Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Head coach Anthony McGrath spoke to the media at Edgbaston this afternoon.
Anthony McGrath cut a frustrated figure as he discussed Yorkshire’s second defeat of the ongoing Rothesay County Championship summer, this by 377 runs against Warwickshire at Edgbaston today.
The White Rose were beaten shortly before lunch having been bowled out for 171 in the face of a 549-target.
It was their second defeat in five and, most disappointingly, came on the back of last week’s impressive victory over Somerset at Taunton this time last week.
It was also the county’s second heaviest ever defeat by runs margin in first-class cricket.
“Very disappointing. It goes without saying,” said the head coach.
“Day one, I thought we backed up the Somerset result really well. We were in control of the game, obviously, at 110-4. But, from that first wicket on the Saturday morning, we’ve been third best by a long way.
“I’ve not really got much more to say other than it’s very disappointing.
“With the bat and ball, particularly with the ball in that second innings, we were comprehensively beaten.
“Credit to Warwickshire, they fought back time and time again.
“They showed us how to bowl on that pitch. They never missed their lengths, and there was enough in that pitch throughout.”
Yorkshire were twice bowled out for below 200; 152 in the first innings and 177 in the second. Warwickshire bowled back impressively from their first-innings 147 all out to set up the win with 553-6 declared second time around.
“If you’ve got the ball, it’s not rocket science that if you hit the top of off-stump on a hard length, hit the pitch hard, you got your rewards,” said McGrath. “But we couldn’t get any pressure from both ends.
“There were three, four, sometimes five balls a over not in the right area.
“With the bat, I think we’ve batted beyond 50 or 60 overs only twice (this season).
“Our bowlers are just back in the dirt, and I think we’ve bowled 250 more overs than we’ve batted, which is tough at this time of year, particularly with the schedule.
“It’s not just one thing, it’s bat and ball.
“It’s about individuals performing, but we’re not doing that as a team either.
“You can look at all the metrics and everything you want to, we’re just way below where we need to be.”