Nasa Hussain, Head Groundsman at Bradford Park Avenue cricket ground, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Announced in The Gazette, the UK’s official record since 1665, the citation read: THE KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday, to approve […]
Interviews
All change at Bingley Congs: Juniors growth and ground upgrades
It’s Friday night at Bingley Congs Cricket Club. Having walked across the park and clambered over a wobbly gate inelegantly, the view is of junior cricket in all directions. On the second pitch, a game is underway as the young bowler gets some advice from one of the Congs coaches who is umpiring. At the […]
Hoylandswaine: Overseas stars, paying players and juniors
This interview with Hoylandswaine Cricket Club is about big-name signings, paying players, junior development and the swirling debate over ambition and fast-tracking success. The club’s secretary Tony Harrison was on good form, answering any and all questions, however blunt I was, sometimes with a dead bat or with a flourish through the covers. We start […]
Untangling the spaghetti: Mapping out cricket fixtures
Tom Jenkins shares the incredible annual feat of how cricket fixtures at grassroots need to knit together, creating 2,000+ over his winter. Where do I start trying to describe the winter of 2024-25 that I’ve had. As I write this I’m sunbathing in Gran Canaria. I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to fixtures. […]
Baildon Cricket Club on a one-club ethos and paying players
The premise for this look at Baildon Cricket Club was their promotion to the Premier Division of the Bradford Premier League. In the world of professional football, promotion to the Premier League comes with a chance to win millions and the need to strengthen your squad accordingly. At the top level of club cricket in […]
Schools cricket: Award-winning Owen on inspiring kids
Named Schools Coach of the Year at the 2024 Chance to Shine Awards, Owen Batchelor has an intriguing background you likely won’t know. We catch up on Zoom; a rare moment of quiet for a teacher who has taken his love of cricket and channelled it into inspiring kids across Scarborough & Ryedale. Owen is […]
Anthony McGrath: Q&As, club cricket and digital scouting
Anthony McGrath, Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s new Men’s Head Coach, is discussing the fact that he’s only just arrived but is already going on tour. It was announced in October that the former Essex Director of Cricket had signed a five-year contract with Yorkshire. His pedigree speaks for itself with the Double of the County […]
Interview: Grace Pearson, Head of Women & Girls for YCB
Grace Pearson is Head of Women & Girls for the Yorkshire Cricket Board and is my guest on the Cricket Yorkshire Podcast for this episode. We discuss her role overseeing the strategic vision, as well as looking back at some of key moments from this year and thinking ahead to 2025. PLAY INTERVIEW (14 MINS) […]
The joy of cricket books with The Grove Bookshop
Mike Sansbury is General Manager of The Grove Bookshop in Ilkley and my latest guest on the Cricket Yorkshire Podcast. Half an hour whistles by as he discusses the importance of independent bookshops, some of his favourite cricket books and playing the game over the years. If you like books, cricket, browsing bookshops, hearing about […]
Rachael Mackenzie: Inspiring women and girls in cricket and life
Rachael Mackenzie has an extraordinary story to tell. A thai boxing class at university ultimately led to incredible success in a rise to the top of the women’s world rankings in two weight categories. A switch to boxing was no less impressive as she became England boxing champion and is now a keynote speaker on […]