Yorkshire's pride and unity earn title

Yorkshire 532 for 9 dec (Lyth 122, Ballance 99, Bresnan 95, Lees 86, Keedy 5-163) beat Nottinghamshire 203 (Read 81*, Brooks 4-58) and 177 (Taylor 75, Sidebottom 6-30) by an innings at 152 runs
Scorecard

If the role of a county cricket club is to win trophies and produce players for England, Yorkshire are doing an excellent job.

A club that was, in the words of its chairman, 48 hours from going out of business a few years ago has now lifted the 32nd County Championship title in its history. No club has as many.

And they have done it while providing several players for England - five of this team have played Test cricket for England in the last 12 months - and while developing a production line of talent that will serve club and country for years to come.

On the final day of this match, their hero was Ryan Sidebottom. He claimed four wickets for six runs in 7.2 overs to complete the 26th five-wicket haul of his first-class career and end Nottinghamshire's resistance. Bowling a tight line and nipping the ball away off the seam, he produced beauties to account for both Chris Read and Luke Fletcher and, when James Taylor, left in a desperate position, slashed to cover, the match and the title were Yorkshire's. Victory was wrapped up by 11.36am.

"Pride" is a word that occurs often in conversations with those associated with Yorkshire. Pride in the club's history, pride in the club's values, pride in the club's role. Cricket still matters in Yorkshire. And Yorkshire cricket matters most of all.

That explains the spirit and unity which has seen this squad through the dark days. The spirit and unity that gave the team strength when they gained only one win in their first five Championship games of the season. The spirit and unity that saw them overcome the England withdrawals and the crushing defeat at Lord's when an inspired Chris Rogers led Middlesex to a miraculous victory.

The captain and coaches will, quite rightly, gain many of the plaudits for this victory. Certainly Yorkshire's record since Jason Gillespie arrived is exceptional: the club have lost three Championship games in three years. The director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, has made some shrewd signings and remains largely responsible for the development of the batsmen, and Andrew Gale remains a calm and selfless leader.

But the skills and spirit that have led to this title are generated long before players reach the first team. When you have coaches like Ian Dews, steeped in Yorkshire cricket, in the academy and others likes Richard Dawson and Kevin Sharp (now with Worcestershire) working below the first team, players graduate to the first-class game knowing what is expected of them and prepared technically and temperamentally.

This, truly, was a victory not just for the team but for the entire club.

It was telling that, of the 19 men who represented Yorkshire in the Championship this season, only five were not born or brought up in the county. Two of the team that lifted this trophy are the sons of former Yorkshire and England players. It brings a unity of purpose and understanding to the dressing room. It brings shared values and a sense of pride in representing this team that, on the tough days, just might make all the difference.

Certainly, they were at their best when they were challenged. In these last few weeks, they have won five games out of six and four games in succession. When confronted by their closest rivals - Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire - they responded with innings victories. Such has been their dominance this season that five of their eight victories came by innings margins, another by nine wickets and two more by 220 runs or more. They have proved themselves, by a distance, the best side in the land.

And there is more to come. In Alex Lees and Adam Lyth they have an opening pair who have contributed, on average, 76 runs per stand and both have realistic England aspirations. They have a legspinning allrounder in Adil Rashid who continues to press for international opportunities and, just below the surface, the likes of Matt Fisher, a young seamer who could not break into the side this season, but who has a wonderfully bright future. Throughout the club, from first team to academy to youth teams, talent is burgeoning.

It was a shame, therefore, that their captain was not able to share in the moment of triumph. The exact nature of Gale's misdemeanour remains, at the time of writing, unclear but it does seem odd that ECB, who have failed to make any specific comment or condemnation of the shameful booing of Moeen Ali at Edgbaston, appear so keen to flex their muscles here.

But such a controversy should not overshadow Yorkshire's success. Nothing should deflect the credit that the likes of Jack Brooks, who has taken 64 Championship wickets, or Lyth, who has scored 1,428 Championship runs, deserve. Nothing should deflect from that fact that, for the second year in succession, a club has won the Championship not through its expensive imports, but through its home-grown talent.

Yorkshire have endured many setbacks over the years. They have suffered internal conflict, economic catastrophe and such bitter infighting. Until today, no club in the land had gone so long since they last won a trophy.

But, on the pitch at least, they are delivering. Yorkshire cricket is strong again. And for that, all England should be grateful.