Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath has revealed that Will O’Rourke will play one Championship match next month.
Anthony McGrath says incoming New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke will be available for one of next month’s two Rothesay County Championship matches against either Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge or Essex at York.
McGrath spoke after today’s Championship defeat against Notts at Headingley and confirmed the big Kiwi’s availability for the shortest of stints with the red ball, in addition to his availability for the first half of the Vitality Blast group stage, beginning this weekend.
O’Rourke is flying to England on Wednesday from India, where he is currently on IPL duty, and he will hopefully debut against Northamptonshire at Headingley in the Blast on Friday evening alongside Australian all-rounder Will Sutherland.
However, looking ahead to the next two-game block of Championship cricket in late June, O’Rourke will play one of those games and Sutherland both.
McGrath also confirmed that the club will consider batters when looking at their overseas options for the second half of the Championship season given Yorkshire’s early-season struggles in that department.
“It’s something we’ve got to look at for the rest of the season without doubt,” said the White Rose head coach.
“We wanted to give our talented batters the first chance. Obviously we haven’t had a settled line-up, and that can be an issue as well. So we need to try and address that.
“So, yeah, look, there’s all those questions to answer.
“But, for the next two Championship matches, we’ve got Will O’Rourke and Will Sutherland – Will O’Rourke for one of them and Will Sutherland for two.”
In terms of which of those matches O’Rourke plays, McGrath added: “We will just look at it and see which one fits best.”
Wrapping up the availability news, all-rounder Jordan Thompson will be scanned tomorrow having sustained a side injury whilst bowling during yesterday’s third day against Nottinghamshire.
“I guess the best way I can describe it is probably similar to Ben Cliff down at Hampshire,” said McGrath.
“He doesn’t think it’s too bad, but we’re going to scan him tomorrow because it’s in a difficult area, particularly for a bowler. Given the intensity of T20, we need to know sooner rather than later.”
Matt Milnes, who is closing in on a first-team return following his back injury problems, will also play in one of the two second-team T20 matches against Lancashire at Headingley tomorrow with a view to being available for Friday’s Northamptonshire Blast game.
Yorkshire were beaten by 163 runs by Notts just before tea today, bowled out for 299 in pursuit of 463. Visiting fast bowler Dillon Pennington finished with five second-innings wickets.
Yorkshire lost their fourth game in seven and reach the halfway point in the Division Two campaign second from bottom in the table.
McGrath reflected: “Disappointment again.
“It was a result pitch at Headingley, so we had a chance to win the game.
“We won the toss, which we haven’t done before, so I think that was big in terms of the game. We bowled well without a reward first day, but after that we just couldn’t wrestle any initiative in the game, we were always behind.
“Even though we had opportunities, every time we slightly got on top, we’ve just not managed to take that further and then get any control in the game. That has been a problem all season.
“We’ve got to look at ourselves, not just the players, all the coaches as well. We’ve got to find some answers because as much as we talk and everything like that, it’s about performances.
“Our members and supporters, people who follow us – and we’ve got great support – are not interested in ifs and buts and whatever, they want to see results.
“We’ve got to be better, but one thing that won’t change is positivity.
“It’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves, it’s about understanding what it is to be a Yorkshire player.
“For me, the levels we get to are trophies and competing at the top.
“So, yes, the table doesn’t look great, and it won’t look great tomorrow morning. But, as I said all the way through, we’re looking up. That’s not going to change.”
