Yorkshire's misery completed by Walsh

Yorkshire 166 and 179 Gloucestershire 329 and 17-0 Gloucs won by 10 wickets

Graham Gooch was here yesterday, presumably to watch Mike Smith and Chris Silverwood. Neither winter tour candidate disgraced himself but what Gooch did see, as so many fellow selectors have seen for 20 years, is an overseas fast bowler spearing the ball past hapless young English batsmen.

Courtney Walsh finished with match figures of 9 for 59 and only when he was not bowling did Yorkshire seem on level terms. In the first innings they could lay some blame on the pitch and haze; in the second they had no such excuse; with three of their top five 23 years old or under, they were routed.

What Gooch may also have been watching is the Indian summer of the overseas professional. Walsh has yet to re-sign the two-year contract but if he does Gloucestershire are reconciled to losing him, to the West Indies Test programme, until June 1997.

With more year-round contracts on offer, no overseas professionals here in the World Cup year of 1999, the breed might be extinct by 2000.

In an inept day Yorkshire were not even capable of excising the Gloucestershire tail quickly. Jack Russell helped add another 15 with Alleyne, 26 with Smith and 54 for the last wicket with his captain.

Silverwood, announced yesterday as the Young Cricketer of the Year, supplied Yorkshire's only consolation, with 5 for 78.

In Walsh's second over after lunch he had Martyn Moxon caught low down at slip and then surprised David Byas again with his lift. Byas shaped to turn the ball to leg but managed only a top edge that looped gently to gully.

Anthony McGrath, who since his king pair at Scarborough has been learning how cruel this game can be, was beaten by Smith's late swing and if Richard Kettleborough was hoping for a little luck he learned better when he was driven back on to his stumps.

Michael Vaughan was one who seemed to have met the pace and was unfortunate to be picked up, brilliantly, low at extra cover.

As in the first innings Craig White and Richard Blakey gave the innings a veneer of respectability but after tea, Courtney left it to Smith and Davis to wrap up the tail.