at stake last month - a historic third Championship - and not to want

The family Sunday lunch began in traditional fashion. Black Sheep bitter was back on tap at the Swan, and before too long the conversation, lightly oiled, veered towards cricket.Ill give you a column, our lad, came the promise halfway down the second pint.Several hours later, by the time the plates were cleared at home, there were half a dozen columns to choose from. The only issue was that I didnt necessarily agree with some of them. But when ideas are found wanting, why not let someone else have their say?One opinion did attract universal approval across three generations. There should be a bust of Tim Bresnan at Headingley. A very large bust. In fact, why not something akin to the Colossus of Rhodes, where the Greek sun god Helios once bestrode the harbour?Well, maybe not quite the sun god. After all, sun is not the most reliable component of the Yorkshire landscape, as stunning as it is, so it would be a little out of keeping. And Yorkshire supporters might cavil about walking underneath a giant statue of Brezzie Lad clad only in a loin cloth as they entered the ground. Dont look up now, Mavis, whatever you do. And, not to put too fine a point on it, polished bronze might not be easily affordable for a county mired in debt.So a bust it should be. Nothing too fancy. There is apparently a Yorkshire sculptor, Shaun Gagg, who forges them from 2p pieces at his workshop in Filey, an unassuming resort on the east coast. He is currently working on a life-size sculpture of Jesus crucifixion, made entirely out of nails, but once that is completed he can turn his attention to Bresnan and have it all done for the start of the 2017 season. The great thing about a sculpture made from 2p pieces is, you should be able to work out the cost of his materials relatively easily and thereby keep an eye on his mark-up.The reason for such adulation as the beer slipped down arises from the final Championship match of the season - and Bresnans heroic, and ultimately unrewarded, 142 not out against Middlesex in the Championship decider at Lords. Almost a month has passed but here was something to sustain a Yorkshire cricket fan through the winter.This was more than just a very fine innings. It was an innings that might have been hewn from the Yorkshire landscape itself, all the ingredients that make up regional pride stirred together and turned into a seven-hour show of immense defiance. Here was a reward for a bowler who responded to the loss of his England place by turning himself into a redoubtable county allrounder. For those who sometimes question why they care so much about this game - and I do - by the time Bresnan walked, sweat-stained, from the field, there was a renewed faith in its significance.Whereas Bresnan is hereby to be preserved for posterity, Adil Rashid - often praised at the very same table - is now persona non grata as far as the most critical voice was concerned. Whereas Bresnan played against Middlesex, Rashid pulled out, initially because he felt he needed the sort of rest given to Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow ahead of Englands winter tours, and subsequently because a relative had fallen ill. It had not gone unnoticed that Bairstow and Root were seen on TV in the dressing room on the final day but that Rashid was not.By the end of the Bangladesh one-day series, which has since been concluded, Rashid was an early leader in Englands Most Valuable Player ranking system, as adopted by the Professional Cricketers Association. He took four wickets in Chittagong as England settled the series, and even though three of them came from bad balls, an ample number of excellent balls ramped up the pressure. Rashid has started his international winter well and will feel his decision to sit out was justified.That did not wash with some. Truculent opinions came with every mouthful of Yorkshire pudding. Rashid should never play for Yorkshire again. His success in Bangladesh had been unwatchable. A Championship had been at stake last month - a historic third Championship - and not to want to play in that fixture was a betrayal both of his team-mates and every Yorkshire cricket follower in the county. The ethos of Yorkshire cricket had been insulted. A player in whom so much hope and affection had been invested had failed to value that emotional support when it mattered most.Ethos, incidentally, is a Greek word, and when the Greeks erected the Colossus at Rhodes, the communal ideals that characterised them will have been known only too well. Several hours later, the view was amplified by text message. Millions of people must have received text messages along the lines of Thanks for a lovely Sunday lunch but few of those will have been followed by implacable views about Adil Rashid. Sorry for the Rashid rant, but I stand by all I said! it read.What is evident is this: if you tell people throughout their lives that something matters, it is important that you repeatedly reward their love by matching those standards. Englands professional circuit has long been subservient to international needs, and those who love the game have come to accept it, but occasionally there are tipping points when anger surfaces. People dont like being had.Many more potential columns exploded