Tykes set for County Championship Charge

Just weeks after winning promotion back to the County Championship Division One, Yorkshire are preparing to solidify their place in English cricket’s top first-class league, after signing a pair of new bowlers in the space of two days.

Both Jack Brooks of Northamptonshire and Durham seamer, Liam Plunkett, have signed contracts with the club and they will charge down the Headingley wicket as of next spring. The deals mean that Yorkshire now have a firm bowling unit and, with two more experienced men in their squad, could do well next season.

In Brooks, Yorkshire have acquired a fast bowler with 118 first-class wickets and a decent 28.95 average. Although the right-hander only made his debut at the old age of 25, he has gone on to solidify his place in Northants’ bowling attack and after four years at the club is in search of a new challenge.

Plunkett, likewise, will see Yorkshire as a club to try new things at after spending almost a decade at Durham. The 27-year old offers Yorkshire another head with experience of the England dressing room and, along with veteran, Ryan Sidebottom, he will use his nine international Test experiences to help solidify Yorkshire’s stay in the top flight.

In Brooks, Plunkett, and Sidebottom, the Tykes now have a fierce bowling attack that also boasts former international talent Steve Harmison and 22-year-old Mitchell Starc, who may or may not feature for Australia this winter.

Critics on Betfair will claim that Yorkshire have an aged rather than exciting bowling attack but one look at Sidebottom’s T20 performances last season will tell you there is fire in the old belly yet.

A solid platform has been set for the Headingley club to take off next year and, if they can keep their seamers fit in the early months of the season, there is no reason why Yorkshire fans will not start dreaming of a Division One title.

Returning to the present, Stuart Broad and company are attempting to make the best of a difficult (so far) experienced at the ICC World Cup. Visit the Betfair England Tips website for more on this season’s T20 competitions.