Moin Ashraf is using the blueprint set out by some of the world’s best fast bowlers as he aims to reverse Yorkshire’s Twenty20 failures of years gone by.
The fledgling fast bowler, aged 20, has been one of the stars of the White Rose county’s encouraging start to this summer’s Friends Life t20 campaign, which has included two wins from their first three North Division matches.
In the first three 20-over outings of his county career, he has taken 2-31, 0-28 and 4-18 in clashes with Durham, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, the latter two performances contributing to wins.
The Yorkshire camp have made no secret of the fact that their plan is to keep things as simple as possible with regards to bowling.
Endless variations, whether it be different kinds of slower balls or slower ball bouncers, have been huge parts of bowlers’ repertoires across the world in Twenty20 in recent times. But the Tykes are sticking to the good old-fashioned yorker.
“If you ask any batter, that’s the hardest ball to play,” said Ashraf, who will continue his role in a formidable pace quartet with Ryan Sidebottom, Mitchell Starc and Rich Pyrah against Durham at the Riverside tomorrow.
“You look at the guys who have been successful at international level and there’s Umar Gul and Dale Steyn playing at the moment and Waqar Younis, Darren Gough and Shoaib Akhtar in their days – they all bowl or bowled a fantastic yorker.
“They’re all outstanding in the one-day game for that reason.
“I’ve just tried to watch them and learn from them. Hopefully I can emulate those names.
“Ironically, against Derby, I missed a few of my yorkers and got rewarded.
“I hit my yorkers against Durham and Leicester, but didn’t get many wickets.
“I’m really confident in the t20 team. I feel that they’ve thrown me into the one-day side in the CB40s and I’ve shown I can bowl a good yorker.”
During the opening week of the competition, Yorkshire have displayed a confident streak rarely seen in their past Twenty20 cricket.
In fact, they look as confident in this form of the game now as they did during their impressive runs in the County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 competitions in 2010, Andrew Gale’s first season as captain.
“We’ve had two wins on the bounce now, and they’ve been two very good performances," added Ashraf, who has played in every limited overs match this season.
“I think with bat, ball and in the field, we’ve been a complete team.
“The discipline we’ve shown has been absolutely amazing. We out-classed Derbyshire. There’s just been this hustle in the field, a real energy and enthusiasm to do well.
“We are due a Finals Day. Let’s not beat around the bush, that's what we want to do. That’s why you compete in this competition.
“I think we’re working towards that, and it will come with dedication and hard work.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll be hard to stop.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here