Yorkshire bowling coach Mick Lewis has described his fellow Australian Jordan Buckingham as a “real competitor” and has revealed why the emerging overseas fast bowler is starting his second spell in county cricket with the bit between his teeth.
Buckingham has been signed for a four-game spell in the Rothesay County Championship through until the end of next month, joining an attack including fellow overseas quick Ben Sears.
Buckingham, aged 25, is in line to debut in tomorrow’s clash with Warwickshire at Headingley (11am) – a game which will see New Zealander Sears make his home bow and will also be captain Jonny Bairstow’s 100th career Championship appearance.
Sears has signed for a similarly short period. He is due to play five Championship matches, the first of which was the draw against Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside the weekend before last.
He claimed one wicket in a 16-over spell which became increasingly threatening.
While Sears is a full international with New Zealand, that is something Buckingham is still aiming for with Australia.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire bowling coach Mick Lewis is backing Jordan Buckingham to shine.
The former Northamptonshire man has just finished a double-winning state season with South Australia, which saw them win the one-day Dean Jones Trophy and the four-day Sheffield Shield crown. He took 22 wickets in six matches in the latter and also claimed a four-wicket haul for Australia A against the England Lions at Sydney in late January.
Buckingham is closing in on 100 career first-class wickets. He is nine away from that mini-milestone.
In May 2023, the Victorian – the same state which Lewis hails from – claimed three wickets in as many Championship matches for Northamptonshire.
Lewis said: “When I spoke to Jordan in Australia this winter, he said he was dying for another opportunity to perform over here. I don’t think he was happy the way he went last time.
“But he said that he’s grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started with Yorkshire.”
A personal point to prove is added to a desire to further catch the eye of the Australian selectors with some good performances whilst at Headingley under the watchful eye of ex-international seamer Lewis and head coach Anthony McGrath.
Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Images. Jordan Buckingham celebrates a Sheffield Shield wicket for South Australia earlier this year.
“He’s on the right path,” said Lewis. “Australia have got some good, young bowlers coming through. Jordan is one, Fergus O’Neill, who’s done well for Notts at the start of the season, is another.
“There’s a young kid from Queensland who got five wickets in the Shield final last month as well, Callum Vidler.
“It’s a tough side to get into, the Australian side, and you’ve got to be performing every game.”
Asked what Buckingham’s biggest strengths are, Lewis added: “He’s a real competitor. He hits the wicket hard and competes. He hates to lose, like we all do, and gets in a dogfight.”
Following a weekend free of action, it’s safe to assume there will be a number of changes to Yorkshire’s team to face Warwickshire, who also were not in action.
The Bears have won one and drawn two so far and are six points better off than Yorkshire, who have 40 points from their opening three matches.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. New England limited overs captain Harry Brook concentrating on red-ball preparations and is set to face Warwickshire this weekend alongside Joe Root.
Ben Coad could be back in contention having sat out the Durham game, Buckingham will obviously come in added to the headline inclusions of England batting stars Harry Brook and Joe Root for this game only as they prepare for the start of the international summer later this month.
England face Zimbabwe in a one-off Test at Trent Bridge from May 22.
“That will make selection tough, but that’s life with two international-class players coming back into the side. It’s a good problem to have. It’s perfect.”
Quite what McGrath does with his selection and batting order remains to be seen, but new Warwickshire head coach Ian Westwood will be making similar decisions given Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster is due to debut.
He is due to replace former Yorkshire overseas fast bowler Vishwa Fernando, who claimed three wickets in the first three matches of the summer.
The Bears are also waiting on the return to fitness of New Zealand captain Tom Latham after the batter’s arrival at Edgbaston last month was delayed by a broken finger.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears is set for his home debut.
While Yorkshire claimed their only win so far against Worcestershire at Headingley during the second round of matches, Warwickshire beat Durham by one wicket that same weekend last month as they chased down 339 in a thrilling finish.
Captain Alex Davies was the third leading run-scorer in Division One last season with 1,115, while ex-Yorkshire seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby claimed 50 wickets.
With the arrival of Buckingham, soon to be followed by Will O’Rourke and Will Sutherland for the start of the Vitality Blast, Yorkshire’s bowling options have increased significantly, which is definitely music to the ears of Lewis.
“To expect them all to play 14 Championship games plus T20 and the one-day competition, it’s far too much on a bowler,” he said. “That’s what we strive to do, bring the bowlers in so that we can actually have the ability to rest people.
