Cricket diary 2009 - Closer to home

Posted by Tony Hutton

Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th Jun - back from our travels only to find an unwelcome clash of fixtures back home. Yorkshire 2nd XI are playing MCC Young Cricketers from Lord's, who are now members of the 2nd XI championship, at Stamford Bridge and at the same time the Yorkshire Academy have a three day game with Ireland 'A' at the Leeds University ground at Weetwood, Leeds.

Inevitably we are in the wrong place on these two days. Wednesday is day two of the match at Weetwood and on a scorching hot day we opt to stay closer to home, the Academy having made 337 the previous day bowl Ireland out and make them follow on. So nothing much to write home about. Whereas if we had gone to Stamford Bridge for day one of the three day match there we would have seen Yorkshire II make almost 500 runs, with Gary Ballance scoring a double century and Johnny Bairstow 147.

However we move on to Stamford Bridge for day two in the company of two grand octogenerians, John Rex and Harry Jackson, treasurer and secretary respectively of the Northern Cricket Society. Three of of us were commentators on Leeds Hospitals Radio for many years and always greatly enjoy our days out together, particularly this one with lunch at the admirable Gold Cup in the next village, Low Catton. The conversation and the laughter continue all day but the cricket does not really match the weather.

MCC Young Cricketers all out 174 are also asked to follow on and in fact the game finishes late on day two with an innings victory for Yorkshire, so no play on day three. This is a great shame as matches at Stamford Bridge always attract large crowds which would amaze people from the south of England who usually see the proverbial two men and a dog at second XI matches. I understand that the car park here had to be closed for the one day fixture which preceded the three day one due to the size of the crowd.

Meanwhile back at Weetwood, we had again missed the best of the action. Ireland 'A' having followed on made a remarkable 399-7 declared thus setting the Academy 230 to win in 40 odd overs. This they proceed to do with yet another newcomer Billy Root, younger brother of 19 year old Joe Root who was playing for the seconds at Stamford Bridge, getting a century in a dramatic three wicket win. The grandfather of these two very promissing batsmen was commuting from one venue to the other in the hope of seeing both of them bat - we hope he succeded.