PROFILE

So often deemed a one-day specialist, Rich took advantage of increased Championship opportunities in 2011 to show that his consistency and versatility could transfer and bring success in the four-day arena.

His magnificent 117 against Lancashire at Headingley in July rescued Yorkshire from 45-8 and his 29 first-class wickets at 32.96 included a career best 5-58 against Nottinghamshire at Headingley in April. His 69 against Netherlands in the CB40 was a one-day best and his 21 t20 wickets at 19.85 included Yorkshire’s best ever analysis of 5-16 against Durham at Scarborough. The confidence that success brings was temporarily halted by a knee injury sustained in the CB40 at Canterbury in early May, but he recovered more quickly than first feared and his challenge on the pitch in 2012 is to produce more Pyrahtechnics.

Rich had enjoyed a productive 2010, taking 20 CB40 wickets at 24.20 and 21 FPt20 wickets at 19.42, usually bearing the brunt of the middle overs of the innings and invariably suffocating the opposition’s ability to push on and mount a big score. In first-class cricket, his highest score and the second first-class century of his career came against Loughborough UCCE (134*) at Headingley in May. He scored 61 in Yorkshire’s first innings against Essex at Scarborough and followed it with 2-8 as Yorkshire won the match by an innings. He ended the campaign with 304 first-class runs at 60.80 and also added 7 first-class wickets in 7 appearances. 

Richard made his one-day debut in 2001. His first-class debut came against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay in 2004. A year later at Worcester he top scored in the first innings with 78, a knock which helped Yorkshire to go on and win the match.

Richard was awarded his County Cap on 22 August 2010 ahead of the one-day match against Middlesex Panthers at Scarborough.

JAMES BUTTLER
January 2012