Now Yorkshire CCC have completed their 2017 season, their director of cricket Martyn Moxon will have more time to watch his beloved Barnsley FC while also contemplating how to improve on a disappointing campaign for the Headingley club.
Yorkshire came fourth in Division One but, in an incredibly congested table, they were only two points above Middlesex who finished in the second relegation place a year after winning the title.
The Tykes picked up the bowling points they needed to survive on the first day of their final match in Essex but were then embarrassingly all out for 111 and 74 as they lost by 376 runs to the champions.
It was a miserable end to a season which also saw the white rose county fail to reach the last eight of the Twenty20 Blast and lose in the quarter-final of the 50-over One Day Cup to Surrey.
Moxon – who has been working alongside new coach Andrew Gale and ex-Barnsley batter Gary Ballance, the captain – believes there are positives to take from the campaign but admits there is a lot to improve on, especially in County Championship cricket.
Barnsley man Moxon told the Chronicle: "You have to separate the one- day and the four-day competitions. In one day cricket, we have had a fairly positive season."Our batting in the Twenty20 was some of the best we've ever produced and we played some really exciting and entertaining cricket. But we lost too many close games and it was very disappointing not to qualify for the quarter-finals. In the 50-over competition, we were outplayed in the quarter-final but generally we played some good cricket.
"The four-day games have been much more disappointing. We have underperfomed and it hasn't been good enough. The main issue and our biggest challenge is our batting which isn't consistent enough. We were very close to relegation in the end. You have to be at the top of your game in every session in Division One or you will be in trouble. Sometimes we have been very good, but other times we have been very, very poor."
Yorkshire have been without star batter Joe Root for all but two four-day games as he is the England captain, while Jonny Bairstow, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Ballance have all missed matches due to involvement with the national team.
Moxon said: "We can't use the England players being away an an excuse. That has been an issue for us for many years and we have always dealt with it. We have a good enough squad to cope with that.
"It's been a difficult first season for Galey and Gary but they will both have learned a lot from this season and it will stand them in good stead.
"At Yorkshire, we have always prided ourselves on competing in all three competitions and we have got to get back to that next year. I don't foresee too many changes in personnel. We might have a look at our overseas players but, by and large, I expect the squad to stay the same. We have a lot of talented young players knocking on the door and it is up to the senior team to react to that and react to the season they have had."
Moxon could be working with another Barnsley-based played in the future after Jack Shutt, from Elsecar, was on the fringes of the first team this season. He said: "Jack is an exciting prospect who has performed well in the second team this season. He's been offered a senior academy contract. Now he needs to continue to develop and push for a place in the first team next season.
"I can't be biased in selection but it is always nice to see South Yorkshire lads coming through and particularly Barnsley lads."
As well as planning for next season, Moxon will have some free time to watch Barnsley FC. He said: "I can never get to games when the cricket season is on. I am looking forward to watching a few now and seeing all these new players who have come in in the summer."
