The topic of cricket in state schools - or rather its conspicuous absence - is something that will fire up anyone who cares about the present health and future of cricket. "There is no cricket in state schools" is a comment I hear all the time and compared to the
Albert Pagan, 88, well known in the North Yorkshire & South Durham Cricket League (NYSD) cricket circles, is reflecting on national umpiring recognition: “I’ve been very lucky to be selected to represent all of my colleagues. The effort they’ve put into setting standards in the North Yorkshire South
It comes to something when stalwarts as invested in recreational cricket as Graham Hyde decide to call it a day. We are less than a minute into a roving conversation about the health of Yorkshire club cricket and the outgoing Honorary Secretary of the Theakston Nidderdale Cricket League puffs out
Two of the most prolific batsmen in the embryonic stage of our cricketing summer are from Yorkshire. Yorkshire County Cricket Club captain Gary Ballance is one (scoring hundreds for fun) but can you name the other? Leeds Bradford MCCU batsman Martin Andersson is not a name who is up in
Yorkshire County Cricket Club's captain Gary Ballance has come a long way in between our interviews that have bookended his Yorkshire career. I first met 'Gaz' as a shy teenager breaking into the first-team squad, who eyed my recording device suspiciously and spoke as bluntly
In the aftermath of the hypnotic conclusion to Yorkshire County Cricket Club's County Championship liftoff against Hampshire, the Friday heroics of Ben Coad felt like another lifetime. The message from Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon and Head Coach Andrew Gale has been for the young pretenders to push
I catch Yorkshire County Cricket Club batsman Jack Leaning by phone one afternoon for a natter about winter training and he launches into the meticulous, finessed programme tailored for each player. At this time of year, downtime centres around taking it easy and boxsetting it up given the likely punishing
Harold “Dickie” Bird, he of the iconic white umpire’s cap and mischievous humour wrapped in a broad Barnsley accent, has had many honours bestowed over the years from MBE and OBE to Yorkshire County Cricket Club President. The latest focus on the charismatic octagenarian sees an exhibition entitled ‘Dickie
The phone chimes up just at the moment that I am making a conscious effort to burn dinner. It’s groundsman David Hodgson - universally known in cricketing circles as ‘Hodgy’ - who has returned my call around an interview after a day at a turf management exhibition in Harrogate. Discarding carbon-
We all know a cricket coach that has proved pivotal whether for a team we support, our own relationship with the game or who has been instrumental for someone we know. For Leeds-based community coach Maryam Ali, her journey in cricket is only really starting but yet for those
Even before my debut question to Matt Dwyer, Director of Participation & Growth at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), there is a surprise. He asks me what I think about the recreational game in Yorkshire. It’s pleasantly unusual. This from the ECB, the governing body who so
What must it be like to play cricket if you’re visually impaired? It was a thought preoccupying me on the walk up to the Indoor Cricket Centre at Yorkshire County Cricket Club to watch a taster session run by Yorkshire VICC. I’ve written about VI cricket before with
Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s 13-man squad to face Middlesex at Lord’s in the most important game of their season has provoked howls of protest and got everyone talking. The stakes could not be higher. Win against Middlesex and a third successive County Championship is in the bag
David Barnes will be known to many in league cricket across West Yorkshire, and his story, told to me when we met at a cup final last month, is a cautionary tale worth heeding. After retiring from Southport Trinity Cricket Club in the South West Lancashire League, he began a
The train from Sheffield to Dore and Totley bounced along the track as we huffed and puffed along the Hope Valley line. It’s only a short walk from the railway station to Abbeydale Sports Club, with the path leading uphill past the shock pink and blue hockey astroturf and
Yorkshire and England cricketer Lauren Winfield has had quite the winter. Snapped up by Brisbane Heat for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), the 25-year-old from York swapped soggy Yorkshire for Australian sunshine. In the same squad as England team mate Kate Cross and opener Beth
