesex out and be out there batting again.”
On Yorkshire’s response with the ball, which came across two mini-sessions because of evening rain, Masood said: “I thought that before the rain break, when we got them 37-2, we were spot on.
“Even after the break, I don’t think there were a lot of bad balls.
“You saw with du Plooy, who took some chances. A few balls went past the bat and there were a few inside-edges. But I feel this is a quick-scoring ground. I also feel the Dukes is a quick-scoring ball. It’s not like last week where we could set straighter fields and stop the runs. Here, if the batsman middles it, they get value for runs.
“We keep telling each other that it’s about the job we have in front of us. Whatever’s done is done.
“For us, it’s coming out tomorrow and seeing what’s ahead.”
Masood and coach Ottis Gibson made two changes to the team following last week’s draw at Gloucestershire.
Matt Milnes and Matthew Fisher missed out for Jordan Thompson and Mickey Edwards, the two seam bowlers who claimed a wicket apiece late in the day today.
Masood added: “With Matt Milnes, it was a bit obvious at Gloucestershire that he felt his back a bit. It’s a long season. We lost him first game last year and didn’t want a repeat.
“We just wanted to address the situation and have him back because he’s a very important player.
“With Fish, yesterday, he felt a sore shoulder, and it’s better to have someone going in 100 percent.
“But big Mickey Edwards has been bowling really well. He was unlucky to get injured last year, and since Durham last May he’s playing his first game today.
“That just shows the depth of the squad. Even with the injuries and changes, we still have a guy like Matty Revis sitting out, who can be a handful with bat and ball. That’s a dilemma for us right now.
“The changes were precautionary.”
