George Garton leads the way as Yorkshire skittled
George Garton took three wickets in 21 balls including Joe Root as Sussex dismissed Yorkshire for 150 on day one of their LV = Insurance County Championship match at The 1st Central County Ground.
Sussex opener Tom Haines, who has already made scores of 87 and 155 this season, continued his excellent form with an unbeaten 71 as they closed on 118 for three.
Skipper Ben Brown must have feared the worst when his opposite number Steve Patterson won the toss under a cloudless blue sky. The dry pitch, on the pavilion side of the ground, looked a belter if a little lacking in pace.
England coach Chris Silverwood and chief scout James Taylor had come to watch Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson and monitor Jofra Archer’s fitness as he continued his recovery from finger and elbow injuries in the nets, but Silverwood would have been impressed with left-armer Garton, who swung the ball consistently at good pace to finish with three for 25 from 11 overs.
It was an outstanding spell by Garton, who bowled at good pace down the slope and swung the ball consistently. The delivery which uprooted two of Kohler-Cadmore’s poles was an absolute beauty.
The 24-year-old was on England’s radar a few years ago when he joined the squad preparing for the 2017 Ashes in Australia. He then suffered two side injuries but is now demonstrating his all-round skills having made a career-best 97 in last week’s win over Glamorgan.
🎯 Joe Root A superb bowling display 👏
Openers Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore had put on 60 without alarm after Yorkshire won the toss but Lyth (42) clipped to mid-wicket and Kohler-Cadmore (17) lost two stumps to Garton’s inswinger before England captain Root was leg before trying to work the ball into the onside for five.
Yorkshire then lost wickets regularly. Gary Ballance, playing his first game since September 2019, was well taken at second slip, one of two victims for left-armer Sean Hunt who also picked up Jonny Tattersall (7), while three wickets fell to spin.
🤲 Adam Lyth
💥 Tom Kohler-Cadmore @George_Garton's three wickets so far! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/240sCYrtoe
Slow left-armer Delray Rawlins picked up Harry Brook (14), playing back to a ball he should have been forward to, and Dom Bess (17) was caught behind while Jordan Thompson (5) fell lbw to off-spinner Jack Carson.
As well as wickets for Garts and Delray, there were two wickets apiece for @SeanHunt139 and @OllieRobinson25, and one for @_jackcarson11! 👇🎥 pic.twitter.com/4e5aVM9Nrk
Robinson had gone wicketless in his new-ball burst, but he returned to end the innings when Steve Patterson (3) edged behind to the second ball of his new spell before taking a simple return catch to dismiss David Willey (13).
Sussex’s catching was faultless and there was a real energy in their fielding too. It is still early days, but the performances against Lancashire and Glamorgan have clearly engendered plenty of confidence in a team containing seven players who have come through Sussex’s Academy system. The only shame on the first day of the Hove season was the absence of spectators, although those watching from the flats offered plenty of encouragement as Yorkshire wickets tumbled.
There were several soft dismissals and Sussex’s openers put the conditions in perspective, adding 60 without alarm before Aaron Thomason (20) drove loosely at Thompson and was caught at third slip.
Bess briefly had to go off for treatment after hurting his hand fielding, but the England off-spinner bowled 13 wicketless overs after tea. Duanne Olivier took two late wickets including Stiaan van Zyl (16) to a good ball which left him off the pitch. It checked Sussex’s progress, but Haines again looked the part. His unbeaten 71 came off 102 balls, including nine fours, and if Sussex can get through the first hour or so tomorrow unscathed they can build a strong position.
What a start to the season, @TomHainess 🤩
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 22, 2021
His third half-century of the year, in just our third match, came off 56 balls with eight fours! ✨ pic.twitter.com/KU06PSKhyU
At the close, Garton said, "We're very happy. It was a good all-round performance from the bowlers and then our batsmen applied themselves really well. It's a good wicket. If you get it wrong batsmen can score freely, but it spun which is unusual for April, but perhaps not so surprising given the weather we've had.
I knew I had to hit my straps straight away and getting Adam Lyth, who is in such good form, got the ball rolling. It was nice to get Joe Root out, everyone wants his wicket. Someone mentioned I'd got Alastair Cook out last season as well so that's not a bad habit to have to get good players out."
Offering the perspective of the away dressing room, Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale, said, "We were poor if we’re being honest. With the calibre of batters we have in that line up, we haven’t done ourselves justice. That’s an understatement. The challenge is we have to bowl well and win three sessions tomorrow to get back in the game. Simple as that.
“It’s disappointing because, after last week, you’re looking for progression and consistency. So to bat like we did today against a young Sussex side, an inexperienced one, is disappointing.
“I don’t know what we put that down to. The preparation has been good going into the game. We didn’t feel like they weren’t switched on or up for the game. We had a good team meeting, but we gave our wickets away."
Watch highlights of day one vs. Yorkshire here:
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