Alviro Patterson wrote:How do you think your county will do in each major competition?
County ChampionshipTop 3, would love to say Yorkshire will win it but there is no pressure on paper.County Champions and worthy ones at that. Some phenomenal performances, both as a team and individuals. The key was turning draw bound games at Day 3 stumps into winning ones, especially the Scarborough fixtures. Then witnessing Yorkshire winning the County Championship at Trent Bridge was an amazing experience. A closely fought and nervous encounter was expected, but ended up with a dominating performance from Yorkshire who won in the most emphatic of styles.
T20 BlastQuarter FinalsKnocked out of the group stages, bitterly disappointed when Yorkshire were poised for the knockout stages. Failing to defend 200 in a deciding match v Notts I can accept as their top 6 oozed firepower. But Yorkshire thrown away winning positions against Birmingham Bears, Durham and Northants.
50 OverQuarter FinalsAs predicted, but again disappointed to lose against Durham when Yorkshire thrown another winning position away and after a strong group stage performance.
Who will be the key player and why?Aaron Finch - not just for the Twenty20 but also for County Championship where is not as prolific in red ball cricket. Not expecting him to score lots of County Championship runs but if his natural style of play keeps the pressure off Adam Lyth and Alex Lees, who go on to score big, then it's a job well done.Finch more than filled a void for the temporarily absent Kane Williamson, scoring plenty of middle order runs in the County Championship.
Who will be top run scorer?Very tough question, depends on which players end up in the England squad. I'll go with Adam Lyth on the basis he is less likely to represent England in any format.Division One's leading runscorer, forming a beautiful partnership with Alex Lees.
Who will be top wicket taker?CC - Jack Brooks Club leading wicket taker and 2nd tournament leading wicket taker with 68.
T20 Blast - Rich Pyrah Took 13 wickets, 1 behind Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq. As reliable performer as ever,
50 over - Adil Rashid Club leading wicket taker and 2nd tournament leading wicket taker with 21.
Which youngster will emerge?Jack Leaning - has a taste of 1st XI experience, hoping he'll kick on like Bairstow, Ballance, Root and Lees have done.Averaged 55 in the RLODC, 39 in the County Championship. Not a bad return for a first full season.
Biggest weakness?Batsmen not consistent enough in clearing the ropes. Gale, Bairstow and Ballance are capable hitters but are prone to eating up balls.Bairstow has got back some of his mojo in the Twenty20, but Gale is not the limited overs player he used to be.
Biggest Strengths?Bowling department, Yorkshire could field two separate attacks and they wouldn't look out of place.SIdebottom (48 wickets @ 18.35 avg), Plunkett (24 @ 24.83), Rashid (46 @ 26.06), Bresnan (30 @ 31.86), Patterson (36 @ 27.80) and Brooks (68 @ 28.02) speaking volumes.
Player you hope will do well?Alex Lees - I think he has massive potential not just in County Championship cricket but also in limited overs.Fulfilled his promise, an excellent timer of the ball and very competent in all 3 forms. A player who can play traditional cricket shots in Twenty20 and score above a run a ball.