across the table. Eoin Morgan has been a catalyst as an England one-day captain, and his team-mates value him highly because of his determination that they should play with a free spirit, but directly across this table as younger brother held court there was little fondness for a player who was perceived - even before his withdrawal from the tour of Bangladesh because of safety reasons - as being overly driven by self-interest.The conclusion on the Australian inquest into the death of Phillip Hughes also brought some vehement comments, this time resounding from all parts of the table. Why was there such a sad sense that the New South Wales players had felt threatened by cross examination into closing ranks? Why had they not openly stated what everybody involved in cricket knows: that the game, especially at the highest level, carries an element of risk, courage and machismo: that occasionally, even though cricket must be pressed to reduce that risk where it can, tragedies happen.Some potential columns went begging. If only it had been known at the time that Englands new T20 competition provisionally goes by the name of the Supercharge. That would have been another columns worth of invective. It is to be hoped the ECB has not paid a marketing company for a name like that. It sounds like a washing powder.When it was all over, and the two visiting terriers were showing in now time-honoured manner that they wished to leave - by passing wind to such an extent that their further presence could no longer be tolerated - another Sunday lunch was concluded.At the door, the eldest among us offered the wisdom of his 88 years. Hes been a belligerent bugger today, your brother, he said.It takes a lot to be recommended for a bust at our Sunday lunches. Tim Bresnan should be pleased as punch. Xander Bogaerts Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Ted Williams Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-Sox-Christian-Vazquez-Kids-Jersey/ . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Brock Holt Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Pedro Martinez Jersey .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. PITTSBURGH -- Neal Huntington was asked on his weekly radio show Sunday whether the Pittsburgh Pirates might want to scale their hopes back this season from making the playoffs to simply finishing with a winning record.The teams general manager hedged big-time, declining to buy into such a change in scope, although he did begin to talk about the offseason in a way that suggested the Pirates might not be able to claw their way into a National League wild-card spot.Realistically, finishing over .500 is probably the better target, but hardly an easy one, especially considering that the Chicago Cubs come to PNC Park to start a four-game series Monday, followed by a trip by Pittsburgh to St. Louis next weekend to close the regular season.Pittsburgh has lost two games in a row to sit one game under .500 at 77-78. It is 4 1/2 games out of the second NL wild-card playoff spot, same as Miami, and would also have to pass St. Louis, with just those seven games remaining.Chicago, of course, leads the major leagues with 99 wins after a 3-1 victory over St. Louis Sunday night. The Cubs have won five of their past six and -- in case the Pirates have their eyes on pulling off a sweep to bolster their dwindling playoff hopes -- they have not lost more than two games in a row since early July.In addition, Pittsburgh is a disappointing 37-40 at PNC Park -- Wed like to get back to being dominant at home, Huntington said -- while the Cubs are 43-32 on the road.The Cubs are scheduled to start Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) in Mondaays series opener.dddddddddddd He leads the major leagues in ERA and is 11-2 with a 1.37 ERA over his past 17 outings, including 16 starts. He has beaten Pittsburgh twice this season, allowing one earned run in 13 innings, with both games coming at Wrigley Field.Teammate Jon Lester, who started the Cubs game Sunday, told the Chicago Tribune last week that Hendricks should win the NL Cy Young Award.If I had a vote, (Hendricks) would be my vote, Lester told the Tribune. I get to see him every day. I see what he does, how he goes about it, how he prepares, how he goes out and executes. Hes my guy. Hes who Id vote for right now, tomorrow, the next day, whenever.After Hendricks, it doesnt get any easier for Pittsburgh. The projected Cubs starters the remainder of the series are John Lackey (10-8), Jake Arrieta (18-7) and rookie Rob Zastryzny (1-0).The Pirates are expected to give rookie Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) the start Monday. He has won his past two starts, allowing a total of three earned runs while pitching six innings in each of the two wins.Pittsburgh has won nine of the 12 games he has started.He, like so many pitchers, has struggled against the Cubs, going 0-1 in two starts with an 8.59 ERA. One of those losses was a 3-0 game against Hendricks Aug. 30.Pittsburghs probable starters the rest of the series are Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), rookie Jameson Taillon (4-4) and Ivan Nova (12-8). NFL Jerseys Cheap Black China NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Authentic Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap ' ' '