Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire’s batting coach John Sadler spoke of a frustrating opening day at the Kia Oval.
John Sadler reflected on the opening day against Surrey at the Kia Oval and said: “I think we probably left 50 out there, I reckon, from the positions we were in.”
Yorkshire’s batting coach watched the county post 255 all out having been inserted, with captain Jonny Bairstow excellent for 89 before top-edging a sweep against Dan Lawrence’s off-spin to deep backward square-leg during the evening session.
The White Rose were 52-0 early on and then 203-5 immediately before tea on a pitch which offered assistance for the quicks.
Surrey closed the day on 46-0 in reply.
“We lost the toss this morning, got stuck in, obviously the pitch did a little bit – it was green, it was nipping, it’s got a bit of pace and carry, and we would have bowled,” said Sadler.
“But, you know, being 50 for nought – a good start – and a couple of other kind of 40-50 plus partnerships, we didn’t go on and get that big partnership to really get control of the game.”
On the pitch, Sadler continued: “It looked like it did a little bit more when the roller had worn off and the lacquer was off the ball.
“Either side of lunch, it just looked like it did a little bit more laterally.
“I don’t think we’ve quite bowled as well as what we can, and hopefully we will tomorrow.”
Bairstow’s season’s best score was an entertaining innings with 13 fours the 35-year-old’s fourth fifty of the summer so far.
“Jonny played magnificently, didn’t he,” said Sadler. “He played a different game and showed why he’s a 100-Test player and a World Cup winner.
“But there’s nobody more frustrated than him at the way he got out. You know, he’s held his hands up there. We had control of the game again, with him and Tommo just forming a real good partnership.
“Nobody means to get out, but it’s a bit of a story of our season.
“We just kind of get in front of the game and with the bat, and then we kind of let them back in. You know, we just need to be a little bit more ruthless.
“But Jonny was at his world-class best.”
Adam Lyth was Yorkshire’s other fifty-maker, posting 55, and he is the leading run-scorer in Division One with 666 to his name. Unfortunately, he feathered a beauty behind from Nathan Smith this afternoon.
“He was frustrated when he got out, but he was got out today – a good bouncer that surprised him a little bit and just nipped his glove.
“On another day, that misses and he goes on.
“He’s been magnificent all year, and he’s shown why he’s one of the best in the country.”
On the plan for tomorrow, Sadler added: “I think we’ve just got to settle in, hold our length and really try and control the scoreboard. I think we’ve just probably chased it a bit there at the end tonight.
“We’ve just going to chip away, stay patient.
“We were 50 for none, so there’s no reason why we can’t put them under a bit of pressure, take some wickets and see where the game goes.”
