we're a funny bunch

without looking at the survey results I decided to show some pre season optimism but not get too carried away so went for 4/5th.

Survey showed all others voted so far have done this as well!

I am sure some psychologists would have a field day analysing the results and telling us what it says about typical Yorkshiremen

I have bucked the trnd and gone for 2nd.

Yorkshire are more or less the same team as in 2008. Most of the other first division sides have added players and in some cases quality overseas players. We've essentially taken a stand pat position.

With us it will come down to sorting out the opening batting, whether or not Rana Naved has one more quality season left in him, and which of our players will be off on England duties.

I'll opt for a mid-table position.

I based my 2nd/3rd appraisal on a full season of MV, Hoggy, Naved and Rashid plus the fact that we appear to have solved the openers problem that blighted us last season. Sayers and MV, I believe, will do a good job for us this coming season. Alan, you are correct though, we are only England call ups and injuries away from being one of the relegation contenders again.

The CC is among the most difficult sports leagues to handicap. The comparatively short season, England call-ups, the wonky English weather and a bonus-points/draw friendly points system, means that in a given season virtually anyone can win. But I'll take Yorkshire any day at 12: 1 against, as several of the bookies are touting.

Link to odds

It's quite simple.
We're going to win it this year.

I see you've already

...voted, Steve!

As my positive predictions always go wrong I've decided to not vote.

Hmmm, a full season of Naved.

Too many "IFs" for my liking. If we solve the opening batsmen issue; if Rana can summon up one more good (injury-free) season; if Hoggard, Vaughan and Rashid aren't called up for England duty; if some of the younger players continue to progress, if several other teams egress...If, if, if.

We could finish anywhere from 3rd to 9th.

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

Your cakes were always better than your doggerel.

I'm surprised no onehas picked Stuart up on his comment from yesterday:

"we appear to have solved the openers problem that blighted us last season."

Have we? Let's not count our chickens just yet! I hope Vaughan and Sayers open in the first match and get a century partnership, but lets not say the problem is solved until we have scores on the board.

Looks like a nearly perfect "bell curve" to me. (Abraham de Moivre would be pleased!) We'll leave this poll up until the start of the FP Trophy (April 19th), so if you haven't voted yet...

No-one likes a smart arse.
Or, indeed, a statistician.....

Sorry about that, but more than twenty years as a statistics teacher haunts me still. And since you asked...

# There are lies, damned lies, and statistics! - B.Disraeli

# It has long recognized by public men of all kinds ... that statistics come under the head of lying, and that no lie is so false or inconclusive as that which is based on statistics. - H.Belloc

# Like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfillment. - J.Baudrillard

# Statistics means never having to say you're certain. (Anon)

# Most people use statistics the way a drunk uses a lamp post, more for support than enlightenment. (Anon)

# Are statisticians normal? (Anon)

A statistician is someone who is good with numbers, but lacks the personality to be an accountant

Hello Abraham:

And here's me thinking you've been dead all these years.

PS: A message our school janitor once found scribbled on the mirror in the female bathroom of the "institution" where I was teaching statistics at the time:

"If I had only one hour left to live, let me spend it in Mr. Robert's statistics class. It would seem so much longer."

Now that's genuinely funny!
I did Philosophy and English at leeds Uni.
Most of the Philosophy department grafiti was as unrepeatable as it was incomprehensible. I always did like the old favourite;
"To be is to think" - Descartes
"To be is to do" - Sartre
"Do be do be do" - Sinatra

We'll be closing this poll on Saturday.
Link to poll

Looks like a bunch of "mugwumps" on this site. Taking the safe, middle ground.

I think we'll either win the Championship, or get demoted. If we can field a full strength side most of the time, we'll thrive - our front line XI is as strong as any team in the division. But if Vaughan, Bresnan, Rashid or even Hoggy are taken off on England duties, or Rana Naved breaks down (doesn't he always, these days?) we'll crash and burn. We have lots of second tier players and up-and-comers, but the team lacks depth in several key areas, especially in opening bowling and opening batting.

Jimmy Carstairs

I originally voted for a second or third place finish, but Test calls are starting to look like a bigger factor than I thought they would be. It is conceivable that Yorkshire will play a significant portion of the season without Vaughan, Rashid and Bresnan. Bressy and Rashid are invaluable in terms of our success, and MV being less important, although if he's going to bat third and not open, he won't be missed that much.

I'll go with 6th or 7th.

The consensus of the bookies still has Yorkshire 7th or 8th. I hope they are wrong!!!!!

Compare to 2008's predictions

2008 poll

Its amazing how this year's poll results mirror last year's results. But then again, the team hasn't changed much if at all.

But I've got 50 Australian dollars on Yorkshire at 12:1 against.

We seem to be a rather pessimistic lot. Still think if we get the openers sorted, and Rana can stay healthy, we will be a contender.