Yorkshire cricket books could be anything from autobiographies to travel writing but here I’m interpreting it as all things Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
(If you specifically want recommendations for Club Cricket Books then there’s a shortlist for that too).
The history, personalities and classic matches since the county was formed in 1863 make for compelling reading. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
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(⬇️ Click these links – or read on for my own shortlist with lots of inspiration!)
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As a young boy of eight, Jonny Bairstow was dealt a cruel blow. His father David ‘Bluey’ Bairstow, the combative and very popular wicketkeeper and captain of Yorkshire, took his own life at the age of forty-six.
David left behind Jonny, Jonny’s sister Becky and half-brother Andy, and his wife Janet, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer at the time of his death. From these incredibly tough circumstances, Jonny and his family strived to find an even keel and come to terms with the loss of their father and husband.
Written with multiple-award-winning writer Duncan Hamilton, this is an incredible story of triumph over adversity and a memoir with far-reaching lessons about determination and the will to overcome.
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🗣️ JF Verdict: Multi-award-winning author Duncan Hamilton is essential reading for cricket fans. Under his careful stewardship, Jonny Bairstow’s powerful story comes to life.
The day the county cricket fixtures are revealed each winter, hoteliers in Scarborough get ready for their phones to melt.
The migration of cricket fans each August to the North Yorkshire coast has yet to feature in a nature documentary but county cricket by the seaside has been a Yorkshire institution since 1876.
Be transported to one of Yorkshire’s finest sporting amphitheatres. Enjoy tales from the game and town that will surprise and delight, like the time the PA system picked up a funeral during play or when Derek Randall gave Sarfraz Nawaz a wire rubbish bin to aid his ability to field.
There are interviews with fans, players and coaches past and present and those who have been coming to Scarborough for up to 50 years.
Read Geoffrey Boycott’s last innings for Yorkshire in his own words, Ken Rutherford’s 317 in a day recalled by the man himself and Jason Gillespie on his favourite Festival memories.
John Fuller travels to the coastal town to find the characters and stories, watch Yorkshire in action and tap into Scarborough’s enduring appeal.
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🗣️ JF Verdict: Well, I wrote it so it’s obviously superb. 😂 The response was fantastic, selling out a suitcase of books at the 2019 Festival and reviews on Amazon have been kind since.
George Hirst, Schofield Haigh and Wilfred Rhodes were known as The Triumvirate. Inseparable pals off the field and a devastating combination on it, the trio helped turn Yorkshire into the greatest county cricket team of the early 20th century.
George Herbert Hirst was one of the most popular sportsmen of his era, his brilliance with bat and ball matched by the warmth of his personality.
Schof was the greatest wet wicket bowler of his time, his flow of cheery wisecracks masking insecurities about his form and fitness. Wilfred was quiet and watchful, his analytical brain marking him out as the Sherlock Holmes of the summer game. Together, they left a legacy of great deeds, good humour and decency: gentle men from a gentler time.
🗣️ JF Verdict: Under Pearson’s accomplished watch, these key figures in Yorkshire County Cricket Club history come to life.
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