For the week ending 12th September, it's tempting to select the entire Yorkshire Eleven which clinched the County Championship in such style, albeit perhaps without naughty captain Andrew Gale! However, I must stick to my guns and pick players on their performances around the grounds.
That doesn't meanm I can't name the White Rose opener Adam Lyth, back to his best in 2014 and hammering on the door of England's Test team while Sam Robson desperately tries to lock it from the other side. His 122 laid the foundation for the hefty first innings total at Trent Bridge, with which Nottinghamshire simply could not compete. Bangladesh bowlers couldn't contain West Indian number one Kraigg Brathwaite either; he plundered 212 in their easy Test match victory.
Some big middle order scorers must leave the week disappointed. Apologies to Northeast, Trott, Roy and Borthwick but you just missed out. Ed Joyce seems to be ending the summer the way he started it. The Sussex veteran struck 137 and 79 to beat Lancashire and leave them facing relegation square in the face. My four and five together produced a record partnership for Gloucestershire against poor Leicestershire. Skipper Alex Gidman led the way with 264 in 274 balls, aided and abetted by South African 'keeper Gareth Roderick's 171. He is fine form with the bat in first-class cricket and, with a British passport, he could yet represent England. He takes the gloves in my fantasy XI despite taking no catches at all in the match. He just edges out Niall O'Brien, who claimed six victims and a century for Leicestershire in the same game.
Teenager Sam Hain hit his maiden double-hundred for Warwickshire, alongside the man he might have expected to replace in the county line-up, Jonathan Trott. Ben Stokes found his batting form, too, plundering 164 in 113 deliveries and taking 1-50 in Durham's Royal London Cup semi-final victory over Notts, who had a pretty shoddy week all round.
Nevertheless, the star all-rounder was Jack Shantry of Worcestershire. Their promotion campaign train seemed heading for a fatal derailment until his 89-ball century and last-day 4-44, giving him ten wickets for the match and a chance to play again in the top flight next year.
Sulieman Benn has been largely eclipsed by Narine lately in West Indian spin circles but he returned 5-39 and 2-44 in that 499th Test. Keith Barker's eight dismissals played a big part in Warwickshire's trouncing of Northants but the last place goes to another Yorkshireman. Old curlylocks himself, Ryan Sidebottom, has spearheaded the Yorkshire attack with Jack Brooks brilliantly all season, and his 6-30 in the second innings was the best bowling analysis of the week.
Celebratory (white) roses go to: Lyth (Yor), Brathwaite (WI), Joyce (Sus), Roderick (Glo +), Gidman (Glo *), Hain (War), Stokes (Dur), Shantry (Wor), Benn (WI), Barker (War), Sidebottom(Yor).
