When Jordan Thompson reverse-scooped Tom Taylor for six this morning, reaching 50 and helping Yorkshire get a fifth batting point, you wouldn’t have guessed that the all-rounder was having to contend with the odd butterfly in his stomach.
Thompson enjoyed a superb second day, advancing from 48 not out overnight to 70 and then taking 3-27 with his seamers.
This is the Pudsey St Lawrence star’s first appearance of the season having been left out of the team at Hampshire last week, and he has helped put them in a winning position after two days against Worcestershire.
“I said it to a few lads, going out with the bat I was more nervous than I’ve been in a long, long time,” he revealed at close of play, where Yorkshire reached at 61-1 in their second innings, leading by 355.
“Over the last two or three years, I’ve not been at my best with the bat.
“But I went out with a positive mindset and knowing that I can score runs.
“I even pulled out a reverse scoop, which is not normally in my armoury! But I’ve been working on that in the winter, so I’ll take that.
“On a serious note, I’ve worked hard with Sads (John Sadler, batting coach) on a few bits and pieces. But it’s a mentality thing going out there and knowing that I can score runs wherever I’m batting.”
Did the Hampshire omission play its part in those nerves?
“Yes, potentially I think partly as well,” he said.
“In the two-dayer on tour (in Abu Dhabi) against Somerset, I got concussed. I got hit in the head in the net a couple of days before, so I obviously didn’t bat or bowl in that.
“We came back here and played Lancs in a two-day game. I faced one ball of seam and then faced spin. So I hadn’t really faced many balls going into the season.
“This was actually the first time facing four or five decent seamers.
“Obviously having to score some runs and get us to the bonus points, it was more so that. But also wanting to do well because we’ve got a very strong squad now, and it’s obviously fighting for places.
“It’s only healthy for us, so we’re in a good place and the boys are feeling good.”
Thompson’s three-for was supplemented by four wickets for Ben Coad, two for Jack White and one for George Hill as, in reply to a first-innings 456, Worcestershire were bowled out for 162 midway through the evening session tonight.
It was a real team effort today, without doubt.
“Obviously Coady was kept quiet last week at Hampshire, but I think you can only keep him quiet for one week,” said Thompson. “He only got one (at Hampshire), but probably could have had two or three.
“Jack White has come in and bowled really well, so I think we’ve bowled well as a pack and built that pressure. We’re in a good position.”
That pressure was certainly ramped up this morning as Yorkshire quickly advanced from 425-8 to 456.
“We came back this morning looking to add to the scoring and get up to the bonus point. It proved tough the first hour-and-a-half up until lunch with the ball, but I think we got our rewards and obviously got a few quick ones. That always helps,” said Thompson.
“I think it’s more a swing pitch.
“If you swing the ball and you get a little bit of bounce, you bring the nicks in. I think we bowled very well, kind of worked as a pack and created that pressure, and it brought us some results.
“We know that at Headingley, when you’re bowling in the right spots, you can build pressure and wickets come in clusters.
“I think if you look back at our spells, even in the morning session, we still bowled decent.”
And on the decision not to enforce the follow-on, he added: “We could have batted last and potentially had a little chase, but if we can get 400-500 in front, give the bowlers a little bit of a rest and go back out there fresh for five sessions and try and win the game, then I think that’s the best way to go.”
