I thought I’d talk you through some trends that are likely to unfold in grassroots cricket over 2024. A bit of crystal ball gazing combined with analysis of news from the ECB and my own observations. It is very in-depth so I’ve got these headings, if you want to jump to the relevant section. 🏏 […]
Yorkshire Cricket Board
Celebrating volunteers: Standing ovation for Harry Jackson at YCB Cricket Collective Awards
Two lifetime achievement awards were presented at the YCB Cricket Collective Awards at Headingley on Friday night, as Bill Marshall reports. They went to Milton Samuels, of Sheffield Caribbean Cricket Club, and Ron Welford, of Westow Cricket Club, near York. However, and this is not to belittle the magnificent achievements of the two gentlemen mentioned, […]
YCB courses help clubs with Spring and Autumn grounds maintenance
Back in August, twenty or so groundskeepers from cricket clubs across the region met at Kirstall Educational Cricket Club. (What is the collective term for those who maintain cricket grounds? A ‘loam’ or a ‘topsoil’ perhaps? Answers in the comments below!) So, as for this latest deep-dive into scarifying and seeding, those from Settle, Shelley […]
Starbeck Cricket Club: Only just getting started
A new cricket club forming in Yorkshire is unusual, if not completely unheard of. There are already some 800 or so across the region – so why go to the effort of setting up your own? Starbeck Cricket Club, who finished their first season in Division Eight of the Nidderdale Cricket League as champions, have […]
Yorkshire Cricket and Lahore Qalanders: Open trial in Bradford
Amid the breathless evolution at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the news that Yorkshire Cricket and Lahore Qalandars are to hold open trials on 1 October 2023 at Bradford Park Avenue caught my eye. This is part of a longer-term plan between The Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Lahore Qalandars from the Pakistan Super League […]
Soyeb Kayat: How cricket is inspiring Kirklees communities
The start of my interview with the Yorkshire Cricket Board’s Soyeb Kayat (below) begins with a question – just not by me. “So…is this going to be like This is Your Life then?” I guess that makes me Michael Aspel if you’re of a certain vintage to recall the TV series from 1955-2003. Do you […]
Kiran Bali: Breaking barriers and encouraging change
It becomes apparent minutes into our conversation that Kiran Bali’s professional and personal journey has been about breaking barriers but also advocating change. The magistrate and community volunteer, who won an MBE in 2008 for her community work in West Yorkshire, has taken those beliefs and brought them into grassroots cricket in Huddersfield. Kiran’s connection […]
Yorkshire (and Lincolnshire) beat Australia at Harrogate
In any given week during the season, there are a frankly staggering array of matches in Yorkshire. I can only cover a fraction but thankfully I get emails from readers all of the time to alert me to interview possibilities, unusual occurrences and eye-catching matches. So, thanks to John Buttle for flagging up this one […]
Talking West Yorkshire Cricket with the YCB’s Steve Archer
You’ve got to hand it to the waitress who keeps sauntering up to take our order but the menus have stayed closed. Since the moment we sat down in this bustling cafe that’s my local default for interviews, we’ve just dived into talking cricket. The cooked breakfast will have to wait. Steve Archer is the […]
The Yorkshire Cricket Collective Awards – Nominations Now Open
Awards season is back! Volunteers within Yorkshire’s clubs, leagues and communities are invited to enter the Cricket Collective Awards 2023. These are the newly named awards, run by the Yorkshire Cricket Board (and other county boards) but with national ECB categories too. They used to be called the YCB Grassroots Cricket Awards in 2022 and […]