Double delight for Bresnan after 13-year wait for trophy

WINNING the County Championship again meant a great deal to all the Yorkshire players – and none more so than Tim Bresnan.

Having first played for Yorkshire in 2001, Bresnan had to wait 13 years to win a trophy with his native county.

He did not play in the Championship-winning campaign of 2001 – only featuring in one-day cricket that summer, and did not make his Championship debut until 2003.

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In fact, he was an Ashes winner before getting his hands on domestic silverware.

“I played for a long time before getting my hands on the Championship trophy and, like London buses, two have come along at once,” said Bresnan.

“It’s credit to the guys and the coaching staff, because everyone has worked really hard again this year.

“We sat down at the end of last season and said, ‘We’re not just going to be champions one year and relegated the next. We want to back it up.’

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“Those were just words, but we’ve actually put those words into action.”

Bresnan played a pivotal part in Yorkshire’s success.

He scored 849 runs at 49.94, his best-ever aggregate, and he took 45 wickets at 30.88, finishing joint-second wicket-taker with Steve Patterson.

But it was his batting that really caught the eye, not least when he scored a career-best 169 not out against Durham at Chester-le-Street. That innings, which came during a county cricket record seventh-wicket stand of 366 with Jonny Bairstow, inspired a victory from which Yorkshire never looked back.

“I’ve batted more consistently than in previous years,” said Bresnan.

“I’ve been given more responsibility, and I’ve loved it.

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“It’s immensely special to win back-to-back titles, and I’m proud to have played a part.

“Hopefully, we can continue to go from strength to strength.”

Bairstow followed his County Championship Player of the Year award at the Cricket Writers’ Club lunch in London on Monday with recognition last night from his fellow peers.

The Yorkshireman was one of four players shortlisted for the Professional Cricketers’ Association Player of the Year award, which was won by Durham seamer Chris Rushworth.

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Bairstow was on a shortlist that also included Kent’s Matt Coles and Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince.

Surrey’s Tom Curran was named Young Player of the Year at the glittering ceremony at Tobacco Dock, London.

Joe Root was the sole Yorkshire player named in the PCA Team of the Year.

Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook, who was also named in the PCA Team of the Year, is keeping his cards close to his chest as to the identity of his new Test opening partner.

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Moeen Ali and Alex Hales are vying to accompany Cook at the top of the order for the forthcoming games against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

One option could be to promote Moeen from No 8 in the UAE, thereby freeing a space for a second spinner, and then to open with Hales on the subsequent tour to South Africa.

“We might have to do a short-term option,” said Cook.

“It might be that Mo opens the batting in this series (against Pakistan) and doesn’t open in South Africa. The conditions are quite unique and I think we have to cover our bases quite a bit.”