Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire: Gale's men leading the mix as title battle heads to climax

IT would be premature to describe the match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire that starts at Headingley Carnegie this morning as a title decider.

Of course it is important – it could hardly be otherwise when the two leading sides in the County Championship First Division meet at this stage of the season.

In reality, it is just another fixture in one of the most wide-open title races in years.

Eight of the nine counties could yet carry off the silverware and 500,000 first prize as the campaign.

For much of the season, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire have led the table on the back of some highly polished performances – the former defying bookmakers' predictions of a difficult year under Andrew Gale and Martyn Moxon, the latter continuing to impress under Chris Read and Mick Newell.

Because both clubs have topped the pile for so long, sometimes changing positions but still managing to keep the chasing pack at bay, the impression has been created that the two meetings between the teams will decide the title – which, of course, they might.

Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire lock horns again in the penultimate round of Championship matches at Trent Bridge in early September in what promises to be an even more significant encounter.

In recent weeks, however, there has been a stirring in the shires.

Quietly, and almost unnoticed, the table has condensed in a fashion that gives genuine hope to most clubs that the pennant could yet be theirs.

Somerset have won four of their last five games to go third, just 13 points behind leaders Yorkshire with a game in hand, while a number of draws have ensured that no side has run away with it in a manner which, at one stage, Yorkshire or Notts threatened to do.

Yorkshire have won only one of their last six games after starting the season with three wins in five matches, while Notts have lost two of their last three, and three of their last six, to ensure the race is set to go to the wire.

A glance at the table reveals the tense nature of the battle.

Yorkshire are one point ahead of Notts, who have a game in hand, while fourth-placed Lancashire remain in the mix on the back of the country's only remaining unbeaten record.

Essex, in fifth, will find it difficult to prevail having played 12 games – more than any other county – but Kent, Hampshire and Durham are not yet out of it, with just 44 points separating Yorkshire from second-bottom Durham, who have two games in hand.

The mathematics are complex but the reality is clear: only bottom side Warwickshire can forget about the title, being 18 points adrift after losing eight of their 11 games, including two defeats to Yorkshire.

So, how is it all going to pan out? What can we expect during the final six weeks of a fascinating season?

Only old Mother Shipton could answer that, but certain factors will clearly be significant.

Form, fitness, pitches, the availability of England players, the good old British weather – all will play their part in determining the destiny of the crown.

Make no mistake, Yorkshire have as good a chance as anyone.

Victory this week would effectively wipe out Nottinghamshire's game in hand, while Gale's men play three of their last five games at home.

All along, I have thought if Yorkshire can remain in the mix up to this point they will have a great opportunity for the simple reason they have a match-winning leg-spinner in Adil Rashid.

The 22-year-old, who invariably comes into his own at this stage of the campaign, has been in fine form of late and is the division's leading wicket-taker.

Yorkshire still have to return to Scarborough, where Rashid always enjoys a twirl, and although no title is won without a great all-round team effort, Rashid is the type of X-factor player who could give Yorkshire the edge.

Nottinghamshire have suffered an untimely blip, but they know what it takes to win the league.

Their batting has been inconsistent and they will miss Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, with England still to play three Tests and five one-day internationals against Pakistan.

That said, international calls will also deprive Yorkshire of Tim Bresnan, Somerset of Craig Kieswetter and Lancashire of James Anderson, to name but a few, in an era where no Championship is won with England players.

Somerset perhaps pose the greatest threat to Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, and are more than capable of winning their home games with Indian spinner Murali Kartik in tow, but can they succeed away from home?

Can Lancashire shake off the tag of "nearly men"? And, just as significantly, can champions Durham mount a late surge with their games in hand?

All will be revealed in the days ahead as Yorkshire aim to give their followers a finish to remember.

YORKS V NOTTS

Nottinghamshire form

The side built by Mick Newell, has been the outstanding county team this season and are chasing silverware on all fronts. Nottinghamshire are second in the Championship, second in Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 League and through to Twenty20 finals day. However, Yorkshire will take heart from Nottinghamshire's defeat to Somerset last week – only their second in the Championship this summer. Nottinghamshire paid for a poor batting display at Taunton as they plunged to an unexpected 10-wicket loss.

One to watch: Samit Patel

Patel rediscovered his form at Somerset with a magnificent 104 in Nottinghamshire's first innings, having made only 253 runs in nine previous Championship games. He will hope it provides the impetus for a late run spree.

Yorkshire squad

Lyth, Rudolph, McGrath, Gale (capt), Bairstow, Brophy, Rashid, Shahzad, Wainwright, Patterson, Hannon-Dalby, Best, Pyrah.

Last time at Headingley

Apr 30-May 3, 2008. Yorkshire 299 (JA Rudolph 104*, GL Brophy 63) & 187-8 drew with Notts 422 (CMW Read 142, GP Swann 68, MA Wagh 56, SCJ Broad 53).

Head-to-head

Of the 242 County Championship matches between the sides, Yorkshire have won 86, Nottinghamshire 46, and 110 games have been drawn.

Weather

The Met Office are predicting a mixture of sunshine and showers.