There’s something uplifting about a cricketer’s refusal to admit defeat to the weather. All the forecasts leading into Saturday’s Theakston Nidderdale League Division Six fixture between Ripley and the higher-placed Thornton Le Moor promised rain, rain, and basically more rain. The sort of forecast that encourages sensible people to stay at home, or since it […]
Harry Brook: From Burley to England captain
Harry Brook is used to breaking batting records and earning plaudits at the dizzying speed at which he plays. He has since added England T20 and ODI (white-ball) captain to an impressive CV. Will the Test leadership be next? At the time of the England ODI appointment, Brook said: “It’s a real honour to be […]
Matty Weston: Bear necessities at Woodlands
In the first of our series of interviews with cricketers who are Bear Cricket ambassadors, I caught up with Matty Weston who opens the batting for Woodlands 1st XI in the Bradford Premier League’s Premier Division. As we chat via Zoom, Matty looks relaxed and maybe just relieved to be back playing cricket again after […]
ItsOKToTalkT20: Women & girls’ fixture at Whiston Parish Church
At Whiston Parish Church Cricket Club on Friday 5 June, the first-ever #ItsOKToTalkT20 women and girls’ fixture brings together talented players and an important message about mental health. Adrianna Darlow will lead the Blue Team against the Purple Team in a match with representation from a host of South Yorkshire clubs. I caught up with […]
Designed for altitude: Queensbury’s custom-made ACS cricket covers
Not all mobile cricket covers are the same. In this feature for ACS Cricket Equipment, we’ll explore the custom design made by Richard Shaw’s team at their Calverley HQ for Queensbury Cricket Club. ACS provides cricket clubs with covers, sightscreens, batting cages, flatsheets and accessories like their pitch water collector. As they have served the […]
Bear Cricket: Bats & Equipment [2026 Review]
Bear Cricket are equipping club cricketers in the 2026 season with their popular range of bats, pads, gloves and luggage. In this review (we have partnered for years), there’s a round-up of their cricket equipment to help you decide what to choose for batting or wicketkeeping duties this summer. Chapters Bear Cricket Bats Their premium […]
Village Cricket Co: A quality cricket bat for £117 in 2026
With the 2026 season underway, Village Cricket Co continue to be popular as they make cricket bats that are more affordable. Their popular Kashmir willow cricket bats and cricket equipment have proved a hit here in the UK in the last few years since they launched. 🙏 Note from John: If you click through links […]
Premier League captaincy: New Farnley’s Aidan Langley
New Farnley 1st XI captain Aidan Langley is discussing a rare defeat in the Bradford Premier League. It was an early blip; a full stop after 12 months of flowing prose. Having taken over across formats this season from Alex Lilley, after a phenomenal 2025 where they lost just once in all competitions, it’s been […]
Curry and chilling out among the penguins at Stainland
A return to Stainland Cricket Club recently, two years after my last visit, gave a chance to meet everyone again, marvel at the teas and be interviewed by BBC Radio 4. On a cold, grizzling day of rain, we had Halifax League 2nd XI cricket (credit to players and umpires), with appropriate fuss about the […]
How Mytholmroyd CC bounced back from a collapsed ceiling
In January 2025, Mytholmroyd Cricket Club discovered a burst pipe had flooded their pavilion and caused the roof to cave in. Don’t worry, it’s a happy outcome and we’ll dive into the process with Howden, the ECB’s insurance partner, who the Calderdale village club were insured with. The reason for sharing this journey is to […]