‘Kuldy’ looking forward to locking horns again with ‘Stokesy’ in York sell-out
EVEN the most ardent Yorkshire follower might hope to see a little bit more of Ben Stokes with the bat in York on Friday than those who watched Durham’s game against Glamorgan at Gosforth earlier in the week.
Stokes was out for a golden duck at the Roseworth Terrace ground in South Northumberland, bowled by the bustling seamer Dan Douthwaite as he tried to drive the ball back through mid-on.
It was the first time that the former England Test captain had been dismissed in this year’s One-Day Cup, following scores of 108 and 73 against Derbyshire and Sussex respectively.
Instead it was Will Rhodes, the former Yorkshire all-rounder, who helped to preserve Durham’s 100 per cent record with their third win in three games, his one-day career-best 148 not out - from 122 balls with three sixes and 15 fours - helping the hosts recover from 97-6 to chase down a target of 327 and win by three wickets with three balls remaining.
One man who knows the exhilaration that Douthwaite must have felt on Wednesday afternoon is Kuldeep Yadav, the new Yorkshire signing.
Yadav has four times dismissed Stokes in international competition, twice having him lbw and bowling him once during the 2023-24 Test series in India.
Previously, in a one-day international at Trent Bridge in 2018, Yadav had Stokes caught en route to what remains his best international figures of 6-25.
He is relishing the prospect of looking horns again with Stokes in the pastoral, less high-profile setting of a 50-overs contest at Clifton Park as Yorkshire - having lost their opening match - now go in search of a fourth successive victory that would leave them knocking on the door of the knockout stages.
“We’ve had some lovely match-ups in the past and a lovely time playing against each other,” said Yadav of Stokes, whose presence has guaranteed a 4,500 sell-out.
“He has been really good over the years for England and has performed really well.
“Unfortunately, I’ve never had a chance to play in the same team as him, but he’s a very good man and very competitive.
“The thing I most like about him is the fight he always gives, and playing against him has been very challenging and sometimes he has been on top and sometimes I have been on top, but hopefully it’s Yorkshire who come out on top.”
Yadav, 31, is anticipating “a good game” and more good craic with the York spectators, having enjoyed the win there over champions Worcestershire on Wednesday.
An amiable soul, with a smile never far away, he has settled in quickly to life at the club, having signed as an overseas player for five 50-overs games and for three in the County Championship, which he is dovetailing around his international commitments.
“It was lovely to field just two metres away from the spectators on the boundary line,” he said of his first taste of cricket at Clifton Park.
“I was chatting with them - just normal talk, how’s the wicket playing, how’s the weather looking, just normal talk when I was on the boundary fielding.
“I’m loving it over here and it’s a different experience. It feels like, ‘Ok, I belong here’, so it’s been really good.”
Yadav came to Yorkshire after speaking with Moeen Ali, the former England all-rounder, who played for the club this season in the Vitality Blast.
He wanted more game-time before returning to Test duty with India - and the Yorkshire hierarchy swooped.
“I spoke to Moeen and he said, ‘We'll figure it out, just give me a day’. The next morning I got a call from manager Gavin (Hamilton).
“Everything was very clear and I’ve been warmly welcomed. As for Moeen, he’s such a good human being and I’ve been in touch with him for about six or seven years.”
Kuldeep has made a solid start to his Yorkshire career, taking two wickets in each of his first three appearances and chipping in with some useful runs.
He described the York pitch as “a lovely wicket” after taking 2-34 from 10 overs against Worcestershire, his best figures so far.
“It was a proper wicket,” he added. “The pitches overall have been very good. The conditions are a bit warmer, so you’ll get a bit of spin.
“I’ve tried to vary my pace, go slower then a bit quicker, and I feel in good rhythm.”
Now for the challenge of Stokes et al. In addition to Will Rhodes, Durham have another two former Yorkshire players in their ranks - Alex Lees and Duanne Olivier.
“We have a good squad and all bases covered,” said Yadav of Yorkshire’s prospects. “We’ve just got to take it game by game.
“It’s a long competition, and there’s still another four group games to go. But, if we keep playing as we have been, then hopefully it’s going to be a very smooth road to the semi-final and the final.”