Rookie star Ben Coad believes he is pitching as well as ever as he spearheads Yorkshire’s push for promotion in the Vitality County Championship.
Coad, described as a “magic player” by coach Ottis Gibson last week, has taken 44 wickets in Division Two this season, the second-most in the league overall and the most by a seamer.
No bowler is yet to reach 50 wickets in either division of the Championship, so Coad could become the first at some point in the final two rounds.
This is an interesting side story in the main battle for promotion, with Yorkshire holding the advantage over Middlesex.
Yorkshire’s final game will be against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, kicking off at 10.30am on Tuesday.
Second-placed Yorkshire, with Jonny Bairstow still available, travel to South Wales in Division Two, 15 points behind third-placed Middlesex, and need a maximum of 34 points from their two games, including a trip to Northamptonshire at Headingley next week, to secure promotion.
Pictured by John Heald, Ben Coad rocks Ian Holland’s leg stump during last week’s match against Leicestershire.
The maximum points Middlesex (164 points, 12 games) can reach is 212. Yorkshire currently have 179 points.
If both teams are tied for most wins and fewest losses, then the first two tiebreakers will see the teams tied. Both teams have 4 wins and 2 losses each. Middlesex have the advantage in head-to-head record, having won at Lord’s and drawn at Headingley. This will be the next tiebreaker.
But those figures will be removed from the equation if Yorkshire reach 213 points – and of course that number will decrease with every point Middlesex do not gain.
Middlesex face bottom-placed Derbyshire in the derby tomorrow before heading to Hove next Thursday to face league leaders Sussex, who only need a maximum of 12 points to clinch promotion.
Yorkshire could still overtake Sussex to win the title – Sussex have a 21-point lead on 200 points, so it’s unlikely but not impossible.
If things go well for Yorkshire this week, they could be celebrating promotion in the Welsh capital. Glamorgan are second from bottom in the league with just one win from 12 games.
Photo by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow plays against Glamorgan in Cardiff.
Last week, Yorkshire beat Leicestershire by an innings and 72 runs at Grace Road, while Glamorgan lost by an innings and 87 runs to Sussex.
Yorkshire are seeking a fifth win in their last six games with Coad in impressive form.
He has taken 23 wickets in his last four appearances, including two wins of five wickets and one win of six wickets.
Ripon’s Coad, 30, has only taken 50 wickets in a season in the Championship so far in his career, back in his breakthrough year in 2017. He took exactly 50 wickets in that season so needs seven more to make this his most prolific campaign yet.
“I always say my first few seasons in the business were my best, and this season rivals them,” he said.
“Looking back at the year, there were quite a few flat pitches and of course four games with Kookaburra ball. But I bowled with consistency and hunger and got wickets. Definitely, this has been one of my best years.”
Photo by Alan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ben Coad was described as a “wizard” by manager Ottis Gibson, who played for Glamorgan during his own time as a fast bowler.
When asked why he thinks this year has been so successful, he continued:
“Last year, I had a bad knee and it was a struggle for me all year.
“I worked really hard over the winter to get it right. I didn’t have surgery but I had injections in the tendons and lots of shockwave therapy.
“I went to see the surgeon and he said, ‘Try this first.’
“I’ve been spending a lot of hours in the gym practicing and this year has been great.
“I feel like I’m pitching like myself again.
Pictured by John Heald, Ben Coad responds to applause after taking five wickets in the first innings against Leicestershire last week.
“I had one slight injury (in May), but nothing serious, and I’ve been able to pitch at full strength all year.”
Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson tops the Division Two wicket-takers list with 45, while Warwickshire seamer Ollie Hannon-Dalby and Essex counterpart Jamie Porter top Division One with 46 apiece.
Coad is also 10 away from 300 first-class wickets, having taken 290 at an impressive rate of 19.69 per wicket.
“The COVID-19 years obviously meant fewer games,” he said. “I played 50 games in my first year, almost 50 in my second year, but injuries bothered me and I haven’t played that many games since then.”
“It’d be great to hit 50 again, but I’ll just keep working hard.”
Coad also received valuable support, with Jordan Thompson taking 28 wickets from 10 matches and George Hill taking 24 wickets from 11 matches.
Photo by John Heald George Hill throws the ball to Chris Wright against Leicestershire last week and has impressed with the ball this season in support of Ben Coad.
“Guys are stepping up with the ball now,” Cord added.
“I know Cliffie only had a few chances but when he came on he did well. Hilly is fulfilling his role as an all-rounder at a much higher level with the ball and he’s doing really well.”
“Lev, Tomo, we have young guys who will step up when it’s needed, but I’m always going to try to lead by example.”
Glamorgan (221 all out), coached by New Zealander Grant Bradburn and captained by Sam Northeast, were forced to follow on in reply to a declared 519-7 in the reverse match at Headingley, with Finn Bean top-scoring with a brilliant 173.
However, a century from Colin Ingram and NorthEast on the final day saw the visitors cruise to victory with 372 for 7. Former South African international Ingram was Division Two’s leading run-scorer with 1,170 runs.
Like Yorkshire, they are currently playing without any overseas players.
Photo by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram completes the sweep at Headingley en route to an early season century.
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