Test captains left to field thorny questions while the suits hide at Headingley

A day trip from the third Test between England and New Zealand and Headingley might scarcely have appeared extra ripe for the event, with azure skies overhead, the white roof of the new soccer stand shimmering in the sunshine and the mixture of a beige pitch and cambered inexperienced outfield hinting at one other feast of runs.

There is a large urge for food for this match, too. England could also be 2-0 up with one to play however the swagger proven throughout the run chase at Trent Bridge final week – plus a trio of regionally produced gamers in Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Alex Lees – has left round 400 tickets spare on days one and 4, with two sell-outs sandwiched in between. Around £3m in internet income is on the playing cards and that’s earlier than punters have slaked their thirsts and crammed bellies at the varied bars and meals retailers.

This is, after all, the Headingley Test that just about wasn’t and one solely wants to search for at the rebranded Clean Slate Pavilion for a reminder of the truth. The tie-in with an Indian digital streaming firm – owned by Virat Kohli’s brother-in-law, Karnesh Sharma – is amongst plenty of contemporary industrial offers secured by Lord Patel, Yorkshire’s new chair, and his government staff since the exodus of companions that resulted from the membership’s undoubtedly botched dealing with of Azeem Rafiq’s racism allegations.

Yorkshire’s worldwide host standing was suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board final November and their internet hosting of this prestigious and profitable fixture was thrown into doubt. Losing it – one thing Rafiq himself didn’t need to see – would have risked monetary destroy at Headingley. But the new regime has since demonstrated sufficient reform to lead to the ban being lifted, even when the governing physique final week charged the membership and plenty of former staff with bringing the sport into disrepute.

Those expenses, made public the day after Trent Bridge like a bucket of chilly water, stay unresolved. So, too, the employment tribunal instances that resulted from the sacking of 16 workers members and will but value Yorkshire a reasonably penny. But it was nonetheless disappointing that no consultant from both the membership or the ECB was round to focus on Test cricket’s return to Headingley throughout the two coaching days. Instead, as is just too typically the case when issues get tough, the gamers have been left to field the questions.

“It’s been incredibly sad to see what has unfolded,” mentioned Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain who returns – after lacking the second Test with Covid-19 – to the floor he known as residence throughout 4 spells between 2013 and 2018.

“I can only hope that something positive comes out of it and the awareness that it’s created. There is no place for racism or discrimination in sport or in society. I enjoyed my time here at Yorkshire. Clearly there were some issues that I was made aware of more recently and you can only hope that through this there is healing.”

Ben Stokes, Williamson’s reverse quantity, most well-liked even broader phrases, citing the accountability of his England gamers to be position fashions on and off the field; to play their cricket in a method which is able to entice new supporters. “That’s all we can do, that’s what we’re good at – going out and playing cricket and winning games,” he mentioned.

It was most likely anticipating an excessive amount of for both captain to delve deeply into what has been a nuclear affair by the use of fallout, and never least when the suits opted for the ostrich strategy. Still, it was an early reminder for Stokes, the much less skilled of the two, that his opinion will probably be sought on a spread of points past ways, choice and the buccaneering strategy his gamers have proven up to now.

Stokes was extra forthcoming on these subjects earlier than his first Test at Headingley since his historic Ashes heist right here in 2019. And shortly after he spoke, up on the Dickie Bird gamers’ balcony, was the sight of Jamie Overton on the cellphone with a smile as broad as the Taw-Torridge Estuary close to his previous membership in north Devon. The youthful of the Overton twins by a mere three minutes is ready to make his Test debut after Jimmy Anderson left Nottingham with swelling to his left ankle.

Overton’s promotion – one which has seen him leapfrog Craig in the pecking order and palms Matt Potts his first probability with the new ball – injects tempo into England’s assault, one thing which can be required trying at the pitch. But then the adage at Headingley is to search for, not down, and although day one appears to be one other scorcher, extra cloud cowl (and doable rain) is due to roll in over the weekend.

New Zealand are set for a few modifications. Williamson’s return will push out one member of the prime seven, while Kyle Jamieson is lacking from the assault with a again harm. It could possibly be that all-rounder Michael Bracewell makes method for his captain and Neil Wagner brings his model of left-arm thunder. No spinner could be a danger, nonetheless, and so Ajaz Patel might additionally are available in for Matt Henry or Tim Southee.

The motivation? Both sides have talked up World Test Championship factors on supply regardless of neither threatening a spot in subsequent yr’s closing. A better carrot for England, at least, is the prospect of a primary collection clean-sweep since beating India 4-0 at residence 11 years in the past.

As for Yorkshire, the purpose is to present that Headingley is welcoming to all and the choice to raise their worldwide suspension was not ill-judged.

England (confirmed): Lees, Crawley, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes (c), Foakes (wk), J Overton, Leach, Potts, Broad.

New Zealand (doable): Latham, Young, Williamson, Conway, Nicholls, Mitchell, Blundell, Southee, Wagner, Patel, Boult.

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