New ball star Ben Coad believes he is bowling as well as ever as he spearheads Yorkshire’s bid for promotion in the Vitality County Championship.
Coad, described as “magic” by coach Ottis Gibson last week, sits on 44 wickets in Division Two this season – the second-best haul across the whole league and the most by a seamer.
No bowler across either division of the Championship has yet to reach 50 wickets, so Coad could yet be the first at some point during the final two rounds of fixtures.
It is an interesting sub-plot amidst the main race for promotion, which sees Yorkshire hold the upper hand over Middlesex.
Yorkshire’s penultimate round clash is with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, starting Tuesday – 10.30am.
Second-placed Yorkshire, who continue to have Jonny Bairstow available, head to South Wales sat second in Division Two, 15 points clear of Middlesex in third. They need a maximum of 34 points from two games, including against Northamptonshire at Headingley next week, to be assured of promotion.
Picture by John Heald. Ben Coad rocks back Ian Holland’s leg-stump during the first innings of last week’s win at Leicestershire.
The most Middlesex (164 points, 12 games) can get to is the 212-point mark. Yorkshire are currently sat on 179.
Both teams sit level on the first two tiebreakers should teams finish level on points – most wins and fewest losses. They have won four apiece and lost twice. Middlesex then hold the advantage on the head-to-head record having won at Lord’s and drawn at Headingley. That is the next tiebreaker.
But those would be taken out of the equation should Yorkshire get to 213. Of course, that number decreases for every point Middlesex don’t accrue.
Middlesex face bottom side Derbyshire at Derby from tomorrow and then face league leaders Sussex at Hove, starting next Thursday. Sussex need only a maximum of 12 points to seal promotion.
Yorkshire can still catch Sussex and win the title. Sussex are 21 points ahead on 200, so it would be unlikely but not impossible.
If things go swimmingly for Yorkshire this week, they could be celebrating promotion in the Welsh capital. Glamorgan are second-bottom in the table having only won once in their 12 games.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow will face Glamorgan at Cardiff.
While Yorkshire beat Leicestershire by an innings and 72 runs at Grace Road last week, Glamorgan were beaten by an innings and 87 away at Sussex.
Yorkshire are searching for their fifth win in their last six matches, a run in which Coad has been outstanding.
He has taken 23 wickets in his last four appearances, including two five-wicket hauls and a six-for.
Ripon’s Coad, 30, has only taken 50 Championship wickets in a season once in his career – in 2017, his breakthrough season. He claimed exactly 50 in that campaign, so requires seven wickets to make this his most prolific campaign.
“I always say that the first couple of seasons when I came onto the scene were my best, but this is right up there,” he said.
“Just looking at this year, there’s been a fair few flat pitches and obviously four Kookaburra ball games. But the way I’ve bowled with the consistency and hunger I’ve had to get these wickets, it’s definitely been one of my best years.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Coach Ottis Gibson has described Ben Coad as “magic”. Gibson played for Glamorgan during his own fast-bowling days.
Asked why he believes this year has been so productive, he continued:
“Last year, I was struggling the whole year with my knee.
“There was a lot of hard work over the winter to get that right. I didn’t have to have surgery, but I had an injection into the tendon and a lot of shockwave therapy on it.
“I went to see the surgeon, but he said, ‘Try this first’.
“There were a lot of hours in the gym on it, and it’s been so good this year.
“I feel like I’ve been able to bowl like myself again.
Picture by John Heald. Ben Coad acknowledges the applause after taking five wickets in the first innings against Leicestershire last week.
“There was one minor injury (back in May), but nothing major, and I’ve been able to bowl at full intensity all year.”
Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson sits top of the Division Two wicket-taking list with 45, while Warwickshire seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby and his Essex counterpart Jamie Porter lead the way in Division One with 46 apiece.
Coad is also 10 away from 300 first-class career wickets, his 290 taken at a superb 19.69 apiece.
“The Covid couple of years were less games, obviously,” he said. “My first year was 50, the second year nearly, but I’ve had quite a few injury problems and haven’t played this amount of games since.
“It would be great to get over 50 again, but I’ll just keep plodding away.”
Coad has also been given valuable support, with Jordan Thompson having claimed 28 wickets from 10 games added to George Hill’s 24 from 11 appearances.
Picture by John Heald. George Hill, seen here bowling Chris Wright against Leicestershire last week, has impressed with the ball in support of Ben Coad this season.
“The lads are standing up with the ball now,” Coad added.
“I know Cliffy’s only had a couple of chances, but he’s done well when he’s come in. Hilly is taking his all-rounder role on to a much higher degree with the ball now. He’s doing really well.
“Rev, Tommo as well – there are lads standing up when they need to. But I’ll always try and lead by example.”
Coached by New Zealander Grant Bradburn and captained by batter Sam Northeast, Glamorgan (221 all out) were made to follow-on in the reverse fixture at Headingley in reply to 519-7 declared. Fin Bean top-scored with a superb 173.
But the visitors batted out the final day – 372-7 – thanks to centuries for Colin Ingram and Northeast. Former South Africa limited overs international Ingram is the leading run-scorer in Division Two with 1,170.
Like Yorkshire, they are currently playing without an overseas player.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram sweeps on the way to an early-season century at Headingley.
