Matthew Waite looks to have secured a place in Yorkshire’s team to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, starting on Friday, after his five-wicket burst against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities.

The all-rounder, 23, has enjoyed an extremely productive winter, mainly abroad in Australia and South Africa.

Today, he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Yorkshire’s first team to help the county dominate day one of their three-day first-class friendly at Weetwood.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore later impressed with an unbeaten 64 as the White Rose responded to 119 all out with 164-3.

Waite had never previously taken five wickets in either first or second-team cricket, the best being a four-for whilst playing for the latter.

He has played County Championship cricket sporadically over the last few years, with injury taking its toll.

But now things look set to change, with impressed captain Steve Patterson admitting: “I fully expect him to play.

“There’s two days left in this game. But, assuming he’s fully fit, he’s earned the right to be on that team sheet.

“I’ve been impressed with Waitey for a long time. Having gone away this winter to Australia, he’s come back and is bowling nicely. He’s been very consistent.

“He was one of our best bowlers in South Africa and has carried it on.

“For his benefit, it’s nice to come into a game like this and show everyone else what he’s been working on and how good he’s become.

“His consistency is a definite improvement. At the end of the day, if you’re going to be successful at first-class level you have to be consistent.

“That’s not just over a spell, it’s over three spells in a day, four days of a game and then over 14 games in a season. That’s the challenge for these younger lads.

“It’s not can they bowl a good spell here and there, it’s can they do it every spell.

“That’s what has impressed me the most.

“He says at the start of a spell, ‘I’m going to do this and this’, and he does it now. Possibly a year or so ago there would be a few bad balls thrown in which make it hard to control the scoring rate.

“Last September at Trent Bridge, he came on and got two or three important wickets on what was a docile pitch when they were 180-1.

“But this year, he’s performed almost every time he’s bowled. It gives us a really good option for the rest of the summer.”

Patterson was pleased with Yorkshire’s overall performance to start their season, with seven wickets coming after lunch as the students slipped from 88-3.

“It’s been pretty pleasing,” he said. “We would have preferred to bat first.

“We were a little below what we’re capable of in the first session, which was slightly disappointing. We got three wickets, but the group of bowlers weren’t consistent enough for what we have been all winter.

“To come back after lunch, the way Waitey and Duanne (Olivier) started, was a real delight, getting those seven wickets in an hour.

“We’ve worked hard to get our skills to the level we want, and we’ve been away to South Africa, and the lads have shown what they can do.

“To get into our first first-class game and not be quite on it is a touch frustrating.

“Thankfully we got it right after lunch.”

Related News

View all news

Opening Season Lunch 2025

Read more

Will O'Rourke Signs For Yorkshire

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce that rising New Zealand star Will O’Rourke has signed for the Club.

Read more

Sign up to our newsletter

For all the latest news, previews, ticket, membership and Premium Experiences information and more exciting content from Yorkshire Cricket and the Northern Diamonds straight to your inbox, subscribe now.

To view our privacy policy, click here.