sport news Yorkshire chief Darren Gough admits it's frustrating to be in the dark over ... trends now
Darren Gough says Yorkshire remain in the dark with regards to both disciplinary sanctions and Jonny Bairstow’s playing role as they head into another LV= County Championship season.
There is frustration at Headingley on both fronts: with a Cricket Discipline Commission set to deliver its verdict on seven ex-employees accused of historic racism today, they head into a second successive campaign with the threat of a points penalty hanging over them while an official request from England for the centrally-contracted Bairstow to keep wicket on his return from injury has not yet been forthcoming.
Yorkshire admitted to four charges last month, including a failure to address systemic use of racist or discriminatory language and a failure to take adequate action when Azeem Rafiq’s whistle-blowing allegations were first aired, but the decision on the liability of others means sanctions, if any, will be meted out after the crisis club begins its Division Two campaign versus Leicestershire next Thursday.
‘It's hard to speculate what they are going to say. I think the frustration is clear to see, as we are going into another season,’ Gough, the club’s director of cricket, said.
Darren Gough says it's frustrating to be left in the dark over disciplinary sanctions, as Yorkshire face a second successive season with the threat of points deductions hanging over them
England handed Yorkshire an official request for Jonny Bairstow to keep wicket on his return
‘We hope we can carry on, play cricket, win the title, that’s the dream. But we don’t know. We’d just be guessing, wouldn’t we? When it happens, we can deal with it. Until then, it’s just “play”.’
Yorkshire begin a first Championship outside of the top flight for 11 years, following last year’s final-day relegation, with Gough and coach Ottis Gibson bemoaning the lack of direction from Lord’s on Bairstow’s status.
He last played Test cricket as a frontline batter seven months ago, but appears to be up against Ben Foakes for an Ashes