“That’s something, as I said back at the start of the season, the titles aren’t won in April and May. But they can be lost if you don’t take care of your bowlers.
“We want to put ourselves in a position where we’re getting enough overs and game time for the boys, but come that June, July and September-period of the season, we’ve got a good arsenal of bowlers who are ready to go and do their jobs for us.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Joe Root scored two hundreds in five Championship appearances for Yorkshire last summer.
“We had Matt Revis come in for Durham, and it was good to see him back. Hopefully we’ve also got Matt Milnes to come back soon as well.
“He’s been bowling in the second team, and it’s a slow burn for him. I’ve mentioned that to him.
“It’s going to get boring and monotonous at times, but we’re doing it for a reason – so that back end we’ve got him available and ready to go.”
YORKSHIRE v WARWICKSHIRE, FIRST-CLASS CRICKET – STAT PACK
Results (home and away) County Championship: Played 196; Yorkshire won 87, Warwickshire won 33, Drawn 76.
In addition, the counties have played two non-Championship matches and both were drawn.
At Headingley (all Championship): Played 29; Yorkshire won 13, Warwickshire won 5, Drawn 11.
Warwickshire’s first win at Headingley was in 1984, the 13th match between the two at this venue.
Most recent results at Headingley: Match drawn in 2022, Warwickshire won by 106 runs in 2021. Yorkshire’s most recent victory came in 2017.
Most successive wins: Yorkshire 11 (1914-1923), Warwickshire 6 (1991-1995).
Two wins in a season: Yorkshire 17 times, Warwickshire 3.
Highest innings totals: For Yorkshire, 887 at Edgbaston in 1986. That remains the highest total by a county in a first-class match.
For Warwickshire, 601-9d at Edgbaston in 2002.
Lowest innings totals: For Yorkshire, 49 at Huddersfield in 1951. For Warwickshire, 35 at Edgbaston in 1963 and again at Sheffield (Abbeydale Park) in 1979.
Highest individual score: For Yorkshire, 275 for P. Holmes at Bradford in 1928.
For Warwickshire, 225 for DP. Ostler at Edgbaston in 2002.
Highest partnerships: For Yorkshire, 346 for the third wicket between JJ Sayers (173) and A McGrath (211) at Edgbaston in 2009.
That remains Yorkshire’s highest ever third-wicket partnership.
For Warwickshire, 266 unbroken for the fourth wicket between J. Whitehouse (169*) and RB. Kanhai (111*) at Edgbaston in 1976.
Best bowling figures (innings): For Yorkshire, 10-36 for H. Verity at Headingley in 1931.
For Warwickshire, 10-51 for H. Howell at Edgbaston in 1923.
Best bowling figures (match): For Yorkshire, 14-92 (9-43 and 5-49) for H. Verity at Headingley in 1931.
For Warwickshire, 12-55 (5-21 and 7-34) for TW. Cartwright at Bradford in 1969.
Hat-tricks: For Yorkshire, 1. (GG. Macaulay at Edgbaston in 1923).
For Warwickshire, 1. (JD. Bannister at Sheffield – Bramall Lane – in 1955).
Most dismissals in an innings by a wicketkeeper: For Yorkshire, 6. (All caught) DL. Bairstow at Bradford in 1978.
NB. No Warwickshire wicketkeeper has claimed more than five in an innings.
Most dismissals in a match by a wicketkeeper: For Yorkshire, 7. DL. Bairstow at Bradford in 1978, GL. Brophy at Scarborough in 2007 and JM. Bairstow at Edgbaston in 2011.
For Warwickshire, 6. GW. Humpage at Edgbaston in 1988.
Most catches in an innings by a fielder: 6 TT. Bresnan (for Warwickshire) at Headingley in 2021.
Most catches in a match by a fielder: 7 TT. Bresnan (for Warwickshire) at Headingley in 2021.
NB. Four Yorkshire players have taken six catches in a match, including PJ. Sharpe twice in 1959 and 1965 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.
A century and five wickets in an innings in a match: For Yorkshire, R. Illingworth (107 and 0, 0-23 and 5-64) at Sheffield – Bramall Lane – in 1962.
For Warwickshire, FR. Foster (105 and 18, 9-118 and 3-84) at Edgbaston in 1911, JS. Patel (100 and 11, 2-61 and 6-50) at Headingley in 2017.
Compiled by Paul Dyson, Peter Horne and Martyn Webster – members of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians.
