Monday 12 January 2009

Winter cricket

Posted by Peter Davies

Yesterday I went to Malham to watch their annual New Year's fixture against neighbouring village Appletreewick - played in a soggy fields with the players wearing waterproofs and swigging port and brandy on the boundary! And on Boxing Day I went to North Leeds CC to see the annual festive fixture involving the Northern Cricket Society. Both encounters demonstrated that local cricket is alive and kicking - even in the middle of winter. The game means so much to people, even out of season, and it is very inspiring to see local cricketers shivering and sliding around in the name of a longstanding annual tradition. Does anyone know of any other bizarre out-of-season cricket fixtures?